Clubbing in Manila

I am writing this entry, as inspired by Luuworld's very simple question to my previous entry.



Luuworld: Was it a mixed/ gay club?


In Manila, there are no strict straight bars or clubs, and the night scene is very tolerant of whatever sexual orientation you may have. They may exist, but with the social set-up this country has, there maybe private places where only their members can attend. And before everything else, let me just clarify that in Filipino layman's terms, a club is a discotheque. Same when you talk about bars. Majority of Filipinos can barely see the difference that delineates what is a club and a bar. I think it's because majority of the clubs here have bars. If you say "nightclub" in the Philippines, the term sometimes connotes a different tone, more of the venue where sexpats, pedophiles, and sex tourists would congregate.

To tell you the truth, I haven't been to gay bars or gay clubs that much. I can count by fingers the times I've been to one, and mostly, I only go because a friend asked me to accompany them (yeah yeah, you can tell by now that I really do like chaperoning for friends). Let's just say that it's not my scene, and I only have a handful of gay friends. I'm even more closer to my straight friends who have been open of my sexual orientation and have been ever-supportive of my decisions and my lifestyle. I love them so much, even though they fail me at times.

that's me on the end with a sheepish smile and
my gay club-first timer Japanese friends

I also have a funny story about the last time I went to a gay club. It was during my Japanese friends went to Manila for a short visit, and they didn't have decent clothes to go to hip straight clubs. In gay bars and clubs, the dress code is almost non-existing. The rules are more relaxed, but I think you still can't wear flip flops. So on to my story, me and my tomodachis just went to a gay club, since it was nearer to their hotel and none of them have been to one before. At first I was quite hesitant of bringing them thinking that they wouldn't like it and they wouldn't really enjoy it. But they actually did! I think we were the only tourists there, and as Filipinos, being one of the most hospitable races in the world, we had free drinks on the house and also a lot of the other patrons enjoyed my tomodachis' company. Probably because they were unassuming of such encounter to happen in a gay club, I mean, in a Filipino gay club! Then we went to the other places, since we were in a gay district. But again, I was a bit paranoid at our last stop because one tomodachi tabled a gogo boy!

my friend, and her purchase that night, a gogo boy

Anyway, back to the general clubbing scene in Manila, well if you've been to Los Angeles and have checked the night scene there, chances are you might be nostalgic of each other's nightlife when you're in one of the mentioned. It's just that in Manila, most of the "hottest" places are strict on the attire, requiring smart casual or something collared, and covered shoes for gentlemen. Short pants is no entry. So in here it's more aesthetic when it comes to the dress code. The ladies can actually wear anything just that they can't wear short pants as well, flip flops, and I don't know. I'm not a lady, so I really don't know. The trick is to to look extra-decent. So if you're wondering if you might be overdressed, then you might be wearing the right attire. Anyway most of the trendiest, most happening venues, I believe, have their web presence. So if you need a guide on what to wear and what to expect, you can always Google their website. For example, this is the website of the club we went to last Friday, and you can see at their FAQ their dress code.

Now on the topic of 'sexual segregation' in Manila's clubs, again, it rarely happens, except of course the management of the venue has the understanding that there may be something vulgar going on. Taking for example prostitution, public indecency, cottaging, etc. Again, I'm not really a clubbing type of  a person, I'd rather just have intimate long dinners with very close friends and drink a little with our own pace, or enjoy good music at live gigs of local bands we love, or have a quick road trip out of the city. And should we want to go have a drunk night, we'd rather do it at one of our homes, so that it won't be scandalous and it would  still be comfortable for us. It's also cheaper, since you don't have to pay exorbitant prices from the grocery where you buy the poison of choice. By the way, I'm more of a wine person, and I love Argentine Malbecs and German fruit wines.

But if ever I get the time to go clubbing, I seldom visit the gay venues. Have you ever heard of the type of person who doesn't get checked out at gay bars and clubs, but gets lucky when it's at a straight one? Yeah, I'm one of those. Mind you, they get to be my types too. Haha! And I get more free drinks, both from guys and from innocent girls!

Well, I hope I got to give you readers an insight on the clubbing scene in Manila, on my perspective. Always remember to keep safe at all times.