I was a senior petty officer aboard USS HAROLD D.HOLT FF- 1077 when I first visited olongapo in 1987 to 1992 and the USS TARAWA- LHA 1. Olongapo was a sailors "died and went to heaven port visit"-during the gulf war's bipolar times. It was an incredible mixture of high adventure, political intrigue and romance where the warmest friendliest people of the Philippines met a visitor there with open arms. Visits to Olongapo&Barrio , to name a few,left a memory on your brain that will remain, and the reason many a sailor married and or came back and retired in this euphoric "Shangri-la".This place will make a young man old, and a old man young! After 40 years, I still remember her name. Even after Mt pinitubu destroyed this town while I was there-these hardy people recovered very well. I give this port visit a 5 star review ....
This will be the first comment, great video tour of Magsaysay. I used to be stationed at SRF Subic Bay, I was stationed there from November 20, 1978 to March 30, 1981. It was the very best tour of duty I ever had when I was in the Navy. I met my late wife of 31 years on January 16, 1975. It was my third visit to Olongapo City on my very first Westpac. I was stationed aboard the USS Blue Ridge LCC-19 which was out of San Diego then. Shortly after I got stationed at SRF Subic Bay, I immediately submitted my request to marry my late wife. Being stationed there the entire Process took only 4 months. On April 5, 1979 my late wife & I got married at City Hall, The Honorable Judge Jose L. Uy married us. During my 31 years of marriage, we had 3 children. My late wife passed away on March 6, 2010 in St. Joseph's Hospital in Tucson, AZ.
I was there in 1971 and '72, stationed aboard the USS Tripoli (LPH 10) helicopter carrier. You could hear the bands playing in the clubs, as you walked down the street. They played "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va," by Santana a lot, and "Color My World," by Chicago. One Club had a girl who could sing "Piece of My Heart," just like Janis Joplin. Fun times!✌🙂🎸
I was there several times during the '79-'80 and '81-'82 WestPacs with VA-97 on the U.S.S Coral Sea. If I live to be 110 I'll still look back on that as the best time of my life. I was married there in '82 and divorced in '85, lol. I can laugh about it now. I feel privileged to have been able to see it when it was a fleet town.
I was an aviation electrician for VAW-113 which was aboard the USS Coral Sea at the time. I was on the same WestPac cruises as you 79-80 and 81-82. 102 days in the Persian Gulf and they gave our beer to the Nimitz on the first cruise. I got my Shellback Certificate on the second cruise. A-7 lost a tail hook, an A-6 had a cold cat shot and the pilot and copilot ejected right after takeoff, A-6 crashing and sinking. On the second cruise a guy that a couple of master at arms brought up for the beer day on the second cruise jumped off the fantail while he was handcuffed while we were all watching on the flight deck. A helicopter went and got him. We had a band from Diego Garcia out at sea once... good times...
I'm a Navy man throughout the 80's and I spent a lot of time up and down that street. I can't believe how different it is. Much nicer. It was mostly clubs and like you said BBQ setup on most corners. Thanks for making this video.
I remember being there in 73 and streets were dirt with open sewers. It looks developed now like most of the world. I miss Alongapo have a lot of good memories there. The sailors say I left my heart ❤️ in Subic bay
I came to Olongapo in 1966 after high school in San Pablo, Laguna with my band at the brand new Rainbow Club on Rizal Ave, half way down towards the Ulo ng Apo rotonda.. Back then a newbie to Olongapo would arrive by Victory bus at their bus terminal a few meters from the rotonda head. From here you would take a jeepney to Magsaysay Drive, the main business street, where sailors and locals meet... To a new sailor, this video @ 0:07 would be his first view of Olongapo after passing through and out of the base's main gate through the bridge over the "shit river" as the video narrator calls it..but it's a drainage channel from Sta Rita River... After the bridge in 1966, where that SM building yellow wall is would be rows of Money Exchanges and shops and sailors in white and girl barkers.... My four-year stay in Olongapo consisted of playing in different clubs on Magsaysay Drive and Rizal Avenue and lasted until 1970 when we were recruited to go to Okinawa.. We were doing regular gigs at the D'Lovers Club, on the second floor of the Sierra Club building. But on weekends, we played at the Sky Club on Cubi Point, great club, greatest unlimited free coffee in the world, and pretty in-house girl entertainers for the customers...We were the False Morality band and we had two lady singers, Elvie and Lita Navia, they were sisters...they sang great Supremes songs... So, say hi if you came across us in Olongapo or Sky Club, maybe the Teen Club too... In Nov 23, 1973 I joined the US Air Force until 1997.. Now I'm back where I started in 1966, San Pablo City, Laguna.. Come see our sights, we have Seven Lakes all within our city...
Thanks to the video but there is a big difference now a day I was there 1966 to 1970 I was a band member and I play drum Olongapo a very busy that year night life is very alive I can no longer see in your video the we have played like Shamrock club thunderball club the 101 club I live at Fendler street during at that year realy miss Olongapo maybe someday I can visit that place again
Was there on and off in 1972 from the USS St. Louis LKA 116. How it has changed. I remember specific things that happened in various locations along Magsaysay. If the car in the video had turned left instead of right you would be in an area that was called “the jungle” when I was there. I hung out there a lot. Most sailors didn’t go there and stayed along the main drag. Lots of memories. Seems like it was another dimension now.
Thanks for sharing! The U.S. Navy left a good legacy of discipline in traffic, order and cleanliness. After the bases left, my cousin stopped at an intersection, not to heed the "Stop" sign but to check on the convoy behind him, then proceeded. The convoy blew through the sign and all got pulled over. :)
@stevenboehm Dude, Hard Rock, Body shop, Rock Lobster, Slims, I cant remember our squadron bars, Metal shop and the Blue Parrot(owned by our LtCmdr) I was too drunk to remember most of the time. I was stationed at VC5 Cubi pt. from 90-92. I saw a ton of crazy stuff and Mt. Pinatubo blow up. Good times and bad times. the best food was at Muybuhai just off Gordon ave. Glad you have a happy marriage. Mine didnt end well.She butterfly.
OMG ! Been across that bridge many a times...have tossed many a peso over the bridge....MY GOD how that place has changed. Been over 28 years since I last walked those streets. I have since been to Manila back in July 2018, as well as Santa Rosa with my fiance. I also plan on visiting her home town of Anini-Y, and also visit San Jose, as well as Iloilo. Magandang buhay !
I was stationed in Subic Bay aboard USS Sterett (CG-31) from 1983 - 1987. Haven't returned or visited PI ever since. Loved the local San Miguel beer, the best.
I know about the USS Sterrett I have lots of friends in that ship and hopefully they still remember me they all black Americans guys used to go and jam dancing in East coast disco you probably knew them
Can't remember the bar. (Towards the round about) Steady Bar Fine on "Juliet". She was amazing. I was 22 she was a hot 32. Handled all my money when I was in Port. She made sure I didn't get ripped off or butterflied. Gave her $500 when I left in 1986. She wouldn't take it. Left it in her house. Very special place that was. Anyone remember Peso Jimmy's? Coldest beer in the PO. Jimmy would monitor the fridge. Every magoo had slush in it. No girls worked for him. USS Tarawa 1986 Semper Fi
I was there in July 1980. And again in 1981. I stayed in a hotel on the main drag, I think it was called the Victoria. I seem to recall that my hotel bill was around $45-black market rates. There were two rates of exchange, the low official rate, and the much better off market rate which was far superior than the official rate. The non official exchange places were done out in the open and they weren't much of a secret. Typically they were the same places as the official places. Only suckers exchanged at the "official" rate. That $45 got me about five days. I was non military---a civilian, but a traveling companion of mine had a brother in the navy who was married to a woman from one of the other islands but was living there in Olongapo. The locals noted that my hair was a little longer than the proscribed military length plus with a short beard they new I was a tourist. Being perceived as a tourist had its advantages. The local women THOUGHT you had more money than you did. When I was there in 1981 there were no big ships in town so it seemed I had the whole town to myself. I was a real hot and prized commodity when business wasn't booming for the locals. You stayed up all night at the bars and you slept all day. At least you TRIED to sleep. In July 1980 the sheets in my hotel must have had a thread count of only 5 or something. You could easily see through it. These fitted sheets would never stay on the bed because they clung to your body in the extreme humanity there. The room had no A/C, but it had this oscillating ceiling fan. The fan would point/blow to YOU only for a few seconds then it pointed its aim to other areas around the room before it came back to blow on you again. Frustrated I would sometimes get on all fours in the bed and try to follow the fan as it moved around the room so I could keep air on me at all time. The switch to keep it fixed in place didn't work. If anything in the room didn't work----it didn't work. During that summer of 1980 the city had several brownouts during the day, some were planned and some were not, so you went through long periods of just having to endure the humidity and wait for night. The humidity was always there----it rained at some time of the day every day-----though it was usually brief. Some of the women who worked at the hotel slept in the lobby and on the landings by the stairwell. To get to your room you had to step over people. Since they were in the interior they got no breezes, but then again maybe they were used to it. I drank no local water, but San Miguel instead. I still drink San Miguel all these years later living in Texas. I ate at a place call the People's Cafe, Shakey's Pizza including "mojos" (big thickly rounded cut fried breaded potatoes) and Pizza Hut. I passed on eating the balut---the partially developed bird embryo still in the egg shell. I probably should have tried it, so many people on the long distance buses were eating it. In the July nights of 1980 if you went bar-hopping you could tell when the bars were opening because of one particular song that summer------"Funkytown" by Lipps Inc. EVERY bar, I mean EVERY bar and business was playing that song, over and over and over. You heard it for the full length of the main street. I had never heard it in the states at that time, we all laughed about it and thought it was the national anthem. It didn't let up either. When I took the California bus back to Manila (via the cool and very pleasant Baguio then Angles City) it was blaring there as well. The people in Manila seem to act strange if you told them you had been in Olongapo. If you mentioned the city they no longer had a sunny disposition. Like you should be shamed. It was if you were this great sinner coming from Sodom and Gomorrah. Maybe some didn't want to be reminded of the U.S. military presence in the P I (despite receiving billions of dollars to set up base there). I don't know, but I started telling people I had been in Baguio instead of Olongapo which was also true. Man those days were fun in THAT place, Olongapo. When I told people at home (Houston at that time) about it they thought I was making it all up. I could imagine a young sailor's first time away from home and being there he would really freak out and think he was truly dreaming in some fantasy land. I don't recognize much of it now. It looks more modern, and I thought once the base was gone it would deteriorate. I'm very glad to see that it not only has held up but looks like it is still vibrant and striving. Ah the memories!
Slims was near T's Tavern on Gordon I believe. 168 Burger used to be not far from the corner of Gordon St. I believe I saw Kongs restaurant still there next to the Casino. Across from the police station was the Brown Fox. It burned down a couple times. It used to be next to the police station. I was there at the Midway Hanger a couple times in the 80's. Then I was out of NAF Atsugi. Spent a lot of time there. Thank you for the video.
That second corner, where you thought there was a second casino was actually the location of the "Brown Fox" which burned down a few years before the base was closed. Slims Tavern was on Gordon Ave on the right side about two blocks down.
Stationed ditto, 77 78 @ NRMC Naval Regional Medical Center Thank you for this video 40 yrs now wow how time fly's Mahal the PI always will love the people and their country. Ziggy Na
Dude, Hard Rock, Body shop, Rock Lobster, Slims, I cant remember our squadron bars, Metal shop and the Blue Parrot(owned by our LtCmdr) I was too drunk to remember most of the time.
2:55, there use to be a bar called "Club Florida" in 1988 which is now David's salon I believe. The place was loaded with women, and about 10 of them were named Lisa. I still remember one of them
Wow! I don't recognize it. It has really changed. I often tell special friends I have met, that I hope they have millions of memories that if they were frozen in time in any one of them, they would be happy. I have plenty of great memories from P.I.
It sure has changed a lot. I was there with my buddys in the late 80s. Served on the USS Midway CV41. Not sure if there are any more bars/buildings in the Barrio anymore but knew a Chief Boatswain Mate that retired and stayed in the Philippines. Is there anyone here in the comments that served onboard the Midway? Be glad to hear from you.
Rizal and magsaysay is all a 2 lane one way loop counter clockwise now from the world globe rotunda to help traffic congestion . SM built a new large mall in center city near the other rotunda on rizal.
Looks much tamer and nicer than the first time I went there on deployment with a USN Patrol Squadron in 1978. Last time I was there was 1987, looked about the same in 87 as it did in 78 too.
It was nice u pointed out the former establishments that were there before, like Cindy's. My, that must b a ride thru memory lane for u. I like this vid very much. I visited subic 6 mos ago. I was only 11 when the Americans left. I wish they would return one day
LOL I was there back before Magsaysay Drive was paved! It's crazy how in 2015 so much has changed, but so much of the old look is still there too. I'm getting a weird vibe watching this.
Spent a lot of time in Rocktraks, Sierra Club, Moms. Think I got kinda hooked at the casino last time there, probably 1996. First time there was 1983, Flew in With P-3's💞 GREAT TIMES💯🤙
I love olongapo I finished my elementary at st.joseph's school then spend in college at columban college I think you know my father,Aguedo Tabernilla.He worked at SRF industrial laboratory,he is a chemist.
Oh my god. LOL At 00:18 I'm like, I know this street! The base is on the right. I can't believe I actually remembered the street because I was there in the late 80's.
Olongopo ,olongopo ,oh how I love olongopo. Little town outside the gate , where pretty girls and San Miguel wait, olongopo, olongopo ,oh how I love olongopo Salvacion pasionar, 50 bonofacio rest in peace sweetheart 74-75-76 west-PAC-74/76
First went to Olongapo/ Subic Bay 1975-1976 with HMM-165. We crossed deck from the USS Okinawa to the USS New Orleans. When off ship we stayed at Cubi Point. As a 18-19 year old Marine it was like the Disney Land of Sin!!! Too much partying and chasing the women!!! Spoiled me for life!!! LOL!!! My favorite place to eat was The People's Café by the traffic circle. I think that has long gone. I hung out with a Navy guy who I think ended up going back and marrying one of the girls that worked there. Went back in 1980 with VMA-542. Still a wild place but the change was starting. People never believe the stories I tell them of the women grabbing you to go home before Curfew!!!
The information was great especially for me because it's been 30 years since my last visit to subic bay. At first I was kind of lost because of mispronouciation of Olongapo but then I got it. Other than that great video n info and subic and olongapo has changed a lot I didn't recognize one thing lol
Harbor patrol 1979- 80 stationed dito, too many stories to even begin to tell ! But here's one ,, my PBR boat was sinking we had a sailor in cuffs , I saved the boat by hooking up a hose and using the jet pump to pump the water out ,lucky the engines started!
what happened to the dive bars? Remember club 168? They sold wood planks and they would paint the ship names on it and you could sign it. Looks way different these days.
Almost want to cry, what did they do too Olongapo! We pulled in there in 1988. That casino he said burned down was the day we pulled into Subic. Oh what today's sailors are missing!
There was a casino that burned down. I watched it burn from a bar from across the street. Shout out to the "Florida" club. There was another club on the opposite side of the street just before the round about.. can't remember what it was.
mas maunlad ang gapo ngaun..noon controlado ng mga Gordon ang negusyo.naalala ko...halos ayaw papasukin ang jolibee,,,now halos lahat ng meron sa manila ,nan jan ngaun sa gapo..masaya at maunlad ang kabuhayan..
When I come visit the Philippines I really want to come to Olongapo/Subic and have a walk through down memory lane. This video reinvigorate such fond memories as a young kid. So much has changed. I feel like it had gotten worse and crowded. Whatever happened to the round about? The bust was such an iconic symbol of the city. This was home before moving to California. My mom used to managed a club on the strip of Magsaysay near the canon statue by the old barbershop!
I was a senior petty officer aboard USS HAROLD D.HOLT FF- 1077 when I first visited olongapo in 1987 to 1992 and the USS TARAWA- LHA 1. Olongapo was a sailors "died and went to heaven port visit"-during the gulf war's bipolar times. It was an incredible mixture of high adventure, political intrigue and romance where the warmest friendliest people of the Philippines met a visitor there with open arms. Visits to Olongapo&Barrio , to name a few,left a memory on your brain that will remain, and the reason many a sailor married and or came back and retired in this euphoric "Shangri-la".This place will make a young man old, and a old man young! After 40 years, I still remember her name. Even after Mt pinitubu destroyed this town while I was there-these hardy people recovered very well. I give this port visit a 5 star review ....
This will be the first comment, great video tour of Magsaysay.
I used to be stationed at SRF Subic Bay, I was stationed there
from November 20, 1978 to March 30, 1981. It was the very best tour of duty I ever had when I was in the Navy. I met my late wife
of 31 years on January 16, 1975. It was my third visit to Olongapo City on my very first Westpac. I was stationed aboard the USS
Blue Ridge LCC-19 which was out of San Diego then. Shortly
after I got stationed at SRF Subic Bay, I immediately submitted
my request to marry my late wife. Being stationed there the entire
Process took only 4 months. On April 5, 1979 my late wife & I got
married at City Hall, The Honorable Judge Jose L. Uy married us.
During my 31 years of marriage, we had 3 children. My late wife
passed away on March 6, 2010 in St. Joseph's Hospital in
Tucson, AZ.
Ang ganda tlaga ng olongap0 city
I was there in 1971 and '72, stationed aboard the USS Tripoli (LPH 10) helicopter carrier. You could hear the bands playing in the clubs, as you walked down the street. They played "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va," by Santana a lot, and "Color My World," by Chicago. One Club had a girl who could sing "Piece of My Heart," just like Janis Joplin. Fun times!✌🙂🎸
Janis Joplin-Piece of my heart she sang at the Zanzibar Club along with Joe Cocker I was in 71-75 one of my favorite bars.
I was there several times during the '79-'80 and '81-'82 WestPacs with VA-97 on the U.S.S Coral Sea. If I live to be 110 I'll still look back on that as the best time of my life. I was married there in '82 and divorced in '85, lol. I can laugh about it now. I feel privileged to have been able to see it when it was a fleet town.
I was an aviation electrician for VAW-113 which was aboard the USS Coral Sea at the time. I was on the same WestPac cruises as you 79-80 and 81-82. 102 days in the Persian Gulf and they gave our beer to the Nimitz on the first cruise. I got my Shellback Certificate on the second cruise. A-7 lost a tail hook, an A-6 had a cold cat shot and the pilot and copilot ejected right after takeoff, A-6 crashing and sinking. On the second cruise a guy that a couple of master at arms brought up for the beer day on the second cruise jumped off the fantail while he was handcuffed while we were all watching on the flight deck. A helicopter went and got him. We had a band from Diego Garcia out at sea once... good times...
Yes , stationed there 1973 - 1976. The best time of my life...Amen ❤ 😊
Nice video. Missing olongapo city suddenly 🥺
I'm a Navy man throughout the 80's and I spent a lot of time up and down that street. I can't believe how different it is. Much nicer. It was mostly clubs and like you said BBQ setup on most corners. Thanks for making this video.
I remember being there in 73 and streets were dirt with open sewers. It looks developed now like most of the world. I miss Alongapo have a lot of good memories there. The sailors say I left my heart ❤️ in Subic bay
I came to Olongapo in 1966 after high school in San Pablo, Laguna with my band at the brand new Rainbow Club on Rizal Ave, half way down towards the Ulo ng Apo rotonda.. Back then a newbie to Olongapo would arrive by Victory bus at their bus terminal a few meters from the rotonda head. From here you would take a jeepney to Magsaysay Drive, the main business street, where sailors and locals meet...
To a new sailor, this video @ 0:07 would be his first view of Olongapo after passing through and out of the base's main gate through the bridge over the "shit river" as the video narrator calls it..but it's a drainage channel from Sta Rita River...
After the bridge in 1966, where that SM building yellow wall is would be rows of Money Exchanges and shops and sailors in white and girl barkers....
My four-year stay in Olongapo consisted of playing in different clubs on Magsaysay Drive and Rizal Avenue and lasted until 1970 when we were recruited to go to Okinawa.. We were doing regular gigs at the D'Lovers Club, on the second floor of the Sierra Club building. But on weekends, we played at the Sky Club on Cubi Point, great club, greatest unlimited free coffee in the world, and pretty in-house girl entertainers for the customers...We were the False Morality band and we had two lady singers, Elvie and Lita Navia, they were sisters...they sang great Supremes songs... So, say hi if you came across us in Olongapo or Sky Club, maybe the Teen Club too...
In Nov 23, 1973 I joined the US Air Force until 1997.. Now I'm back where I started in 1966, San Pablo City, Laguna.. Come see our sights, we have Seven Lakes all within our city...
I was a 19 year old Naval Airman aboard HMS Hermes in 1967 when she visited Subic Bay for joint training exercises. what a great place.
Thanks to the video but there is a big difference now a day I was there 1966 to 1970 I was a band member and I play drum Olongapo a very busy that year night life is very alive I can no longer see in your video the we have played like Shamrock club thunderball club the 101 club I live at Fendler street during at that year realy miss Olongapo maybe someday I can visit that place again
WAS THERE BETWEEN 68- 72...GOOD TIMES ...LOTS OF MEMORIES...SO DIFFERENT NOW...GLAD I GOT TO SEE THE OLD OLONGAPO...
Nice vid Steven. You're right, there was a Slim's Tavern. Had way too many San Miguel's and Redhorse there. There was a Shakey's Pizza too.
Was there on and off in 1972 from the USS St. Louis LKA 116. How it has changed. I remember specific things that happened in various locations along Magsaysay. If the car in the video had turned left instead of right you would be in an area that was called “the jungle” when I was there. I hung out there a lot. Most sailors didn’t go there and stayed along the main drag. Lots of memories. Seems like it was another dimension now.
I was looking for the Florida Club on the left side half way down, and Sierra Club on the right, almost to the end. Circa- 1981.
'83...sorry I had to leave you Joy Flores. I've never forgotten you!
Ha ha ha ha
I was there 3 times in 1980, looks a little different now
I can't wait to see Olongapo again
my hometown
Rachel Anne Dela Cruz wow
Neil MPenn so nice
Thanks for sharing! The U.S. Navy left a good legacy of discipline in traffic, order and cleanliness.
After the bases left, my cousin stopped at an intersection, not to heed the "Stop" sign but to check on the convoy behind him, then proceeded. The convoy blew through the sign and all got pulled over. :)
My hometown also
@stevenboehm Dude, Hard Rock, Body shop, Rock Lobster, Slims, I cant remember our squadron bars, Metal shop and the Blue Parrot(owned by our LtCmdr) I was too drunk to remember most of the time. I was stationed at VC5 Cubi pt. from 90-92. I saw a ton of crazy stuff and Mt. Pinatubo blow up. Good times and bad times. the best food was at Muybuhai just off Gordon ave. Glad you have a happy marriage. Mine didnt end well.She butterfly.
OMG ! Been across that bridge many a times...have tossed many a peso over the bridge....MY GOD how that place has changed. Been over 28 years since I last walked those streets. I have since been to Manila back in July 2018, as well as Santa Rosa with my fiance. I also plan on visiting her home town of Anini-Y, and also visit San Jose, as well as Iloilo. Magandang buhay !
I was stationed in Subic Bay aboard USS Sterett (CG-31) from 1983 - 1987. Haven't returned or visited PI ever since. Loved the local San Miguel beer, the best.
Bullfrog and mojo
I know about the USS Sterrett I have lots of friends in that ship and hopefully they still remember me they all black Americans guys used to go and jam dancing in East coast disco you probably knew them
Can't remember the bar. (Towards the round about) Steady Bar Fine on "Juliet". She was amazing. I was 22 she was a hot 32. Handled all my money when I was in Port. She made sure I didn't get ripped off or butterflied. Gave her $500 when I left in 1986. She wouldn't take it. Left it in her house. Very special place that was.
Anyone remember Peso Jimmy's? Coldest beer in the PO. Jimmy would monitor the fridge. Every magoo had slush in it. No girls worked for him.
USS Tarawa 1986
Semper Fi
I was there in July 1980. And again in 1981. I stayed in a hotel on the main drag, I think it was called the Victoria. I seem to recall that my hotel bill was around $45-black market rates. There were two rates of exchange, the low official rate, and the much better off market rate which was far superior than the official rate. The non official exchange places were done out in the open and they weren't much of a secret. Typically they were the same places as the official places. Only suckers exchanged at the "official" rate. That $45 got me about five days. I was non military---a civilian, but a traveling companion of mine had a brother in the navy who was married to a woman from one of the other islands but was living there in Olongapo. The locals noted that my hair was a little longer than the proscribed military length plus with a short beard they new I was a tourist. Being perceived as a tourist had its advantages. The local women THOUGHT you had more money than you did. When I was there in 1981 there were no big ships in town so it seemed I had the whole town to myself. I was a real hot and prized commodity when business wasn't booming for the locals.
You stayed up all night at the bars and you slept all day. At least you TRIED to sleep. In July 1980 the sheets in my hotel must have had a thread count of only 5 or something. You could easily see through it. These fitted sheets would never stay on the bed because they clung to your body in the extreme humanity there. The room had no A/C, but it had this oscillating ceiling fan. The fan would point/blow to YOU only for a few seconds then it pointed its aim to other areas around the room before it came back to blow on you again. Frustrated I would sometimes get on all fours in the bed and try to follow the fan as it moved around the room so I could keep air on me at all time. The switch to keep it fixed in place didn't work. If anything in the room didn't work----it didn't work. During that summer of 1980 the city had several brownouts during the day, some were planned and some were not, so you went through long periods of just having to endure the humidity and wait for night. The humidity was always there----it rained at some time of the day every day-----though it was usually brief. Some of the women who worked at the hotel slept in the lobby and on the landings by the stairwell. To get to your room you had to step over people. Since they were in the interior they got no breezes, but then again maybe they were used to it.
I drank no local water, but San Miguel instead. I still drink San Miguel all these years later living in Texas. I ate at a place call the People's Cafe, Shakey's Pizza including "mojos" (big thickly rounded cut fried breaded potatoes) and Pizza Hut. I passed on eating the balut---the partially developed bird embryo still in the egg shell. I probably should have tried it, so many people on the long distance buses were eating it.
In the July nights of 1980 if you went bar-hopping you could tell when the bars were opening because of one particular song that summer------"Funkytown" by Lipps Inc. EVERY bar, I mean EVERY bar and business was playing that song, over and over and over. You heard it for the full length of the main street. I had never heard it in the states at that time, we all laughed about it and thought it was the national anthem. It didn't let up either. When I took the California bus back to Manila (via the cool and very pleasant Baguio then Angles City) it was blaring there as well.
The people in Manila seem to act strange if you told them you had been in Olongapo. If you mentioned the city they no longer had a sunny disposition. Like you should be shamed. It was if you were this great sinner coming from Sodom and Gomorrah. Maybe some didn't want to be reminded of the U.S. military presence in the P I (despite receiving billions of dollars to set up base there). I don't know, but I started telling people I had been in Baguio instead of Olongapo which was also true.
Man those days were fun in THAT place, Olongapo. When I told people at home (Houston at that time) about it they thought I was making it all up. I could imagine a young sailor's first time away from home and being there he would really freak out and think he was truly dreaming in some fantasy land. I don't recognize much of it now. It looks more modern, and I thought once the base was gone it would deteriorate. I'm very glad to see that it not only has held up but looks like it is still vibrant and striving. Ah the memories!
Cool story! 😎
Slims was near T's Tavern on Gordon I believe. 168 Burger used to be not far from the corner of Gordon St. I believe I saw Kongs restaurant still there next to the Casino. Across from the police station was the Brown Fox. It burned down a couple times. It used to be next to the police station. I was there at the Midway Hanger a couple times in the 80's. Then I was out of NAF Atsugi. Spent a lot of time there. Thank you for the video.
That second corner, where you thought there was a second casino was actually the location of the "Brown Fox" which burned down a few years before the base was closed. Slims Tavern was on Gordon Ave on the right side about two blocks down.
BaskinginBarreto 19 no sir, Slims was on Magsaysay, right about where the narrator mentioned it.
I remember Slim's Tavern too
Stationed ditto, 77 78 @ NRMC Naval Regional Medical Center Thank you for this video 40 yrs now wow how time fly's Mahal the PI always will love the people and their country. Ziggy Na
Anyone remember the Mariposa bar? I spent way too many hours there in '83-'84.
cheapest mojo/bullfrog in town!
Joe Schwartz i was there jan 83 to april 84 and i remember tne mariposa.
I got my very first tattoo in the back of Mariposa - done by Roger.
Dude, Hard Rock, Body shop, Rock Lobster, Slims, I cant remember our squadron bars, Metal shop and the Blue Parrot(owned by our LtCmdr) I was too drunk to remember most of the time.
Yes I remember Mariposa bar! USN 1981
I was there off and on from 1985 to 1989 thank you its great to watch
2:55, there use to be a bar called "Club Florida" in 1988 which is now David's salon I believe. The place was loaded with women, and about 10 of them were named Lisa. I still remember one of them
Andrew C my hometown
Hefty bar fines in that club
@@ghostmost2614 Yeah it was. But the one Lisa I remember there was worth it. Many of them were gorgeous but that one was FUCKING HOT!
pronounced Plorida.
Great video and great memories. Now.... head out to the Barrio!
Im Olongapeño aswell and watching this is pretty cool, thanks for sharing, hope to see more vid.
Jerome Carpio me too
cool
So modern now comoared to 90-91 Pinatubo days I was fortunate enough to be there.
i lived there in 1985 & 86. magsaysay road was soooooo different.
Wow! I don't recognize it. It has really changed. I often tell special friends I have met, that I hope they have millions of memories that if they were frozen in time in any one of them, they would be happy. I have plenty of great memories from P.I.
Thank for the nice view of Olongapo city, it is a good video and info
So happy for this video thank u i miss olongapo also
Yup Slims was there and that was our bar, OI Division USS England
Nice Video. Went to Olongapo May 2017. I was in VC-5 1989-92.
Slims was on Gordon ave. Where did the Mariposa and the Pussycat club upstairs?
It sure has changed a lot. I was there with my buddys in the late 80s. Served on the USS Midway CV41.
Not sure if there are any more bars/buildings in the Barrio anymore but knew a Chief Boatswain Mate that retired and stayed in the Philippines.
Is there anyone here in the comments that served onboard the Midway? Be glad to hear from you.
Nice video Thanks.
I'm there right now. I miss the way it was. I was 17 back in 84' first visit. I used to hang out at Slims Tavern.
Not the Olongapo I remember 51 years ago.
The navy’s gone . Probably better for them
Isn't that the truth, amazing change from 66-67. No more dirt street.
Stephen Adams I hear ya, where are the dirt roads?
Rizal and magsaysay is all a 2 lane one way loop counter clockwise now from the world globe rotunda to help traffic congestion . SM built a new large mall in center city near the other rotunda on rizal.
Wow. So different from when I was last there in 1989
Looks much tamer and nicer than the first time I went there on deployment with a USN Patrol Squadron in 1978. Last time I was there was 1987, looked about the same in 87 as it did in 78 too.
Why are all the Jeepneys now painted yellow? I remember then being much more colorful and decorated by the operator.
Ricky Berkey ,the color denotes the route that the jeepney runs. This was implemented by mayor Dick Gordon before I was there in 88.
It was nice u pointed out the former establishments that were there before, like Cindy's. My, that must b a ride thru memory lane for u. I like this vid very much. I visited subic 6 mos ago. I was only 11 when the Americans left. I wish they would return one day
LOL I was there back before Magsaysay Drive was paved! It's crazy how in 2015 so much has changed, but so much of the old look is still there too. I'm getting a weird vibe watching this.
where is the shangrila club an( the cave club,) not too far from main gate 1964
my hometown ,coming back there next month
Spent a lot of time in Rocktraks, Sierra Club, Moms. Think I got kinda hooked at the casino last time there, probably 1996.
First time there was 1983, Flew in With P-3's💞
GREAT TIMES💯🤙
Wow looking pretty good.. I was there 79..
I miss you so much my beloved Homeland!!!
I love olongapo
I finished my elementary at st.joseph's school then spend in college at columban college
I think you know my father,Aguedo Tabernilla.He worked at SRF industrial laboratory,he is a chemist.
87 to 91. It kinda looks the same minus any building over 4 floors. Wow!
Oh my god. LOL At 00:18 I'm like, I know this street! The base is on the right. I can't believe I actually remembered the street because I was there in the late 80's.
wes-pac 1980 mardet uss constellation cv64, we called it “disneyland”
dam that place is 1000 times better that the last time i seen it.
Olongopo ,olongopo ,oh how I love olongopo. Little town outside the gate , where pretty girls and San Miguel wait, olongopo, olongopo ,oh how I love olongopo
Salvacion pasionar, 50 bonofacio rest in peace sweetheart 74-75-76 west-PAC-74/76
Russ Durham Los 114
I will never forget lisa abella..olongapo city..she was the lobby candy girl at the white house club..1974=75
First went to Olongapo/ Subic Bay 1975-1976 with HMM-165. We crossed deck from the USS Okinawa to the USS New Orleans. When off ship we stayed at Cubi Point. As a 18-19 year old Marine it was like the Disney Land of Sin!!! Too much partying and chasing the women!!! Spoiled me for life!!! LOL!!! My favorite place to eat was The People's Café by the traffic circle. I think that has long gone. I hung out with a Navy guy who I think ended up going back and marrying one of the girls that worked there. Went back in 1980 with VMA-542. Still a wild place but the change was starting. People never believe the stories I tell them of the women grabbing you to go home before Curfew!!!
peoples cafe had good food,i would drink at the black and white befor hitting the clubs
The information was great especially for me because it's been 30 years since my last visit to subic bay. At first I was kind of lost because of mispronouciation of Olongapo but then I got it. Other than that great video n info and subic and olongapo has changed a lot I didn't recognize one thing lol
Cherry Club. on the way to Vietnam and on the wy back. 1971-72
Harbor patrol 1979- 80 stationed dito, too many stories to even begin to tell ! But here's one ,, my PBR boat was sinking we had a sailor in cuffs , I saved the boat by hooking up a hose and using the jet pump to pump the water out ,lucky the engines started!
I was there from 88 to 90. I was an air traffic controller at cubi pt
Husband and I were ACs at Cubi, too - we rotated out in 88. Last name Arnette.
it was called Lot 21 before
I miss olongapo so much, no place like home
Im born in Olongapo 2005-2012
I lived there from 1988 to 1991.
steven boehm yeah during the m
Mt Pinatubo eruption
Midway in and out 85-88. Cubi 88-91.
what happened to the dive bars? Remember club 168? They sold wood planks and they would paint the ship names on it and you could sign it. Looks way different these days.
how did you know where all the bar in magsaysay and lot of places
awesome my hometown
Almost want to cry, what did they do too Olongapo! We pulled in there in 1988. That casino he said burned down was the day we pulled into Subic. Oh what today's sailors are missing!
thanks for the video
There was a casino that burned down. I watched it burn from a bar from across the street. Shout out to the "Florida" club. There was another club on the opposite side of the street just before the round about.. can't remember what it was.
Wow
Kit Kat club had giant cats inside with red eyes. Rock club!
I was stationed there 90-92. I was with Bravo company
Used to be called Separate Guard Company prior to 1976. Alpha was Hqs Company and Charlie (San Miguel) was Detached Guard Company
I remember the old olonagapo city .
Are there still any clubs.
100 percent rock and the off duty 1981
my hometown olongapo
Neil MPenn awesome
I was there in 1976 to 1977 again in 1986
mas maunlad ang gapo ngaun..noon controlado ng mga Gordon ang negusyo.naalala ko...halos ayaw papasukin ang jolibee,,,now halos lahat ng meron sa manila ,nan jan ngaun sa gapo..masaya at maunlad ang kabuhayan..
Does anyone remember the General Custer Super Club? I was there in 1975/ 1976. Had some good times there.
awesome
Many sailors were devirginized in olongapo
wow
Was stationed there at SRF Left in 74 Don't recognize it now
I was there in 84.
The best food smells were right where you were when you made the turn at the main gate.
I am in olongapo 😁😁😁😁😄
When I come visit the Philippines I really want to come to Olongapo/Subic and have a walk through down memory lane. This video reinvigorate such fond memories as a young kid. So much has changed. I feel like it had gotten worse and crowded. Whatever happened to the round about? The bust was such an iconic symbol of the city. This was home before moving to California. My mom used to managed a club on the strip of Magsaysay near the canon statue by the old barbershop!
Following traffic signals! Wow! That never happened while I was there.
first to stop first to go,
MALUNGKOT pag alang daong na BARKO, Miss Saigon Mackintosh where did the PLAY nakasulat na BOOK of LIFE on time as it happened
WOW! It didn't look like that in the 70's
or the sixties east end club and pacific club
Bkit may mga nkapark pa na mga sasakyan ,sa amin pingbawal na
What happened to Sierra Supper Club?
Loudest music on the strip
What burned down was the Brown Fox
How dare they modernize it! I'll take the 1974 version...