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We had a typical Easter in Subic Bay. Beginning Maudy Thursday the beaches were packed. Good Friday was truly raucous as thousands of people descended on the area taxing all resources. Hotels and restaurants were all bursting with activity. Roads were a nightmare. The toll booths on the expressway were backed up for hours as people waited to get into SBMA. Barrio Barretto was bumper to bumper several kilometers both directions during the four-day holiday. Simulating the world-wide economic slowdown Subic's tourism has been less than stellar this past year. Fewer people visit, stay shorter periods of time and have less to spend. This applies to foreign and domestic tourism. So a good Holy Week benefited the entire community.

Mango's has been utilizing the beach property next door for these past few months. Volleyball, pageants and concerts plus the VFW Beach Bash have occupied this area making for some nice days and evenings.

Weekly Saturday night concerts by a local reggae band have been very popular. Herb Culture won the battle of the Bands held at the VFW beach bash in February and began playing Mango's. Then on Monday night April 5th we presented a five band lineup led by the A-list Manila band Tropical Depression. Jahmoca, Grassroots, Brown Outfit Bureau and Herb Culture completed the all reggae line-up.

The last Saturday in March HBO Asia sponsored an extravagant event promoting their ten part mini-series, The Pacific. Held outside at Mango's Beach Resort it included events for the whole family. Children were digging in the sand for prizes. Mothers were bobbing in tubs of water for tiny grenades. Couples danced the night away to two top local groups, Herb Culture and Rebirth Polarity Band. Trev Vegerano of Asian Vision packaged the program for the local community particularly targeting retired military members.. Naturally, 'The General' made an appearance in his World War 2 era jeep. The Pacific is based on true stories of World War 2 marines. It draws much from two books, Okinawa by Eugene Sledge and Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie. It was produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. Band of Brothers author Stephen E. Ambrose served as a consultant. Part one of "The Pacific' will air Saturday, April 10th at 11 AM with new episodes every successive Saturday.

The Fleet Reserve Association annual Fralics were a success again this year. The chili cook-off had ten teams. Other competitions were a golf tournament held at the nearby San Antonio Golf Course, plus darts, pool, horseshoe and volleyball tournaments. Sunday has highlighted by the FRA Beauty competition with ten contestants.

The golf course most locals frequent is San Antonio. It is located on the former American base, San Miguel Communications Station. The base itself is now a Philippine Naval training school. The golf course is managed by the Philippine military. The US course had just nine holes. In 1999 it was expanded to 12 holes. In the past year it was again enlarged to 18. The latest addition made it much more challenging than it once was. This time of year, with no rain for months, the fairways are dead and brown. But you get some incredible rolls on your drives. The greens get watered so they are bright emerald and manicured. The course is located near the beach on the South China Sea. For this reason the sandy soil drains well during the monsoon season. A round of golf for a non-member is roughly $15 with an additional $6 paid to your caddy.

We recently leased out the area of Mango's where the Rock Lobster disco was. It has since been re-named Keith's Place. Keith completely changed, modernized and improved the lay-out. Removing the pool table he had a lot of space to work with. He's got some lovely ladies performing on the new dance floor. Be sure and check it out when you visit the area.

The success of the new Mango's beach bar enabled us to let the disco out. The relaxed atmosphere of that bar has garnered a huge following. Jimmy Buffet, Bob Marley and classic rock oozing from the speakers enhances an already laid back mood. Between songs there is the sound of the waves hitting the sand. There are some gorgeous waitresses to serve and talk with customers. They work an eight hour shift and what they do in their off hours is their own affair. Monday we serve all beers 3 for P99 or in dollars 3 beers for $2 and change.

Long time Barrio resident Tony Bott recently revisited Barretto with his wife Jane and young son Karoo. Tony began living here in the 70's and started the legendary bar Midnight Rambler. Health issues forced him back to Australia in the late 90's. Their return put smiles on everyone's faces.

On May 10th the Philippines votes for President, VP, half the 24 senate seats and all mayors and other local officials. The entire country is papered with election posters. There are no bare walls or poles. There are three front runners for president, Manny Villar, millionaire and senate president, Noynoy Aquino, son of Cory and a senator not even considered until her death late last year. Joeseph Estrada is running 3rd. He was the one chased from office in the second people power revolt and later convicted of plunder. Gloria Arroyo later pardoned him if he promised not to run for office. His motorcade passed Mango's last week. Our own local Dick Gordon, currently a senator is running with only 3%.

The preferred form of campaigning is to get the longest motorcade possible, put people in your campaign color, decorate the vehicles and jam the highways and make as much noise as possible. It then culminates in a city park where the candidates and their celebrity supporters usually sing and dance. Because of our location on a National Highway all candidates pass Mango's. Gordon's motorcade was at least 10 kilometers long earlier in the week.

Yesterday Noynoy Aquino came by. The campaign is obviously well funded and organized. He stood in the back of a jeep and rolled by waving. I usually don't bother but yesterday I walked out in the highway and high--fived the dude. His aide gave Corina the banner pictured here.

Delicioso, Delizioso, Utsökt, Oishii, Aroi mak, Masarap .... Whatever language you choose to say it in, SBMA's newest restaurant is putting out some top shelf food. Located across from Scuba Shack on Waterfront Road, Texas Joe's took their sweet time getting open. But it was worth the wait. They have mastered all aspects of the food-service business. The equipment was all imported. The ovens they use to cook their meat are Southern Pride Smoke Ovens, which are used by all the top smokehouses in the USA, including Famous Dave's. The rest of their stoves, broilers, warmers, refrigeration, come from the US. You won't find any wok's sitting on a gas burner in their kitchen.

The menu focuses on barbecue. Hickory smoked ribs, briskets of beef, barbecued chicken. Savory flavors that tantalize your palate. All are cooked authentically with smoke, not boiled as is done in some rib joints. The ribs are imported from Brazil and loaded with meat. Joe is selling 1000 kilos a month of these. Menu choices also feature the same meats on sandwiches, dripping in succulent sauces.

The sidings enjoy the same precision that is applied to the entrees. Corn on the cob that melts in your mouth. Cole slaw that puts that chicken place to shame. Garlic mashed potatoes with distinctive background flavors.

Other bill of fare choices include a chili made from smoked beef brisket. Then there are the nachos. Texas Joe makes his own chips topped with all the good stuff from cheeses and olives to jalapeños and sour cream. Masarap indeed.

Now for the extras. Joe's staff is well-trained, decked out, dressed as cowboys and cowgirls who know their stuff. They can describe what is available. They repeat your order back to you. They are attentive without being intrusive. The restaurant décor inside and out is straight out of The Alamo. In the background Patsy Cline may croon 'Crazy' or Patti Page may cry 'Tennessee Waltz.' All very nifty.

Like the equipment the manager was imported from Hawaii where Gil spent twenty years learning his trade at Tony Roma's. He brought all those skills with him to Subic Bay and is there to assist you.

Hot tip of the month: Check out Texas Joe's. Closed Mondays. Open weekdays 11 AM to 10 PM. Weekends until 11 PM. 252-3189. info@texasjoes.com www.texasjoes.com

Tropical storm Ondoy hit Luzon and parts of Metro Manila on Saturday, September 26th and brought floods, jammed traffic, landslides, and death. It left a wide swath of destruction. 280 are now confirmed dead. 680,000 people are living in 700 temporary shelters. Rescue efforts saw military helicopters and rubber boats fan out across the sprawling city of 12 million residents to pluck people off houses and car roofs. At one point 80% of the country’s capital city was under water after 13.6 inches of rain fell in a 6 hour period.

The Zambales mountain range protected the Olongapo area from the worst of the deluge. Still northern Zambales and Botolan in particular were once again whacked by overflowing rivers. Botolan was originally smacked by a typhoon on August 6. This city of 58,000 residents ended up with 16 evacuation centers housing thousands of people. Five hundred families have still not received any relief goods.

Locally the Retired Services League and the Masonic Disaster Management Committee have coordinated the gathering of old clothes, food and whatever people can part with to try and ease the suffering. The focus is on our neighbors in Zambales who have fallen off the radar screen because of the horrific problems facing Manila. For further information contact Russell Palmer at parrainpi@hotmail.com

This year’s 18th annual Barrio Barretto Beach Bash will be held February 3rd through February 7th. Pool tournaments, dart competitions, battle of bands, dragon boat races, trivia challenges, raffles, cheerleading, singing and dance competitions and the grand parade will all be part of the 4 day event. It will again be held on the beach behind Mango’s and Palm Tree. This event is one of the highlights of the year and here you can see why.

On Friday night, November 20th Masonic Lodge will host a Bikini Open pageant on a stage located on Mango’s beach. This is one of their annual fundraising events for burned and crippled children.

The Dynamic Women’s Organization will also be using our beach area for a fund-raising volleyball tournament the day following the Bikini Open. Local schools and out-of-school youth will be entering teams. Two separate groupings based on age will join the matches. This Saturday and Sunday event will also include a pool tournament and dance competition. The Dynamic Women’s Organization manages a host of projects for local children including scholarship, feeding programs, livelihood training seminars and Christmas gift packages for poor families. Funds raised go towards these projects.

Savers Mart has already opened for business. Specializing in electronics and appliances they also carry a large inventory of furniture. TVs stereos, fans, refrigerators, slow cookers, air conditioners are now right down the street making a trip to Olongapo obsolete.

A huge hospital is also opening right along the highway beside Makinaya creek. It’s the most ambitious project to ever come to this area. It appears to be about 80% complete.

Coors Light beer also came to the barrio a few months back. It’s doing surprisingly well especially with the people who had been drinking San Miguel Light.

Below are three articles originally printed in our local barrio magazine and used by the permission of the author. They give more ideas on ‘Things to do in Subic Bay.”

Looking for fun stuff for your children to do? The twenty-eight horses at El Kabayo are waiting for you and your family. Complete with the white fences, corrals and wrangler bunk houses this is a little slice of Kentucky nestled into a valley on SBMA. Leisure trail rides are available as well as riding lessons. The skill level of you or your child is first determined. Then a Negrito hustles off to bring back the horses. A beginning buckaroo has the horse led whereas the experienced wrangler can ride on his own. Safety helmets are provided.

The trails are outrageously gorgeous. Dubbed forests they are still our Philippine jungles. They come complete with the lush greens, muggy temperatures and a stillness broken only by the Tarzan soundtrack playing off in the distance. The sense of solitude is relaxing. Thirty minute rides and hour long excursions are available at P350 and P700. The longer circuits pass by mountain streams. You can visit a waterfall where a dip in the cool, spring water is a recommended option.

If you are just out for a Sunday spin the El Kabayo compound is worth a stop. If you have young children, stroll through the stables and experience the sights and smells of the animals in their day to day environment. El Kabayo is open 9-6 daily. School discounts and outings are available. Their SBMA landline is (047) 252-1050. The main man is a personable Gabby Lao whose cell number is 09-17-834-4054

We first visited Zoobic Safari located deep in the SBMA rainforest, in 2004, when they first opened. At the time they featured five attractions. They now have ten. Upon entering you are assigned a guide who does a brief orientation on what your day will include. You then commence a walking tour of Zoobic Park. You pass all kinds of animals including camels, lions, warty pigs, Bolivian alpacas, miniature horses, an Asian leopard, a puma, an otter, a bear cat and a mouse deer.

There was also a cassowary bird from Australia, the third tallest, second heaviest in the bird kingdom. When disturbed they are capable of inflicting serious injuries on dogs and small children. The other cool animal and crowd pleaser was the Japanese deer. This guy is very still and does not mind people around him. Kids all had to have their pictures taken with him. His antlers felt like velvet.

Still in the forest you now pass into Rodent World and see cloud rats, porcupines, hedge hogs, tree squirrels and ferrets. This is followed by the Serpentarium located in the cool, shaded environment of a former US Navy ammunition bunker. You see corn snakes, milk snakes, California kings, green iguanas, monitor lizards and Burmese pythons. The star of this attraction is the albino python that is nearly orange.

From here you can either take your own vehicle of the mini train (P50) on a short drive to the tigers. Much has been made of the caged jeepney drive through Tiger Park and it is different. Last time they used a live chicken to entice the animals to jump on the jeep. Since then animal rights people have made them use a dressed dead chicken. (Presumably procured following a cockfight)

It's a 50 meter walk to the tiger cages. Their smell is pungent. Our guide said, 'Watch their tails, if they lift and point at you they can let loose and urinate and you smell like pee for days." At one point a tiger just roared at another invading his space. We all jumped. These guys’ heads and paws are huge.

There's a museum with stuffed animals or the skeletons of animals. An odd venue. This is followed by the Aeta trail where the Aeta's do a priceless, entertaining monkey dance. You finish up at Croco Loco where you walk on bridges over the top of 200 fresh water crocodiles. The entire tour took 2 1/2 hours. The kids loved it. Zoobic is open 8-4 daily. Entrance is P449 for adults and P349 for children under 4 feet tall.

The newest family oriented tourist attraction on SBMA is Jungle Joe's. Before we visited I asked a father who had taken his children how it was and he answered, "It was hot and they don't serve beer." While both these observations are true it doesn't do the facility justice. Located deep in the Naval Magazine rain forest it is near Zoobic Safari. We arrived at opening, 9 AM, so we could beat some of the inevitable summer heat. The price is 280 pesos a person regardless of age. This included three free coca-cola products at the many kiosks spread throughout the park. In fact Coke seems to be intimately linked to the Jungle Joe operation.

Located over several hectors a toy train takes you on an overall trip to acquaint yourself with its many facets. There are multiple outdoor play areas interspersed with air conditioned attractions inside the former ammunition bunkers the Navy used. The outside play areas have the big toys. Logs, ropes, tire tunnels, swing sets, tree houses, playhouses, tunnel labyrinths, climbing walls, forts, slides, hideaways, gym sets, all designed to keep kids entertained and busy. There are also areas with the outdoor inflatables. The climbing walls, springing moon bouncers, jump'n dodge balls, bounce houses and castles. The soundtrack to High School Musical plays continuously throughout these locales.

Another outdoor inducement is the Jurassic Trail. It is a hike along a jungle trail, thick with foliage and old growth trees, spaced with concrete dinosaurs. There are invisible speakers making dinosaur noises. Kind of creepy and kind of cool. Scared our 6 year old.

Spread among all these outdoor play spots are the former ammunition bunkers. All are air conditioned. One has more bouncing toys and trampolines. (Make sure your children bring socks) They must take their shoes off and if they don't have socks mom or dad buys Jungle Joe socks. There is also a raceway in a bunker. There are gravity bikes that go round a runway. The building mercifully has places for parents to sit. One is called Winter Wonderland and does it's best to recreate the North Pole with Santa and his helpers but was not all that interesting. But the Playhouse Theater was. Inside this bunker is a movie house. Disney movies play continuously. The chairs are all beanbags and it's not hard to fall asleep. They do sell popcorn. Several other attractions are under construction. There is a disco and a huge castle under way.

The day involves lots of walking. (They rent bikes) We spent a total of four hours at Jungle Joe's. Unlike the 23 story Hanjin employees dormitory monstrosity being built in the middle of this sacred rain forest, Jungle Joe's is exactly how this gorgeous area should be utilized.

Macho Dancers Stroke Barrio - When the US Navy departed in 1992 there were seventy-six (76) bars operating in Barrio Barretto. Only twelve of these were go-go type establishments with dancers. Barretto currently has thirty-one bars, seventeen of which are go-go clubs. In the base days there were no saloons with male dancers. We have recently been blessed with our first in the Hot Shot Hooters club.

The lounge is small and has 15 tables seating two customers each. The lighting is adequate and the music is not bad. The dance floor is a good fit for the size of the room. There is only one comfort room. Beer is 120 pesos. Juice is P140. Gentlemen’s drinks are P250. Chicken wings are P210.

Hot Shot Hooters has twenty male dancers. They seem to be mostly from Manila. They are 18 years old to early twenties. Their costumes are far from revealing. Tank-tops and cutoffs were common. The dancing was not overly sexual. Several blokes could really dance. For the most part however it was the ‘Philippine shuffle’ that is common among women dancers. No one would confuse them with Chippendale workers.

At 10 PM the dancers take the stage. Not a lot of clientele. A small coven of gays in the darkest corner. Around 1 AM the girls started pouring in. Small parties of friends deciding to walk on the wild side. The girls select guys to join them at the table or dance with them. Flirty conversation earns them ‘gentlemen’ drinks. We all wondered if these guys get licenses and are tested for health issues as are female entertainers. A few foreign men of various nationalities were in the crowd. Some had dates. Some did not. Barrio Barretto now has something for everyone.

Since our last update many merchant ships have docked in Subic bay including Pecos, Essex, Harpers ferry, Rappahanock, Bruce Heezen, Stockham, Denver, Concorde, Summer and the West Pac

We currently have twenty-five ships anchored around the bay. These are ships which usually haul cargo throughout Asia. Economic conditions have made them unnecessary. Apparently it is cheaper to anchor them with minimum crews instead of running them. SBMA is reportedly charging them $800 a day in fees. It’s really a site to see all those vessels in the bay. For more info see a related story on our Local News page.

Rock Lobster held a 22 year anniversary party in November making it one of the longest operating establishments in the Barretto area. People came out of the woodwork to celebrate. Opening in 1986 at the corner of National Highway and Cagayan Street it continued at that location until the US Navy departed in 1992. Rock Lobster reopened the following year in Mango’s where it currently resides. Check out the festivities photos on our main page.

Bars and restaurants keep opening in Barrio Barretto. Crusty Loaf Bakery became the Mosquito bar. The old VFW canteen building is now called Sit n Bull. Dryden’s restaurant dining room is now the Rum Jungle. A German restaurant has opened above Mosquito Bar and Bretto’s Meat Shop. Islanders Bar moved from next to Mango’s to the location previously known as Mama Mia’s Italian restaurant. It is now known as Horse & Cow. Little Wheel closed. There are presently 15 go-go bars in Barretto and probably at least that many others without dancers.

Harley’s Sports bar hosted its annual Bobby Walker Golf Tourney in late December. This has become one of the premier golf events of the area. Breakfast was served at 6 AM in Harley’s. The dinner and show were held at Club 1 that night. In between was great golf, beer and camaraderie.

A gigantic blow to the Subic Bay area was the departure of Fed Ex in early February. They have been here for the past 14 years. SBMA stands to lose 150 million pesos in yearly revenue. Fed Ex have relocated to China as China accounts for 60-70% of Asian cargoes. Total job loss to the area is around 800 people.

The book "Subic Bay from Magellan to Pinatubo -The History of the U.S. Navy at Subic Bay" is available again in its 3rd edition. You may remember this book when it first came out in 1991/92. It is the most comprehensive book ever written on the U.S. Navy at Subic Bay. A lot of people asked where to get a copy but it has been out of print for years. This third edition has more information and new photos. Here is the Amazon webpage:

It's been a long time since we posted local news to our news pages but we finally got around to adding some of the more interesting stuff. Between the current page and the news archives we surely have one of the better collections of the past 10 years.

More than 3000 people participated in this year’s 17^th annual Beach Bash sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars. Over ninety (90) businesses and individuals donated cash or prizes for the occasion. Lots of photos are on our main page.

Proceeds are used to support a children’s scholarship program, maintenance of the Clark Cemetery, the malnutrition program of FRA and the local outreach programs consisting of dental and medical missions.

In 2009 the four day line up of events was impressive. Besides the dart and billiard competitions there was a trivia challenge, a singing contest, dance competitions, children’s games, cheerleading matchups, a volleyball tournament and three separate beauty contests. A table tennis tournament had more than thirty participants. One of the major fundraisers was a Texas Holdem card game.

Fifteen local venues were used for the various contests making it a complete Barretto community enterprise. Major sponsors included San Miguel, Pepsi Cola, Click Internet, Blue Rock Resort, Palm Tree, Scuba Shack, Mango’s, Texas Joe’s House of Ribs, Dynamic Women’s Organization and the cities of Olongapo and Castillejos.

A year-long effort goes into the success of this affair. The overall chairman was Ed Spears. Also assisting were Wayne Gordon, Carmen Hendricks, Dennis Doty, Dennis Voge, Richard Payne, Nancy Mollari, Kevin Donaldson and Herb Schulten, Rain Fortaleza from Mango's received special recognition for her many years of assistance.

Recently we wrote about the Olongapo Museum. This month we’ll cover the SBMA museum located behind the Subic Bay Arts Center.

Some of the two museum’s history overlaps. The SBMA gallery focuses more on the military role of local history. The research angle in the title refers to the study of the indigenous Aetas, their ancestral domain and their hunting, fishing and agricultural pursuits.

The museum is divided into sections depicting a progression of periods from ancient times to the present. Lifelike statues are used and where appropriate native materials to simulate situations. The signing is well done. Overhead speakers give explanations of the displays in crisp, perfect English.

The Spanish era begins in 1514 when Subic was first founded as a military garrison. By 1885 the Spanish had begun an arsenal and fortifications to protect the bay with guns on Grande Island. Left unfinished Commodore George Dewey was able to defeat the Spanish fleet in 1898. Many of the documents between the military commanders are displayed in glass cases.

The American period is well documented. There are excellent photographs and displays. In 1941 following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Subic Bay was also bombed by Japanese planes killing hundreds. Residents of Olongapo evacuated and torched the city rather than let it fall into enemy hands.

The construction of Cubi Point, considered to rival the Panama Canal in difficulty, is shown in numerous pictures and displays. The exhibits portray the American presence following the Second World War until the base withdrawal in 1992. Also included are the POW and ‘Hellship’ memorials in this exposition. The story of the ship Oryoko Maru broadcast over the speakers is riveting.

The museum was opened in 1994. It is open to the public daily from 8 AM to 4 PM. Adult admission is 50 pesos and students are 40 pesos.

The Philippines and Subic Bay have been going through a classic rainy season. It has been pretty much a non-stop, daily deluge since July. Torrential downpours have dropped buckets of water while Subic/Olongapo has escaped serious typhoon activity. Thus we’ve had a typical slow season. It’s been a good time to visit the area for hotel and restaurant bargains. In the bars and clubs tourists attain superstar status.

The Barrio Barretto area is going through huge growing changes. New clubs have opened almost weekly. Some have simply altered names but most are new or reopened structures. Old timers will recognize some long forgotten venues. Hadji Baba, next to Abrakadabra. Remember those? They have been closed or used for short-term leases to churches since the base closings in 1992. Hadji Baba is now called Bar Barretto and operated by Blue Rock. Abrakadabra is now called Honky Tonk. Nearby, almost across from Immaculate Conception church, is brand new Pirates Pub.

A new club called Lollipop was opened by Kokomo’s Group from Angeles City. It is located next to Escape in the one-time Dixie Bar area. Dryden’s Hotel and restaurant has also been sold to Kokomo’s Group. (more on Tom Dryden below) They are reportedly planning an outside beer garden. Indaba restaurant was sold to Kokomos and is now a full-blown go-go bar called Wet Spot. This venue was long ago known as Boodles.

The legendary massage parlor known as the Samurai is now the Sandcastle. It is a hotel and restaurant with a disco inside. The rooms were extensively renovated as they definitely needed to be.

Now we cross the highway to the beach side. The Sea Breeze Hotel was originally built by Marmont. It was never opened and has been an eyesore since 1986. This cement mausoleum has thankfully been knocked down. Rumors have Central Park from Angeles City rebuilding there.

Coconut Barn closed. Beachside is now called Down Under and has had widespread renovating.

Near Midnight Rambler London Underground opened in April with the first original fish and chips seen in the Subic Bay area. Made with Pangasius fish flown in fresh-frozen from the Mekong Delta they have captured the traditional flavor of the UK. The fish is also called Pacific Cream Dory and the best known and tastiest is from Vietnam. This hole-in-the-wall is decorated with all manner of local memorabilia. Named after the subterranean subway system of London it duplicates the fish and chip shops found outside all London station stops. Besides their signature dish they also have chicken and chips, pickled eggs and pickled onions, mushy peas, Savaloy sausages, fish cakes and Aussie beef and chicken pies. For the budget diner they even have chips and butty.

VFW has moved from their 15 year location across from the Marmont to Dream Plaza. They are situated across the bridge into Barangay Matain.

Dream Plaza is a shopping center that also houses a pre-school, doctors and dentist offices and a movie theater. In addition to the restaurant the ‘V’ has an outside garden area with full access to the Dream Plaza swimming pool.

The newest, swankiest attraction in the area is Wild Orchid Hotel. This was previously the Zanzibar located on Baloy beach. The location is all they have in common. The pool, bar and restaurant area are as nice as any in Pattaya Beach. The pool is 50 meters long. Wild Orchid is truly first-class. (Yes, it is part of the Angeles City Orchid group)

Speaking of Angeles City, long time local entrepreneur Mark Smith sold Road House. Tick the crazy marine from DMZ also sold his club. Also regarding AC if you are in the neighborhood, check out the calendars on sale at Gecko’s. They are professional quality and have some great pictures of lovely Filipinas. These are not X rated but along the lines of Stuff magazine. Nice, sexy but tasteful. The calendars are sixteen months long. I sent one to our webmaster in Texas and he promptly got divorced and is now in Angles trying to locate all 16 girls! (Just kidding). Here's some low resolution scans from the calendar along with a sneak peek at the back. You can check out their store at www.geckos.ph.

Some dates to remember include the VFW Barrio Barretto Beach Bash. This long running event will be held February 4-8, 2009. Mango’s will be holding a Bikini Open competition on November 21. This is a fund raiser for Masons Pinatubo Lodge 52. The Masonic District R3C will also hold a fundraising ‘sports fest’ in Mango’s on November 25

If you are into golf, The Love of Children Charity Foundation is holding a tournament on November 8 at Air force City Golf Course on the Clark Special Economic Zone. www.theloveofchildren.org

While on the subject of golf it is worth mentioning how much the San Antonio Golf Club has improved their course. This is the facility built by the Army Corps of Engineers on the former San Miguel Base. The military base itself is intact but a Philippine Navy training center now. The golf course is light years better than it was in 1992. The fact is it has steadily improved in the past few years. Walk-ons still pay just $14 for 18 holes. Weekdays it is never busy.

Korean-Filipino company Hanafil Golf and Tour Inc. has taken over the former Binictacan golf course on old naval base. They want to fast-track the redevelopment of the former Subic Bay Golf and Country Club with a committed investment of $48 million. We’ll see how this development goes. No one seems to have any luck with this golf course.

Surfing has long been one of Zambales province best kept secrets. But more and more local Filipinos and foreign nationals are flocking to our beaches. This year has seen a huge influx of surfers. During and after storms cars stream through the barrio toward Northern Zambales with boards on car roofs. Manila TV has run extensive coverage on the subject. The best waves are near San Antonio, in the Crystal Beach area. This is a 45 minute drive from Barrio Barretto. The Philippine National Championship was held at Crystal beach in 2007. Either side of this area for 6-7 kilometers have excellent waves. Two web sites give you information on surfing Zambales and the local conditions. Check out http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/san-antonio-philippines_7314/ and http://swellwatch.wetsand.com/.

Tom Dryden has had the most popular eatery in the bay area for the past decade. He recently sold the restaurant to return to San Diego, spend time with his sons and get some needed medical treatment. Having landed with McArthur at Leyte he is now in his 80’s but more active than many people half his age. He may be back.

Located deep in the Naval Magazine rain forest it is near Zoobic Safari. We arrived at opening, 9 AM, so we could beat some of the inevitable summer heat. The price is 280 pesos a person regardless of age. This included three free coca-cola products at the many kiosks spread throughout the park. In fact Coke seems to be intimately linked to the Jungle Joe operation.

Located over several hectors a toy train takes you on an overall trip to acquaint yourself with it's many facets. There are multiple outdoor play areas interspersed with air conditioned attractions inside the former ammunition bunkers the Navy used. The outside play areas have the big toys. Logs, ropes, tire tunnels, swing sets, tree houses, playhouses, tunnel labyrinths, climbing walls, forts, slides, hideaways, gym sets, all designed to keep kids entertained and busy. There are also areas with the outdoor inflatables. The climbing walls, springing moon bouncers, jump'n dodge balls, bounce houses and castles. The soundtrack to High School Musical plays continuously throughout these locales.

Spread among all these outdoor play spots are the former ammunition bunkers. All are air conditioned. One has more bouncing toys and trampolines. (make sure your children bring socks) They must take their shoes off and if they don't have socks mom or dad buys Jungle Joe socks. There is also a raceway in a bunker. There are gravity bikes that go round a runway. The building mercifully has places for parents to sit. One is called Winter Wonderland and does it's best to recreate the North Pole with Santa and his helpers but was not all that interesting. But the Playhouse Theater was. Inside this bunker is a movie house. Disney movies play continuously. The chairs are all beanbags and it's not hard to fall asleep. They do sell popcorn. Several other attractions are under construction. There is a disco and a huge castle under way.

The day involves lots of walking. (they rent bikes) We spent a total of four hours at Jungle Joe's. Unlike the 23 story Hanjin employees dormitory monstrosity being built in the middle of this sacred rain forest, Jungle Joe's is exactly how this gorgeous area should be utilized.

Karl Welteke posted three new photo albums online. Brings back some serious memories for those who were stationed here in the U.S. Navy:

On a high note Art Allegar recently celebrated his 69th birthday. We had a special happy hour in Mango's for this occasion. Art's email is allegara@yahoo.com

On a much lower note Mario, the pool stick maker died October 31st of a heart attack. As Filipino men went he was squared away. His quality pool sticks graced our clubs including Whiskey River and the old Rock Lobster. He was a friend and we'll miss him. I drove to AC shortly afterwards to visit his family. He had eleven kids by four women in his life. If you're the proud owner of a Mario pool stick hold onto it - there won't be any new ones made.

President Arroyo opened the new Subic/Clark portion of the expressway for Holy Week at 1 PM on Tuesday. Tues morn we drove the back road to AC. At 1:30 we got on the freeway. At 2:05 we were in Subic. 35 restful minutes. We drove 80 kph while others were going 160 kph. Anyone, regardless of era, who has ever labored this route has to be impressed. No bikes, trikes, busses, trucks, horses, children, goats or chickens. It's a gorgeous, scenic drive too. All rural and agricultural. It's built way high so you are looking down. Rice fields, rivers, jungle, all in the shadow of the mountains with Pinatubo closer than ever. They still have some work to do. Signing was almost non-existent. Painting remains to be done. So it closed after Easter Sunday.

The re-opening is supposed to be last week of April. Everyone one will be able to enjoy speedy access to Pampanga and Manila and vice versa. It will alter Olongapo/Subic/Zambales/Bataan much like the Pinatubo volcano eruption and the base withdrawal did. A metamorphose style change. More tourists, more business, more traffic. Rental, land and home prices are already escalating.

Barrio Barretto has some alterations too. Here are some of the most radical ones long-time visitors will recognize.

	This was formerly Gringo’s, Last Two Dollars, Rose Garden or Sportsman’s depending on the era. A club is going beneath. Apartments above.		This is almost recognizable as the old Samori massage parlor. It is being remodeled into a hotel. The name is the Sandcastle which is appropriate.

	This is the corner where you make the turn to Baloy Beach. Crazy Horse once sat here. This will be an office building.		This will be called The Pub and be club/hotel. It is the Swiss half of the old Midnight Rambler.

	This is corner where you turn to go to Marmont or VFW. Formerly Dixie Bar, a hotel will reportedly be built.

An excellent new restaurant in the barrio is London Underground. Opened by Steve Hickmont and Mickey of Harley's it has classic fish and chips served English style. They are located between Bart's an Night rider.

We continue to recommend Bay Area Realty if you have any real estate needs in the area. They are constantly updating their listings. They do other things such as title searches or helping you secure titles to tax paid real estate and consultations. www.bayarearealty.com.ph

We also mention once again this site for serious Subicphiles. These guys come up with good information although it is at times sporadic. http://subicbulletin.blogspot.com/

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) The old base area are going through some radical construction scenes themselves, some of which are questionable. The green areas are rapidly disappearing. Three restaurants are now on the lawn between the old post office and Spanish Gate. An office complex is being constructed on the lawn behind the former chief’s barracks. A hotel, cynically called a sports hotel is going up on the primary baseball field near Remy Field. Yes, the one across from the main gate. The other adjacent ball fields are tennis courts two or three of which are sometimes in use. These are just a few examples of grass and trees and ambiance being replaced by concrete.

The President’s Cup Regatta was recently held with over 30 sailboats and 300 sailors participating. It was organized by the Manila Yacht Club and jointly hosted by The Lighthouse Marina Resort and the Subic Bay Yacht Club in conjunction with the SBMA.

This year the 16^th annual VFW Beach Bash surpassed all previous ones in participation, fun and revenue. Beach Bash coordinator Seth Hendricks stated, “We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of support the community gave us this year.”

Held February 13-17 it included numerous competitions spread out in various barrio venues. There were men, women and mixed 8 ball tournaments and a 9 ball tournament. Four separate dart tournaments were held. There were horseshoe, table tennis and trivia competitions as well as children’s games. New this year was Texas Holdem card games.

Hosting and sponsoring these events were Arizona, Islanders, Sea Pearl, Lagoon, Playa Papagayo, little Wheel, Indaba, Midnight Rambler, Johansson’s, Dreamland, Blue Rock, Scuba Shack/Aqua Sports, Friday’s.

The main stage was behind Mango’s, Islanders and Little Wheel. On Valentine’s night there was a battle of the bands. Friday night was the Mrs. Beach Bash competition. Saturday night had separate singing and dance competitions. Sunday afternoon the Little Miss Beach Bash was held and the ever popular Miss Beach Bash closed out the long weekend.

The shows and singing and dance competitions and beauty contests were absolutely spectacular. The stage shows on Saturday night were way off the scale. A dozen players in costumes, with stage props worked their way through theme shows. There was an Egyptian show and a Spiderman show and a native show and several blatantly gay shows. They went through costume and set changes. The perfectly synchronized dance moves were beyond impressive.

The dunk tank was a popular daytime diversion as Griff’s bar in Calapandayan provided a bevy of bikini-clad beauties to dump from the rail to the tub. Other stage fillers included a magic show. There were martial art’s demonstrations and even a knife throwing display. Did I mention Elvis was there? No kidding.

No Limit DJ Productions provided the music and lights as the Beach Bash moved toward a higher level of sophistication. The VFW Post 11447 wishes to thank all who sponsored, donated, helped or participated in this year’s event.

Winners of the various competitions will be listed at the end of this update. Special thanks also to Wayne Gordon and Michele who took most of the pictures. You'll find all of the pictures on our Beach Bash page, and a select set on our home page.

Another group involved with sponsoring the Beach Bash was a newly established Philippine Retirement Authority. They have been very aggressively pursuing potential foreign retirees. Their presence is everywhere. They have held seminars and spoken to all groups remotely related to ex-pat activities. Their newsletter is impressive. Their website is www.pra.gov.ph

Another thing to do in Subic Bay we recently discovered is the Olongapo Museum. Located on Hospital Road next to the Olongapo Convention Center it was opened in 2004. Going in we expected little. But an hour and a half later we came out going, “Wow.”

It traces the city from ancient times as a small fishing village inhabited by Aetas. The focus continues with the discovery by Spanish Conquistadores in the early 16^th century followed by the Japanese invasion during World War II. It continues with the administrations of the Americans after the revolution at the turn of the century to the historic turnover of self governance in 1959. It covers the years of Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos. Then there is the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 and the successful military bases conversion and economic independence that followed.

The written information on wooden boards accompanying the pictures and displays is first rate. There are a series of rooms that are like stage sets. One has American and Japanese soldiers fighting over the zig-zag pass on the old highway leading into the city. The soldier/dummies actually move and fire weapons. Another is of the assignation of Mayor James Gordon in 1967 with a similar enactment. There are base turnover reenactments and Pinatubo volcano dig-out reenactments. Our personal favorite was a room depicting Magsaysay Drive in its navy-liberty heyday. There is a go-go girl in glass case dancing while a sailor watches. Then a hallway is painted so as to be looking down the fabled street..….with signs reading, Cal-Jam, Sharks Cove, Florida Club, Far East Rock. The museum is open Monday through Friday 9AM to 6 PM. Admission is 50 pesos.

MSC tankers and supply ships continue coming into Subic Bay on a regular basis. We also had two submarines in as many months. These were the first subs to visit since the attack on the USS Cole several years back. First the Pasadena and then the Topeka came in for several days each. The ‘bubble heads’ had a blast and were great guys. The USS Frank Cable is currently in port right now making their first visit in years.

After more than 6 years the MV Doulos returned to Subic Bay in January for a 10 day stay. It is the largest floating book fair carrying a half million books. Built in 1914, it is only two years younger than the Titanic. Note the similar shape. The ship has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s oldest ocean going passenger ship. It was packed daily as schools ferried students to this worthy attraction.

We hate to pass on so many death announcements but some of these people have been in the area forever and it is worth noting their passing to faraway friends. In the last year Rick McGowan owner of Islanders Bar as well as Island Girls during the base days passed on. Gary Hudson a fixture at FRA San Antonio died. He was joined by Thomas (Andy) Anderson. Gene Gann, twice post commander of the local VFW also died. And just a few weeks ago Chester Gross who founded and ran the Retired Affairs Office since the base departure died in February.

One day I was talking with some people after a dart tournament at the Midnight Rambler. It was late afternoon and there were still children on the beach. On the table was a small green box, the same shape but half the size of a pack of cigarettes. It said JOPE on it. Now Hope is one of the most popular brands of smokes in the Philippines. This was a perfect replica, green color and all except for the name change. They were candy cigarettes. I found the nine year old kid who brought them and ask, "Where did you buy these?" He goes, "In the canteen at our school." Today at one of the Duty Free stores on SBMA there was a man promoting a new brand of cigarettes. He was giving cigarettes away for free. The Philippines can still amaze.

1st	Mary Ann De Guzman, 19
2nd	Ana Margarita Milan, 18
3rd	Lealyn Alico, 18
Best Talent	Joanne Bessarra, 22

1st	Haydee Otenburg
2nd	Isabel Ketunuti
3rd	Dianne Damasco
4th	Lorna Encarnation
Mrs Photogenic	June Christine Gaw
Mrs Popularity	Haydee Otenburg
Best Bikini	Haydee Otenburg

Trivia Contest Winner - CRS (Can’t Remember Shit!)
Members: Bruce Duck, Jeff Duck, Tom Sturkie, George Laughlin

We have had a healthy traffic of American civilian ships during the past few months. The USNS San Jose, USNS Diehl, USNS Niagara Falls, USNS Tippecanoe, USNS Concord, USNS Pecos and USNS Bridge have all graced out shores and have enjoyed unrestricted off-base liberty. Most of these are fleet support vessels carrying “beans, bullets and black oil,” to re-supply other ships. Coming as it has during our off-season it’s been a shot in the arm for area businesses. Other US ships on horizon during upcoming exercises include USNS Ericsson, USS Janeau, USS Tortruga, USS Connecticut and USNS Brittany. The two-week Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing exercises will have 6500 American and Filipino participants. Enjoy the pictures on our main page.

The VFW Department of Pacific Area mid-term convention will be held in Barretto on December 7, 8, 9, 2007. The 16th annual VFW Barrio Barretto Beach Bash will be held February 13-16, 2008. It will again be on the waterfront behind Mango’s, Islanders and Little Wheel. Blue Rock will hold their 2008 Beach Bash Ms Blue Rock and Ms Gay Blue Rock on March 15.

The most frequently asked question is when the Clark-Subic Expressway will be finished. It was supposed to be Nov-Dec this year. But we don’t think anyone really believed that. The Manila Standard just reported it’s to open in March ’08. Karl Welteke recently walked its 94 kilometer route. To view its progress check out his pictures: http://www.kodakgallery.com/karlwelteke1942/main/subic-clark-hwy_tipo-luakan_070627

When you are visiting Barretto there are a couple of quirky little bars worth checking out. They both have some of the lowest beer prices in the area. One is the General’s Command Post on National Highway. This is run by Don West who has spent most of his adult life playing General McArthur. He even has McArthur’s jeep which he uses to ride in Olongapo’s parades dressed up as the General. The Command Post is filled with military memorabilia, while running Victory at Sea and World at War videos. Most importantly it has some cute little waitresses.

Another saloon is Doc’s Hooyah. I’m not sure quirky begins to describe Doc or his bar. Doc is a former SEAL with a loyal local following. His place is decorated with women’s underwear for the most part. If there is a blank place on a wall you are welcome to fill it up with a black marker pen. The Hoorah has a pool table and darts. It is located toward the highway from VFW on the same side of the street.

Olongapo is experiencing a construction boom. In Barretto we have one going on as well. The Pub located next to the Old Midnight Rambler is in its final phase. On the corner of National Highway and the Baloy each turnoff a three-story office building is going up. Long time Barrio runners will remember the site as the former Crazy Horse Bar location

Anyone interested in comprehensive coverage of sensitive political issues particularly on the old naval base, (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority) should check out The Subic Bulletin at http://subicbulletin.blogspot.com/ In the last couple months they have covered such controversial issues as the proposed coal power plant, the Korean condominiums, SBMA’s takeover of the golf course, local internet services and SBMA’s proposed parking fees. No one is sure who is running the blog but it’s turned into one of the hottest reads in the area.

Rainfall in Subic was 10 inches May and June, 21 inches in July, 62 inches in August and 30 in September giving us 123 on the year.

This following is a rewrite and updated version of our section How to Get to Subic Bay:

The Manila (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) NAIA is a fairly confusing place for the first timer. There are now two terminals. One is for Philippine Airlines and the other is for all the other airlines. It’s known as terminal 1.

Terminal 1 is the older of the two. Upon arrival you go through the usual immigration/passport control area. This is followed by the nearby baggage claim area. Adjacent to that is baggage inspection which is usually cursory at best. You then proceed through double doors into a foyer area. In this foyer you can rent a car and driver from any of the major car rental companies for about P5000 which today is $110. If this is the way you intend to travel to Subic it is safe and efficient.

If someone is meeting you, then continue out of this area, across the outside street and down one of the two tunnels on each side. This brings you to a curbside waiting area. It is alphabetized so you can stand under your name if that is how you planned it in advance. Across this road are the ‘greeters.’ Once you identify each other that person can then get the vehicle and picks you up at the curb. Mango’s and other hotels can send drivers to the airport and provide this service, complete with coolers of ice water, soda, beer and other amenities. As of this writing most of us do this for P4000 or $85.

Terminal 2 at NAIA is also known as Centennial Terminal. Your first impression is how clean it is. If you have ever arrived at the other terminal this is a breath of fresh air. It is easy to navigate immigration, baggage claims and customs. From there it is a straight shot outside where friends, family and drivers are easy to find.

Like all airports the world over keep your wits about you, your valuables safe and do not get taken in by someone with an absurdly low price to take you to your destination.

Mike O’Farrell has been operating his seaplane service here for over a decade. He picks you up at the South Harbor near the US Embassy and flies you to Subic in 30 minutes. He lands at his hanger on SBMA. The cost for this pick-up is $200. If you would prefer to land at Mango’s or any other beach resort in the area the price is $250. Contact him at 63-47-252-2230 or e mail him at seaplane@info.ph As of this writing Mike’s cell phone number is 09-19-325-1106

For the seasoned visitor to the PI or the cost-conscious adventurer, Victory Liner Busses are a great way to get from Manila to Subic Bay. They run from 4 AM until 8 PM leaving hourly. The first class busses are clean, comfortable, fast and efficient. They usually provide movies on board. The trip to Olongapo takes 3-4 hours depending on time of day and Manila traffic. They are safe within reason. Pay attention to your stuff. To get to Victory Liner terminal take a taxi and ask to be taken to the Pasay (pass-eye) terminal. This bus service to Olongapo is P186 or $4.

For travel between Subic Bay and Angeles City Subic Express van service leaves from Bart's Hotel in Barretto daily at 10 AM. From Angeles it departs Kokomo's to Barrio Barretto at 1 PM in the afternoon. Cost is 400 pesos or about $9 at today's rate. For information call 09197760256.

Here are recent photos of the Hanjin Korean Shipyard currently under construction across Subic Bay. Specifically it is Redondo Mountain, what the military called Green Beach. To get there a new road begins in Castillejos , running though Cawag Valley to the slopes of the mountain and the shipyard. The dates on the camera can't be changed and are incorrect. You can see more at http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i265/PI-Sailor/Philippines/Korea%20Shipyard%20close%20up/

Lastly, you may not know our web master Tim Jacobs out of Austin, Texas. Tim's a long time PI veteran who first started frequenting the area in 1980. He's been back many times over the years and was stationed in San Miguel 1983 through 1986 and then again at Cubi 1990 through 1992. Tim carried a camera everywhere. He took pictures in Manila the day after the people power revolution, used an underwater camera impervious to the dust to capture Mount Pinatubo photos, hiked from Baguio to Banaue and more. This of course all before digital cameras. Tim shot everything in color slides and finally after more than 20 years in some cases has begun digitizing his thousands of slides. You may not know him or the folks in his pictures but they sure bring back fond memories of good times. You can see the first couple hundred pictures at: 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987. And, Tim has had several pages of Philippines photos up on the web which you can access here.

Rainy season and the start of the school year both begin in June. It’s also the start of the slow season for tourism, making it the ideal time to visit. The American dollar has lost 18% against the peso in the past year. The peso is currently trading at 45 against the greenback. The government has been quick to claim it is their economic policies making the peso strong when in fact most currencies have appreciated against the dollar.

National and local elections were held in May 14. Twelve new senators have been proclaimed. One is Gringo Honasan who has allegedly been involved in all the major coup attempts against the government dating back to 1986. Another new senator is Antonio Trillanes. This senator-elect was one of the core leaders of the “Magdalo” soldiers who staged the July 27, 2003 mutiny at the Oakwood Condotel in Makati City. He won in spite of being in the Marine Brig at Fort Bonifacio while undergoing rebellion charges. He was a member of the Genuine Opposition and although unable to campaign still won election. That tells you how unpopular this administration has become. While the government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo did poorly in the 24 seat senate they did well in the assembly. This is important because the assembly manages impeachment proceedings. This group has managed to block every effort to impeach the president.

In local Olongapo and Zambales elections the Gordon family had a banner year. Dick Gordon is still in the senate and did not have to stand for re-election. His brother Bong Gordon won re-election as mayor of Olongapo. Their cousin Cynthia Cajudo was elected vice-mayor. Nine of the ten city councilors were from the Gordon slate. Amor Deloso, a Gordon family supporter was elected Governor. Bong’s wife Anne Gordon was elected vice-governor of Zambales. (Sounds a lot like Texas elections)

The new expressway from Angeles City to Subic Bay, due to open in December has now been delayed ten months. So we will probably see a mid-2008 opening. Anyone familiar with the area has to be impressed with its progress. It’s breathtaking to see this kind of infrastructure development being made in this country. Karl-Wilhelm just published a new album for the project at: http://www.kodakgallery.com/karlwelteke1942/main/subic-clark-hwy_tipo-luakan_070627

The same can be said of several big Subic Bay projects. The container port adjacent to the Cubi airport continues to be filled in as huge cranes are being installed.

The Hanjin Korean shipbuilding facility at the former Green Beach reportedly has orders for ships until 2010. They will be building the world’s largest oil tankers. Hanjin has booked $3 billion in orders since spending $1 billion to construct the shipbuilding factory. It looks like a medium sized city at night with its many lights up the mountain where darkness once was.

On SBMA (old Base) three new projects have begun. In November, work began for a 150 room resort hotel at Dream Village inside Subic Bay Industrial Park. (Opposite old SEAL Team area) Dream Village will have health spas, a golf driving range, swimming pools, restaurants and bars.

They also recently broke ground on three, 17 story condominiums called Ampelos Tower. This is on 1.4-hectares at Subic Commercial and Light Industrial Park. It’s actually the old Public Works area near the Kalaklan gate.

The Shipbuilding Hanjin Corp. is erecting its own condotel on a 3-hectare corner of the Ilanin Forest East.

All this construction (except the container port) is new money from Korea whose citizenry continue to pour into the Philippines and Subic Bay. SBMA now has many Korean restaurants, several small hotels, a grocery store and even a church. Off base businesses are starting to use Korean on their signs and storefronts. Mango’s who have the front cover of the local tourist magazine, Barrio Express will use Korean in next month’s issue.

In Barrio Barretto, construction continues on The Pub. Located next to the old Midnight Rambler (now Johansson’s) it appears to be a three story hotel with the bar on the ground floor. Two new night spots worth checking out are Scores in the Arizona Hotel and The Office just down from Mango’s toward the Rambler. What opened and then closed as Hollies and then Chicargo (the old General’s gym) is set to re-open and will be called Hot Box. They wanted Love Shack for a name but the city refused.

At Baloy Beach, the newest Hotel is Treasure Island managed by the Kokomo’s group of Angeles City. They put in one of the nicest pools in the area. http://www.kokomoz.com/subic.html.

The Subic Bay Golf Course located in Binictican on SBMA was recently seized by SBMA officials from its Taiwanese owners. Thank God. This was one of the most poorly administered golf courses on the planet. They reportedly failed to settle obligations totaling $350,000 and 16 million pesos in rentals. They also were in violation of labor and environmental laws. You can read more on this juicy issue at our Local News page.

Subic City (Calapandayan) continues to deteriorate. It may be seasonal but their have been more bar more closures than usual. Griffs, Crow and Tahiti Hai all closed their doors. The only western clubs remaining are Players, Luna, Kinky’s and Eagles. There are many places still operating catering primarily to locals and Asians. They tend to open very late but have some good shows.

A new, local resource for area real estate is http://www.bayarearealty.com.ph/default.php. They specialize in Subic Bay and Zambales / Bataan / Pampanga province properties. This includes resort, condo, homes and land sales. Land prices are already escalating in the provinces affected by the toll road. Bay Area Realty uses only licensed realtors. This may be a first. There have been many people selling property over the years but rarely do they pack a license or follow or even know the laws. Their email address is wmbmyers25@yahoo.com

A place worth visiting in Angeles City is Gecko’s run by George Saari who owned the Body Shop on Gordon Avenue back when Subic was still a Naval base.

A new local blog sure to cause controversy is http://subicbulletin.blogspot.com/. They are doing some serious investigative journalism which the area really needs. Have no idea who they are. Journalists catch bullets in this country so it’s best they stay invisible.

Lastly, we regret informing you that long time Barretto resident Steve Jurey died the morning of June 11. He was active in many activities such as the pool and dart leagues. It is major loss for his many friends and especially his wife Diane and their two young children Queenie & Joshua. We have pieced together a simple tribute page for Steve which you can find here: Steve Jurey Tribute Page.

Mangoes, strawberries and pineapples have all come in season. We are offering a thick, blended all fruit drink with breakfasts at Mango’s. The fruit and the weather don’t get any better in the Philippines than the first few months of the year. Think Hawaii.

We just installed a wireless internet hookup for our customers with laptops, which is available on the patio in the restaurant or in the rooms.

Our season has been excellent as November right through January have seen new and old Subic visitors on the streets, in the ocean and around the multiple club venues. Rock Lobster, Oriental Rose, Broadway, Club One and Midnight Rambler have all been humming along with new-found energy as we enter our second year featuring dancers.

The P21 billion Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway continues to be built in record time. This will make the Zambales and Bataan areas readily accessible from Pampanga and Manila for the first time. A near two hour drive will be reduced to a mere 30 minutes. This toll road is expected to open in December of this year. It'll be a 51-kilometer four-lane expressway starting in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and ending at its interchange with the North Luzon Expressway near the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga. It will have similar features with the recently rehabilitated North Luzon Expressway. The expressway is part of the Bases Conversion Development Authority's Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Project or SCTEP, which aims to connect the ecozones of Subic and Clark and the Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac.

Another big area change is the Hanjin Korean shipbuilding facility. This is a $720 million dollar project well under way in the Green Beach area of Subic Bay. Six months ago there was nothing over there. Now half the mountain has an administration and deployment area constructed. There are 71 cranes working 24 hours a day on the shipbuilding site. It’s breathtaking what is happening in the previously practically inaccessible area. The US Navy used it for Marine and special forces training as it was virgin forest and jungle. The shipbuilding facility will eventually employ 20,000 Filipino workers.

The key word here is Korean. For better or worse they are everywhere in the Philippines. They recently took over as the number one tourist arriving country. On SBMA they have an English language and golf school. They have purchased two golf courses on the former Clark Air Base.

Kokomo’s Subic which opened a hotel on Baloy Beach has added a floating bar making two in the area. Blue Rock has one that does excellent business especially on weekends.

The VFW Beach Bash opens February 14th through 18th. It will again be held behind Mango’s, Islanders and Little Wheel. Some new events in store this year. Pool, darts, volleyball and table tennis as usual. Added are a Dragon boat regatta, petting zoo and singing competitions. There are several of the ever-popular beauty contests. Mrs. Beach Bash is on Thursday night. The Junior Miss Beach Bash is on Saturday. Sunday has the Little Beach Bash followed by the weekend finale……Miss Beach Bash.

Subic City, now known as Calapandayan is making a comeback. It may be seasonal or hopefully permanent. There are a number of late-night clubs that cater mostly to Filipinos or karaoke. Nothing wrong with them but we just don’t go there. For the foreign tourist we’ll just run through a litany of the ones currently operating:

Luna Club - This place is kind of a dive aesthetically speaking. It’s a throwback to the old Subic City days which is precisely why we like it. Bar, pool table, cold beer, entertaining ladies. The other thing its got going is an Italian named Johnny who plays some of the best rock and roll in the area. His DVD concerts are spectacular. Want the Stones Bridges to Babylon tour? Got it. BB King? No problem. He’s just started selling authentic Italian pizza. It’s not Shakey’s or Pizza Hut. Leave the family at home.

Eagles Head - Again we like it for the same reason. It’s authentic old Subic. Unfortunately it does not have a pool table and if they have music we’ve never heard it. The balcony that overlooks the street is a fantastic place to sit, chat and buy a lady a drink.

Griff’s Bar - This place is up and down. It usually has a bunch of nice dancers. But sometimes it doesn’t. Worth a stop still.

Tahiti Club - Open again. They opened and closed several times over the past year, which seems to be a Calapandayan trend. Right now it’s pretty good. Nice dancers and some interesting shows nightly. Stop by for their schedule.

Crow Bar - Open again after almost a year closed. They are definitely trying. A bunch of new dancers we’ve never seen working anyplace before which is kind of refreshing.

Players - This is the most popular bar in town right now. Previously it was known as Winchester, Bullring and Elton Ron’s. It’s a very nice venue almost-out-of place because it is so nice. It could be in Barretto or Angeles City. It has a whole bunch of dancers and a very popular happy hour.

Kinky’s - In its prime this place was sensational. But at least for us it’s lost some of its luster. They still have some females but seem to have decided that men dressed as women is more of an appeal. Let’s just say they are living up to their name.

Asian Reef - The ‘talk of the town’ when built a few years back. No one seems to be able to make this place work. Successive owners have tried and failed. Now the actual owners have taken it over and it has its old Navy days name back…. Miami.

We will try and get photos of the Beach Bash up on the site right after the event. In the mean time have a great 2007!

A joint RP-US war games exercise was just concluded. Called Talon Vison 07 it was a sixteen day affair taking place in Clark Field, San Antonio, Palawan, Tarlac and Cavite. On November 1^st liberty was granted to the ships visiting Subic Bay. These included the USS Essex, USS Niagara Falls, USS Juneau, USS Harpers Ferry, USS Stethem. The Navy (not marines) were allowed on the first four blocks of Magsaysay and in Barrio Barretto between noon and 6 PM. Few bothered to make the trip so most liberty fun was had on SBMA (old base area)

Our tourist season is starting to heat up. Beach Boulevard Business Association (Barretto) held a Mardi Gras on 19, 20 and 21 of October on the beaches behind Mango’s, Islanders and Little Wheel. Friday night the stage area featured a dance competition that was high caliber. Costumed groups of 8-10 kids brought the 600 spectators to their feet several times with breath-taking stunts. It was like the TV, college, cheerleading contests with a lot more danger thrown in. Saturday night there was a beauty contest along with live bands. The three-day affair featured sand-castle sculpture, volleyball, table tennis, pool, darts and horseshoes. The event was a fundraiser to put lights along the Barrio beaches.

For those planning to attend this year’s Barrio Beach Bash sponsored by the VFW, the dates are February 15, 16, 17 and 18. This event tends to bring out expats from around the Philippines and the world. If you plan to attend make room reservations early.

A new hotel opening in the area is Kokomo’s Subic. Located on Baloy Beach it will be managed by the Kokomo’s group from Angeles City. They have two 2-bedroom cottages and ten ‘theme’ rooms. Themes for these rooms include Egyptian, cave, jungle, love, wild-wild west, music, Banaue and pirate. As of this writing local, land-line phones are being installed. The cell number is 0919-311-3141 For e-mail use kokomossubic@yahoo.com

We hosted our Halloween party again this year. It was on a Tuesday. On Monday afternoon we held our largest children’s party ever, with more than 60 decked out kids in attendance. Then Tuesday night the grown-ups howled at the moon. November 1 was All Saints Day and a national holiday.

Typhoon Milenyo roared through Subic Bay and the Philippines on September 27^th. In spite of the storm, Mango’s held their second annual golf tournament on the 30^th. As it turned out it was a bright, sunny day at San Antonio Golf Course with no rain or wind. The event has been held the past two years to raise money for Operation Cleft Palate which benefits poor children born with a defective mouth or palate. Following the golf tournament a lasagna dinner was held at Mango’s along with the trophy presentations. Jerry Martin and Dennis Doty captured green jackets and trophies, as did Captain Ragaza and Captain Ignacio of Station B in Olongapo City. Girlie and the Freemix band concluded the evening performing until midnight. Thanks to all who participated, sponsored or contributed. A special thanks to our sponsors for this important cause:

Another upcoming golf tournament now in its 6^th year is ‘The Love of Children’ charity foundation. This is the Shriner fundraiser for disabled children. It’s to be held on Saturday the 11^th of October. We have participated in the event all six years and it’s a joy to play. For the first time it will be held at Air Force City on Clark Field in Angeles. Time will also be allotted for a Veterans Day Ceremony. For more information on this event check out www.theloveofchildren.org

We will soon be offering a golf section on the site and reviewing local courses complete with fees. This will be an on-going project and anyone wishing to contribute is invited to do so.

A Christmas Carnival has been set up inside the main gate of SBMA. (old Base) This will run until mid-January. There are rides, booths, night markets, bands and stage competitions of various kinds. It’s good for a date-night or a night with the kids. It’s set up right across the street from Times Square Cinema which is the only modern movie theater in the area, and the only one which shows newly released films.

Q: Is it true that PIOL has gone out of business? If so what alternatives are available for internet access in the Subic area?

A: PIOL (Philipine Islands On line) has gone out of business. But we now have all kinds of alternatives and various types of connections. For dial-up we heartily recommend the ultravision cards. These cards are sold in shops around the area. There are several others ISP dial-up companies but this is by far the best. For cable, the local CATV (Cable television) is also offering different types and priced services in most local areas. Their landline phone is 232-2020. For wireless both Globe and Smart are offering services. Again this depends on your location, but most of Subic is covered and several hotels have this already available. For information from Smart log on at http://www.smart.com.ph/. DSL is also available. This is more limited. On SBMA (old Base) all or most businesses and residences have access to it. Outside the gates it is available in some locations such as Santa Monica subdivision. This service is more expensive than the others but probably the most efficient too. Phone: 252-2000

All for now - you all take care and enjoy the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. As always thank you for supporting Mango's

Here's a long overdue rainy season update. We finally completed a long promised walkabout on Baloy Beach and that will be thrust of this piece. But first some recent changes:

The ferry from Manila to Orion, Bataan was the way to go for years to get to the Subic Bay area. And vice-versa. However their schedules have gotten very erratic. We assume the cost of fuel eliminated some scheduled departure times. The current times are as follows:

The price is 320 PHP for adults and 270 PHP for children. Their phone numbers are 834-6857 and 834-6858. They do not operate in bad weather.

Victory Liner busses have upgraded their service and vehicles over the years. The first class busses travel non-stop, have comfortable seats and en-route movies. The price is 180 PHP. The roads from Manila to Pampanga are vastly improved as well so this ride is much faster and more comfortable than it once was.

We just had 33 inches of rain over an eight day period and we have had 43 inches in the last thirty days. With extremely high tides locally there was still very little damage. But much of the Philippines did suffer. Baguio for example had thirty-eight landslides. We are just one month into rainy season and with yearly totals of around 100 inches of rain we have a long season to come.

Mango’s will host their second annual golf tournament on September 30^th at San Antonio Golf Club (old San Miguel base) This is our Operation Cleft Palate fundraiser. We are currently soliciting sponsors and players. Again assisting us are Blue Rock Resort, Kokomo’s in Angeles City, GMC Associates of Sarasota Florida and Palm Tree Resort next door to Mango’s. For information contact us via e-mail. Also pray for a ‘no rain’ day on September 30^th.

Kentucky Fried Chicken opened their first store in Olongapo City this past weekend. Located near the Victory Liner rotunda it looked like Bono had come to town. Hundreds of people crowded outside all weekend long. It may seem like no-big-deal except that folks have been driving sixty kilometers to San Fernando for years just to score chicken. Their opening was much like McDonalds a few years back when lines stretched three blocks when their doors opened at 4:00 AM. Like McDonalds, KFC will also have home delivery.

Baloy Beach is a left turn just past Barrio Barretto proper. In the 1940’s and 50’s it was part of the Subic Naval base and used as a recreational facility. It was administered by them and the Navy Exchange ran concessions. At that time US marines manned the main entrance gate which was above Baloy, on the main highway, at the bridge spanning the river. What is now 164 and Driftwood beach were US marine barracks. Barretto was a firing range. The native name of Baloy Beach was Manga Beach. The original name of Barretto was Maquinaya.

All that changed when Olongapo, Maquinaya and Manga were ceded to the Philippine government on December 7, 1959, and the gates moved to their current locations. Various families including Baloy, Palenzuela, De Perio and Salcedo began living in the area. Power and lights arrived in 1976.

In the late 1980’s two foreign businesses opened on Baloy. One was El Peso at the far end of Baloy which was completely destroyed by Pinatubo volcano in 1991. The other was Heaven Bar located where Blue Rock now stands. In 1995, Heaven changed its name to Sheaven’s when the city government objected to the name Heaven. (At the same time Island Girls had to change their name to Islanders) Sheaven’s eventually moved and Blue Rock emerged.

Around 1996 things began changing radically. Nice businesses and houses started being built. In eight years its old state has become difficult to imagine. But the growth has created problems because infrastructure has not kept pace with growth. Busy periods such as Easter Week create water shortages. The road needs constant attention.

For this current round-up of businesses on Baloy we’ll concentrate on the Western owned and styled hotels, restaurants and bars. Baloy Beach is rich mixture of nationalities. Aussies, Brits, Swedes, Germans and Americans predominate. This makes for excellent menu variety and dining choices.

The first hotel on the Baloy Beach road is Harleys. It was action central during the recent World Cup. A big screen TV with excellent sound and abundant seating contributed to the atmosphere. Harleys has rooms at P1500 a night during the tourist season and much less June-September. The menu has delicious specialties from Sweden. Cold cuts, stroganoffs, poached fish, goulash soups are included. Like much of Baloy there are also Thai food choices. Harley’s is also a golf center of the area. They can arrange packages at the nearby courses. Phone 047-224-6922, harleyspub@yahoo.com, www.harleyspub.com

Mangrove Hotel is right next door. A swimming pool and pool table are near the spacious bar area. Rooms in the four story structure are big and modern. The views are terrific. Mangrove gets many return customers. Their pool is popular with children. Lodging prices are comparable to others with P1000 possible during slow times and P2700 possible during peak season. Menu choices include pastas and curries, Caribbean pork, Jambalaya and Caesars salad. Phone 047-222-7909, themangrove@hotmail.com.

Next door is Sheaven’s Hotel and Restaurant. The landscaping here is sensational. Luscious grass and waterfalls are combined with scenic outdoor seating. Sheaven’s caters to families and has several family style rooms. Their rates are in the P1400 to P1700 range up to P3000 for families. At this writing their menu was unavailable as it was being revamped. But the fish and chips are said to be quite good. Phone 047-223-9430, www.sheavens.com.

Past the Baloy entrance gate is Blue Rock Resort who can be credited with starting the serious Baloy Beach tourist development. They have a diving center. They have a floating bar off-shore during the tourist season. Their bar is internet connected for laptops. They rent jet skis. There is a swimming pool and a well-manicured beach. At their boutique anything from sun block to bikinis can be purchased. They currently have thirty rooms but more are under construction. Their menu is varied. Eggs Florentine, Pommie mixed grill, big rissoles, three curries and Thai specialties are examples. Their rooms and menu are slightly more expensive than most but this business is extremely well-run and managed. Any complaint is immediately attended to. Phone 047-224-9042, www.bluerocksubic.com.

At this point in the Baloy Beach road, private cottages become available. Lots of them. Various families rent houses and cottages or just shady lean-tos, by the day, week or longer. We are writing in July so there are dozens of signs on windows and doors reading, “For Rent” or “Vacant.” During the “season” these rentals will become scarce. These structures continue for a couple hundred meters among small stores, boutiques and afternoon card games.

The next establishment of note is Mr. Pumpernickel’s restaurant. This German restaurant was first opened in 1990. The décor is straight out of the Alps. Their menu is really quite good, if decidedly German, except for the seafood. Items include bauerneruhstruck, cold cuts, Vienna and Hunter schnitzel, konigsberger klefss (polish meatballs), Hungarian goulash, pickled beef belly and German bread and butter.

Lagoon Resort is the newest hotel at Baloy on the land side of the road. It boasts a bar, restaurant, internet café, hotel and swimming pool. Their room prices are quite modest at P1200 to P1800. They have 17 rooms complete with cable TV, air-con and mini-bar. The bar itself has a pool table and dart board and Lagoon participates in the Barretto pool and dart leagues. Their Friday night bands are area favorites. Phone 047-223-3642, www.thelagoonresort.com.

Across the road is Johan’s room, bar, restaurant and dive shop. With 17 rooms at various prices Johan’s has something for everyone. Johan himself has long been associated with the Subic Bay diving scene. The rustic atmosphere of the restaurant has a super view of the bay. It has an antique jukebox with some classic favorites. The menu is something else. Varied does not begin to describe it. There are 34 breakfast choices. (Belgium waffles) There are 26 sandwich choices (double sausage & red onion, lamb sate, meat salad) 23 appetizers (stuffed shells with fish, shrimp and mushrooms) There are 14 ways to order your potatoes. The in-house bakery makes all the breads and cakes. They have home-made ice cream with the ingredients flown in from Belgium. (Negresco ice: vanilla ice with raisins floating on a bed of rum) Phone 047-224-8915, johan@subicdive.com.

Sea Pearl restaurant was formerly known as Sea View. Located on the beachfront this restaurant is known for their good food and extremely modest prices. On the day we visited their specials were grilled lamb at P195, grilled tanigue at P145 and pork cordon bleu at P165.

Our final Baloy Beach fun spot is appropriately known as Getaway. This is an extremely popular afternoon outdoor bar that brings many residents and tourists together at happy hour. It’s a great place to mingle, mix and meet. Their bar prices are lower than anywhere. Beer na beer is P22. San Miguel beer and beer light is just P32. Bill, Steve and Dhoyette have run Getaway for the past 12 years and are well-liked by everyone. They have 6 rooms in the P800 range during rainy season. They have 3 more under construction. Their menu is basic, good and home-cooked. Phone 047-224-8195, thegetaway1_@hotmail.com.

The entire June newsletter is dedicated to Ocean Adventure. It's been four years since we last visited Ocean Adventure on SBMA. It has grown, prospered and improved. Located deep in the rain forest of the old naval magazine the drive through the forest is breathtaking. The triple-canopied jungle is alive with bats, monkeys and other wild animals. Just before the Morong Gate is the turnoff to Camayan Wharf and Ocean adventure. It immediately has the feel of national parks or amusement parks. Flags, signs and attendants direct you to the parking areas.

There are two mains shows worth seeing. The dolphin and false killer whale show is really something. First the dolphins do all kind of jumps, dances across the water and swim tricks. The false killer whales follow with stunts of their own. The human handlers do some rides aboard the animals getting tossed unhurt back onto the piers. You view this 40 minute show in the comfort of tiered-spectator stands which are thankfully shaded. The background views of Subic Bay are priceless. Adults and children leave the show with smiles on their faces. We heard more than once, “That was great.”

The sea lion exhibition is a little more intimate. The two person trainers are entertaining and informed. Each has a sea lion they work with.

Adorable comes to mind just seeing their woolly-whiskered faces. Interspersed with the tricks are light hearted lectures on the environment and how wildlife can be damaged by man. Nets that can cripple, plastic that can suffocate. There is some audience participation in the show. A female was brought out of the crowd and received what must have been a very fishy kiss.

The aquarium has always been a favorite in this park. It’s actually 10 separate aquariums. You enter a dark cave-like, air-conditioned hall. The only light is from the aquariums. These are about one meter high and two meters wide. The ten tanks re-create the actual environments of the Subic Bay area. There is a freshwater tank recreating river environments. One has shallow mangrove conditions. One has sunken ship situations. They progress through the various ocean depths to the deepest of the deep. Each of these has the grass or vegetation or coral that grows in that environment and the fish that inhabit it. Next to the exhibits is excellent signing telling you what you are seeing. There are pictures of the fish with their names so you know what you’re looking at. Two attendants are present to answer questions. We returned here three times during the afternoon.

In between shows there is a restaurant and gift shop. Adult admission to the park is 400 pesos and children are 370 pesos. There are discounts for senior citizens, students and groups. Manila based groups (25+ pax) can contact groupsales@ticketworld.com.ph while local groups can call the park at 047 252-9000.

Hope you all had a safe and happy holiday season. 2005 was just a wonderful year here in the Subic Bay area. 2006 looks to be even better. To start your new year off right we thought we'd crawl the streets of Barrio Barretto and give you the very latest news on the many clubs, restaurants, hotels and more in this area. We did a hotel by hotel, restaurant by restaurant and club by club check of establishments throughout the Barrio. We will start from the southern arrival point and continue north to the end. This portion of our site has not been updated for some time and things change rapidly here. You'll find all this information also copied onto our Links You'll Like page. We will follow this with a new write-up on the Baloy Beach area soon. Prices for a bacon & egg breakfast are provided for restaurants to help give you a baseline on costs. Hyperlinks to email addresses and websites are also provided but please consider Mango's can not assist you if their addresses or links are not working.

Family Rooms P3800 to P4700 / Deluxe Rooms P1800 to P2195 / Budget Rooms P1500 to P1975

Located on beach, swimming pool and parking areas. Menu in restaurant has American, European, Filipino food. Bacon & eggs P225

Regular Room P968 to P1450 / Deluxe Rooms P1089 to P1750 / Beachside Rooms P1210 to P1950 / Bacon & eggs P65

Playa Papagayo Beach Hotel
# 43 National Highway
www.playapapagayo.net
63-47-224-1002

Budget Rooms P1300 / Standard Rooms P1800 / Beach front P2000 to P2200 / Superior Rooms P2400 to P2600

Restaurant has the best Mexican food in the Olongapo area. They also have many Thai dishes. Bacon & eggs P140.

Executive Room P2500 / Deluxe Room P2000 / Standard Room P1500 / Bacon & eggs P125

Large Rooms P900 / Small Rooms P700 / These are small but nice rooms with air conditioning. Good value.

By The Sea Hotel & Resort
99 National Hwy
www.bythesea.com.ph
63-47-222-4560/222-2888/223-4346

Dryden’s Hotel & Restaurant
# 58 National Hwy
drydens@subictel.com
63-47-224-8701

Rooms P700 to P900 / Restaurant here exceptional. American-Filipino-Mexican. / Big portions, over 100 entrée’s to choose from. / Bacon & eggs P180

Three large suites, with shaded outside veranda’s overlooking beach and bay. Microwaves, refrigerators, room safes, DVD players. / Suites P1800 to P2400 depending on season. / Restaurant has wide range of American, European, Filipino, Mexican and Thai dishes. / Bacon & eggs P190

Rooms P2200 / Weekly P2000 night / Monthly P1700 night / Excellent European food / They recently opened so menu in flux / Bacon & eggs P265

Fan Rooms P750 / Deluxe Rooms P1500 / Beachfront Rooms P1800 / Bacon & eggs P180

Fan Rooms P500 / Air Con Rooms P1000 / Family Rooms P1200 / Good European restaurant / Swedish meatballs etc. / Bacon & eggs P120

Barrio Barretto Restaurants
(excepting those already mentioned above in hotels)

This is a small coffee house and internet café. Clean and well run it’s new to the barrio and a nice addition.

Located where the Swiss Tavern used to be this is a comfortable restaurant with local décor. They serve all meals. Menu includes pastas, ribs, corned beef and cabbage, curries and other Asian dishes. We recommend the lasagna. Bacon & eggs are P180.

Currently located across from the old Marmont the “V” serves good, down-home food at reasonable prices. The daily special is usually something your Mom used to make. Chicken a la king, meat loaf etc. This is also a great place to meet locals or find people you might be looking for. Their bulletin board is filled with cars for sale, garage sales and other useful information. Bacon & eggs are P175.

Authentic Italian restaurant. Menu items include anti pasta, Greek vegetable salads, bruscheta, vegetable, fish, pumpkin and onion soups as well as fish and meat dishes.

Located in the heart of the barrio, Brettos has virtually every kind of sliced meat and cheese to choose from. You can also buy beef or pork tenderloin, chicken, hams and turkeys. They have a wide selection of imported sauces, mustards and other hard to find items from back home.

Located next to Bretto's, also in the heart of the barrio. Crusty Loaf is an amazing bakery. Breads, pastries, meat pies. Great place that looks and smells like it should be in the Swiss Alps.

Olongapo has recently allowed go-go dancers back on the long dormant stages of the city. Barretto has also jumped on the bandwagon. For that reason we’ll start with the new go-go clubs and then continue with other establishments not employing dancers that nevertheless have much to offer.

Located in Mango’s just off the street, Rock Lobster is the oldest of the nightclubs in the area. Opened in 1986 when the US bases were still here it moved to its present location in 1994. Great music, entertainment, atmosphere, employees and management are the reasons it’s maintained its standing and reputation.

This is another nice go-go club. Spacious, clean and comfortable. They have a wide range of games girls play with the customers at the counter much as they do in Thailand. The place rocks and is worth a visit.

Newly opened this club is a nice addition to our area. Straight ahead dancing girl bar with some sexy costumes. It’s located next to Oriental Rose and across from Rock Lobster.

Although it is under new management Night Rider has been around since the early 90’s. The stage is centered in the room so customers surround the dancing area. Two pool tables for customer use and tournaments.

Small, comfortable and intimate. Well run and some nice entertainers. Just built a small stage and dancers will begin soon. Recommended.

This is next to Little Wheel. Previously called Bos’n Locker they just started with dancers.

No dancers. Pleasant atmosphere done up with lots of bamboo. They serve great pizza.

No Dancers but some nice entertainers with some remarkable costumes. They are on the beach and have live bands on Friday night along with a very popular billiard tournament.

No dancers. Previously known as Island Girls this is one of the daytime hangouts of many locals. A wide range of nationalities congregates here.

No dancers. Next to Islanders this is another daytime place with a nice back bar to view the ocean.

Another local hangout near VFW and T Rose. Happy hour at 5 PM. Good place to pick up local information. No entertainers but good conversation.

Known as Irish Rose during the Navy base days this comes as close as any establishment to being the way it was. Lots of memorabilia from a by-gone era.

Last month this was called Hollies. Located in the old General’s Gym. Opens late. Specializes in live music and bands.

Across from Chicargo this is a pretty cool little watering hole. Very low beer prices. General McArthur who runs the place is a character.

Located next to Night Rider this place is small but has an air-conditioned karaoke room. They also have regular pool tournaments.

On left when entering Barretto, they are on the beach and have horseshoe tournaments most Saturdays.


Newsletter Archive 2005	Newsletter Archive 2004	Newsletter Archive 2003

Newsletter Archive 2002	Newsletter Archive 2001	Newsletter Archive 2000

1st	Power Puff Girls
2nd	Lovely Girls
3rd	New Star
4th	Weslayan Dance Group
5th	Charmes

Sheavens	Casino Filipino
Subic Charters	Masonic District 27
Harley’s	Blue Rock
Kokomo’s	GMC Associates
Scuba Shack	Arlene’s Money Changer
By The Sea	Insomnia
Mo’s Bars	Mabuhay Shrine
Palm Tree Resort	Viva Mineral Water
Pepsi Cola	San Miguel Corp
Ric’s Kountry Kitchen - Kingdom of Bahrain

Manila-Orion		Orion-Manila

7:00 AM		8:45 AM
12:00 Noon		1:30 PM
3:00 PM		4:45 PM

1st	Aaliyah Jershey Arevalo, 4
2nd	Ashley Nicole Villamor, 5
3rd	Princess Jessica Picardal

1st	Perlas ng Silangan
2nd	Tribong Gala
3rd	The Original Golden Beat

1st	Marjore F. Pangilinan
2nd	Miles Cameron Taylor
3rd	Jane Herman
4th	Mary Louise Wash