Mango's Beach Bar

The Bugle has previously offered both service organizations and businesses space to promote their functions. Just provide us with the information about  programs, openings or in this case re-openings. Mango's took us up on the offer. Beach bar  hours are 2 PM to 10PM beginning Friday the 29th of November.

Baretto's Deli

The Bugle was feeling a bit hungry the other afternoon and decided to get out of his usual rut of beer joints and try a bite at the Baretto's Deli that opened not too long ago,  For those of you who haven't been inside yet it is located right next door to the Route 69 club on the National Highway.  The Bugle was impressed it was a newly decorated really clean establishment.  The prices might seem a bit on the high side at first but when you take a close look into the quality of the food that is being served and the size of the portions it actually is a fair price.  The burger menu was huge you have a choice between half pound and full pound burgers with all the trimmings and different styles to boot.   The Bugle decided on an Italian style sandwich on Panini bread.   While the Panini wasn't grilled/toasted the sandwich was quite good. No skimping with the lettuce here, there was at least a 1/2 inch of lettuce on the sandwich with some real nice tomato slices also.  The meats were all fresh and plenty of them.  Old Mr. Bugle was quite sated after leaving this fine establishment.

Famous Filipinos

It seems that at least one of our readers took umbrage on some recent comments to the educational system here in the PI.


Filipino, Eduardo San Juan is considered the primary designer of the Lunar Rover. It was first used during the 1971 Apollo 12 landing on the Moon. The Filipino Doctor that discovered the antibiotic Erythromycin was Dr. Abelardo Aguilar. Filipino, Roberto del Rosario is the president of the Treble Music Corporation and the inventor of the Karaoke Sing Along System in 1975. There are more, look them up yourself.

Just a quick not the for all of us,  let's stay off the name calling.  The Bugle edited out that portion of the post

Flood Control

While the Bugle realizes that there is a lot of suffering taking place right now in the Philippines as a result of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and doesn't want to belittle that fact.  The Bugle does wish to note that this is a local blog and as such he is wondering if any of our readers have noted any flood control initiatives being taken up here in our local area or if maybe anyone has heard a rumor of anything in the planning stages.  There was at one point a discussion of having an international company come in and dredge some of the local rivers but the Bugle hasn't noticed anything yet.  Maybe some of our local readers that are involved in the local government can clue our readership in as to what is going on.

Freeport Rumors

While the following post came in as a reply to a successful Octoberfest.  We at the Bugle feels that it deserves its own title as it had nothing to do with Octoberfest at all.


According to rumors, the Subic Bay Freeport Exchange is going out of business. They are unable to renew their lease and they are obviously downsizing and trying to sell all their remaining stock. Many of their food products are leftover and stale. I would be very careful in buying any of their remaining items. They are already far more expensive than what you can buy in town. The Subic Bay Royal Exchange is cutting back also and many of their products are stale. They have significantly reduced the variety of the imported items. How can it be Duty Free when most of their items are local not imported? Disinformation seems to be the unspoken rule at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Readers Rant on "School Teachers Take Bribes"

What a joke Bugle, the absolute best university in the Philippines typically comes in at around 400 in world rankings. That university happens to be the public school, UP Diliman. Many of the private universities are essentially "kanto boy" clubs. Out of a country of almost 100 million people, how many world-renown scientists, doctors, engineers or astronauts can you name that are Philippine citizens. Space cadets and Abu Sayyaf brain surgeons don't count. Corruption robs the Filipino people of the education that they deserve. As has been said before, the enemy of the Filipino is the Filipino.

In any other country, corruption is a crime. In the Philippines, people rarely are tried and convicted. As a result, it's one of the most dishonest and corrupt countries in the world. Disgraceful, especially with so many Filipinos claiming to be Catholic or Iglesia or Muslim. The Catholic schools and clergy are corrupt too. I had this same problem with bribing teachers in the so-called best Catholic school in the province. And our priest is married with mistresses and has at least 3 children. He also has 2 brand new SUV's and private houses. Where does he get the money? Corruption is totally out of control here! 

So Who Ya Gonna Call?? DTI of Course

Our readers seem to have had a plethora of problems at McDonalds and some have passed on some very useful information.  Kudos to our readers.  On McDonalds McProblems


This is so true. Their drinks keep getting smaller and smaller. You order a large drink and the receipt shows 16oz but the cup is only 12oz. I was also surprised about their so called VIP Drive through Promo. I got one of their stickers and the next day they said the promo didn't apply to breakfast. This is another SBMA sponsored dishonest business. You can also complain at the DTI(Department of Trade and Industry) office here in Olongapo. Anytime you have a complaint with a business just go to the office, fill out a form and they will assign a DTI investigator. If the business is found to be violating the law, their license will be suspended or revoked. This office is excellent and fair! Leonila T Baluyut Provincial Director 2F Palm Crest Bldg 765 Rizal Ave West Tapinac Olongapo City (047) 222-0624 0917-500-6101

They also tried to charge me 15p for milk in my coffee. Not every one drinks the chemicals in Whitener. I can get a Litre of UHT Milk for 68 Peso, tant would be 34 shots of milk. A geat mark up if they can get it. So they lept the coffee that was made and poured, And my breakfast tooo. Thats the only way drive off and make your complaint polite. The young staff are only doing what they are instructed to do. Blame lies with MacDonalds for selling the Franchise to a Philippine Company. PS have you seen the size of the Little Macs now. 

Were the Americans Even Asked to Help? Our Loyal Readers Share their Thoughts

Bugle that photo looked a TAD OLD maybe the men in their suits and ties were not in Ayala because it wasnt there when that picture was taken. But I understand the premis of the debate. Perhaps the US would be more inclined to help if they hadnt been continually ripped by the Philippine Government, If they had the man power HERE. If they had been asked????? Lets face it America has its own problems they cant be worried about what we think is a clamity , what they probably would consider as a minor local problem, Consider the Colorado Floods this year, that makes Olongapo floods look like a burst water pipe did the Philippines offer any support even vocal would have been nice. Gimme Gimme Gimme.

Hey Bugle: The U.S. military has a proven track record for more than a century of helping the Philippines in disasters. Rest assured, that if the Philippines asked for it, the U.S. would have provided it if they could... in conjunction with Philippine forces. What was obvious in this situation was that Philippine leadership was no where to be found! Even you Bugle haven't come up with an answer or excuse for the absence of the mayor during the always disaster filled typhoon season. I hear the SBMA chairman was also out of town, as he often seems to be. The Philippine military, Coast Guard, Red Cross and police should be first responders. Where were they? This is not unusual in the Philippines, where disaster response is typically minimal at best. Finally, remember there is no SOFA... because the Philippines doesn't want one! What a selective memory most people have here in the Philippines. There is only a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which provides a very limited legal framework for these forces.

So Where Mas the Mayor? Our readers Share some Insight

the mayor in america?why is everybody so shocked?it seems to be a right of passage that when elected,a visit to the u.s. is mandatory.you've got to know where to send the billions when your windfall happens and get a good feel for the local housing market for your retirement home(based on your dual nationality). if i want to transfer money anyplace and i have to jump through hoops,but if the money is transferred "legit",then no problem that it's blood money sucked from the decent tax payer "isn't my problem"attitude seems to prevails.

All AID should cease to these corrupt Countries until they sort out their affairs bringing their country into the 21st Century. Now there is The DAP SCAM to follow on from the PORK BARRELL SCAM. What about the GORDON FAMILY SCAMS. EXTRADITE THE GORDONS , JAIL THE POLITICIANS. Then we talk again about AID. The New Mayor may have been away on business I will give him the benifit of the doubt. But NO AID except humanitarian AID should go to the Philippines and then only with VERIFICATION WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND until they rid themselves of these corrupt politicians and people wind up in JAIL. NO MORE AID should be the western worlds mantra. By the way isnt the Philippines the new ASIAN TIGER An economy in SURPLUS!!!!!!!!!!

Readers Comment on Who's Begging Who

Foreign aid is assistance given by one country to another because it needs help. The Philippines is given aid because it asks for it. The SCTEX for example was built with Japanese assistance. In fact, very little is built in the Philippines without foreign assistance. Much of this aid and assistance goes into corrupt pockets. I'm wondering if you aren't personally connected to the corruption. This would explain your unusual zeal to propagandize and defend such a corrupt country. 

Hey Bugle, the last sentence of your comment says a lot about you. You don't have a clue! You use a local Filipino propaganda article as proof of what you say? Get real! Nobody believes anything you say about a country as corrupt, fake and insignificant as the Philippines. You're not even a good critic of burgers or local imitations of restaurants. Thank God your bugle sound doesn't even work anymore. Inflate your ego, go fill a pothole for SBMA..

suggest you check the books of the IMF.when was the money handed over?when was the loan repaid?when was the interest paid and how much was it?you may note that the 1 billion dollar loan was reported by a person enjoying a highly paid job and i suggest you don't always believe what you read.a tad dangerous! 

BEGGING perhaps is the wrong term. I note every time The President returns from overseas he sprukes about his success with obtaining GRANTS. It seems to be a point of success????? Perhaps any budget announcment should be tempered with offsets of AID recieved that doesnt have to be paid back. I know the Australians a nation of 21 million are giving A$143 million in AID this calender year that doesnt have to be repaid. Its good to see the Philippines becoming a Good World Citizen BUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Philippines has a surplus these days and have paid back the world bank why not repay some of the money given over the years. Dont quote CHINA too loudly the reason China wanted all their money back was the project that it was borrowed for was never built the Nth Luzon Rail. The temirity they wanted there money back I bet that caused palputations in Malacanyang.

Puzzles Cafe

One of the great things about the Angeles City area is the diversity and quality of the restaurants. We will be highlighting a few of them in the future. Recently we stumbled over a really good one. It is called Puzzles and sits almost next door to the Phoenix hotel on Perimeter road. On advice from a local we stopped one Sunday morning for breakfast.  They have only fourteen tables but there was a brief wait to get one. This place is cute, friendly and clean. It could be located in any first world country and compete with other eateries. Prices were a genuine surprise. The seafood omelet was huge and loaded with shrimp, crab and cheese.  Madaming masarap and cost only P185!  Blueberry pancakes at P120. A gigantic breakfast burrito was P160. For light eaters two eggs, toast and potatoes or grits was P75.  Puzzles was a magic sunny, Sunday morning surprise.

Some of our readers seem to know Where the Rebar is?

And where pray tell do you see REBAR in roads in the Philippines. I watched to my disgust all the work in Olongapo when they rebuilt the National Hwy.Not one bit of rebar. Rebar may have had to been to be supplied in Scope of Works. But is it any surprise it wasnt in the finished product, If as we understand NOW how the Pork Barrell works 45% of the budgets get syphoned off to politicians why would you expect this to be any different the Japanese were made to use Filippina Contractors , how did they get the contract except by bribing politicians This is the same road that collapsed between Dinapulipian and Tipo within one month of the opening funny thing exactly the same thing happened, the road sagged either side of the bridge even today you can feel the jump where the road collapsed.

IVE NEVER SEEN REBAR IN ASHPHALT/ TAR The main bridge will have rebar because it was concrete, the road will not unless it is cement as well, did the road base and tar road wash away first then the concrete?? just like the bridge in Dinalupian right after the tollway was finished.

Isn't that road made from Asphalt? You don't put rebars in asphalt. The problem seems to be lack of proper road bed (compacting, etc.), causing the road bed to erode and wash away. 

Is this a concrete road??????????? with tar on top of it. If just an ashphalt road they dont use rebar, little point as the ashphalt is flexible. The bridge is concrete and has to have rebar for the flexilbilty/strength Ive seen rebar in roads up in Ilsa Norte over one inch bar but this was a concrete road. Olongapo City, concrete roads NO REBAR what do you expect though from the family that has run away to the States who we hope will only return to face Plunder Charges.

McDonalds McProblems

The 24 hr McDo at Subic Bay Freeport has many, many complaints. Specifically, they are charging for 16 oz drinks but giving only 12 oz cups. How dishonest is that. They are also not abiding by the rules of their VIP Drive Thru program. They are refusing to upgrade in accordance with the program. We have also received food that has been uncooked. There is also a large pothole at the end of their drive through which they do not fill. You can submit complaints at the McDonalds Customer Care Hotline at 02-863-5490. The management at the Freeport Gateway 24hr McDo is unresponsive and worthless. This is a very dishonest McDo! 

READERS WRITE IN ON PI HATERS

One only needs to look at a Philippine jeepney to get a feel for the place, often described internationally as the "Sick Man of Asia" and recently the "Gates to Hell." The self proclaimed "King of the Road" is a garish, rude, overbearing, noisy, vulgar, smoke belching yet comical fake, driven by an undisciplined, ignorant road hog. Although Filipinos repeatedly like to compare it to a WWII jeep, as they always love to compare themselves to America, when you scratch beneath the surface of the circus like multi-colored exterior you find nothing but pure imitation. F. Sionil Jose, a notable Filipino author, even characterizes his own people in his award winning book titled "The Pretenders." Despite questionable recent ratings, there continues to be a massive exodus of desperate Filipinos fleeing from it's shores searching for a way to survive. Remittences by those refugees back to the Philippines to support their more unfortunate relatives left behind is the only thing propping up the on More Bad News for the Philippines' Haters

TOTAL BS on so called improved PHILS credit rating. Turns out the numbers have been manipulated re the so called "surplus" which segued into the pork barrel-- which as you should know by now-- has all apparently been stolen....political chaos on the horizon in PHILS....it goes all the way to the top....dream on, Bugler...ask any Filipino where they would rather live, in the toilet of the Philippines or in the US... on More Bad News for the Philippines' Haters

What makes the Bugle curious is where all this hate is coming from?  If you live here there obviously has to be a reason for that.  I mean if you didn't want to live here and you have an option to move/change your life why wouldn't you do that instead of continually banging your head on a wall.

Readers response

For your information the US Military was assisting with evacuation efforts and rescuing people in Olongapo using men and equipment. Conspicuously absent were the Filipino politicians and their emergency response teams. Red cross (Dick Gordon) and his body guards showed up for a photo op but left quickly in his fleet of SUV's. Exactly what did you expect the military to do? Fix the broken infrastructure that contributed to the floods? Where were the evacuation centers? Where could someone get clean water and a bowl of rice? The entire situation is a national disgrace. on Where Was the US Military?

Successful Oktoberfest

We took this picture early Sunday morning before the area got going. It followed very busy and fun Friday and Saturday nights. Sitting behind Trader Ric's the beach location was prime. This event was organized. It had a perimeter security fence that was un-breached by vendors. No one hassled you to buy Viagra, ice cream, shells, necklaces or DVD's. Pizza, tacos, chicken, pork-on-a-stick were all available and fairly priced. All beer was P40. There were raffles, beer and hot dog eating contests, trivia competitions and kids games. Live music from the stage was non-stop.Proceeds went to a dental outreach program. Congrats to the people who worked on this. and thanks to San Miguel Corporation for the stage, tables and tents.

Catwalk Anniversary.

A couple weeks back Catwalk celebrated an anniversary with a packed house. Entertainment was non-stop by the girls. Drinks were very fair. Chicken and potato salad were given to all customers. It was an exceptional two hours. Danny and his staff are to be congratulated.

Obamacare & US Expats

The Bugle has been wondering how the Affordable Health Care Act would affect Americans living overseas.

This is from the ACA website, in plainer English than the Department of Labor stuff:

www.healthcare.gov/am-i-eligible-for-coverage-in-the-marketplace/

 U.S. citizens living outside the U.S.

U.S. citizens living in a foreign country are not required to get health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. If you're uninsured and living abroad, you don't have to pay the fee that other uninsured U.S. citizens may have to pay.

Generally, health insurance coverage in the Marketplace covers health care provided by doctors, hospitals, and medical services within the United States. If you're living abroad, it's important to know this before you consider buying Marketplace insurance.

Questions? Call 1-800-318-2596, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (TTY: 1-855-889-4325)