Angeles City

[Pute Nut]

Note there have been comments about a club called Mega but I have no first hand comments about it.

OK, so I've taken a quick peek into this. Had a beer (120 pesos, pretty much inline with old HiSo's 100 pre-pandemic drinks). Far from packed, crowd seemed to consist of younger cuter girl barkadas, not your typical high-mileage jolibellied GROs (although a few "body positive" young pinays were offering a free view of their generous fat deposits moving in all directions when utilizing the dancepods). The club has couple tall topline hired dancers and a B team of shorter, standard issue pinays with limited dancing skills, but at least they had bright LED lights.

Many cliques seemed to know each other from before. Noted one senior likely monger nursing his drink at a well-placed table, with no approaches going on, in fact it seemed like there was an invisible social distancing area around him. When he gave up and left, a four / five girls barkada quickly moved in and snatched up the free table.

Noticed a few more things going on, which shall remain uninterpreted for now. There are probably rewards available when you have unlocked the code. No easy peasy shopping la Insomnia/Marine (Patts, pre-pandemic) going on from what I could see.

Typical EDM dance music, very similar to what HiSo played, but this place shoots for a slightly more socyal crowd if my quick interpretion got it right, and action is much less wild (even if some erotic dancing was performed by drunk girls).

Free entrance and open until 5 am, check it out for yourself as J Tron says.

[Soapy Smith]

This is not her fault. Western cultures teach geography and map-reading (distances, directions) in school. None of my regulars has ever encountered this kind of thing. They also don't drive vehicles, and are not aware of street signs and directions. Their geography is based on landmarks.

I think there's a dynamic even bigger than the absence of geography being taught in schools. There's an old guy named James C. Scott who spent much of his life studying "peasant resistance" in Southeast Asia. He talks about how as countries "develop" their rulers try to impose "legibility" on their people. Legibility includes things like standards of measurement (which are needed to carry on markets); planning, labeling, and numbering of road systems; government subdivisions; standards around the processing of foods for market; and even standard languages.

But people don't want to be controlled, they don't want to change their own local practices and terminology, and so they resist. Indigenous groups in the Philippines, for example, Igorots, Bukidnon, Bontoc, Aeta, Badjao, and many others--resist being assimilated in various ways. If they get pressured to conform, they just retreat into the mountains or remote islands. Many Filipinos outside Tagalog-speaking central Luzon resist having to learn the national language, Filipino, which is based primarily on Tagalog. If they can't use Cebuano / Bisaya, for example, they would often rather use English. The rural provincial areas of the Philippines carry on many resistant local practices. That resistance isn't lost when the individual from the provinces moves to Manila in search of fortune. Resisting learning about legible road systems and directions may be a part of this dynamic.

The resistance dynamics are nothing recent. Remember, when the Spanish conquered these 7,100 islands the islands did not have a common name, language, ethnicity, or religion. The Spanish just decided to call the islands a single country, named it after their King, and imposed their own legibility and religion on it. Colonialism does that, and the colonists fight back however they can.

[WestCoast1]

I need to take some time to report on my stay in AC. I ended up staying a full month. Loved it, but I was tapped out. Glad to be home but the itch to return will be back soon.

Women and distances, locations: they're mostly all the same. I was once on a jury where we spent 2 days listening to teenage girls try to estimate simple distances and measurements. It was comical, insane. Zero ability to do it even in the most basic terms. For years, I've always wondered why even my most educated and sophisticated female friends get a blank look when you say 'It's one and a half miles southeast'. The older I get the more I realize everything comes back to evolutionary psychology. Historically men had to travel, leave the tribe, hunt, and be able to return, for survival. The women stayed at home base and took care of the needs there. Cut to hundreds of thousands of years in the future, and this is what we've got. Nature is undefeated.

I run into the same bad system of giving directions from both men and women. More from the ladies. Men are more likely to have had access to driving a bike or motorcycle, and are more knowledgeable on going someplace. But they are just as bad at distances, directions (north, south), and time it takes to get there. They speak in short phrases or a word or two at at time. Example, I asked a guy how to get to the Courthouse:

"Its there", (pointing with his hand south-east). What street to do I take to go there? "This one" (pointing south on the street where we were standing). When do I turn east? What street? "I do not know". I see, and how far will I travel on this street before I will turn east? "I do not know". Does this street curve to the east? "No". Once I turn left, how far will I travel to get to the Courthouse? "I do not know".

Switching the conversation to Spanish, in hopes of more information, got little better results. His first response was: "Es de esa manera" (its over there, pointing again south-east). All of his replies, even in the language he grew up with, were short phrases, or "No se" (I don't know). OTOH, when talking about breakfast, he joyfully rattled on about how he finds chorizo to be a bit too spicy when his wife mixed it with eggs.

Driving a vehicle forces people to become better at giving directions. My aunt never drove. She could give directions to anywhere within a few blocks of her home, but she was worthless at giving directions past that, even to places she's visited many times. Asking her directions to her doctor's office (far away) in order to drive her there, she had me call her son (who drove her in the past) to get directions. From him: First street 2 miles, turn north on second street. Second street 4 miles, turn south onto the highway. Highway 2 miles to Xxxxx St off-ramp. Doctor's office on the right hand side of Xxxxx street. If my aunt had only said to take the highway to Xxxxx street, that would have been the bomb, but she didn't have that knowledge.

You see a vast difference in cultures in terms of time (spanish time vs gringo time), distance (exact locations for westerners), and directions (right, left, north, south). None of those things are of much importance in poor countries. I double-dated some years back, me and my girl went out for drinks with a buddy and his girl. After a discussion like this with my buddy, he turned to the two silent girls and asked: What do you think of this? Without missing beat my pinay said: "These are a rich man's problems. Not mine".

[Tinte]

I need to take some time to report on my stay in AC. I ended up staying a full month. Loved it, but I was tapped out. Glad to be home but the itch to return will be back soon.

Women and distances, locations: they're mostly all the same. I was once on a jury where we spent 2 days listening to teenage girls try to estimate simple distances and measurements. It was comical, insane. Zero ability to do it even in the most basic terms. For years, I've always wondered why even my most educated and sophisticated female friends get a blank look when you say 'It's one and a half miles southeast'. The older I get the more I realize everything comes back to evolutionary psychology. Historically men had to travel, leave the tribe, hunt, and be able to return, for survival. The women stayed at home base and took care of the needs there. Cut to hundreds of thousands of years in the future, and this is what we've got. Nature is undefeated.

The result of your survey could well bee correct. LOL. But chances a high the result ist what you wanted to see in the first place as a outcome. Same procedure with boys and the same two groups in your home country could make you cry. Some will fail with the term southeast at first and second thy probably do not know the experience of walking that distance. LOL and Cry.

[Goferring]

Yep, Australia is the same.

I'm showing my age but there was a time when Perth was "9 cans" (of beer) away from Port Headland. 😜.

[FuriousGeorge]

I need to take some time to report on my stay in AC. I ended up staying a full month. Loved it, but I was tapped out. Glad to be home but the itch to return will be back soon.

Women and distances, locations: they're mostly all the same. I was once on a jury where we spent 2 days listening to teenage girls try to estimate simple distances and measurements. It was comical, insane. Zero ability to do it even in the most basic terms. For years, I've always wondered why even my most educated and sophisticated female friends get a blank look when you say 'It's one and a half miles southeast'. The older I get the more I realize everything comes back to evolutionary psychology. Historically men had to travel, leave the tribe, hunt, and be able to return, for survival. The women stayed at home base and took care of the needs there. Cut to hundreds of thousands of years in the future, and this is what we've got. Nature is undefeated.

[AsianPursuits]

Its like this in other countries also. I find that in countries where most folk don't own a car, they describe locating things in terms of landmarks (like the Iglesia church, or a mall, a hospital, or government office); not in terms of distances, directions (north / south, or left / right), or street names.

Yep, Australia is the same. Turn right at the Commercial Hotel, then stay straight until you pass the Globe Pub. Then it's one hour until Longreach and stop at the Wellshot Hotel for a beer on the way.

But seriously as for Filipina another annoying trait is.

Me: "where are you" .

21 yo 45 kg twiglet: "I'm here in the Mall".

Me: "where exactly?

21 yo 45 kg twiglet: "I can see McDo".

Me, Ok, stay there, walks to McDonalds.

Me: "Ok, where are you?

21 yo 45 kg twiglet: "Same place, I can see McDo, but it's far to there. I can see Manson also."

[D Cups]

Thanks for the expanded explanation of barangay, guys. Yes, Fiipino geographical illiteracy, in Western terms, makes getting around here a challenge sometimes. Even the hand signals are quite confusing quite often.

[WestCoast1]

What a barangay is depends whether it's in an urban area or more rural. In a city a barangay is a district within the city. In more populous cities, like the City of Manila, barangays are sub-districts. The City of Manila, for example, has 16 named districts, such as Malate, Ermita, Intramuros, etc, and there are 897 barangays spread across these 16 districts. AC, as Pete Nut explained, has only 33 barangays. Each barangay has a barangay captain and an elected council of kagawads or councilors. In more rural areas a barangay is the equivalent of a village within a municipality. Municipalities are local government units that due to population or other criteria do not qualify to be cities. Municipalities, especially in rural provinces, are often spread out over an expansive area with little villages or hamlets dotting the landscape. These villages or hamlets are called barangays and their elected officials are similar to those in urban barangays.

Great description. A Brgy is usually well-defined on the city map. It might be several city blocks x several city blocks. Or if the area is sparsely populated, it might be lines drawn on a map of a hill- or mountain-like area. Typical brgy populations are 6,000 - 20,000 persons. A city map found on the wall in the Mayor's office will usually show the entire city is divided into many Brgy, with no unincorporated non-brgy areas. Most Brgy are sub-divided into Zones. In addition to each Brgy having a Captain and his elected Kagawad (counselors), each zone has an elected leader. Small Brgy might have 2-4 zones, and large Brgy might have many more zones (walking on Mabini St in Malate, between San Andreas and Quirino streets, painted on a wall: "Welcome to Zone 76", or such). At each Brgy entrance you will usually see a large white sign that reads like: "Mabuhay! Barangay Balibago!" And below it will be listed the Captain and all the Kagawad names.

All of the persons mentioned above, Captains, Kagawad, Zone leaders, and also Mayor's office personnel, and PNP and Bantaybayan officers, are LGU officials. Having lunch with a Captain one day a few years ago, he seemed keen to show me items both in the Phils Constitution and RA's stating that LGU officials commands must be obeyed by everyone. This system allows each LGU leader to create completely conflicting ordinances in the same city, brgy, or zone. Its strange (to me).

Keep in mind that many of the girls you encounter may not be particularly geographically literate. They may know the name of the barangay where they live but often only one or two adjacent barangays, if that.

And that might be an understatement. True story:

One of my province girls lives less than 100 m from the only river in the city. The river is wide (more than 100 m), and the name of the river is the same as the name of the city: "Xxxxxx". The girl's family invited me to swim there with them. The river cleanly divides the provincial town in half. They refer to the river as "Xxxxxx River". It is the only river in the city. One day I was browsing the city on maps.google.com. Clearly indicated on my laptop, the map showed several major street names, and the river. I showed it to the girl, and asked her if she knew this city (her own, where she grew up). "Um. Is it Xxxxxx?" Why yes, sweetie. Very good. And this river. What is the name of this river? "Um. I don't know". Is there any additional rivers in the city, other than the one we swim in? "No. I think no". Then what is the name of this river? "Um. Not sure". OK. Can you point on this map to near to where you live? "Yes". She pointed to an area to the far east side of the city (clearly not near the river), when in fact she lived in the center, near the river, and she should have pointed to anyplace near the river.

This is not her fault. Western cultures teach geography and map-reading (distances, directions) in school. None of my regulars has ever encountered this kind of thing. They also don't drive vehicles, and are not aware of street signs and directions. Their geography is based on landmarks. The give directions like this: "If you want to go in McDonalds. You go that way (points with her finger) and then you will go in the Iglesia church and you go pass the church then you will that way (points left with her hand) and you will McDonalds". She will not specify how far past the church, or what street name, that you will turn left, to find the McDonalds. Nor will she discuss distances or time ("It is half kilometer" or "7 minutes walking", or such). She is also not used to walking that distance, she is used to taking a tryke that way. She can take you there (in a jeep / tryke), but she can't explain how to get there (in any language). Its like this in other countries also. I find that in countries where most folk don't own a car, they describe locating things in terms of landmarks (like the Iglesia church, or a mall, a hospital, or government office); not in terms of distances, directions (north / south, or left / right), or street names.

[Soapy Smith]

Now you will need to explain what is a Barangay.

What a barangay is depends whether it's in an urban area or more rural. In a city a barangay is a district within the city. In more populous cities, like the City of Manila, barangays are sub-districts. The City of Manila, for example, has 16 named districts, such as Malate, Ermita, Intramuros, etc, and there are 897 barangays spread across these 16 districts. AC, as Pete Nut explained, has only 33 barangays. Each barangay has a barangay captain and an elected council of kagawads or councilors. In more rural areas a barangay is the equivalent of a village within a municipality. Municipalities are local government units that due to population or other criteria do not qualify to be cities. Municipalities, especially in rural provinces, are often spread out over an expansive area with little villages or hamlets dotting the landscape. These villages or hamlets are called barangays and their elected officials are similar to those in urban barangays.

Keep in mind that many of the girls you encounter may not be particularly geographically literate. They may know the name of the barangay where they live but often only one or two adjacent barangays, if that.

[Goferring]

I paid 3 K for three days for mine but next time she will only have to pay 1 K.

Sounds about right. My LLT rate is just the ST rate per 24 HR day. No one has ever complained.

[Goferring]

While on the subject of geography for newbies, locals will consider that Angeles City is the are 4.5 km south of walking street.

The biggest one here is a girl saying she is in "Cebu". That could be Cebu Province, Cebu Island or Cebu City. All have very different meanings and could cover a very large area indeed. She could be literally days travel away from where I am.

[AsianPursuits]

Just like Mr E wrote, Balibago is just one barangay out of many (33 to be exact) in Angeles City. It is also the home of the entertainment district.

I think you have identified something that is useful in chat with girls. I find it relatively easy to get dates and hookups with call center and non-pro girls via the chat apps. When I am there and they ask "Where am I" I will reply with the name of the local district ie Timog, Korea Town or whatever. In contrast a sex tourist would reply "Walking Street" or Angeles and possibly immediately mark themselves without knowing.

While on the subject of geography for newbies, locals will consider that Angeles City is the are 4.5 km south of walking street.

[D Cups]

I have done the same thing while ago. Mamasan kept calling her every day supposedly to make sure she is okay but obviously to check on her. Paying the bar to take girl out for a vacation is bull shit.

I paid 3 K for three days for mine but next time she will only have to pay 1 K.

[D Cups]

Now you will need to explain what is a Barangay.

It is like a county in the USA, DG, headed by a captain, non-military, but has authority to resolve neighborhood complaints and sign various paper. I live in Bong Bong Barangay, Valencia, Negros Oriental. Cheers, buddy.