Like any other metropolitan city, Manila has a rollicking nightlife, especially if you’re gay. You can find just about anything you’re in the mood for. Here’s a quick list of the most popular spots:
When campy-ness strikes you and you feel the need to belt out Liza’s Cabaret, then come to Mag:Net Café (http://www.magnet.com.ph/) on Bonifacio High Street and “give way to your va-jay-jay!” Every second Tuesday of the month is the Broadwayoke, a chance to get up on stage and sing songs from your favorite musical. In addition to the accompanist, you can expect to interact with a room full of fag hags and stags, since musicals are universally loved. BYOG: Bring Your Own Glitter. Also, go a little bit earlier to enjoy the spontaneous comedy of SPIT, the Silly People’s Improvisational Theater group.
When you want the more traditional trifecta of drinking, dancing and flirting, then there’s Club Government ( http://www.kokunevents.com ). Built on the site of iconic defunct clubs Orange and Olive, Gov has quickly established its own reputation and its position as the gay place to go in Makati. With world-class djs like Bam del Valle and Steven Love and guest djs from Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong, Gov offers great music. There are also monthly events like the Men of Government contest and Gay Speed Dating. Go with friends, go with a date or meet someone new, but don’t forget to try a pitcher of the Purple Rain.
The thought of gay clubbing in Manila will always conjure the thought of Bed (http://www.bed.com.ph). This is one club that has the staying power of a (vodka-red) bull. It’s been offering first-rate crazy clubbing experiences for over half a decade and is so successful that there are a slew of straight bar knock-offs scattered around the metro. The real Bed is in the heart of Malate. Saturdays are a great night to go, because of the Saturday Drag-ons who are sometimes better than the pop divas they impersonate. Eat your heart out, Rihanna! On the floor or in the upstairs lounges, there are also bound to be cute guys to flirt with. A good opening move: Buy him a Blue Frog. They’re tasty and strong enough to loosen his lips... for conversation, or other activities (nudge, nudge).
A nightlife guide without a bathhouse is paella without the saffron—lacking spice! Luckily, we have Fahrenheit (http://www.fahrenheitcafe.com/) close to the strip of restaurants and bars on Quezon City’s T. Morato. If you’re in the mood to take a shower with a dozen other guys, this is the place to be. The main attraction of F is its maze—two floors of winding corridors with de-aging low-lighting and towel-clad men like you lining the walls. Establish eye-contact, do a little flirting, then the pair (or more) of you can disappear into a ubiquituous cubicle to make things spicy.
Be warned: Entrance to F is a little tricky since it requires an entrance fee, a valid ID and leaving your valuables in a safety-deposit box, but all this rigmarole is for your own peace of mind. If you order something extra while inside, like a beer from the bar or a body wash from one of the attendants, you just have to sign for it, then pay upon exit.
