Gay Philippines Review (January 2007)
The Philippine Islands are a large group of over 7,100
islands lying about 500 miles (805 km) off the southeast coast of China. The
overall land area is comparable to that of the UK
or state of Florida in America. Only
about 7% of the islands are larger than one square mile, and only one-third
have names. The largest are Luzon in the north, where Manila lies (the capital
city of the Philippines),
which has been expanded into what is now called Metro Manila. The Philippines
has a population of around 90 million. Filipinos are famous not only for their
warm hospitality, but also for their courtesy, gentle, friendly, and cheerful
people. Philippines
are blessed with tropical climate with hot and humid weather all year round.
The best time to visit Philippines, obviously is the summer months, for all you
sun seekers which run from March through to May which can go to as high as
35ºC, that’s very hot especially as the humidity level is quite high. We
decided to go in December for the New Year celibrations,
its one of the coolest months, with daytime temperature of around 25ºC.
Language
The Philippines is
a nation of many languages and dialects, as it consist of many islands, there
are 55 native languages and 142 dialects in the country, apart from English and
Spanish. Filipino is the national
language. Much of Filipino is derived from the language Tagalog spoken here in Manila and nearby
provinces. English is the most widely used language in the country, in fact,
the Philippines
is the third largest English speaking country in the world. Significantly, the
country has two official languages – Filipino and English.
Currency
The
currency in the Philippines
is the Philippine peso (or piso), divided into 100 centavos (or centimo)
http://www.bohol.ph/money.php . The
U.S. dollar is worth about 48 pesos, euro about 46 pesos and 1 British Sterling £ is around 100
pesos. So this is a good news for all you boys hunting for a bargain, this is a
place to shop, dine and drink alcohol, as you get more out of your money.
Getting around town
Metro Manila comprises several
cities and municipalities. Getting around town is a least thing you should
worry about; there are many modes of transportation available. Buses, Jeepneys,
LRT and taxis are readily available for use in getting around the city.
Buses are available with air-conditioning
or without. The price
for riding in air-conditioned bus start from P10, while you would pay about
P8 for riding without air-conditioning.
The most
popular mode of transportation in Manila
is the Jeepney.
As the name implies, it is basically a colourful jeep that looks like
those used by the Americans during World War II. This elongated jeep that seats
about 12-14 people all have regular routes, but no regular stops - they stop
anywhere, even at no-unloading zones! The way to know where they are going is
to look in the front window as they will have the destination sticking up on a
small sign. And you also have tricycles
and pedicabs, but leave them to the locals. If you
want to try one just to get a taste of local flavour, make sure you have a
local with you.
Taxis are air-conditioned and can be
found practically anywhere in Manila.
On occasion a driver will say his meter is broken, if so, travellers
beware! It is time to get out and find
another taxi, as you will probably get very much overcharged by this scam.
The LRT (Light Rail Transit) or MRT is the best way to get downtown and
get around in Manila. It's relatively inexpensive and is very fast.
If you are
confident about driving in the Philippines,
then renting a car is a great way to get you around the country. With a valid
foreign or international driver's license and a map in hand, you are set for an
interesting trip. But be aware once outside the city road signs are not that
common and maps can be unreliable. They drive on the right-hand side of the
road and are notorious for bad driving. As our friend told us “It has been said
that once you can drive in Manila,
you can drive anywhere in the world, even NYC. :) Filipinos may be warm and
friendly on the outside, but once they are in their cars, they are arrogant and
undisciplined.”
Where to stay
Makati http://www.makati.gov.ph/portal/index.jsp
is Manila’s Central Business District where there are a lot of top notch
hotels, here you’ll find numbers of choices of five star hotel to chose from
literally next to each other http://www.asiarooms.com/philippines/manila.html
It’s all walking distance from many of the hip, stylish, gay-friendly bars and
restaurants like Giraffe, Venezia, Hard Rock Café,
and the hippest, trendiest mall in the city, Glorietta 4.
Shangri-La Hotel Manila, http://www.shangri-la.com/manila/edsashangri-la/en/index.aspx is the hotel where we decided to stay
and it’s our second time we stayed in this chic, fabulous, five star hotel. Located in Manila’s
Central Business District, Makati. It offers a complete range
of services and amenities. With its luxury room, a huge outdoor swimming pool
and fully equipped gymnasium along, with some hunky trainers in hand. Just only
20 minutes away form the airport and 10 minutes by taxi to the gay village of Malate.
Gay Scene
Manila, Philippines is one of the few major Asian cities
with an overt gay scene that openly contradicts the conservative culture of the
country. Being in a predominantly Roman Catholic society, homosexuals are
generally well accepted in Philippine society.
The heart
of Manila gay scene is Malate, just a 20 minute drive from Makati (where we were staying). The intersection of Maria Orosa Street
and Julio Nakpil
Street is lined with various gay establishments.
THE RAINBOW PROJECT
Address: Orosa
Nakpil Courtyard, Maria Orosa Street
(corner Julio Nakpil
Street), Malate, Metro Manila
Dine al
fresco at the ground level or at the (100% car free) outdoor area. One can also
choose to wine and lounge at the upper level with the most laid back set up
ever conceived in Manila,
wines at affordable prices, an exciting range of cocktails and a yummy set of
coffees mixed with liquors. Completely gay-owned, gay-operated, and
gay-friendly, The Rainbow Project is a proud affiliate of BED Bar and Club, its
next door neighbour. Business hours are from Wednesday to Saturday, 8.00 PM
till late or rather early enough for you to enjoy breakfast after a night of
frenzied clubbing!
BED NIGHTCLUB (the main gay
nightclub of Manila/Philippines) www.bed.com.ph
Address: Orosa
Nakpil Courtyard, Maria Orosa Street
(corner Julio Nakpil
Street), Malate, Metro Manila
Located in
Manila's old world neighbourhood, at the corner of gay and gayer in Queer
Central Malate, Bed has been for two years now, the
only party stop for local gay men and women and foreigners. It is constantly
praised for its fantastic lighting and sound system as well as the best music
in Asia. Recently, the club underwent a major
facelift and is now twice it's size, fulfilling the requirements of any size
queen!
PRIDE EXCHANGE - On Courtyard
Address: Orosa
Nakpil Courtyard, Maria Orosa Street
(corner Julio Nakpil
Street), Malate, Metro Manila
Any
self-respecting gay ghetto has got to have an x-rated shop. Get your fill of
the naughtiest shirts, the sexiest swimwear, the gay-est
music CDs, the kitsch-est accessories, the most
ingenious devices, and other stuff too risqué to mention. For most people,
meaning straight clueless mortals, this toy store is an oddity, or a museum of
novelty items best gawked at but not bought. For us gay gods and goddesses,
this shop fulfils very real and basic needs. Open nightly
O-BAR
Address: At
the corner of Nakpil and Orosa,
Malate, Metro Manila
A small yet
very busy, lively gay bar (just across the road from the above venues). The
owners were very friendly and welcoming giving us some free drinks and food. They
had a DJ playing music outside on the road for the New Year celebrations. Above
this venue is a gay x-rated shop called Top & Bottom.
GOVERNMENT (the second largest gay
nightclub) http://kokunevents.com/government
& www.CircuitAsia.com
Address: 7840 Makati Avenue, Makati City
The club's
chic industrial interior prepares you for the journey that you are about to
undertake. On the dance floor, a dazzling display of laser lights and
incredible lighting effects pierce the darkness to lift your spirit. Also, a
few walks up the stairs lead you to a richly textured lounge area where you can
chill and enjoy the music.
FAHRENHEIT CAFE (SAUNA) www.fahrenheitcafe.com
Address: 1204 East Rodriguez Avenue, New Manila. Quezon City, in
front of Tri-Palace Hotel
Fahrenheit
is currently the most popular bathhouse in Metro Manila. The peak hours start AFTER midnight till about 3am, 7 days a
week. Decent facilities, popular with young guys. 20
minutes taxi from Makati
if no traffic jam. Facilities include a steam,
library, audio visual room, karaoke, bars, jacuzzi, labyrinth with glory holes, mirror maze, and
resting rooms. The club also conducts special shows and events with male
strippers, drag, modeling and contests for Mr.
Fahrenheit, Miss F Universe and Miss Earth Fahrenheit.
CLUB BATH (SAUNA) www.myclubbath.com
Address: 2456 F.B. Harrison Blvd, corner Valhalla Street, Pasay City, Metro Manila (near Pasay
City Sports Complex, Cuneta Astrodome and Holiday Plaza,
Libertad.)
Club Bath Philippines
is the oldest and the first gay bath house in Manila, Philippines.
It is a good place to go to BEFORE
midnight and has provided
men with a clean, comfortable place to meet other men, to relax and play. Soak
up and sweat in the “Steam Room”, Work-out in the "mini-gym" and then
Relax in the “TV Lounge”. A yearly membership fee is P250. Membership club and
photo ID must always be presented upon registration. Club bath rates for
lockers stands at P150 (Mon – Thurs) and P250 (Fri to Sun). Private rooms cost
P350 (Mon to Thurs) and P400 (Friday to Sunday). To get there, tell the cab
driver: "Harrison street,
Pasay
City Hall". The club
is less than 100m away from Pasay City Hall.
EPITOME (SAUNA)
Address: 1922 Leon Guinto St
(near Remedios
St, off Taff
Ave), Malate.
A newer gay
sauna located 5 minutes by taxi from the Malate gay
area at Orosa St. Epitome is open daily from
10:30pm-4am. This 2-storey establishment features a dark maze, individual
cubicles, steam room, 2 bars, video room, jacuzzi,
large common shower area. Epitome is a private club and visitors have to buy a
membership card which is valid for 12 months. Entrance fee includes a free
drink. The crowd is foreign-friendly and very cruisy.
OTHER GAY FRIENDLY
VENUES: Better cite Temple, Absinthe and Ice Bar in Greenbelt 3 are gay-friendly bars. Embassy in
The Fort is the trendiest dance club with a mixed crowd. The Library Karaoke bar
(Remedios
Circle, Adriatico St). The hippest,
trendiest mall is Greenbelt
3, although the SM Mall of Asia is the biggest and is becoming a happening mall
for gay boys to hang out.
Tourist attraction
The Philippines is
an archipelago blessed with a wealth of natural resources, a rich history and
unique culture. Its attractions are as many as they are diverse, with each
island offering something different, something special to the most discerning
visitor. White sand beaches, lush green forests, majestic mountain peaks,
age-old structures, modern cities, and rustic countrysides
- the list goes on and on. http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/discover/history.asp
INTRAMUROS
Right in
the heart of Manila is found the "Walled City"
- Intramuros. Constructed in 1571, during the period
of Spain's colonization of
the Philippines,
it comprised of European buildings and churches.
RIZAL PARK
The
58-hectare (143 acre) Rizal Park
is named for Dr Jose Rizal, renowned Philippine
anti-colonialist, writer and philosopher. The park is one of the largest in
South East Asia, and it’s a perfect oasis by the residents of Manila for recreation and entertainment.
MALACANANG PALACE
The name of
this Palace, now the seat of government and official residence of the
Philippines head of state, comes from the vernacular ‘May Lakan
Diyan’, which means ‘there lives a noble man’.
VILLA ESCUDERO
A comfortable
two-and-a-half-hour drive south of Manila,
Villa Escudero, a former sugarcane plantation, is
toured aboard a rustic carabao-drawn carriage. A
highlight of a tour is visit to the museum where an eclectic collection of
religious icons, rare coins, costumes, furniture and dioramas of Philippine
wildlife can be viewed. The other unique feature is a native buffet lunch by a
waterfall where you listen to the cascades and cool your feet in the running
water while feasting on native delicacies.
MANILA BAY
Manila Bay
or ‘Bay Walk’ called by locals is one of the finest natural harbours in the
world which serves the port
of Manila, it’s a
beautiful place to chill out and escape out of the busy life in the city. It’s
a nice and friendly place for people to meet, eat and drink. The streets are
well lit and packed with people from all walks of life, there are bands playing
music, singer playing acoustic guitar while having a nice dinner in good food
stalls/restaurants. And what these
people really come here for, its beautiful sunset.
BANAUE
http://members.tripod.com/philipppines/banaue.htm
http://www.wonderclub.com/WorldWonders/BanaueHistory.html
This
fascinating region in northern Luzon is known for being largely untouched by
Western civilisation and gives a glimpse of the true Philippines.
The main
attraction in the area is the Banaue Rice terraces,
dubbed the ‘eighth wonder of the world’ and One of the great icons of the
Philippines Constructed about 3,000 years ago, the terraces start from the base
of the Cordillero Mountains and extend upwards for
thousands of feet, cleverly irrigated by channelled streams and springs. They
were hewn from the land 2000 years ago by Ifugao
tribes people using primitive tools, an achievement in engineering terms that
ranks alongside the building of the pyramids. Called the "Stairway to
Heaven" by the Ifugaos, the terraces would
stretch 20,000km if laid out end to end.
BAGUIO
http://www.baguio.gov.ph/newbaguio/#
http://www.cityofpines.com/
Baguio City
is approximately 250 kilometres north of Manila,
situated in the Province
of Benguet.
From Manila, the City of Baguio can be
accessed either by land or air transportation. By bus it takes an average of
five hours to travel between Manila and Baguio or you can always
get a flight that runs daily, with a local airline, Asian Spirit http://www.asianspirit.com/
which only take just under an hour. The city’s main attraction is still its
natural bounties of cool climate, panoramic vistas, its pine forests and
generally clean environments. Baguio is 8 degrees cooler on the
average than any place in lowlands. When Manila sweats at 35 degrees centigrade
or above, Baguio seldom exceeds 26 degrees centigrade
at its warmest, and drops to as low as 15 degrees Celsius in the colder months.
Tourist Attraction in Bagiuo:
BURNHAM PARK
Burnham Park is centred on a man-made lake
located at the heart of the city. It was named after the city's planner, Daniel
Burnham. The park is a favourite place of local residents and visitors alike.
MINES VIEW
PARK
From the
observation deck of the park a breathtaking panoramic view of Benguet's gold and copper mines and the surrounding
mountains unfolds before you. It is a spectacular sight to behold and should
not be missed when visiting Baguio.
WRIGHT PARK
Wright Park, which is
located at the eastern part of the city and fronting the main gate of the
Mansion, is one of the many scenic parks in Baguio City.
LION'S HEAD PARK
The Lion's Head Park
along Kennon
Road is the undisputed landmark that is synonymous
to Baguio
City.
RIZAL PARK
The park
was erected in honour of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the
national hero of the Philippines.
BAGUIO BOTANICAL
GARDEN
Also known
as the Igorot
Village, the Botanical Garden features
native huts typical of the type of Igorot dwellings
found in the Cordilleras.
THE MANSION
The Mansion
is located on the eastern part of the city along the Leonard Wood Road and right across from Wright Park.
It was built in 1908 for U.S.
governor-generals and was destroyed in 1945 during the battle for the
liberation of the Philippines.
The elaborate main gate of the Mansion is said to be a replica of that at Buckingham Palace
in London.
THE BELL CHURCH
The Bell Church
is located north of the downtown area of Baguio along the road leading to the town of La Trinidad, Benguet. Within its compound are intricately designed
arches and buildings adorned with flags, bells and dragons. It has a pagoda,
and beautifully landscaped gardens. There are some artefacts about Buddhism
that you will find at the Bell Church as well as some literature about the history
of China.
BORACAY
http://boracayisland.org/
The
world-famous island
of Boracay
is located in Aklan province 345 kms.
South of Manila.
The island is accessible by air from Manila or Cebu through two principal
gateways : Caticlan airport or Kalibo
airport. From Manila, take the 50-minute Philippine Airlines flight to Kalibo in the province of Aklan;
from where you travel another two hours inland ( via bus or jeepney
) to Caticlan, Then, it's off to Boracay
via outrigger boats.
Boracay
is the perfect island getaway, with its warm blue waters, powder-fine white
sand, and a palm fringed 4-kilometer beach. Besides from its beautiful beach, Boracay
serves as a good home for a fine selection of restaurants, going from tiny,
native fast-food places to gourmet cuisine.
There are
numerous of activities to do, with the majority of it geared around the ocean
and water sports. Some activities include Windsurfing and Kite surfing, Scuba Diving, Sailing, Kayaking/Canoeing,
Horse Riding and there’s some golf places around.
TAAL VOLCANO AND LAKE (60km SSE of Manila).
www.iml.rwth-aachen.de/Petrographie/taal.html
One of the most visited tourist spots in the Philippines,
this geological phenomenon is actually a volcano within a lake within a
volcano. Taal is the
world's smallest volcano, but do not let appearances deceive you--it can be
quite deadly when it erupts. A 45-minute ride on a banca
(wooden boat) will take you to the volcano; a 15-minute trek will take you to
the top of the crater.
Conclusion
Manila, Philippines is
truly cosmopolitan city in Asia. Manila has so much diversity in terms of culture, tradition and
most of its entire people. Filipinos is what makes up Manila with their
undying spirit, friendliness and world renowned hospitality.
www.ChrisGeary.com
