Angeles City

Nice post Mogwai. I have seen this and even worse conditions for the go-go ladies in Angeles, since spending some time there with repeat girls. Some places housing 10-12 girls and maybe 5-6 in the same bedroom. I can understand that they look for someone to take them away from this life. In the meantime we should treat them good as you point out. It's been a while since I was in Fields; is the system still like the barfine also covers the services of the girl or if not what is a normal LT fee these days! Will be back in Angeles in April and will report. Hopefully the standard is better than last time I was there 2 years ago.

[QUOTE=Ekspat;1686010]IMO this is definitely not a slum since it has a toilet, water and electricity and the house is (relatively) solid built.[/QUOTE]Agreed, this is actually pretty common. I have relatives on Mindanao who are quite content in their completely wooden abodes. Big drums for water storage for flushing the toilet and washing yourself. Even in 30 c heat that water still doesn't get warm enough for my liking! Nothing like dumping a cold pail of water over your head first thing in the morning.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;1685957]Two of my regulars showed me their apartment located at a 15 minute trike ride from Walking Street in an area that can best be described as a slum (although I'm aware there are even worse areas in the PI or elsewhere in the world).{S N I P}

I can also understand better now why they are always texting us with 'stupid' questions as mentioned below. Wouldn't we be bored in an apartment like this?[/QUOTE]I would not classify that neighbourhood as a PI slum, but I do appreciate the point that you are making.

[QUOTE=Dg8787;1686184]Sometimes the stupidity is not in the question{er} but in the responder.[/QUOTE]Good one DG. I was thinking much the same thing!

Since these young ladies live in very real poverty I wonder why they don't simply be honest and ask for cash to help out with plumbing or electricity? I know some requests are truthful but a lot may not be.

I think a lot of guys who make 20 times what these women make would be more than happy to help out if the request is genuine.

[QUOTE=Simmer;1686235]Agreed, this is actually pretty common. I have relatives on Mindanao who are quite content in their completely wooden abodes. Big drums for water storage for flushing the toilet and washing yourself. Even in 30 c heat that water still doesn't get warm enough for my liking! Nothing like dumping a cold pail of water over your head first thing in the morning.[/QUOTE]That might help me beat my lifelong coffee addiction. LOL.

[QUOTE=Lou32;1686291]I think a lot of guys who make 20 times what these women make would be more than happy to help out if the request is genuine.[/QUOTE]That's very big-hearted of you. I'll send all the needy girls your way. .

RG.

[QUOTE=Simmer;1686235] Even in 30 c heat that water still doesn't get warm enough for my liking! Nothing like dumping a cold pail of water over your head first thing in the morning.[/QUOTE]Speaking of cold water. Yesterday me and a few friends chopped us through 40 cm thick ice before we jumped into the lake. A popular "sport" in my country (icebathing). The water temperature was 4 degrees. Thats refreshing.

[QUOTE=Lou32;1686291]Since these young ladies live in very real poverty I wonder why they don't simply be honest and ask for cash to help out with plumbing or electricity? I know some requests are truthful but a lot may not be. [/QUOTE]Just shy to ask, pride or whatever. Though some requests I've seen via trip reports don't seem to tally with that statement. Maybe they just rationalise things differently.

With the photo examples given though, I don't think that's real poverty. Yes people define poverty differently but I have seen a whole lot worse than those photos. And you need look no further than the side streets around Divisoria (Manila) to see people washing their plates, clothes, and even themselves on a shared tap / faucet in the street. Those photos. No disrespect to the poster. Is more on the low income, basic facilities kind of scale in my mind.

[QUOTE=Lou32;1686291]I think a lot of guys who make 20 times what these women make would be more than happy to help out if the request is genuine.[/QUOTE]Indeed, and I'm sure many do help with the full knowledge that they are one of several doing so! And others blissfully ignorant, or like to pretend they're the only one!

[QUOTE=Mogwai;1685957]Two of my regulars showed me their apartment located at a 15 minute trike ride from Walking Street in an area that can best be described as a slum (although I'm aware there are even worse areas in the PI or elsewhere in the world).

Picture no. 1 (which is the last one of the 5 below) shows the entrance to the house they share with a family with 3 children.

Picture 2, 3 and 4 show their apartment that's only a part of the total house (about 1/3 I think).

When you come in there's a small 'kitchen' but it only has cold running water; there's no gas for cooking. You can see a part of the sink in picture 2.

In picture 3 you see the living room, only 9 square meters at the most!

Picture 4 shows the view from the living room at the kitchen and the toilet (the door on the right). No shower, only a toilet.

Picture 5 shows their street.

Can you imagine they are living in this small apartment together with 2 kids? They have almost zero possessions. I saw maybe 6 carton boxes with all their belongings. They sleep on the air matrass you see in the pictures. No bed, no chairs, no television, no aircon, nothing.

The rent is 2000 PhP / month (excluding water and electricity).

They showed me around their neighbourhood and I met some of their friends. It's amazing how relaxed and friendly these people are. Lots of children all around. And mosquitos, LOL.

This neighbourhood is home to a lot of trike drivers by the way. I can understand better now why they want 100 PhP for a ride.

I have never been a cheap charlie, I think I even spoil the girls a little bit and after seeing this I will continue doing that.

I can also understand better now why they are always texting us with 'stupid' questions as mentioned below. Wouldn't we be bored in an apartment like this?[/QUOTE]Thank you for your report. Even though there are even worst living conditions as duly noted by our scholars and non-scholars or by someone else's definition of 'slum'. Slum = substandard housing. It does not matter whether there is a toilet or cement walls. The only question is what is standard? Substandard is substandard. Some would argue that standard is the average housing! It is a shame that this may be the standard for the Philippines.

The truth is they live in substandard housing that we would not live in. In case there is someone here who would, I will gladly pay for 12 months of rent for you.

Yes, it doesn't take much to improve someone's abole here. Quite a few do not have a hook up for running water. Hook up cost is P5000-7000.

BTW scholars, the comment referred to the lack of warm or hot water, not how cold the water is.

The sad truth is most people's lives here can truly be enhanced at the cost one's weekly drinking and cizgarette budget!

[QUOTE=Aviator12;1686226] It's been a while since I was in Fields; is the system still like the barfine also covers the services of the girl or if not what is a normal LT fee these days! Will be back in Angeles in April and will report. Hopefully the standard is better than last time I was there 2 years ago.[/QUOTE]The system is still the same: the barfine also covers the services of the girl. I had a girl from the Monsoon bar a few days ago for 2500 LT (+ 300 tip).

I'm afraid the standard has gone down although I admit I have only been in half a dozen bars so far.

[QUOTE=Dg8787;1686319]Thank you for your report. Even though there are even worst living conditions as duly noted by our scholars and non-scholars or by someone else's definition of 'slum'. Slum = substandard housing. It does not matter whether there is a toilet or cement walls. The only question is what is standard? Substandard is substandard. Some would argue that standard is the average housing! It is a shame that this may be the standard for the Philippines.

The truth is they live in substandard housing that we would not live in. In case there is someone here who would, I will gladly pay for 12 months of rent for you.

Yes, it doesn't take much to improve someone's abole here. Quite a few do not have a hook up for running water. Hook up cost is P5000-7000.

BTW scholars, the comment referred to the lack of warm or hot water, not how cold the water is.

The sad truth is most people's lives here can truly be enhanced at the cost one's weekly drinking and cizgarette budget![/QUOTE]I think you hit the nail on the head here Dg8787: they live in substandard housing that we would not live in. Whether this housing meets the definition of a real slum or not is not really important. And as I already said in my post, I'm aware there are even worse areas in the PI or elsewhere in the world.

To give some more background information: these girls do not work in a bar. They are FLs who go to places like High Society and occasionally (if the need is high) they are SWs in Walking Street. One of them has a job as a room maid, but not full time. She has two kids but no boyfriend or husband.

The other one doesn't have a job. Her boyfriend had a job but he died unexpectedly last year leaving her behind with a little kid. When she's with me I can sense that her thoughts go out to him. She cannot completely 'give' herself to me and I can fully understand that.

[QUOTE=Ekspat;1686010]IMO this is definitely not a slum since it has a toilet, water and electricity and the house is (relatively) solid built.[/QUOTE]And besides that, it is what they know and are used to. You can't compare their way of life with yours. At the begining of the month I took my dad to the Dominican Republic and we went to one of my girlfriend's house. It was the usual concrete walls, concrete floor, sheer curtains hanging where doors would normally go deal. My dad said that is exactly how all the houses in the USA were in the 1950's and before, even down to the type of furniture. It is what it is. And if my ancestors were put on a boat headed to Brazil or DR instead of the USA then I would have been born in and used to the same conditions that they are. You can't bring everyone in the world up to your standard of living. I myself would like to be at Bill Gates' standard of living.

As far as being bored, I would be bored today in the houses that I have now if I didn't get up and do something and socialize everyday. They do plenty of socializing and many people go to work. They don't just wake up and look at the walls everyday. They have routines like everyone else in the world. Just because you can't picture your current routine within the confines of their world does not mean that it is boring by any means.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1685065]I was wondering about this post in the Opinions thread. This poster must not have met many pinays from online; or many of anyone for that matter. And what is up with people wanting to know what you think when you do finally meet them? I should start saying well you looked much better in your pictures than you do in real life.
.[/QUOTE]My believe is that all the photos I see on line are photo shopped in some way and I don; t take them serious has to what the person looks like. I just know I have seen a lot of filipinas in person 1st that I thought were drop dead gorgeous but see pics of them and they are not. Angles matter and in pics you don; t get them. I even seen some really ugly girls pics and when I met in person they looked better Just my experiance.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1686372]And besides that, it is what they know and are used to. You can't compare their way of life with yours. At the begining of the month I took my dad to the Dominican Republic and we went to one of my girlfriend's house. It was the usual concrete walls, concrete floor, sheer curtains hanging where doors would normally go deal. My dad said that is exactly how all the houses in the USA were in the 1950's and before, even down to the type of furniture. It is what it is. And if my ancestors were put on a boat headed to Brazil or DR instead of the USA then I would have been born in and used to the same conditions that they are. You can't bring everyone in the world up to your standard of living. I myself would like to be at Bill Gates' standard of living.[/QUOTE]Of course they are used to it. Just like you and me are used to our standard of living. And just like Bill Gates is used to his.
But that doesn't mean they don't look at other people's (better) standards of living. We all compare our standard with other people's standard. And a lot of us want to improve our standard. You do it yourself too! You would like to be at Bill Gates' standard of living.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1686372] As far as being bored, I would be bored today in the houses that I have now if I didn't get up and do something and socialize everyday. They do plenty of socializing and many people go to work. They don't just wake up and look at the walls everyday. They have routines like everyone else in the world. Just because you can't picture your current routine within the confines of their world does not mean that it is boring by any means.[/QUOTE]I was talking about WGs only, not about all the people in their neighbourhood. And I know these WGs are often bored because they TELL me they are bored. Of course they socialize. But you cannot socialize all day long and certainly not with other bored WGs.

[QUOTE=FunMan13;1684183]I was in AC for 8 wonderful days & nights. I will post a detailed report soon. But I just want to let everyone know that I was introduced to a club Called Midnight Rodeo on Oak St at Raymond St, next to King's Head. They are opened everyday from 20:30-02:00.
Funman13.[/QUOTE]I too am a fan of this bar but I think you should warn the younger punters that the style of music is a little older. At 50 years old I feel really comfortable here. My BF from here two years ago was about P1200 and a really sweet girl. On January when I was there I think the BF is now P1400-P1500.

I like your point about if mutually agreed. About a year ago I was here and had ot rush back to my hotel for a teleconference. When I toldthe girl it was time ot leave, in a hurry as I was runninglate, she declined.

Then this year, I had paid the BF, the girl accepted and was happy to go then she decided she wasn't ready.

I will continue to go to this bar and BF girls, but they are perhaps a little less experienced than the main street bars.

BD.