Baguio, Bars & Booze
Mayor-elect Reinaldo Bautista plans to revive the some aspects of the Administrative Order issued in 2005 by suspended Mayor Braulio Yaranon that limits the sale of liquor as follows:
- Retail Stores until 9pm
- Bars until 12 mn
- Discos until 2am
Bautista lifted the implementation of A.O. 114 last year when he assumed the post of Acting Mayor, saying that a city ordinance is necessary to back up the order.
It seems now that they realize that the 9:00 pm curfew for minors, though effective in diminishing their involvement in nocturnal crimes, has been ineffective in curbing those committed by those aged 18-30 years old. City Hall studies show that these felonies are usually committed by those under the influence of alcohol and/or near establishments selling liquor.
I used to operate a number of businesses on Legarda Road and Nevada Square. I would usually select a quiet area for a restaurant or a bar but about a year or two into my operations, I would notice a lot of small bars mushrooming all around me. And I have to tell you that many of them would sell alcohol to minors, or allow those already drunk to enter the premises.
A lot of these kids (I call them that because I’m groovy — this word dates me but I cannot find a good substitute for it — but no spring chicken anymore) would load up on cheap booze from sari sari stores that sell gin by the shot then at about Php3.00 and finish the night in nearby bars. Some of them would lament that my billiards bar was the only establishment that did not sell alcohol to minors. In fact, a lot of my “regulars†had to show me good grades to be allowed to continue playing there.
While the rowdy bar across me was selling light beer at P19 (cost of the beer then was P16 and I was selling mine at P32), fights would ensue because it was so packed and one party or the other would cross to my place and ask to be rescued or accompanied to the nearby police precinct.
Then there was this grill beside me selling a pitcher of gin pomelo at P65 (cost was 47.50) so that 8 kids could get drunk while the owner made what she thought was profit of P17.50. From 8 people, that’s an average of P2.20/person! And she had no restroom so that the kids were using the street and dark corners (or my billiards bar) for their personal needs.
Legarda Road was packed every night from 2000-2004. And there were violent altercations every time. These were not limited to fist fights: there were knives and guns involved. There were little “nigger-wannabe” African-American-gangsta-rap-artist-wannabe kids, whose gangs are called Crips and Bloods just like those in the US, who were barely in their teens moving around in unruly mobs.
Then there was this corner store owned by a barangay official who used to throw his weight around about the peace and order situation but who had to shut up when I pointed out that his store was not authorized to have chairs and tables and sell food and liquor.
I collect classic and vintage cars and found that it was not safe to park on my parking lot because everyone was on the street spoiling for fight or wishing one would ensue, just so they’d be entertained. I would tell the little gang criminals hanging around my cars to either enter the establishment or take their issues elsewhere; that they were not allowed to hang around my property, as the parking area was within the property lines.
One time, I got angry at the owners of the cafe to my right because when the kids on the street were posturing and getting ready for a brawl, they actually shouted, “Upakan na!” And like mindless idiots the kids started hitting each other.
Then there was Nevada Square where I located my restaurant from 2000-2005 plus another one, a pretty neat cafe and museum shop that played cool oldies music had coffee, pasta, furniture and artwork for sale. At first most business were all restaurants and cafes. But there’s not much of a local dining crowd in Baguio, really. Most folks here just like to hang out and not really spend. Then the restaurants around me started to disappear and were replaced by bars. When a bar opened beside my cafe and started blaring out such loud music that it ruined the dining experience for my patrons, I decided to close it down (and it was making pretty good money, too) because I could not stand the loud music and rowdiness next door .
And Nevada Square was just as bad, if not worse. All the Legarda Road troublemakers just transferred to there. Since there’s a large common parking area in the middle, and the establishments were small, everyone would just either spill over into the middle area or merely hang around spoiling for a fight without really patronizing the establishments there. All Nevada bars would complain that, despite the cheap rent, it was hard to break even. Could it be because there’s a sari sari store below where the kids would load up on cheap gin before going to the ritzy areas like I mentioned earlier? Could it be because the bar owners would do nothing to prevent a fight from ensuing? Or that sometimes, they themselves are involved the violence?
When I finished my lease contract there and gleefully got the hell out of Nevada Square, my customers asked me where I was moving to. To which I replied, “To a place where no bars could set up beside me!” and I my prayer was answered.
So, you see, I do know whereof I speak. I understand the problems of Baguio as far as alcohol-related felonies in hotspots are concerned. I know the moods and motives of the youth. And I believe it will not be solved by the city governments moves to limit the operating hours. In 2005, the Nevada Square bar owners asked me what they should do about Yaranon’s AO 114, I said, “Then just move the fights that you so love and promote much earlier to render the same ineffective!”
I believe this funky situation can be addressed this way:
- Sari-sari stores may not sell or serve liquor.
- No one can drink on the street, in parking lots, on monobloc tables outside their homes and store.
- The prohibition on the selling of alcohol to minors must be strictly monitored and enforced, a stiff penalty imposed on those in breach thereof or their business licenses revoked.
- Police cars must be permanently stationed in these areas and the cops must be roving on foot.
- To open a bar, one must be given a written set of rules regarding alcohol service, and maybe the owners can be told that they can and should refuse service to those whom they believe to be already drunk.
- Discourage the sale of cheap liquor because the kids can load up on a lot of booze with hardly any money. This can be done by raising municipal taxes on liquor so high that bar owners will be forced to sell alcohol at higher rates.
- Set the curfew for minors to 6:00 p.m. They should be home with their families by dinner time. Those older minors who are working or have classes late into the night may apply for exemption passes by showing class schedules or employment papers.
Of course, Bautista whose family owns one of the biggest businesses that attracts students from all over Luzon because of their open admission policies has all the reason in the world to make this city a safe place for the kids.
“The opening of classes this June is enough reason for us to bolster Section 16 of Republic Act (RA) 7160 (Local Government Code) by executive action if only to protect local and visiting students, especially those in college,” Bautista said. “I don’t think that gaining money while sacrificing the safety of our kids has room in our locality. It’s simply not showing how civil our society is,” he also said.
Section 16 of RA 7160 provides: “Every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.”
When tourists come up and ask me which bars I can recommend, I find myself at a loss for suggestions. This is because our bars are so rowdy, the Baguio gangs so intact, the attitude towards outsiders so bad that I fear for their safety.
I have included here file photos of establishments that no longer exist so that no one would feel alluded to by this post.
ahh kidstuff as my friends would call it. okay, thank you bautista for finally realizing this after 1 million years.
Hi Lei,
Lethal “kidstuff” though. UP kids, like you, prefer hanging out in cafes, which is good. Older kids like me will have to hang out at home. Hahaha!
but im not a UP kid. i’m louisian eh, hehe..
kubi and maika are though.
hi lisa, sorry this is out of topic. but can i get your email address? i just wanted to ask you something. thanks!
hi lisa,
good reading about bars and booze. what can i say times they have changed. we did not have 3.00 peso a shot sold by sari-sari stores then. kids(teeners) had better things to do then. hope Mayor Bautista implements your proposals. another suggestion is why not fine or close down shops selling booze to kids. liked the pics. go blog some more. hope all is well.
It must also be the fact that most of these “kids” are not of the true blue Baguio Breed. Those of us whose families are truly from baguio also did the night life in our younger days, but we knew what time to get our collective as–s home. We knew that we could not just be rowdy and pick fights, because our own parents would have called the cops on us. Peter Rey and I are of that breed. Sure we saw our share of fights, even deaths (Iggy) BUT we took the consequences dished out by our parents. We knew that if we did anything scandalous, our names would appear on the front page of the Baguio Midland Courier. Because Baguio has grown by leaps and bounds, there is no “small town scandal” fear anymore. In a recent web survey, its noted that only 20% of the population of Baguio are deemed “Baguio Folk” The rest are migrants, Benguet and Bontoc folk who moved to “big city” transient residents, students from other countries. But only 20% are the real old baguio folk, and I think my generation was the last to live through the “small town experience”. Baguio was so small then that if your parents were looking for you past 9 PM, they would call three places, Songs, Rumours and Gimbals. If you werent there, they would leave a message, and you would get it.
in addition, let me say this, its easy for immigrants to comment on the “degradation” of baguio, they always have the option to leave, we who are truly from baguio do not consider that option, we may move away, but like the old shamans of baguio say “agawid kayo met laeng”. when the earthquake happened, most migrants, students and transients left baguio, who was left behind to rebuild? just those who truly love baguio, when it was ok again, everyone started coming back. when a major disaster hits again, who will be left behind again, the true baguio folk. One who truly knows the culture of the Igorots knows that being born Igorot and being born in certain places/ tribes is NOT an accident, its fated by Kabunyan.
Hi Igorota, I lament the loss of that “small town feel” just as you do and that’s what worries me so. Folks can just come up for a few months, commit crimes and scurry back down.
Before I became a resident 16 years ago, I was a weekend visitor (my favorite cousins and I could not get enough of each other) and even as such, walking down Session Road I knew everyone. Now, sino sila? Nothing quaint about Session anymore! I have to wear my backpack in front! There are nameless, faceless folk who freeload off of Baguio! Using up the water, being illegal vendors, squatting on the mountainsides, dirtying up the city.
And they are not the Cordillera natives whom I like very much because they are well-mannered, clean and honorable. Baguio seems to be enticing not a very good crowd to live here. It is making it cheap and easy for folks to squat here. A city councilor-elect was on TV saying he will not stop them from occupying government land! Goodbye forest reserves.
I invested in Baguio after the earthquake, through the Mt. Pinatubo eruption hoping to help rebuild it. I opened up businesses and provided good employment through the dark days of the Asian economic crisis and temporary closure of John Hay up to now. Baguio has turned “big city” before my very eyes! Bugs me because I never want to leave.
It is not easy for this migrant to comment on Baguio because I also am webmaster of Go Baguio! But because I actually live here I can and I feel I should.
Where is your establishment now so we may visit you one time?
3 pesos per shot at a sari-sari-store? Now that’s something we did not have. Times have indeed changed. I have never been to Nevada Square or Legarda for gimmick. Hmmm.
Hi Nick, thanks for dropping by.
Yes you will be surprised. There are, however a host of great places to hang out in for folks our age. Hahaha! I don’t run a stand alone restaurant or bar anymore, but you’re always welcome for coffee at my place, Atenara House.
Wow, i was reading your stuff and really amazed how time changed. I’m a Baguio boy who left 30 years ago and the popular places to go then were Half way House and nineteen tee in John Hay, Fireplace, Bobs, sky view and some bars along session road. I was there 4 years ago and the place doesn’t look good. Like what they say: You can’t go home anymore.
Wow! everytime i hear the words baguio it feels me happy.Even i spent mostly my life here in US but still my heart is baguio.Baguio is a romantic place and i hope if im coming back to baguio i hope i can find my first love her name is BETH M.Fr University of baguio.
Hi just read your comments about Baguio, im from the UK when i go tp the Ph i always visit Baguio i like the climate, on my last visit there you could tell it had excuse the punn gone down hill, what a shame.anyway i am thinking of purchasing some property there very soon and i making a mistake? just one thing if people in local goverment cant do there job well get rid of them, surely it is in every-ones interest to make Baguio a nice place again or is my british way of thinking to obvious lol regards Ray
i am a part time resident of baguio, october till april. i love baguio and find it the best place in the world to retire because of the weather and the two golf courses just to mention a couple of my reasons. problems about young kids boozing up and fighting is that the stablishments, bars and karaoke places do not abide by the laws. when incidents like these created by young funks happen, the government should close them up immediately. ENFORCE THE LAW. have the police pick up the kids, troublemakers, keep them in jail till their parents come over and bail them out. when this happens, parents will probably keep their kds from venturing out late at night. they should be studying their school’s lessons and not getting drunk. bottom line, parents, bar ownners and the police department have to work together to keep baguio a much better place day and night.
frank, mike l., ray, o.b.:
thanks for dropping by. it’s only been in very recent years that the selling of booze, the ensuing fights and the seediness of bars in Baguio has gone uncontrolled. i believe it’s a reflection not only of the quality of governance but of the residents themselves.
it is my fervent wish that those who actually love baguio come up and live here and shoo away all those who are, although unintentionally perhaps, ruining our quality of life by their poor taste, bad manners and low class attitudes.
the bars in baguio are seedy because the people here will not patronize a quality establishment. the drinking market is dominated by students — a lot of whom are under absolutely no parental supervision, whether their parents live here or not. a lot of the troublemakers are cheeky precisely because they are sons of politicians and policemen.
too bad for tourists and young professionals — there’s no place to go at night anymore.
yes it’s a matter of law enforcement and political will. a business person myself, i closed down my bars in 2004 and will not put up any more because the drinking crowd here is simply awful.
Don’t you just love the culture of the Baguio people? Discipline. I wish we could bring this back… and let the new comers assimilate to this kind of culture. Haha.
I don’t know ha, but my last class is at 7. If there are org meetings(which is rare naman) I come home at 8. Na di really wonder if it is being implemented. I don’t see any cops who are ready to apprehend violators. Is this another cheap talk by the city hall?
Wow Igorota, nice ponderings. Oo nga, mga Baguio folk, they know how to go home. We just know how to be discipled. We know where is the proper place to cross.
I miss the old Baguio. I went back to the city last December, and I found a colder version of Metro Manila. Tsk tsk tsk
Hi Katrina,
I agree with the discipline. The folks in Baguio are simply lovely, and cordial. A lot are actually shy.
It’s those students without parental guidance who are causing the trouble — and now, thanks to my old friend Francis Pangilinan we cannot jail them even.
As for the curfew, have you heard of anyone getting caught?
Hay Aylene,
Originally from Manila myself, I moved to what I considered my virtual heaven on earth only to see Baguio transforming into a poor copy of Manila — only the Divi and Quiapo parts, too.
I actually brought some kids to Dividoria a few months ago and upon seeing CM Recto, they exclaimed, “Parang Baguio!” and I wanted to cry…
I’m Actually a kid raised in baguio, im still 17, haha, honestly i drink but i know my own limit and i’m pretty aware i’m disciplined, im a half breed or mestizo some would say, But and I am proud of my Cordilleran heritage more than my ilocano blood,
I saw some of the old memorabilias and pictures of the old Baguio, With Trees(Lots of em), No Squatters, No Bars…you could really differentiate it from “our” Baguio now,my generation today does not care about baguio like we Natives do, they just like to trash the place, gather attention just to boost up their own ego’s, like ate lisa said these “Wannabe Niggers” are causing most of the crimes in baguio today, i just hope our mayor would plan a big thing or change in baguio for its centennial celebration next year!!!! cant wait!!!!!!
the things your saying on your page is sucks
I go to the places that you mention its up to the owner and the police if they could stop thous fights. They don’t even do anything, but to watch I saw it and I been there. The things your saying is worts here in the U.S.
Yup, Travis,
The Baguio schools have attracted all sorts of people to come up and live here, bringing their insecurities with them. For migration necessarily causes insecurities. Each person tries to carve his own niche in a new place, not yet knowing how he will be accepted by the community. Some do this by being tough, some by being amiable.
I prefer the latter approach, as the natives of the Cordilleras ARE very amiable.
Hi Ivy,
I know that I am saying scuks. Because the night life situation here sucks. It is the responsibility of EVERYBODY to make sure there is no violence, not just bar owners or police. It is your responsibility to make sure your group behaves, or that issues are resolved through amicable means.
And I do not care if it s worse elsewhere. The point is, it should not be bad here.
Hi to all,
I’m Jeff and I was born and raised in Baguio but I already work somewhere else, but I do go back to baguio for vacation and to relax with my wife and kid. Well a lot had changed in baguio, especially the culture and lifestyle. My take on that would be “change is an inevitable thing”. You can never determine baguio in the next decades to come. Some changes are good some are not. In my opinion I would not blame the bars, clubs, liquor shops, or whatever to minors. Parent supervision is the answer to this problem. Parents/guardians should monitor thier kids in a regular basis to make sure that this “Kids” don’t mess around. I don’t think putting a curfew on bars is good because it’s bad for the bussiness and tourism. This things should be monitored and that bar owners should make sure that they have proper security for their properties and for their customers as well. They should be strick as well when it comes to ages of people that go inside their Bars, Clubs, etch.
Baguio is a place of diversed people. People from everywhere go their to study, migrate, work, etch. This is one cause of changes in culture and lifestyle in baguio. But it does not mean that Baguio is badly changing. Baguio is still a developing City. Let it bloom. Baguio is still baguio not just because of the weather (If it was all about the weather then i’ll just go to Tagaytay instead) but because of the people, culture and lifestyle.
One more thing… DON’T JUST CRITICIZE! MAKE A MOVE TO IMPROVE BAGUIO!
As my dad told me before: Sau ka nga sau! Awan met ti garaw mo! (All you do is rant but you don’t do anything)
Hiya Jeff,
I agree that it all boils down to parents and guardians watching over their kids. But with 30,000 college students from out of town WITHOUT PARENTS the night spots get pretty wild, street gangs terrorize the populace, especially since the minors know they cannot be jailed anymore. As a bar owner myself I did exercise all the precautions and set the mood for wholesome entertainment. I guess a testament to that is that we did not have brawls at my very popular Freddie’s Billiards for the years it was operational.
Everyone who loves the city is making a move to improve Baguio except that an individual’s idea of improvement may not be the same as another’s. Just like one’s idea of beauty is not the same as the next person’s. Hence all the bandarita mechandising that covers awful shanty store frontages, or fading painted billboards on Kennon Road and Marcos Highway greet the city’s guests.
Baguio is changing for the worse. Everyone can see that. So we first have to understand and recognize where we are going wrong to be able to correct things, all the while being good citizens and actively working to improve the place in our own little way, and going beyond our fences to make sure our neighbors behave appropriately, too. Otherwise we would be wasting the legacy of our forefathers and not securing a bright future for our children.
As an ex-resident occasional visitor, you can help, too. Make sure your house is in tiptop condition and your garden clean. Ask the ones left behind to plant trees. Walk as much as you can while you are here. Report any anomalies you see during your visit to the authorities. All for your child. You want him to be safe in Baguio City when it is his time to party.
hey lisa! have you tried going inside Nevada Squre? I saw a lot of people fighting and a lot of police cars park near Nevada Squre. Police man just go and watch people or gangs fighting, its like they like watching than letting them stop. After the fight is done then that’s the time they tried to stop! and be a hero. that wont work. They cant even control even girls fighting! Its like their even siding sides when it other groups stated the fight. Instead of letting the other group that started the fight their will be hanging out in Nevada Squre while the group that was just got beat up with no reason will be the one sent home or ares. If ever police ares some they could just easily could run and police doesn’t care.
Hi Ivy,
I used to run two businesses at Nevada Square. You have just described a typical busy night at the square. That’s exactly what I am talking about in this post.
So the fights are still going on? I recall then mayoralty candidate Atty Elmo Nevada saying they were just waiting for the lease contracts of the tenants to expire so they can get into other kinds of business that would replace the drinking joints.
Hi Resty,
If the Nevadas cannot impose peace and order in their little property, how can Atty. Nevada hope to do better as mayor of a city? The contracts, if I am not mistaken, are on a yearly basis (our used to be for 5 years) so what expiration are they really talking about?
Somehow, bar owners and landlords in Baguio City think their place is hip when there is a lot of trouble there. Sad …
The problem for bar owners is, they insist of letting young teenagers like me to go inside of Neveada Square.To earn more money eve though they know that teenagers are trouble makers. Have you tried going inside cribs? You could see the majority of people inside that bar is teenagers 30 and below or 27 and below. I always hang out there when I was still living in the Philippines. Sometimes we go inside Nevada Square. Almost all of my friends are under age like me. Some are 17,16,15,14,. Then they say only 18 yrs could go in! I think not.They don’t even check I.D. they just let them in.
Ivy,
I’m happy that you are out of Baguio City, and that you got out alive and unscathed. In the States the young cannot drink or go to bars. And this response is for all the young like you who happen to read this.
All teenagers are not necessarily troublemakers — it’s just that you cannot handle alcohol and adult situations yet like more mature folks can.
It boggles my mind how parents and guardians in the city are so uncaring about the welfare of their children that minors and jobless young adults (college students) are “entitled” to a night life, to be drinking, to be put in harm’s way.
It bugs me how the same young folk are carrying deadly weapons like knives and guns and actually kill. It is alarming how the children’s whereabouts and the company they keep are not monitored.
Bar owners have a secondary responsibility to regulate who consumes alcohol, in case parents fail in that primary responsibility of protecting the young. These people are also not doing the minors, society, the city and the world any favor because they are selfish and greedy. They actually need the immature to be there so their older customers can prey on you guys, because you do not yet know how to say “no,” because you are easily fooled at this point, because you have not yet experienced evil in this world and thus cannot recognize it.
The irresponsible bar owners are also a little unthinking — instead of going for a higher mark up by catering to a more mature and spending crowd of older customers who can afford to party, they have narrowed their market because of the rowdiness of their operations and the young de-”allowance” market that they are attracting.
Look at how often bars open and close in places like Nevada Square. (Sorry, I will never risk my life to party in a place like Cribs — the beer tastes the same everywhere — because one goes to a bar not for the booze but for the kind of people one wants to party with).
But Ivy, recognizing this, let me appeal to a nice young, thinking person like you. Drinking, smoking, sex, drugs and the company of your peers seems to be all that is exciting at this point, but really, all we want all our lives is love and acceptance. The kind of “love” and “acceptance” found in bars and in gangs is not real, good or necessary.
Study while you can, enjoy family while you can (for family loves and protects unconditionally and you don’t want to learn this the hard way), choose good friends, enjoy the sunlight and sleep early. Partying comes after a long day of work, with money you earned yourself.
Once you’ve grown up, you will not ever be young again. Try to hold on to your youth as long as you can.
Drinking, smoking, sex, drugs smoking and drinking I might do that drugs and sex? hell no. I know what your saying, but mostly that’s why a lot of teenager rather like to go out and don’t go home. It’s because they can’t find the things they are looking for in their own family or home. They think that people having the same problem as they are could help them. They think that they are misunderstood by parents. They don’t know how to talk to their parents. If ever I would be still there I will b still having fun at Nevada Squire that’s how teenagers like me enjoy life. Then of were old I would be still going to parties because that what fun for us. As they say children are different now a days that your younger years back then. Mostly about peer pressure why teenagers do thous things. As i told you teens run to their peers because that’s the time they feel part of the family. They feel better that their own family. For me people should be involved going to church. That’ show I change, but kinda it helps me more to be good that bad. The reason I change it’s because we moved. If I’m still there I will still be doing the things I always do. Going to parties having fun.
Teenagers my age or just starting to be influence by other people. I already know what their thinking. People the same thing as me the same things I’m doing the same things how they live. I already know I been there I done that and this. We all have the same type of thinking.
Hi Ivy,
I do remember how it was to be a teenager, and I did listen to my peers more than my parents. But we have to remember that our parents were teenagers, too, and did the things we did (although they keep insisting their time was not as wild as ours).
And one day you will find that you are my age and shaking your head at the dangerous situations the teens find themselves in. I guess we all have to go through this cycle of life. But adults, especially those who own bars, and of course the teenagers’ parents, HAVE THE DUTY TO PROTECT THEM, and not be the ones who put them in danger by acting irresponsibly.
How funny that we all seek peace in our lives, and most of us find it sooner or later. Better to find it sooner.
And for all teenagers out there — you do not know how it is to “party” yet (as I found out too). The feeling of partying WITH YOUR OWN MONEY, MONEY YOU WORKED FOR AND EARNED is so much better, so study, get a job, then party! By that time it is hoped that you will have enough wisdom to have fun without putting yourself in danger.
Partying with your parents’ money is kinda lame. Believe me.
We don’t party with our parents money. For my friends and I we earn our money to party. our allowance that are parents give us. Even though our parents gave it to us its still our. They gave it. W also have our own way to get our own money. It’s not just our parents. How will else will be depend on giving our money? We can’t still it! Probably our just jealous because a lot of people rather go to Nevada Squire than your bar that you own out side Nevada. You did went to teen years believe me even though how good the kid you would see or how top he/she is in the class. They could easily get influence. If your teen years is the same year us me and ever young teens you will get what I mean. Some teens has a strong influence with other people. Even fraternity has a strong in pact with other police mans and people that has power.
I have a question for you. This thing that you are doing is what for, your site, your blog? What are this for?
Hi Ivy,
“For my friends and I we earn our money to party. our allowance that are (sic) parents give us.”
It’s still your parents’ money, even if they gave you some of it. THEY earned it, not you.
“Even fraternity has a strong in pact (sic) with other police mans (sic) and people that has (sic) power.”
The so-called “fraternities” in Baguio give honest-to-goodness fraternities a bad name. The ones here are mere gangs of young hoodlums, recruiting minors as young as those who are still in elementary levels. In fact, they have not even come up with original names, choosing instead to mimic American street gangs like Bloods and Crips. At last the city has started asking them to behave. These young thugs should have been put in their place from the very beginning and been given lessons to learn whenever they exhibited criminal behavior.
That some of these hoodlum-members are sons of policemen gives them that “connection” and that cheekiness (read “kapal ng mukha”). Don’t tell me that this is right, or this is the way a civilized society should behave.
I ask you now, is this how you want life to be, for folks to be able to commit illegal acts because they are “protected?” Is it fun to be tough? Is it nice to have a boyfriend who has scars on his face, whose claim to fame is how he did not die in a fight? In the end, what is this all for? Mere fun? You think your parents raised you to be in constant danger? You think they are investing their life’s work in you so you can drink and dance and be merry?
“Probably our (sic) just jealous because a lot of people rather go to Nevada Squire (sic) than your bar that you own out side (sic) Nevada.”
Hahaha, after Nevada, I set up a hotel, dearest, not a bar. And I am NEVER jealous of anyone’s success. I openly admire folks who come up with brilliant ideas and love social entrepreneurs but cannot stand those who earn through illegal, immoral and irresponsible means.
Finally, in response to your follow up comment: I blog for many reasons — read the other posts. You’ll get the idea. One of the benefits of blogging is to be able to reach someone like you.
For YOU to have a voice.