Angeles City

[Bamboo Pete]

Who knows but everywhere you look in AC there are new condos being built. Not one or two but probably about 50 new condo-plexes being built all over the city. Granted the ones there now are half empty but many new ones going up. That is quite different so the result will probably not be the same. All we can do is speculate now.

In this case, I hope AC goes the same way as Pattaya. After too many condos were built, and less people coming, they will become cheaper. Right now you pay in Kandi Tower or La Grande 30 k+ monthly, just for a studio.

Of course, I would love it if bars will open again, but I'm sure we can be glad if half of them open again. As you said, all we can do is speculate.

[Beavis]

To me what is happening in Angeles is rather like what happened in Ermita many years ago.

The causes were very different, the results the same.

In Ermita, it was booming with bars, restaurants and hotels all running at capacity.

Along came a politician who closed it all down to 'improve' the area.

What followed was Ermita becoming a squatter area dangerous at night over many decades.

Empty bars were taken over by squatters.

Even after several decades and the moving on of the 'enlightened' politician, it is very slowly improving but still a really miserable dirty area.

Now switch to 2020 and the virus replaces the politician.

Same process.

Bars close, hotels built go, restaurants close and like Ermita the low life move in as things go dilapidated.

Ermita taught us that after a close-down shock, recovery is virtually impossible.

Who knows but everywhere you look in AC there are new condos being built. Not one or two but probably about 50 new condo-plexes being built all over the city. Granted the ones there now are half empty but many new ones going up. That is quite different so the result will probably not be the same. All we can do is speculate now.

[Fastpiston]

To me what is happening in Angeles is rather like what happened in Ermita many years ago.

The causes were very different, the results the same.

In Ermita, it was booming with bars, restaurants and hotels all running at capacity.

Along came a politician who closed it all down to 'improve' the area.

What followed was Ermita becoming a squatter area dangerous at night over many decades.

Empty bars were taken over by squatters.

Even after several decades and the moving on of the 'enlightened' politician, it is very slowly improving but still a really miserable dirty area.

Now switch to 2020 and the virus replaces the politician.

Same process.

Bars close, hotels built go, restaurants close and like Ermita the low life move in as things go dilapidated.

Ermita taught us that after a close-down shock, recovery is virtually impossible.

[Goferring]

Fields will recover or it will not recover. Time will tell. Fields alway had to have one ingredient to survive. Bargirls. Without bargirls there would be no tourist. No tourist no need for hotels. Every business there relied on bar girls.

We had a chicken and the egg discussion here before about whether girls are needed first to attract mongers or if girls will appear where ever there are cashed up guys.

Personally, I think military bases, foreign mine startups etc show that where ever monied guys are then girls will naturally arrive. That then feeds an ever expanding loop as more guys, girls and tourists are attracted.

I guess that the opposite is also the case: when guys cease arriving the girls and business infrastructure soon collapses in on itself.

Cheers. G.

[LoveItHere69]

I don't know about you, but bars are the one thing that seem to be on the decline. Over the past 10 years or so, I've seen many bars close but only seen new hotels / condos and restaurants open up in angeles. I feel like for every bar that closes, there have been new 3 hotels and 3 restaurants built. Obviously this is not the direction that I had hoped for.

First time I visited there was 13 years ago. 30% of the bars have closed since then. Seems like 2 bars close each year for the last 10 years. 70% of the ST bars are gone. God knows how many more will close because the virus. The Koreans have killed AC. They bring clients / customers on budget airlines and splash so much money trying to impress them. Business expense using their Hyundai, LG, or Samsung credit card. Other major issue is the human trafficking thing. Mamasans used to recruit in Samar. 13 years ago 70%+ girls were from Samar. Now most are from Pampanga and Manila who know the game and are not GFE like the rural farm girls from Samar. 10 years ago I had plans to retire in PH. Now just visit for 2-3 months and dropping. I am afraid after the virus takes its toll on the bar scene that I may not return after my next trip. Crying in my Fruit Loops right now.

[Kazeu]

I don't know about you, but bars are the one thing that seem to be on the decline. Over the past 10 years or so, I've seen many bars close but only seen new hotels / condos and restaurants open up in angeles. I feel like for every bar that closes, there have been new 3 hotels and 3 restaurants built. Obviously this is not the direction that I had hoped for.

Congrats on first post.

Whether anyone agrees or disagree doesn't matter. Respectfully your opinion doesn't matter. Presently there are no Covid19 economic recovery experts around. Unless mongers here put their money where their mouth is, their opinions mean nothing. Including mine.

Fields will recover or it will not recover. Time will tell. Fields alway had to have one ingredient to survive. Bargirls. Without bargirls there would be no tourist. No tourist no need for hotels. Every business there relied on bar girls. No one would like to believe or acknowledge that Fields would be nothing without bargirls. Most people looked down on the BGs without realizing that they exist because of them. Police lived high off of the payoffs.

No one respected the bar girls. Bargirls kept many mouths fed there. Now it is gone. Hopefully it is temporarily. Just like everywhere else we have not seen the economic fall out. Give 6 months and we will see a horrendous amount of bankruptcies. Fortunately we will see risk takers opening places back up.

My fear is the corrupt hands out from city hall and police units will kill any initial recovery, not the lack of bargirls and tourist.

[Kazeu]

When I speak I speak only for myself but I imagine I'm not the only one that thinks this way. If I am, I stand alone and corrected, I'm happy its much better for all you out there. But in my opinion Its crap compared to what it used to be. I don't know how the Koreans or the Chinese feel about it. I imagine its better than what they got back in Korea, but it could have been better for everyone. Instead they decided to come to angeles and make it just like Korea.

Obviously there are winners and losers to all changes. Things change over time. I know that. Doesn't mean I have to be happy about it and praise the way it is now.

Koreans and Chinese have changed AC. You say the change is not for the better? For who? Western tourist, which are the minority now. To the Koreans and Chinese change has been good.

[Dg8787]

Unfortunately the mods decided in your favor and removed my original post as well as my explanation, but your quote of my original post still remains. As long as that remains, I believe I deserve to explain it, that it was not meant sincerely. I don't want war just so I can go mongering. But I do believe that the koreans changed angeles city permanently and I do not hide my opinion that it was not for the better. In the same fashion I do believe that the chinese have really hurt the experience of tourism. Travelling is completely different than it was 10 years ago.

Koreans and Chinese have changed AC. You say the change is not for the better? For who? Western tourist, which are the minority now. To the Koreans and Chinese change has been good.

[Kazeu]

I have received word that there are still parties going on in Angeles. The people I heard this from said that they were not allowed to take pictures at the party for fear of them getting posted to social media.

[Kazeu]

Unfortunately the mods decided in your favor and removed my original post as well as my explanation, but your quote of my original post still remains. As long as that remains, I believe I deserve to explain it, that it was not meant sincerely. I don't want war just so I can go mongering. But I do believe that the koreans changed angeles city permanently and I do not hide my opinion that it was not for the better. In the same fashion I do believe that the chinese have really hurt the experience of tourism. Travelling is completely different than it was 10 years ago.

That has to be one of the most disgusting posts I have read on ISG ever.

I am surprised the mods allowed it.

[Dg8787]

I have been watching Youtube videos of the current situation in Fields Avenue (aka Walking Street) and nearly everything is closed down. I was due to stay at the Royal Amsterdam Hotel later this year which obviously will not happen thanks to Covid-19. However, in more than one recent YouTube video I noticed a 'For Sale' sign on the front of an obviously deserted hotel building. So I do not expect to ever see my one night's deposit ever again.

What I find interesting is that the hotel's website appears to be 'business as usual' and hotel booking sites such as hotels.com still allow users to book at hotels in the vicinity such as Amsterdam or Queens or others that are definitely not open now and not likely to open up again. IMHO. So, I would advise anyone who is or was planning a trip to Angeles City this year or next to be extremely cautious about your hotel booking and definitely be extra cautious about booking and paying direct to the hotel rather than one of the major booking sites which will refund customers for cancelled bookings. Also, be wary of 'special offers' and 'unmissable room deals' as promoted by a hotel that may no longer exist. Even though its website seems to be fully functional.

At this time, I cannot envisage most of the hotels in and around Fields Avenue opening up again after tourist travel is allowed back to Angeles City. This is because the hotels need the tourists and the tourists need the entertainment venues to be open. However, the entertainment venues need the tourists in order to reopen and the tourists need the entertainment venues and the hotels to be open. So it is akin to a Catch 22 situation. Also, bearing in mind how much damage was previously done to Fields Avenue tourism by the police raids and the huge price increases and a number of mismanaged bars, what will be the future attraction of the place to investors? I personally find it very difficult to envisage how the Fields Avenue area can ever reopen as a bona fide monger destination. I hope I am wrong.

Do any BM's disagree with my pessimistic outlook?

Congrats on first post.

Whether anyone agrees or disagree doesn't matter. Respectfully your opinion doesn't matter. Presently there are no Covid19 economic recovery experts around. Unless mongers here put their money where their mouth is, their opinions mean nothing. Including mine.

Fields will recover or it will not recover. Time will tell. Fields alway had to have one ingredient to survive. Bargirls. Without bargirls there would be no tourist. No tourist no need for hotels. Every business there relied on bar girls. No one would like to believe or acknowledge that Fields would be nothing without bargirls. Most people looked down on the BGs without realizing that they exist because of them. Police lived high off of the payoffs.

No one respected the bar girls. Bargirls kept many mouths fed there. Now it is gone. Hopefully it is temporarily. Just like everywhere else we have not seen the economic fall out. Give 6 months and we will see a horrendous amount of bankruptcies. Fortunately we will see risk takers opening places back up.

My fear is the corrupt hands out from city hall and police units will kill any initial recovery, not the lack of bargirls and tourist.

[Torrents]

I have been watching Youtube videos of the current situation in Fields Avenue (aka Walking Street) and nearly everything is closed down. I was due to stay at the Royal Amsterdam Hotel later this year which obviously will not happen thanks to Covid-19. However, in more than one recent YouTube video I noticed a 'For Sale' sign on the front of an obviously deserted hotel building. So I do not expect to ever see my one night's deposit ever again.

What I find interesting is that the hotel's website appears to be 'business as usual' and hotel booking sites such as hotels.com still allow users to book at hotels in the vicinity such as Amsterdam or Queens or others that are definitely not open now and not likely to open up again. IMHO. So, I would advise anyone who is or was planning a trip to Angeles City this year or next to be extremely cautious about your hotel booking and definitely be extra cautious about booking and paying direct to the hotel rather than one of the major booking sites which will refund customers for cancelled bookings. Also, be wary of 'special offers' and 'unmissable room deals' as promoted by a hotel that may no longer exist. Even though its website seems to be fully functional.

At this time, I cannot envisage most of the hotels in and around Fields Avenue opening up again after tourist travel is allowed back to Angeles City. This is because the hotels need the tourists and the tourists need the entertainment venues to be open. However, the entertainment venues need the tourists in order to reopen and the tourists need the entertainment venues and the hotels to be open. So it is akin to a Catch 22 situation. Also, bearing in mind how much damage was previously done to Fields Avenue tourism by the police raids and the huge price increases and a number of mismanaged bars, what will be the future attraction of the place to investors? I personally find it very difficult to envisage how the Fields Avenue area can ever reopen as a bona fide monger destination. I hope I am wrong.

Do any BM's disagree with my pessimistic outlook?

[Kazeu]

[Racial Epithet(s) Deleted by Admin]

EDITOR'S NOTE: This report was edited in accordance with the Forum's Zero Tolerance policy regarding reports containing racial epithets.

Please be advised that Forum Members who succeed in having three or more of their reports deleted for personal attacks, racial epithets or other derogatory comments, will be banned under the Forum's Serial Antagonist Policy.

[Red Kilt]

There is 1 slim hope. North Korea starts a military conflict with South Korea requiring all the Koreans to go back and fight the war. At the same time anti chinese sentiment rises restricting travel abilities of chinese citizens.

Things to hope for?

That has to be one of the most disgusting posts I have read on ISG ever.

I am surprised the mods allowed it.

[Kazeu]

Even before the wuhan virus hit, ponytails was already closed when I was in angeles back in March. All the girls had already been moved to some bar on walking street.

Ponytails is done closed and it don't look like it will ever open again even if the bars somehow do open again. I suppose IF the bars are to ever crank back up to 2008 to 2015 levels before the Koreans rauined them Ponytails remodeled with new couches and chairs hot girls in t backs and a new floor plan would be a Great place again. But I never see that happening here again AC Bars are toast.