Of Gay Men and Generosity

Here's a Christmas sharing from Manuel, a Lexuality reader:

Hi Lex!

I'm very much impressed with your yuletide tasks with the singaporean. It reminds me of what i did. I think if it not with you, lex, no spirit of the season will occur. It's a fulfillment.

I am an educator, living alone, my family resides abroad. I have less than twenty lovers, or bf's, or whatever they call it.

Everyone's important to me. And during this Xmas, pinili ko ang pinakamahirap, five in all. Namalengke kami ng pang noche buena nila, amounting to 500.00 each. Pansit, spaghetti, loaf of bread, chicken wings and evrything that completes the menu. Napakasimple, pero yon pala ay napakahalaga na sa kanila. Proper scheduling ang ginawa. Pagod. pero napasaya ko sila.

Lex yon pala ang Christmas, its not the material things, but the feeling of ewan ko ba. Napakasaya.

Manuel

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Hi Manuel,

Thank you for sharing. Mabuhay ka and all the other generous gay men out there. Happy New Year to you!

Lex

Dream Boys Bar

The Dream Boys is a strip bar situated along Aurora blvd. in Cubao beside the Betty Go Belmonte station of the LRT2 line. The place is cramped and their makeshift stage is covered with magazine collage.

The performers I saw were mostly young without any evident of gym workout in their bodies. Probably because we went on a Christmas day so most of their performers are on leave. I was surprised that their rates are more expensive than the better looking strip bars (gay bars) around the Metro.

We were charged with a Php200 entrance fee. And we were required to purchase a double drink on our first order (another Php200 for the 2 drinks). These payment requirements are pricier compared to the more notable bars I have been to - Valentino (Malate), Planet Xanadu (now in Quzon city) and Adonis.

Their performers are aggressive. They routinely go around and shove their merchandise on the patrons in echange of a tip (sige na, kahit pamasahe lang, malayo pa uuwian ko, sa Bulacan). I was a bit irritated with the uninspired transexual performers go around demanding for a tip from everyone (aggressively yelling Merry Christmas to eveyone).

When a good looking performer approached me to touch his merchandise, I willingly gave him a tip. But when a not-so-good-looking performer came up to me, asking me to play with his erect toy, I apologized and declined. He was pushy and was not willing to take a no from me. So I told him bluntly, he is not my type. He angrily banged the tissue holder on the table next to me.

Let's just say the Dream Boys is not exactly a "dream place" for me.

Image courtesy of http://pinoygayguyconfidential.blogspot.com

The Adonis Visit

It was my first time to visit the "iconic" strip bar (gay bar) Adonis along Timog ave., in front of the GMA building.

I always had the impression that Adonis is an "expensive" bar so my expectations were quite high only to find out that I have been to better looking bars than this. There was no entrance fee. But the mandatory first drink costs almost Php300 for men and almost Php400 for women (thank God!). Succeeding drinks cost about a hundred pesos.

There were only a few boys performing perhaps beause most of them are on Christmas holidays with their families.

The bar is plain looking. But several of the boys I chanced upon were impressively built -- really buff with less than five percent of body fat! And such bodies are quite rare among the strip bars here in Manila.

A Sleazy Adventure

Lexuality reader and my dear friend from Singapore, Mr. D is back in Manila to treat himself to the Filipino Hunk's "warmth and hospitality".

Strip bars (gay bars) and trysts with rent boys are definitely on his holiday plans. But yesterday, I brought him to a place that a typical Singaporean could never imagine -- a dirty, third run cinema full of rent boys and gay sex!

Armed with bottles of water, disinfectant, a roll of tissue and a towel, we both went to one of the rougher sides of Manila, the Recto area and visited one of its old cinema houses. For a Php60 ticket each, we were welcomed to a dark, hot and smoke-filled cinema where boys roam around in search for quick sex.

Mr. D met a rent boy he fancied. "Services" inside ranged around Php200. They found a seat and started their business deal. But Mr. D got uncomfortable with on-lookers so he decided to take the rent boy out. Off to Sogo motel and the rates went up to Php500. My foreign friend was so impressed with the nearby Sogo motel, that he even joked he can stay here in his next visit to Manila instead of paying for his pricey Hyatt suite.

We ended our day with Mr. D treating a few service boys to a warm dinner, a very nice way to celebrate this Christmas season.

Yuletide Gay

My Holiday Greetings to all Lexuality readers:

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Make the Yuletide GAY!"

A Bottle of Gin

Thought for the Day:

A bottle of gin is the easiest way to the man's crotch. (note: This is true particularly in rural Philippines)

Juan DVD

The certified hit independent film "Ang Laro ng Buhay ni Juan", which had one month of theatrical run, is out on DVD on December 21. Helmed by Joselito Altarejos, known for his ground breaking gay films, the DVD version has looooonger sensitive scenes which are surprisingly approved by the MTRCB!

Thank you Censors for giving us a Mery Christmas!

P.S. Please buy original DVD's

Gay Life in QC Circle

For the past few years, the tower of the Quezon City Circle has been a silent witness to the countless intimate encounters among Filipino men who are into cruising and gay sex. The park around the tower has been a fertile hunting ground for horny men - single, married, rent boys, bisexuals, gays and what have you.

But the park now, has been infused with millions of funds courtesy of the local city government. And with a new administrator, lights are now installed around the area. And they're no ordinary lights, they are colorful, dramatically changing it's hues every few beats of seconds.

But despite the stylish illumination, gay men still hang around the tower. But they no longer cruise like what they did before.

Instead, they now hold "evening gown competition" -- where everyone marches around pretending to be a Miss Universe contestant, amidst the play of lights around them.

Yes, there is no way you can remove the "gayness" out of this "circle".

Inspired by Efren

I think Efren Penaflorida, the Filipino pushcart educator, named as CNN Hero of the year is really inspiring. His efforts to bring education to the poorest of children is worth the honor.

Now, I asky myself, how do I make a difference, lexuality style?

Here's my concept. I will build an informal training school for unemployed young men. Under my supervision, I will create a curriculum to teach these young men how to make Filipino gay men happy -- good massage, carry a decent conversation, be courteous and provide unforgettable bedroom service!

The school will also teach them proper grooming and train them with with physical fitness.

Such project will definitely generate income for these young men enough to get them out of the institutionalized system of poverty.

I just hope CNN will take notice of these efforts when I begin this project! Hehehe!

Sin!

During the Manila Pride March 2009, a protestant lady haughtily displays her belief that homosexuality is a sin. What I failed to tell that wearing her long skirt together with her orange backpack is a graver sin

May God have mercy on you, dear lady!

Gaydar Accuracy

Gaydars are accurate, acording to the findings of a latest study from Tufts University. Michelle Garcia writes for Advocate.com:

Study: Accurate Gaydar Is Nearly Instant

A new study by Tufts University shows that people can identify others' sexual orientation after looking at them for just seconds.

According to ScienceBlogs.com, researchers Nalini Ambady and Nick Rule used college students in a test to accurately identify gay men based on 90 photos from dating websites. None of the men in the photos — half of whom were seeking male partners, the other half seeking females — had facial hair, jewelry, glasses, or other accessories.

Each photo was shown to 90 student volunteers for either 33 milliseconds, 50 milliseconds, 100 milliseconds, 6.5 seconds, or 10 seconds. With each snapshot, the students were able to identify a subject's sexual orientation with at least 50% accuracy, depending on the amount of time given. The most accurate time sequence was 50 milliseconds, with 62% projecting correctly. However, when students took their own amount of time to weigh the photos, the accuracy rate rose to 70%.

In an adjacent study, the researchers pulled photos from Facebook profiles of 133 men that were posted from friends or family, therefore being of a more neutral nature. In that trial, the accuracy rate was 54%, at 50 millisecond intervals.

The study's authors said the reason people may have keen gaydar is so heterosexual women can find a suitable mate and so that men can easily identify their competition.

"Gays to Hell"

In the last Pride March, a Christian fundamentalist brought a large illustration of hell and yelled at us, gays and lesbians that we are all going to this dreaded place.

With all his rage against us, this man is surely living in his personal hell.

On Jesus and Discrimination

Here's a nice thought for Gay Christians courtesy of the Metropolitan Community Church Philippines, an LGBT group that fosters the faith of its members:

Would Jesus Discriminate?

Locker Room Celebrities

I was blessed this morning at the locker room with the sightings of two delectable celebrities:

Beside my locker was ABS-CBN hunk, Jake Cuenca getting dressed up. Oh I had to take my sweet time pretending to put wax in my hair in front of the mirror as I secretly watched him dress up from his towels to his jeans.

And as Mr. Cuenca left the locker, I went towards the cubicle and saw another hottie guy, senatorial candidate and endorser, Atty. Adel Tamano. Now, this man is one hot guy whether naked or clothed in his sleek Armanis. As I was secretly stealing glances at him, I was thinking, Mr. Tamano is one of those few Filipinos, who can give you the best this life can offer - hot sex and some rare, intelligent conversation.

SpEd Hearts

My dear friend Felbert Go asked me to share to my blog readers his new film about special education and the needs of special children called "SpEd Hearts" starring Ciara Sotto.

Good luck, Felbert on your new film which I know is very close to your heart.

Hot Masseurs/ Hot Gay Men

As part of the Pride Celebration, a special pictorials was organized by the Task Force Pride featuring the winners of this year's Mr. Gay World Philippines and some hot masseurs from the "Boys of Bora" Spa. Thank you to Bien Rivera for "allowing" me to steal these photos from his facebook account:

War!

With loud anti-gay protests from Christian fundamentalists, your gay brother and lesbian sisters are not about to play deaf ears on them.

Shouting matches were heard from the marchers and these silly Christians.

A foreign gay man was about to tear down one of the placards of the lady fundamentalist.

One comic gay marcher brought up a sign that says "He's gay" with an arrow pointing to the male Christian protesters.

Gay Haters

Of course, the Pride March 2009 is not without any conflict as provided by your Christian fundamentalists who lined up along the street to condemn the LGBT community to hell!

Campus Crush This Week

Queeriosity Project presents "Campus Crush" showing this December 9, Wednsedayday at Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Ermita, Roben Cinema, Quiapo, Remar Cinema Cubao, Colon cinema Cebu, Isetann Cinema Recto.

This pink film stars Joeffrey Javier and introduces Arjay Carreon.

Bacardi Boys

One of the more noticeable gay groups during the Pride March was "One Bacardi". They are a groupd of young gay men whose affinity was borne out of the now defunct gay social networking, guys4men.

The Bacardi Boys are busy doing outreach program, their last project was a visit to the Golden Gays, a charitable home for aging gay men.

Thank you to Bacardi Boy and Lexuality reader, Magiting for sharing some info on this admirable group of friends.

Sorry Girls

Let me borrow the idea on one of the interesting shirts worn during the Pride Parade,

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

Sorry Girls, I Suck Cocks.

Truck of Meat

In the Pride March 2009, I particularly liked the concept of the float of "Boys of Bora" spa, an all-male massage center in Quezon city. They were inside a truck, which are normally used to transport animal meat to slaughter houses.

Choose your meat: Beef, Pork or Hunk?

Show it!

For many Pride Parade attendees, the event is a great time to showcase one's creativity. Here are some of the memorable attendees in their most interesting costumes:

Hunky Angels

Hunky Boys with angel wings are some of the staple images every Pride Parade. These boys come from the float of E-Z Lube and Frenzy condoms, which thankfully have supported this LGBT event.

Biggest Pride

I just came home from Malate. Today is the biggest Pride March in the Philippines according to the organizers. Having attended the march for the past several years, the attendance from LGBT groups and other civil society groups is very impressive.

Congratulations to the Task Force Pride and and the LGBT community for this record breaking celebration of diversity and equality.

I shall post more photos from the event in the following days.

Letter from a Filmmaker

Lex,

My name is Vince Fesalbon. I'm an American-born Filipino filmmaker living in Seattle, USA. I just rented and watched your "Antonio's Secret" feature. I was extremely impressed! Your screenplay is awesome! There is so much depth and intelligence in your indie film. I look forward to seeing your other films, and hope you continue to pursue writing/directing. I would love to see more Filipino films in American indie theatres, especially films of your quality. I'm proud to see some substantive material being produced in the Philippines!

Vince
youtube.com/vincefesalbon

P.S. I have some of my short films on Youtube if you wanna check them out. I don't have my gay feature on the Internet at this time, however, which played at the 2005 Seattle Gay/Lesbian Film Festival.

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Hi Vince,

I am glad to know that you liked the film. I'll be happy to see some of your works especially your gay short films.

There are many other talented writers/ filmmakers that you should try as well. Try to get copies of the works of Aureus Solito, Ronaldo Bertubin and Senedy Que (Dose). I hope you can explore Philippine cinema. We have a lot of cinematic gems in this country.

Unfortunately, I can't be too active in indie cinema since work in this industry isn't exactly financially rewarding.

Hope to hear from you again.

Lex

Hottie Vendor

I was amused to see a peanut street vendor (in white tank top) with a chiseled body plying around Malate.

I hope he's selling something else aside from peanuts!

Dec. 5 is Pride March

December 5 is Pride March, the biggest gathering of gays, lesbian, bisexuals and transgender in Manila to celebrate diversity in our society.

Assembly starts at 3pm at the Remedios Circle in Malate.

Be there with your friends and show the world how proud we all are of our identity.

Photo shows "Ang Ladlad" chairman Danton Remoto, this blog writer Lex Bonife and a group of anti-gay protesters during 2008's Pride March.

My HIV Status

Last week , a free HIV test was organized outside of Malate's Bed Bar. The test was surpringly short and quick, a pin prick on one of your fingers and after 15 minutes, you'd know if you're negative. However, if you're positive, the medical attendants will ask you to visit their office for further confirmation.

Ever since, I had my first HIV test two years ago, I have been very anal ("anal" in a Freudian sense) with safe sex (pun intended).

And I was glad to know that I was still HIV negative.

Today, December 1 is World AIDS Day.