I first visited the Philippines in 1973 during martial law.  The scene then was large discos, especially down Roxas Boulevard.  Basically it meant if you didn't leave by 10 pm to get a taxi, you were stuck where you were until 4 am.

I first visited Ermita on my second trip in 1975 with a friend who was a Bangkok resident expat, but visited Manila once a month.  He took me to Connies on UN Ave, and Chandelier which was a great disco type bar with cute hostesses and I was hooked on the Philippines.

After that Ermita Clubs blossomed starting from the Yellow Brick Road, Firehouse (still going in Pasay), Bubbles, Misty's and a whole lot of great bars.  Makati grew from a few after work drinking holes, one of which became Mogambo's. 

I was living in Hong Kong, and found it cheaper, and a hole lot more fun to fly to Manila to have a good weekend.  I would do some business on Friday in Makati, then head on down to Ermita to Firehouse, and Mistys for happy hour, do dinner and on to Makati.

I have been in Manila during coup attempts and earthquakes, but the Philippines still attracted me.

I finally managed to move to the Philippines in 1991, but the day after I arrived Pinatubo errupted, delaying my move to Angeles by a few months, staying in the old Centrepoint in Ermita, which was really fun.

Finally I moved to Angeles and rented a nice house, just in time, as Mayor Lim got elected Mayor in Manila, and promptly started closing bars.  The volcano finished off my plans to open a factory, so I started publishing the Philippine Grapevine, which showcased the bars that survived the devastation, and the closure of Clark Airbase.  The Grapevine was a great success with the readers, and was well supported by the advertisers. 

One of the main reasons the Ermita establishments started moving to Angeles - starting with Roadhouse - was the influence that the Grapevine had.

It is nice to see old RnR bars like DMZ still going, and new blood coming in.

The Grapevine still exists - under the name of Here Philippines - but at the moment only as a website www.herephilippines.co.uk

Plans are in hand to revive the publication, along with a series of maps, when I retire back to Angeles in a couple of years.

I like to hear what is happening in Angeles, Subic, La Union, Puerto Galera and Manila.  It is amazing how quickly things change with the opening of new places in between my 2 - 3 visits a year, so give us a yell.

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