It's More Fun in the Philippines!

The Department of Tourism of the Philippines recently launched their new campaign on "It's More Fun in The Philippines" (You can learn more by clicking the link here). Since its start last January 6 2012, the campaign has gone viral over social networks and blogs, with numerous Filipinos sharing their own reasons on why Philippines can be a premier destination due to its places made more fun by its fun Pinoy people. Even my friend Rocky has created his own versions (memes) of the campaign for one of Manila's gay clubs (See link of his blog here). 

So how are gay bars more fun in the Philippines?  

Runways. More fun in the Philippines

Night Photo by http://shootingatnight.blogspot.com

Blind dates. More fun in the Philippines 

You get to choose your guy. But you get to pay for your date.

Gratitude (or gratuity or gratuitous showing). More fun in the Philippines

Thousand peso bills go a long way.

Stage Plays. More fun in the Philippines.

A half-naked man is always at the center of the stage.

Finding love. More fun in the Philippines

For matronas, lonely gay guys, bar girls and especially, the #1 tourists: Korean women

Just a few notes:

1. I am NOT promoting sex tourism. "Off-ing" the men or taking them out of the bar is very expensive, to restrain the customers. Some bars don't allow it at all. Besides, a lot of the guys working here don't see themselves as sex workers (they're only working there as entertainers).

2. The ones shown above are what we can claim as more fun in the Philippines. I've tried to consider others but failed. For example, "angry birds" can be fun in the Philippines, but it's more fun in the more risque gogo bars of Bangkok and in some cities around the world. Manila does not even have imitation sex on stage, sorry.  

What other ideas do you have? Is it really more fun in the gay bars of the Philippines? 

GB Goer
Learn more: Lessons from Gay Bars in Manila
http://machosandhostos.blogspot.com/
email: char.affairs@gmail.com
twitter: @gbgoer

Mga Saloobin ng Baguhan sa Night-men

Isang Sabado ng gabi, nagpunta ako sa isang gay bar sa Aurora, na itatago ko sa pangalang Night-men*. Kilala itong bar dahil sa dami ng lantarang notes na pinapakita rito sa loob, at lalo na ng malayang paghawak ng customer sa mga notes ng lalaki. Padaan ako sa bar, at naisipang magpunta, kahit sandali lang.   

Pagkatapos ng dalawang bote, paglabas ko ng bar, niyaya ako ng inupo kong macho dancer na si Archie* na kumain ng agahan bago kami magsiuwian.

Archie (short for Archuleta): Antayin mo ako sa labas. Bibihis lang ako. Kain tayo ha.

GBG: Okay. Sa kotse mo na ako puntahan. (Sa loob-loob ko: Akala ko ang usapan natin may iba tayong gagawin, at hindi ang pagkain ng agahan?)

Archie (pagkalabas at bihis na): Sama natin si Nicos* ha.

GBG: Ahhh....

At sa likod ni Archie, lumabas si Nicos, na nakabihis na rin ng pang-uwi. Si Nicos naman ang inupo ko sa bar na yun noong nakaraang araw, bago si Archie. Tulad ng gabing yun, hindi rin ako nagtagal sa bar. Dalawang drinks lang. Sa lahat ng dancer sa bar na yun, si Nicos lang ang natipuhan ko. Ngunit, noong pagbalik ko noong Sabado, mas marami nang dancer ang pumasok. At doon ko nakitang may mga mas okay pa pala kay Nicos. Kaya si Archie ang inupo ko.     

GBG: Okay sige. (Sa loob-loob ko: Akala ko tayong dalawa lang? Ano kaya magagawa nating tatlo? Di ako ready mag-tatluhan... ie. threesome. Ah. Siguro, kaya mo rin siya isinama no? Para chaperone na hindi lang tayong dalawa sa kotse, at hindi mangyari yung tinutukso at binubulong mo sakin kanina...)

  

The Stage Light Effect

"Napuntahan ko na ang gay bar na may pinakamaraming guwapong macho dancer na nakita ko (I have been to the gay bar with the most handsome macho dancers)," I keep telling my friends over the past few weeks. 

I've been to that gay bar once previously, but was not really impressed with the selection of men they had that time, which were few and a bit on the oldie side. However, when I visited the bar again, together with my MD friend, two weeks ago, I was surprised to see a great bunch of guys that fit in my concept of male beauty. 

When I returned to that gay bar after my first visit a year ago, I sat down non-chalantly and expecting nothing new would surprise me.  The one dancing when I arrived was just so-so (I can't even remember who he is or how he looked like). But then those who followed him made me re-think my view of the bar. 

I even remember texting my friend at that time, "Ngayon lang ako nakakita na sunud-sunod na guwapo ang umakyat sa stage (This is the only time I've seen handsome guys going up the stage one after the other)."

It's Raining Cocks and Dongs

Everyone living in Manila knows that it's been raining cats and dogs in the city for the past weeks. Call it typhoon season, or monsoon season, or rainy season. Everyone is inclined to stay at home or rush home when outside, to avoid getting wet by the heavy rains, which cause heavy flooding, which cause the heavy traffic.

Not for me, though. The rains didn't stop me to explore the streets and gay bars of Manila.

Ang swerte ni 'teh!

Like rain water flowing from one canal to another, I was lead to the narrow alleys and dark streets with gay bar locations I haven't visited yet. I've read a lot about these bars -- small, street-side gay bars littered across Quezon City -- and I guess it was time for me to baptize myself with a visit. I brought with me a gay friend from high school, "Mike", who got curious of the gay bar scene, being a gay bar virgin himself. Fantastic, I thought. A trip to the gay bar with a friend on a rainy night!

The Anniversary: One Year Later

(a personal reflection)

This time last year, one of the largest macho dancing gay bars in Metro Manila, "Home Base"*, had their biggest event of the year. They celebrated their 10th year anniversary, to commemorate a decade's existence from being just-another girlie bar along Roxas Blvd. to being the premier (and most expensive) gay bars in that area.

At that time, my friends and I were only neophyte regulars -- we just started going to that bar two months prior. But with each of us meeting and developing relationships with our own partners from that bar, we became frequent regulars, as often as going twice on weekends. 

Thus, taking part of a historic moment for the bar was exciting for us. We were looking forward to the "big night", or what bars call their special events, for weeks. 

Talk about "big night" -- that night turned out to be one of our biggest nights for the year.

Lord II Gay Bar: An Update

I wrote a few months back about a rumor that the hosto bar in Manila, "Neighborhood"*, would be turned into a full-fledged macho dancing gay bar "Lord, 2nd coming."* That rumor we actually confirmed, as my friend, Ringo, and I visited that bar two months back. We also found out that the gay bar "Lord II" was co-owned by the owners of "Neighborhood" and that of "Lord" in Quezon City; hence, the use of the widely popular gay bar name in this bar.

Rumor now has it that "Lord II" is already closed, and was re-launched into another bar. I first heard this from my hosto friends who we met in "Neighborhood", but were now working in "Answer for The Emotionally Needy (ATEN)" bar disco level. 

I wouldn't be surprised if this rumor would be true. Based on our first and only visit to this gay bar, the dancers working here were so-so. Not so good-looking. Mix of oldie-looking veterans and provincial-type boys. The venue and interiors were fantastic, fine. Modern. But even if the bar borrowed the name of the lord of all gay bars in Quezon City, it failed to achieve the mystique of the original gay bar. Add to that its hard-to-find location, it isn't surprising if "Lord II" would close down.

According to a macho dancer friend, the reason why "Lord II" was closed down was because it failed to obtain the right business permits from the local government (they didn't get approval, I think). Just like how the supposed new gay bar along Roxas Blvd couldn't operate because of business permits they couldn't get (and why some former "Home Base" dancers and managers are still jobless now).

When I passed by M.H. Del Pilar Street in Malate last night, on the way to ATEN gay bar, as I saw with my own two eyes last night, the gay bar where Lord II used to be located was still open. Except that the "Lord II" sign was already brought down. 

What remains is the "Neighborhood" sign, which was never taken down when "Lord II" occupied the spot.  

So it's true. "Lord II" Gay Bar was re-launched, back into the "Neighborhood" bar. Not just the hosto bar of before, but with macho dancing as part of the entertainment. 

Want clues about the actual name of the gay bar? Next time I visit, I hope to see a true neighborhood or village of good-looking boys, including those from next door, the next street, or the next town. 

Time In, Arriving Late

After arriving in Manila last night from a business trip, I wanted to grab some dinner before going home. My two friends, Mary and Ringo*, were already in their respective homes as it was already past 9 PM on a work night. So I had another option -- meet up with a macho dancer before he goes to work.

Yeah it might be a bit far-fetched idea, like "where did that come from?" or "huh, of all the people you could have dinner with?" But having a hunky or cute guy to accompany you to eat didn't sound too bad. I just had to pay for his meal, nothing more. 

I invited Russell*, who has been my dinner partner a few times already. I knew he was still available at that time. In our previous dinner, we started around 1030 PM and he went to the bar around 1130 already, 30 minutes late. So inviting him for dinner that late a night didn't worry me that much...

Gay Club and Gay Bar in One

In Jakarta just last Friday night, my gay Indonesian colleague wanted to bring us out. As the gracious host of the night, he asked our group, composed of two girls and two gay guys (me and him) all at the age of late 20s to early 30s, what type of fun we wanted.

It was a Friday night, and naturally, I'd be in one of Manila's macho dancing gay bars. While I didn't want to broadcast to the whole group that I wanted to see some half-naked "macho dancing" men, I just suggested to take us to somewhere "sleazy."

The two tipsy girls, of course, giggled at the idea, as they were open to experience something new. My colleague thought I was joking. We've always gone out to enjoy the gay clubs during our business trips across various cities -- Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, Madrid. And he thought I'd enjoy these gay clubs like him.

So off we rode the taxi at 11 in the evening. He led us to this place where he knew all four of us would enjoy...

What it is, and how it surprised me, after the jump:

Another Heard Through the Gay Bar Grapevine

Three months ago, I had a series of posts about gossip I heard about gay bars in the south-west areas, specifically from Manila, Paranaque, Pasay (you can read through them, entitled "Heard Through the Gay Bar Grapevine" Parts 1, 2, 3). Most of them actually turned out to be true, especially the last of the series, about new gay bars that opened and closed.

So for this entry, I'd like to write about a particular gossip I've heard just last week. What I learned was too juicy not to be shared. Anyway, keep reading if you wish to know more:

Our Double Lives: Part 2

(continued from Part 1)

It is the same world that allows a macho dancer to be known only for his face, his body, his skill, and not the details of his true identity -- the hometown where he grew up in, the graduation of his younger sister, the place where his estranged father lives, the birth date of his kids. It is the only world that deejays, managers and customers call for his alias or stage name, while his real name is reserved at home for his nanay or ka-tropa who can merely turn their blind eye. It is a world that introduces him as single and un-attached, even if the mother of his one or two kids is waiting for him to arrive at 6AM everyday. It is this second world that forces them to shift their personalities from charming to seductive, from obliging to playful, at the customer's demands. It is the world where everyone in his private life knows he is working only as a waiter or bartender or deejay, but never as someone who markets his face and uncovered body to sex-deprived gays and matrons.

It is this second life of theirs that allows them to earn and support their first lives.

And this is shared also by the bar owner who had a taste of steady income back in the day, but whose expenses for salaries, rent, electricity, and payola to the government or police are now greater than the combined revenues from his bar's once-a-week regular clients. It is shared by the gay floor manager who seems to extort cash from their customers, but also acts as an adoptive parent to their sister's third kid. This is the same for the transvestite impersonator who was not accepted by his father as a kid, but is now dressed up in false eyelashes and fake boa feathers to buy the medicine for his ailing mother in his first life.  

But, with the exception of a few, no one in a macho dancer's, a gay manager's, or a transvestite impersonator's first life knows of what exactly happens in their second lives. Especially so for the customer, whose first life friends and family are not aware of their whereabouts on those nights spent in the second life.

The second life is a secret that can not be revealed to the first life. It is a secret that the first life can not understand, and would refuse to comprehend and accept, especially with its preconceived notions of dark, seedy macho-dancing gay bar. It is a secret that can't be merged with the first life -- like inviting your boyfriend macho dancer to your cousin's wedding, or introducing your matrona lover to your childhood sweetheart, the mother of your kids.

The first with the second can never work. Thus, the second is always kept hidden, in the darkness of the midnight, inside the gay bar.  

And even this second life of mine is only a secret, which I keep in this blog. A blog which writes about our secret lives -- 

A mother in her 50s by day who becomes a matrona who feels 30 by night.

A manly serious desk manager by day, lusty screaming fag by night.

A doting over-protective uncle by day, a so-called pimp mamasan by night.

A husband by day, a macho dancer by night.

We, in the gay bars, all live double lives.

GB Goer
Learn more: Lessons from Gay Bars in Manila
http://machosandhostos.blogspot.com/
email: char.affairs@gmail.com

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Photocredit: http://www.123rf.com/photo_8655635_closeup-portrait-of-a-handsome-young-man-looking-himself-in-the-mirror.html

Our Double Lives: Part 1

(a personal, reflective post)

I live a double life.

The first is filled with eighty emails a day, cellphone calls from colleagues, powerpoint presentations, sales figures, and the daydream of a future promotion. It is a life where the oblivious aunt asks during another Easter holiday reunion of your conservative family who your girlfriend is and when you plan to get married, despite the fact that you have been gay and in the closet since you were born. It is a life that gets bored by the routine stories of college friends about who transferred to which company or who got happily engaged to her boyfriend of 6 years or who has the update on the latest episode of some juvenile TV show from the US. It is a life which eagerly awaits for the Zara sale, even if you've allocated your salary for the latest Apple gadget or the next condo payment. 

It is a life that funds and pays for the other life.

The other one is filled with text messages of "muzta" or "miz na u", sometimes ending with "jejeje," which you don't get in your first life. It is a life that starts around midnight, with a call from your gal or gay pals, that sort of casts a spell, and transforms your group into mad creatures of the night. It is a life that usually wonders if the bar has newbie talents since you last came, or if the dimpled shy-type guy you've tabled previously is still available that night, or if the hunky half-nude guy you've been eyeing for two weeks is worthy of being "tabled." It is a life that makes you empathic about reaching the sales quota of MD drinks despite a slow week, buying a new attire for the big night event that coming weekend, and calculating if the past week's P500 tip can pay off one's rent or electricity bills. 

It is a life that comes alive at night when the other retires for the day.

And this second life is in a world that's also shared by similar second lives of the others in it.

This world permits gay office workers or businessmen to live out a fantasy of seeing some live nude men dancing in front of him. This world can make a reserved mother live out her queenly gay side amidst boys and other queens. It allows a Koreana matrona to spend time with her boytoy without her husband in her home country knowing. It can even give a bride-to-be her so-called last taste of freedom with other hunky men before being tied down to the man of her dreams.

But, it is not just us, the customers, with seemingly second lives.

(to be continued...)

GB Goer
Learn more: Lessons from Gay Bars in Manila
http://machosandhostos.blogspot.com/
email: char.affairs@gmail.com

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Photocredit: http://www.123rf.com/photo_8655635_closeup-portrait-of-a-handsome-young-man-looking-himself-in-the-mirror.html

Naisip Mo Na Bang Mag-Artista?

Guwapo. Check.
Maganda ang katawan. Check.
May talent, tulad ng pagsayaw. Check.
Hindi mahiyain. Check.
Magaling humarap sa tao. Check.
May potential magkaroon ng fans. Check.

Mga katangian ng isang artistahin? Pwede. Ngunit, sa listahang ito, mas iniisip ko ang mga katangian ng isang magaling na macho dancer. Check.

Kung iisipin, mukhang pareho ang hinahanap sa isang matinee idol material at sa mga MD. Sa guwapo ba nilang yan, syempre hindi ba't maaari silang maging matinee idol o kapareha ng love team o action star? Kaya’t hindi malayong maitanong ko sa mga macho dancers na aking nakakasalamuha: “Naisip mo na bang mag artista?”

A Macho Dancer's Solution

Russell*, a macho dancer in one of Pasay's gay bars, asked me if I could help him. He was not earning anymore in his bar due to low sales (which is being experienced generally in most big gay bars in the area nowadays). He was planning to transfer to another gay bar, the "Answer for the Emotionall Needy" (ATEN), which he also heard through the gay bar grapevine is really strong. And to enter the bar, he needed a customer to accompany him.

That's why he texted me: "Musta? Pwede mo ba ako samahan sa ATEN? Apply lang ako... (How are you? Can you accompany me to ATEN? I'll just apply...)"   

This was not the first time I heard that for a macho dancer to apply to that particular bar, he had to bring along a guest with him. Anyone can apply, I think, but it'll be easier to be accepted if the bar is assured of new revenue coming in, in the form of a customer.

Being the "ka-tropa" (a friend from a group or "gang mate") of the macho dancers I have encountered lately, I obliged to his favor. Besides, I was really curious how this unique set-up would work out. I haven't been used as a way to apply to a new bar.

What happened next, after the jump:

Those Cock-loving Caucasian Customers

The gay bar in Paranaque was rocked by a group of visitors last Friday night. The group consisted of a gay guy and two women, in their 30s. They were seated right in front of the stage. They were cheering on every dancer who came up on-stage, while about three male dancers were seated (or “tabled”) with them. They seemed to have a good time. They were white foreigners.

On the average, I’ve seen only about one group of Caucasians for every month. White foreigners are not that a common occurrence in Manila’s gay bars as compared to the Koreans in Manila’s gay bars or to the whites in Bangkok’s male go-go bars. But few as they are, these visitors could create a bit of commotion when inside the bar.

What they did, continue reading after the jump:

Weak Nights

Last night, my friend Mary was inviting me to come with her to “Home Base”, the gay bar. She intended to go to the bar, and was hoping that I’d join her.  The bar would’ve  gladly been graced by my presence, but I, the GB Goer, had to decline as I had early commitments the next day.

My commitments? Work. She invited me on a Wednesday night.

Just like any night out with friends, gay bar going is often a weekend activity. When friends ask themselves when they’d finally do their macho dancer watching adventure, they’d choose either Friday or Saturday. Or Friday AND Saturday, especially for boy-addicts like us friends. And in those freewheeling nights, the gay bars are expected to be packed.

But who goes on a weekday night?

“Us,” Mary would instantly answer, given the question. True enough, it wouldn’t be my first weekday gay bar adventure if I decided to join her last night. Since I declined the tempting offer, I just asked her to give updates on the events in the bar.

What “events”? Apparently, it happened to be an uneventful night in the bar, typical of weekday nights.

Like last night, as only about three or four tables were occupied, according to Mary. A group of lady office workers looking for an after-work night out. A lonely gay guy, on his 3^rd bottle of beer, who didn’t have access to porn. Two mature burly men who look more like undercover policemen or barangay tanod on their day-off. A trio of Caucasian male tourists who were looking for some gay action in Manila.  

Even if there were customers, they’d be mere observers of dancing men. Either they arrive way too early before midnight and just stay for an hour, or they’d come in and stay longer, but without “tabling” a dancer. These customers, termed by the bar as coming from a “Tanawan, Batangas (provincial town translated as ‘viewer’)”, might not want to spend the night with boys, as they might have next-day commitments (just like me), on a tight budget, or simply not interested.

On these slow nights, the macho dancers know that money won’t be flowing in. Out of the thirty or so employed boys, only about five would be lucky enough to be “tabled” on weekday nights. The others would just wait in the dressing room, watch TV, chat, text their lovers or customers, or sleep even if prohibited.

Thus, those who are “bangkay” (corpse / zombie) on consecutive nights would often feel too lazy to come to work. “Wala namang kita, bakit pa ako papasok? (There’s no income, so why come to work?)” would often be the real excuse of not showing up for work on our, the customer’s, work night.  

And to unwind is what we, gay bar patrons going on weekday nights, seek. Wouldn’t it be nice to grab two bottles of beer with a hunky man comforting you (or at least pretending to) after a stressful day?

Besides, there’s less competition on weekday nights. The more popular macho dancers are often “tabled” early by newcomers or their regular guests on packed weekends. So if one fancies a particular boy who was unavailable the first time he or she went to the bar, then maybe a weekday visit might open an opportunity for him or her to solo the boy for an entire night.  

Just how Mary felt last night – sitting relaxed beside her chosen partner, “Cap”, without the preying eyes of GB Goer and our friend Ringo. She could’ve even gotten our often-tabled “Beatty” behind our backs, whom she has been eyeing since we first saw his now-famous pole-dancing routine.

So now, as I am writing this post, I’m getting envious that she experienced being alone with her beloved last night. A simple invitation to go to the nearest gay bar bar can make any MD-addict weak, even on a weekday night. It’s already 9:30 PM on a Thursday night, and I am waiting for her call. But it’s still workday Friday tomorrow, I might debate. Yeah, as if it has never stopped me from going before.

GB Goer
Learn more: Lessons from Gay Bars in Manila
http://machosandhostos.blogspot.com/
email: char.affairs@gmail.com

Bikini Blues

Panahon na ng summer o tag-init sa Pilipinas. At siyempre, sa industriya ng gay bar, sa panahong ito naglilipana ang samu't saring bikini open na ginaganap sa mga "big night" event ng bar. Sa isip-isip ng mga may-ari ng gay bar,  papatok sigurado ito sa mga matrona at baklang tigang, makakita lang ng mga lalaking naka-jubad. Kaya't pampa-attract ng customer, taun-taon nila ito ginagawa.

Kung gaanong ikinatutuwa ng mga customer ang event na ito, ganoon naman ikinasasakit ng ulo ng mga ilang nagtatrabaho sa gay bar ang mga event na ito. Sa pakikipag-usap ko sa ilang mga macho dancers, ito ang mga natutunan ko kung bakit nila kinaiinisan ang mga big night tulad ng bikini open:

• Rehearsal na naman?: "E kaka-big night lang noong nakaraang linggo?" Ito ang madalas nilang reklamo. Syempre, sa isang event, kailangang mag-ensayo ang mga lalaki sa kanilang mga bagong summer-themed choreography o pag-rampa o blocking sa stage. Ibig sabihin nito, papasok muli sila nang mas maaga, dalawang oras bago ang opening ng bar. Hindi lang isang araw, kundi buong lingo bago ang event. Mababawasan sila ng oras ng tulog at "mapupuyat." Minsan, kung late, may kaltas pa sa daily budget at pagagalitan.   
• Hindi isasali ang mga hindi maganda ang katawan: Kung may tiyan, tanggal. Kung patpat, tanggal. Hindi lahat ng macho dancer sa bar kasali; mga 15 lang mula sa 30. Malas naman ng mga tanggal, ang unang iisipin. Actually, iniisip ng mga hindi kasali na swerte pa nga sila. At least, walang pressure sa rehearsal at sa paghatak ng customer. Makatutulog pa sila nang mas matagal. Pampalaki rin ng tiyan yun. 
• May bikini ka na, may kaltas ka pa: Madalas, ang bar ang magbibigay ng bikining isusuot ng mga macho dancers na kasali sa competition. Iisipin ng mga kalahok, uy salamat sa bago kong bikini na hindi ko naman maisusuot sa beach. Kala nila thank you lang yun? Hindi, ikakaltas ng bar sa budget na nga nilang maliit ang presyo ng bikini. Hindi ko lang alam kung gawain yan sa mga iba ring bar.
• Bagsakan ng drinks ang labanan: Syempre dahil bikini open, pagandahan ng katawan ang labanan, diba? May mga judges naman na mag-determine kung sino mananalo, diba? Mali. Kahit may judges, mga 25%-50% lang ang boto nila. Pera-pera ang labanan, at idadaan ito sa bagsakan ng drinks mula sa guest. Kung sinong contestant ang may pinakamalaking naipasok na benta ng drinks, siya ang mananalo.    
• Saan naman ako hahatak ng customer: Dahil event ito at bagsakan ng drinks ang labanan, kailangang magyaya ang macho dancer ng kani-kaniyang customer. Kaso, nahihiyang mag-imbita ng guest ang karamihan ng macho dancer, at kailangan pa nilang kapalan ang mukha para mag-aya. Baka raw isipin ng guest na piniperahan lang sila para manalo sa competition. Saan naman lulugar ang naiipit na macho dancer sa sitwasyong ito?

Matapos naman ang bikini open na event, naisip niyo ba kung saan napupunta ang mga bikini? Syempre, sa mga macho dancers na yun. Maaari naman nilang gamitin yun sa kanilang pagsasayaw. At least, may ipampapalit na siya sa bawat gabi. 

Eh paano kung madalas may competition na kailangang mag-bikini na ibibigay ng gay bar? Siguradong magtatambakan lang ng samu't saring saluwal ang aparador ng macho dancer sa kanilang bahay. May blue. May pink. May zebra stripes. May glittery. May t-back. May print ng "Kiss Me" sa harap. Sa sobrang dami na ng makukulay at magagarang underwear ng mga MD, ibinibigay na lang nila ang mga iba sa mga kaibigan o sa mga baguhan. Yung mga baguhan na lang mamroblema kung saan itatago ang mga bikining nakakahiyan namang isuot sa labas.  

Syempre, kailangang itago ang mga iyon, lalo na sa mga bahay ng mga macho dancer na hindi alam ang kanilang tunay na trabaho. Nang itanong ko kung sino ang naglalaba ng mga underwear, sinabi ng isa na siya mismo ang naglalaba para walang makakita. Yung isa naman, nahihiya pa niyang sagot, "Yung nanay ko kasi siya naglalaba ng lahat ng damit ko." Nabuking kaya siya? "Hindi na lang tinanong ng nanay ko kung saan nanggaling yun," dagdag niya. "Eh paano ba naman, kung wala ka ring panahong maglaba ng damit, makikita rin yun na nakatambak kasama ang mga nagamit ko nang damit?"

Siguradong maglilipana na ulit ngayong tag-init ang mga iba't ibang klaseng bikini. Kahit hindi na ito usong isuot ng mga lalaking nagpupunta sa beach, mapipilit pa rin mauso ito ng mga gay bar dahil sa mga big night event nila. Kung ito ang siyang nagpapaligaya sa mga nag-iinit na customer, ito rin naman ang siyang nagpapa-init ng ulo ng mga macho dancer.

GB Goer
Learn more: Lessons from Gay Bars in Manila
http://machosandhostos.blogspot.com/
email: char.affairs@gmail.com

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Photocredit: "Blue Bikini" by Jeff Boss (http://fineartamerica.com/featured/blue-bikini-jeff-boss.html)

The Tale of The Crazy Matron Patrons

Once upon a time, in a far away land called Manila, there lived a young gay princess who, on weekend nights, went around the taverns of Manila's various towns. These little taverns, called "gay bars" by the locals, housed all types of men that catered to the fantasies of other gay queens. In those taverns, there were macho princes in underwears, knights in shining boots, and young emperors who always wore their new clothes.

The young gay princess traveled from gay bar to gay bar, with his two fairy godmothers, Mary and Ringo, in search of their one true loves. In each visit, they were greeted warmly by the townspeople, both by the transvestite performers and the handsome valor men, who often shared stories about their adventures as knights and princes.

One such tale that was frequently recounted were the mad visitors from far away lands who became regular patrons of the taverns. These mad visitors were not the gay men which the taverns try to attract, or the low-key women in their late 40s above, also known as the "matrona", looking for some companionship. These unique visitors were yes, matronas, but who were actually mad witches in regal queen's clothing. The townspeople referred to them as "crazy matronas."



The crazy matrona in the fairy tale gay bar

Read more about these crazy matron patrons, after the jump:

Macho-Go-Round in Manila

Musical Chairs with Macho Dancers, anyone?

 A year after going around the macho dancer gay bars of Manila, my friend Ringo and I couldn’t decide where to spend our night last Saturday. There was no question that we’d go to a gay bar; the question then was which.

We drove through Manila’s dark streets, as we crossed out each gay bar that we passed by – “Kingdom Come” lacked interesting boys, “Answers for the Emotionally Needy” (ATEN) didn’t have parking, Quezon City was too far, “Mexican Knife” too slasher-suspense-movie scary. We contemplated on going back to “Home Base,” but after four visits in the previous seven days, we wanted to explore other men in other gay bars.

Then we found out the new “Lord II” opened that night.

The story and realizations, after the jump:

Area

When talking about gay bars of Manila, most of the written articles and chit-chats revolve around macho dancers, particularly about their poverty-stricken origins, their unique form of dance, and heck, even their dick sizes. Ask any gay bar goer, typically a gay guy or matrona or Koreana, for why they went to a gay bar in the first place, and you get various reasons like “to satisfy my curiosity”, “to see a live dick”, “to have someone to talk to”, “to fall in love.” Of course, macho dancers become top of mind when the topic is about gay bars.

However, little is mentioned about those others performing in the gay bar, those with the same night-shift work schedules, who share the same stage and entertain the same audience, as the macho dancers.

“Sino yang mga yan? (Who are they?)” might be asked by puzzled first time gay bar goers, who went to that bar to see some naked muscular men. After sets of erect dicks on stage, these customers would be seeing fully-clothed effeminates doing drag or fully-clothed boys doing hiphop.

They’re employed by the bar, along with the macho men, and they're there to entertain. As "commercial breaks", they give sort of a breather to the continuous flow of half-naked men dancing routinely under the spotlight.



Those who go "area": (1) All-the-way men who don't get tabled often,
(2) Drag queen impersonators, (3) Hiphop dance groups



On-stage, the tranny impersonators might do a burlesque show or lip-synching divas concert. The hiphop group dancers might do a medley of latest radio hits. And right after a one-song performance onstage, they would go down the stage with the second song as their cue. This is the so-called bar term "area" (or “ehr-ya”, as how the gay bar employees pronounce it).

It's a term commonly used in gay bars: "Ayan, mag-a-area na ang mga impersonator (The impersonators will now go on 'area')" or "Ang lakas nila humingi ng pera kapag nag-area (Those dancers ask for too much money when they 'area')".

When they "area" (yes, a noun used as a verb), each of the group’s members would be assigned “areas” inside the gay bar with a little bag or cap in their hands. They approach a customer's group, like yours for instance, either with a smile or a little plea, and hope that you give them some tip or change. The drag queens might seduce with a brief dance in front of you. A member of the dance crew might use their boyish charms. And after your generous action (or inaction), they move on to the next table and to the next, until they’ve gone through all the customers before their song would end.

Collecting tips from customers via doing “area” is a way for these in the periphery to augment their daily income, which they split evenly among themselves. Sure, the bar pays these impersonators and group dancers for their performances, but the top of the pay roll would always be the macho dancers. But unlike the macho dancers, they don't collect commission from the drinks from the customers, nor get the much higher tips. Heck, they don't even get extravagant gifts from crazy-in-love guests outside the bar. What do these impersonators or group dancers, and to some extent, the not-so-handsome all-the-way tigas boys get from the customers? Much smaller than the MDs, if not, none.

For them, the tips they collect reflect the generosity of the customers. They know how the gay bar’s patrons are always loaded, just by how the MD drinks are priced. “Nagtatapon naman sila ng pera, bakit hindi rin makakuha? (They’re throwing away money, so why not get some of those)” as remarked by one. They also seem drawn to foreigners, as much larger tips are given by caucasian foreigners who seem to be easily entertained. For some customers, these acts of begging may seem like little ways of extorting money from them. Of course, there are the choosy customers who’d select who to give and how much, if ever they’d decide to be generous. A simple "no" or slight wave of the customer's hands automatically signals these dancers to leave.

The tips also give an indication of the bar’s financial situation. No customers for weeks, no tips.

“Nagkaroon ng time, halos walang customer na nagpupunta. Yung P100 na tip nung isa, pinaghahatian pa namin. Mas maliit pa yung tip kaysa sa biyahe. (There was a time, the bar was empty without any customers. We had to share the P100 given to us. What we got was smaller than the fare going to the bar),” as the tranny impersonator shared. This was at the height of the rainy season, when people would rather stay home than go out, and at the same months before the holiday season, when people would save their money for the following months’ spending. This was also the time when our group found another gay bar, with other men to spend our money at.

In a place where money seemed to be flowing freely night after night, there are those who don't benefit that much -- the drag queen impersonators, the dance groups, the all-the-way boys. The maximum P100 tips each group gets per customer (which they still split among them) are way smaller than the minimum P500 each macho dancer gets from their guests. Sex does sell, it seems.

Sure, they entertain the audiences, just as the macho men do. But it's a fact they accept that they are not the main reasons why patrons go to these macho dancing gay bars. Their performances are simply "commercial breaks" to the repetitive, routine live acts, and similarly, do we pay attention to the breaks on TV?

Why not? They may be more entertaining than the main show.

Photocredits:

http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1569R-100011

http://playshop.playevent.no/dcv/manila%20luzon%20drag%20queen%20real%20name.html

http://www.our-random-lives.blogspot.com/

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GB Goer

Learn more: Lessons from Gay Bars in Manila

http://machosandhostos.blogspot.com/

email: char.affairs@gmail.com

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How It All Started: Part 2

I was still a gay bar virgin in the afternoon of March 6, 2010.

And as with any first time experience, all I could feel was a mix of fear, excitement, nervousness, and anticipation. Layer upon layer of emotion kept building up, as time progressed from the afternoon until the evening.

The drive to the bar was somewhat nerve-wracking – I didn’t know what I’d see (or if someone I knew might see me there), if I’d get a boy and how he might look, and what could be done inside.

But Mary assured me: “Kahit walang pansinan o paki-alamanan. Wala ring lalabas kung ano mangyayari sa loob. (We won’t mind what each of us would do. Whatever would happen inside the bar would stay there).”

Arriving at “Home Base” around 10PM, we parked right in front of the bar, and it took some time before we left our cars. Checking out the mirror if the hair was all neat. Fixing up the creases on the clothes. Last minute spray of perfume. We all had superficial reasons not to leave our cars yet, but I guess all of us just didn’t want to enter the gay bar’s doors alone.

Then, someone said, “Okay. Let’s go.”

What happened next, after the jump: