IJ Case 11: Palawan II

this was actually my 2nd time in Palawan II, Yale St. Cubao. The first time didnt make much impression because there was an amateur dance contest then. i went back with friends to watch the weekend show.

if you've been around like me, you would have visited the many gay bars in the city to watch the macho dancing and other sexual acts on show. those places looked the same to me: located in old buildings (recto, caloocan, pasay) with low ceilings and dreadful interiors. the make-shift stage was tiny. the toilets were smelly holes with cockroaches running about. but you endure that to watch the performances. which after the initial shock were actually boring and not even arousing.

palawan 2 reminds me of those bars, albeit much larger. but the crowd didnt seem to mind. it was fully packed. the show was just too long, the lip-synch performers were not beautiful nor talented. it was running more on slapstick humor. and they were taking forever to introduce the cast members. and for the first time, i saw the cast going around to get tips from the audience. but there were some points that made me smile: the best actress category dramatization, for one. the show ended around 2am.

i would go back to palawan 2 for the crowd. =) there were no A-listers. more of good B's and C's. 20's to 30's. and contrary to public perception, people were not always in shorts and fllipflops. so there were interesting new faces and nice bods out there. and surprisingly, some of these kids are very aggressive.

during the dancing, it was also refreshing to see almost everyone standing up and dancing to the music. walang masyadong maaarte like bed. and this is a place where you could actually be quite aggressive and just come up to the guy you like. again, not too many posturings so typical of those feeling-gorgeous PLU's in malate. actually a lot of them were there, too.

so this is not included in the must-visit category. more appropriate in the 'if curious' list.