Baguio, Bars & Booze

Written by lisa on May 29th, 2007 | Filed under: baguio, food & beverage

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.

Red Box circa 2005

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 Iâ€™m groovy but no spring chicken anymore) would â€œloadâ€ 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 â€œregularsâ€ 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, thatâ€™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 â€œnigger-wannabeâ€ kids (whose gangs are called Krips 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 theyâ€™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 cafÃ© to my right because when the kids on the street were posturing and getting ready for a brawl, they actually shouted â€œUpakan na!â€ And like mindless idiots the kids started hitting each other.

Photo Taken in 2003

Then there was Nevada Square where I located my restaurant from 2000-2005 and a pretty neat cafÃ© and museum shop that played cool oldies music had coffee, pasta, furniture and artwork for sale . First we were all restaurants and cafes. But thereâ€™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 cafÃ© and started blaring out such loud music that it ruined the dining experience for my patrons, I had to close it down.

And Nevada Square was just as bad, if not worse. All the Legarda Road troublemakers just transferred to there. Since thereâ€™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 thereâ€™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, â€œto a place where no bars could set up beside meâ€ 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 Yaranonâ€™s AO 114, I said, â€œthen just move the fights that you so love and promote much earlier to render the same ineffective!â€

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.

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About the Photos on this Post:

I have included here file photos of establishments that no longer exist so that no one would feel alluded to by this post.

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16 Responses to “Baguio, Bars & Booze”

lei, on May 29th, 2007 at 8:21 am Said:

ahh kidstuff as my friends would call it. okay, thank you bautista for finally realizing this after 1 million years.
lisa, on May 29th, 2007 at 5:21 pm Said:

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!
lei, on May 29th, 2007 at 7:30 pm Said:

but im not a UP kid. i’m louisian eh, hehe..

kubi and maika are though.
lei, on May 29th, 2007 at 7:34 pm Said:

hi lisa, sorry this is out of topic. but can i get your email address? i just wanted to ask you something. thanks!
joe, on May 29th, 2007 at 10:11 pm Said:

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.
igorota, on May 31st, 2007 at 12:55 pm Said:

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.
igorota, on May 31st, 2007 at 1:11 pm Said:

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.
lisa, on May 31st, 2007 at 1:39 pm Said:

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.
watson, on May 31st, 2007 at 5:26 pm Said:

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.
lisa, on May 31st, 2007 at 5:59 pm Said:

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.
frank, on June 30th, 2007 at 5:48 am Said:

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.
mike L., on August 12th, 2007 at 6:02 pm Said:

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.
Ray, on August 13th, 2007 at 8:55 pm Said:

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
O. B., on August 27th, 2007 at 9:20 pm Said:

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.
lisa, on August 28th, 2007 at 2:47 am Said:

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.
Katrina, on September 10th, 2007 at 11:32 am Said:

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.