Phillipines, Manila, Makati Happenings

[dashing_man]

Will be in Manila this Thur (21) to Sunday. Any bros there as well? Will be staying at JEM hotel (formerly traders hotel)

[etsys]

Originally Posted by hoian

Thanks for the interesting theory on PHL economy. Always good to see a new perspective.

I was about to describe how America propped up Marcos with billions in Aid, supposedly to protect the Philippines from communism but most of the money went to Marcos own bank accounts ..

still Marcos wasn't satisfied or able to satisfy his wife's klepto craving to buy and buy things.

And looting the national coffers left the country broke by over 10 billion $ when they were thrown out.

and Cory, dutifully ensured all spurious deals of Marcos including the 2 billion $ white elephant bataan nuclear power plant which Westinghouse admitted included a 300 million $ commission, was all paid in full.

you can never figure out why she did all that, when supposedly she was brought in to save the country

And you can never figure out why Filipinos still forgive Marcos family and voted in BBM as senator, Imelda as congresswoman and Immee as governor .. and can consider BBM for president soon...

And never discuss politics with Filipinos especially when they are drunk

[etsys]

Originally Posted by dashing_man

Will be in Manila this Thur (21) to Sunday. Any bros there as well? Will be staying at JEM hotel (formerly traders hotel)

Makati Traders ?

[hoian]

Even when not intoxicated... u shld never bring up "China" or "Spratly islands"... haha... they are being made use of by US but they don't realise it...US still wanna play good guy with China in terms of bilateral trade so they use PHL to do their dirty work...

Originally Posted by etsys

...And never discuss politics with Filipinos especially when they are drunk

[xiaomifan]

Any bros in manila on the 24th or 25th May and willing to hit the KTVs ?

[kssaint]

This year i frequent Makati, Manila and this is my third time.
I'd done some extensive research online, checked out some joint and had some good and bad experience. As I'm going out now to P Burgos I share this info first:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...g.kB7bBmGl48lI

I'll share more info and my experience later.

I'll be staying till end of May so any bro can contact me via email if want to hang out. However I did not visit, and do not favor KTV as I think it's overpriced (I don't go to KTV in SG/MY also unless it's bachelor's night with big group of people.)

[yellow5001]

Originally Posted by etsys

Makati Traders ?

i think he means the Traders at Roxas Blvd , now is known as Jen Hotel. Right besides Apeiro KTV.

[kssaint]

First off: Money matter
If you have an Maybank ATM card, you're in luck. Plenty of Maybank ATM in the cheong area: P Burgos, Malate, even AC I heard. Withdraw $ from Maybank ATM using Maybank card does not incur fee, and the rate is usually better than the kiosk back in homeland. A even better way recently is to exchange USD at home when it's weak, and exchange it to Peso in Manila when USD is strong... only works for frequent Manila traveller like me. The best rate I got is from the kiosk in Greenbelt 1. If you dare, you can use credit card as well as the credit card exchange rate is always better than the ATM rate (depends on timing also if the rate fluctuation is too much too soon). It'll help conserve your cheong cash as well when you can use credit card for restaurants and what not.

I went to Malate/Ermita (no one here talk abt Ermita, it's always Malate even though on map it's in Ermita -- both areas are next to each others) last night for disco. Using credit card incur 5% extra fee. All prices in disco does not include 10% service charge (but include 12% VAT). 10% service charge is very common in Manila. Even if you call for food delivery (which is not reliable here due to traffic), they will charge 10% delivery fee. Therefore cost of living in Manila is quite high, which explains why the ladies will always try to scam you to get more, and why Angel City is better bargain.

Since we're on money topic, The Japanese KTV which can be found in P Burgos area but very much concentrated on Mabini Street in Malate, will charge 10% service and 18% "entertainment fee". They don't charge anything more for credit card. Note that Japanese KTV is different from KTV like Air Force 1. I'll explain more in next posts.

[kssaint]

1. Digital KTV

Local media knows about the KTV and they like to go there too, but they call it "girly bars" but It's actually KTV. To differentiate themselves from Family KTV, sometimes they call themselves "Digital" KTV. Go figure. You can think about it as an premium upgrade from the Agogo-style bars in P Burgos or EDSA Complex, however the concept are all the same: Ladies drink, barfine and boom boom. See the list at the bottom for info. Note that I didn't personally visit any of these places so find out yourself

If you go to KTV alone, you can just hang out at the common area, spot any chic you like, ask to join for chat and eventually buy ladies drinks. Some KTV has shows as well so common area does not mean boring, only no privacy (or you like to sing to bigger crowd, common area is for you). VIP (room) is just a way to say private room.

As per the tips to mamasan, ladies drink, alcohol pricing and all, i think you can read this thread and some bro has already mentioned it. As mentioned before I don't fancy KTV and I didn't try one before in Manila. MAYBE someday i'll. Until then I don't have any personal experience to share.

Local online media Coconuts has recommended below in early 2015. Note that these are "typical aka local aka veteran-foreigner" pricing. If you can't act like you know the place or names of mamasan, expect to be quoted at least double the price. Ranked from priciest to cheapest.

AIR FORCE 1 DIGITAL KTV
Citi Mall Bldg, Paranaque City
One of the more high-end gentleman’s clubs in the Metro. The roomiest and most expensive with quality roster of ladies — “flight attendants”
Minimum budget: PHP700 for common area; PHP10,000 for VIP
Expert tip: For more privacy, you may go to Flight 168, aka the spa downstairs.
Non-expert/maybe-outdated info: There are different 'tickets' (chicks and service): Economy , Business Class and First Class at different floor levels. Ground Floor is Flight 168 MP. Upper floor are the night club. "Spotlight girls" are P800/900/1000 per hour sit at table with you. Public booths for chats P800. Private rooms for chats and maybe groping : P3000 small room P5000 larger room. And on it goes , you'd have to enquire at the time.

STARWOOD VIP LOUNGE
Edsa Extension, Pasay City
Vegas-style entertainment, with fly-in Russian models. Expect pole-dancing numbers in lieu of the dated, cheesy power-ballad dance routines.
Minimum budget: PHP1,500 for common area; PHP5,000 for VIP
Expert tip: The place offers special packages for bachelor and birthday parties.

HEARTBEAT MEGA KTV
Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Another one of the classics on the Q-Ave row with well-loved Heartbeat Sweethearts.
Minimum budget: PHP500 for common area; PHP5,000 for VIP

CLASSMATE DIGITAL KTV
Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Girls in uniforms who can do an impromptu karaoke duet with you
Minimum budget: PHP500 for common area; PHP3,500 for VIP

GENIE MAGIC KTV
Paragon Square Bldg, Cainta, Rizal
Due to its secluded location, Marcos Highway has long been a favorite adult entertainment spot among more cautious night crawlers. Genie is a sister company of Pegasus and Heartbeat.
Minimum budget: PHP500 for common area; PHP3,000 for VIP

HOLLYWOOD
Timog Avenue, Quezon City
It’s that lively looking hidey-hole rumored to be owned by a famous athelete and his patron.
Minimum budget: PHP500 for common area; PHP3,000 for VIP

PEGASUS
Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
As old as time and just as legendary as the mythical creature it’s named after
Minimum budget: PHP400 for common area; PHP5,000 for VIP

EAST ASIA
Roxas Ave cor Dapitan Street, Pasay City
No frills, no gimmicks; just a bunch of women serving up the girlfriend experience.
Minimum budget: PHP300 for common area (non-consumable); PHP3,000 for VIP

QUEEN’S CHAMBER
Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
One of the most budget-friendly haunts in the area, attracting a relatively young working class clientele
Minimum budget: PHP200 for common area; PHP3,000 for VIP

DARKBEAT KTV AND DISCO
Marcos Highway, Antipolo, Rizal
Old-school Pinoy nightclub grit with performances here range from the cheeky (girl groups dancing off beat) to the absurd (think beer bottles and cigarettes as onstage props).
Minimum budget: PHP175 for common area; PHP1,500 for VIP

[kssaint]

2. Japanese/Korean KTV
There a few and scattered around P. Burgos area. Typically the girls are better looking than Agogo bars, but beware that some ladyboys maybe working in there also. Why? Because Japanese/Korean bar are supposed to be more "decent" so you can't check out her private part to be sure (if you can even be sure).

If you want to be "spoilt" of choice, go to Mabini St. in Malate, easily 30 such KTV are there, including the famous Room 526 "Piano bar".

How they operate? First you pay for entrance. The cheapest I know is 500P. This gets you unlimited alcohol drink for 90 minutes at open/common area and 1 lady of your choice. Ladies will be sitting close to entrance and greet you when you enter. Of course the lady is to talk and entertain and sing with you (on stage if you like). It's decent as compared to agogo bar. No DFK or gropping or so will be allowed. Mamasan and captains will make sure of that. However once you top up 500 and get a VIP room, then it's between you and the lady how far you want to go. However my experience tells me not much more you can do. All ladies are dressed in gown and only revealing part will probably be the just the cleavage. Of course it's up to you to buy ladies drinks or not. If you want to change gal mid-session, you need to pay. You wan more then 1 lady, you need to pay on top of the entrance fee.

As mentioned in first (money) post, all price are exclusive of the 28% additional charge (per agogo bar, what is quoted is to be paid, no additional charge).

Now, 500 entrance is the common Japanese KTV and they offer young, mostly good looking and fair ladies. They are a class below Digital KTV in general. HOWEVER, if you have money to spend to get to know some real life model (magazine model, 2nd or 3rd line), pay a visit to Room 526, on Mabini Street also. The entrance is 2000P for 60min bottomless alcohol. Ladies will rotate and sit with you every 15min and of course... ladies drink is up to you. The decoration is that of Royal Palace. The ladies are indeed model grade.

Lastly, Japanese KTV on Mabini will not have ladyboy for sure because in a closeby area they have "gay/lesbian" street with such bars catered for your kindy needs. Your chance of running into ladyboy in P Burgos Korean KTV are higher.

It's common theme, if you ask around, that Japenese/Korean KTV girl cannot be taken out, i.e. barfined. This is true. However nothing is stopping you and the girl to exchange number either in common area or private room. It's up to you and the lady to decide what'd happen outside the KTV. In fact, later in Disco/Nightclub post, I will tell you where to find these young JKTV girls without paying any ladies drink. BTW they are off work at 3am.

[etsys]

Originally Posted by kssaint

...

Thanks for taking time to write up on KTVs

Not much of a KTV Fan I am, but a lot of visitors keen to try out KTV

[kssaint]

3. Agogo bar
The most famous is in Angel City (AC). Manila can NEVER compare to AC in term of quantity (hence chance of quality) and price. But if you're like me stuck in Manila most of the time, you can only go to either P. Burgos St or EDSA Complex.

P. Burgos: (at the time of writing)
a. For cheap price for beer, ladies drink and barfine, visit Plan B, Hot Spot or Kojax. 100P SML (San Miguel Light) and 300 LD (ladies drink). 2600 BF (barfine). Bad part? Cash only, no credit card. I've used credit card in other agogo bar in this area and so far no incidents, it's up to you. Another bad is the girls here are not as payful as other bar although there are more of a dance show in Kojax. But this is not Bangkok, no real show spotted so far.
b. For wild bar, go to Moulin Rougue, Bottom and Tickles. Moulin and Bottom are "almost topless" bar. As it's Makati, they has to use something to cover their nipples. However once you ask for the girls, the nipple are fully accessible to you. 1 LD and you can squeeze, twist, deep french kiss and groin grinding as much as you like. Tickles is not topless bar but many times I was there, after midnight, the girls will get wild enough. They can just off their bikinis, top and bottom for you to do whatever you like. Typical rate like most of the bars in P Burgos: SML 160, LD 390, BF 3900.
c. specialty bar: Jools for dance show. this is the only bar with real dance show. Other than that it's more like hangout bar than agogo bar. Ringside has midget boxing. Wow Wow Wow girls are wild too but they are subpar. They also have a tiny "curtain booth" where you can get blowjob, maybe even fcuk job if u and girl are willing. In fact, if you fantasize about having "job" done in a pub/disco environment (but not in toilet, haha), these few bars have on-premise fcuk room (the rate however is the same as BF... so if you money to spend...): Shampoo, Rouge, Rascals, Ivory, Montana, Dimples and High Heels. Ask mamasan for quotation and bargain.

to be continued.

[kssaint]

3. Agogo bar (continued...)
EDSA Complex: Suitable if you stay near NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) or has short stay. There are like 10 bars in one buildings, so it's not like a street. Nothing special worth mention compared to P Burgos, except here I encountered more of what AC has: Ring bell (one round drink for all gals, so to speak) and whatnot. Not really see those happen in P Burgos. The common rate here: SML 140P, LD 340, BF 1950. Yea it sounds cheaper than P Burgos. However for some reason the girls here are more "pricey" for boom boom.

If you don't know already, In Manila, BF only grant you the right to bring girls out, the girl will expect extra tips from you. Typically with little nego, P Burgos girl will agree to 3000P till next day 10am or so. But in EDSA, after few try, all girls insist ST (till 4am or so, abt 3 hours typically) for 3000P and LT (till 10am, say) for 5000P.

Now in term of BF and Lady tip for real fcuk job, some gwailo posts claim they never pay more than 1.5k for BF and never more than 2k for LT with lady. So all the typical BF, lady fee that we pay are said, by gwailo, to be "newbies jack up the price". By newbie they mean new gwailo as well as Korean and Japanese -- they are the suckers of all. However I doubt that can be the case. Probably they are bargaining for price rather than the goods... i mean in agogo bars you can see some quite scary dino running around. Maybe the 1.5k/2k is for this kind of stock? Anyway any bro has success story of 1.5k/2k BF/fee story do share here, haha.

Anyway, few things can be done for your budget:
a. nego with mamasan on BF, quote the quantity of the LD you bough and you may get few hunderd Peso discount on BF. However usually this is done by cutting out the share of the lady -- BF is shared by mamasan/manager and lady with large portion to mamasan. After all the lady got commission from LD (I was told 100 on 390 LD). In term of the lady fee nego, it's really between you and lady. Your charm may work. It also depends on how desperate she needs the money. IN short, game still needs to be played.
b. don't BF her. instead, slip her a piece of paper with your local mobile number and she'll call you, typically after work at 4am. However the girl can get in trouble for this so be sure your paper slip, and your phone record, will not be seen by any ladies in the bar.
c. if 4am shaq is too tiring, ask her to come to you before her work. Typically they start work at 8pm. They wake up at maybe 2pm. Depends on her location and traffic (and they have the habit to be late), you can have ST of 3 hours or so before her work. nego the price. I'd think 2.5k is fair enough i supposed? Note that if the lady is absent from work without valid reason (MC, Mens, whatever) she needs to BF herself. Some bar even mandate that absent lady needs to find a substitute, not just BF. Yea it's the insane rules of the Night Underworld.

[kssaint]

4. Street Hooker
Now in P Burgos, the bonus that EDSA cannot offer is the street hookers... i mean massage lady, or "therapist" You can find them on wechat too but why look at touch-up picture when you can see the person up close and nego more interactively? Some of the street girls are not bad, really. They don't want to work in bars because they don't like being touched in public or they don't like alcohol, whatever the reason. I'd advise you to go with those in color uniform (it's really not uniform, just shirt of same color) as they works for a MP and so 99.9% no ladyboy. Others... either not uniformed, or those said to be "therapist" on wechat but is solo without uniform, may be ladyboy. You've been warned.

So the cheaper solution could be, scan through the ladies on street, get their card (with number) if you like them, and keep it, then go to one of the wild bars and get your mood on, then call the massage lady back to your room for fun. Best of both world? You decide. So far i have therapist quoted 2-3k for ST. It seems no LT deal with these ladies.

[kssaint]

5. Freelancer (Cafe)
Havana Cafe in Greenbelt 3, next to Starbucks, even Starbucks itself, are filled with freelancer every nights. Some said you can find OL looking for pocket money or rental income in these places, but so far I have no luck... I mean I saw them, but they are not up to my standard. Mind you that I work in Makati CBD and I have my fair amount of eye-washing moments with those oozy OL, but what I saw at Havana are not like them.

Anyway the saying is, OL will be there before 9pm. After 9pm and by 10pm, it'll be occupied by freelancer. Now OL means they are "part-time". Freelancer are full time. Once I talked to a freelancer and asker her where she worked she said "here!" haha silly me. very first time in Havana.

Rate: Saying is 2k for OL. As recent as Dec 2014 info. Freelancer is 3k up. Most will quote at least 4k to be begin with. As in anywhere in Manila, beware ladyboy in these place.

Another cafe filled with freelancer is LA Cafe (LAC). Although on map it's called Manila Bay Cafe or Cafe Manila Bay. Whatever. It's in Malate. LAC is great because
a. NO ladyboy, guaranteed. The management will kick anyone of suspect out
b. Upstair has live band and snooker table. Good for hangout. Live band entrance is 100P only, worth the price.
c. ALL and ANY lady in that cafe, except maybe waitress and singress (maybe?), are freelancer.
d. it's open 24/7. (for day roamer... maybe?)

rate: SML 125, no LD but beware some lady may hardsell you LD on behalf of the cafe, esp if you drink a little. Just insist what they can drink. definitely no BF. Typical price is 3k up, but surely you can nego depends on your skill and chemistry. Since they have live band and pool, it can be more fun interacting with the lady you like and invite to drink with you, hence make it seem like a date or ONS. quality or girl vary, but on weekend there can be easily 100 girls in there so take your picking.

... and if by say, 2am or 3am, you can find your cuisine, try nearby freelance spot... (to be continued)