Filipino musings
- Thread starter jay helfert
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Muhahahahahaha! Good one... ( ^__^)
Linds who is known to build topnotch cues and billiard tables also build barbox tables, here's one waiting for delivery(to be assembled at the customer's place
)
hey Jay....
If ur ever down in Calamba, Laguna, take pics of the Calamba Pool Zone room where Alcano and I play so people here at home can see the conditions of the areas we play at. If Jay can get a pic you guys are gonna trip, one of the tables is on a slope so playing at one end you are gonna have to alter your stance to say the least....
If ur ever down in Calamba, Laguna, take pics of the Calamba Pool Zone room where Alcano and I play so people here at home can see the conditions of the areas we play at. If Jay can get a pic you guys are gonna trip, one of the tables is on a slope so playing at one end you are gonna have to alter your stance to say the least....
First of all, I have yet to see a bar table in the Philippines, after fourteen trips. Second, the tables in most of the little pool rooms are universally awful, by our standards. Some are called "Hollywood" tables and others are unknown local brands. Typically sporting worn and loose cloth, old mismatched balls, crooked cues and roll offs everywhere. Don't ask me why, but I love it just like that. What a challenge it is just to make a ball, and when I whistle in a bank it's like they've never seen such a shot. I can tell you this, when you hit a bank at warp speed it doesn't roll off! :wink:
I have readjusted to playing Rotation, a game I learned as a youth. It is the most creative rotation game with so many options available. I probably play a little differently than most filipinos, once I figured out that 75 (of the 121) points are on balls ten thru fifteen. I don't worry about making the low numbered balls, preferring instead to ride the high balls and try to luck one in. I rarely attempt (unless they're laying good) to run the balls, until I get to the seven or eight ball. Again, this is a different style than most filipinos play the game (they prefer to run balls whenever they can), but I have beaten some pretty fair players playing this way. By the way, I have just about given up trying to get guys to play Banks or One Pocket. It just isn't going to happen in these little poolrooms. You're wasting your breath, although you can occasionally get an Eight Ball game. I prefer Rotation.
I doubt that this strategy (for playing Rotation) would work with the top players. In fact I know it wouldn't, but I'm not playing these guys. I'm always playing locals, some of whom play a decent game, but they aren't clones of Efren. That's for sure. One more observation that I'll make, now that I've played pretty extensively in the Philippines. There are far more good players in the good old USA. Far more! But at the top echelon there are more great players in the Philippines than we have. All the top players eventually find their way to Manila, where big games and a chance at big money await them. The Philippines may boost of 25-50 players who play as good or better than anyone we have, including Mr. Van Boening, Archer and Morris.
Once again, I have seen 17 and 18 year old kids who could easily win on the Regional tours over here. Most of them will never see these shores. And I've run into old hustlers who would play havoc with our senior citizens.
P.S. I don't lug a cue around anymore, I've reverted to playing 60's style, using house cues only. I carry only two weapons to defend myself. A small piece of Scotch-Brite to smooth the shaft and a nice little tip tool (preferably a Brad scuffer) to work the tip. It all reminds me of how things used to be in the USA, when I was a young gun. Like I said, I love the challenge and I'm rarely betting more than $10-20 a game. More often only $2-5. It's fun, it's inexpensive and I get to make new friends, just like I did all those years ago. I am one weird American in the Philippines and I know that. There are hotels and bars where foreigners (mostly Aussies) hang out and play (only Eight Ball), but I avoid those places. Not much fun and they take the heat if you win three games in a row. And they won't bet ten cents either, and are insulted if I bring it up. Meanwhile almost universally the filipinos like to make a bet on the game. My kind of crowd.
I have readjusted to playing Rotation, a game I learned as a youth. It is the most creative rotation game with so many options available. I probably play a little differently than most filipinos, once I figured out that 75 (of the 121) points are on balls ten thru fifteen. I don't worry about making the low numbered balls, preferring instead to ride the high balls and try to luck one in. I rarely attempt (unless they're laying good) to run the balls, until I get to the seven or eight ball. Again, this is a different style than most filipinos play the game (they prefer to run balls whenever they can), but I have beaten some pretty fair players playing this way. By the way, I have just about given up trying to get guys to play Banks or One Pocket. It just isn't going to happen in these little poolrooms. You're wasting your breath, although you can occasionally get an Eight Ball game. I prefer Rotation.
I doubt that this strategy (for playing Rotation) would work with the top players. In fact I know it wouldn't, but I'm not playing these guys. I'm always playing locals, some of whom play a decent game, but they aren't clones of Efren. That's for sure. One more observation that I'll make, now that I've played pretty extensively in the Philippines. There are far more good players in the good old USA. Far more! But at the top echelon there are more great players in the Philippines than we have. All the top players eventually find their way to Manila, where big games and a chance at big money await them. The Philippines may boost of 25-50 players who play as good or better than anyone we have, including Mr. Van Boening, Archer and Morris.
Once again, I have seen 17 and 18 year old kids who could easily win on the Regional tours over here. Most of them will never see these shores. And I've run into old hustlers who would play havoc with our senior citizens.
P.S. I don't lug a cue around anymore, I've reverted to playing 60's style, using house cues only. I carry only two weapons to defend myself. A small piece of Scotch-Brite to smooth the shaft and a nice little tip tool (preferably a Brad scuffer) to work the tip. It all reminds me of how things used to be in the USA, when I was a young gun. Like I said, I love the challenge and I'm rarely betting more than $10-20 a game. More often only $2-5. It's fun, it's inexpensive and I get to make new friends, just like I did all those years ago. I am one weird American in the Philippines and I know that. There are hotels and bars where foreigners (mostly Aussies) hang out and play (only Eight Ball), but I avoid those places. Not much fun and they take the heat if you win three games in a row. And they won't bet ten cents either, and are insulted if I bring it up. Meanwhile almost universally the filipinos like to make a bet on the game. My kind of crowd.
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Back in the USA! (sung to the tune of "Back in the USSR boy, Oh so happy we are boy, back in the USSR!")
I always feel good when those wheels hit the ground in L.A. And I always feel excited when I land in Manila, my second home.
I was in the PI in the late 60's. I spent a few days in Manila and didn't experience any issues there but in the town next to where I was stationed, Olongapo, the Philippine Constabulary would come into town and have shootouts with the town police. I went to a bar one night to see my current girlfriend and the PC were there shaking it down. I had some conversation with the one standing guard at the door and he pointed his rifle at my chest.
Another time I and about eight other guys were sitting around in someones "apartment" smoking and a guy came in with a rusty .38 and took all our money. He was wearing a police uniform shirt and Levi's. He was obviously not really Olongapo PD but I had leaned over just a little and could see there actually were bullets in the cylinders.
I got stuck out late after curfew once (midnight) and had to go off-limits to avoid the Shore Patrol. Those back streets had a naked electric bulb hanging off a pole about every three hundred feet and about 8 - 9 guys started following me. The next time I got under a light I showed my butterfly knife and they stayed back. I thought I had bought it that time.
I didn't witness or confirm this but I heard that a guy in my division was in town and a five year old kid snatched his watch (don't wear a Speidel watchband). There was an Olongapo PD nearby and he hollered that the kid had his watch. The PD shot the kid right between the shoulder blades, walked over, got the watch, and handed it back to him.
Maybe it's a lot different now. : )
I'm a filipino, lived here in manila for the past 38 years. Jay is so accurate in his description of life here in the PI. The Philippines is fast becoming a place for foreign retirees due to relatively lower cost of living. So many beautiful places to live. So many places still undiscovered. Life is simple and sober, but never lonely. People are generally friendly here than in other parts of the world because after all this is the only CHRISTIAN nation in ASIA. But due to poverty some people here resorted to crime and prostitution( a very unCHRISTIAN like behavior). Many government officials are corrupt and greedy. And that is the root of all the problems here! For all those who want to visit the PI or maybe live here, just don't get all crazy here and you will find your joy. Heck, you can even go to mass on Sundays and become a Christian yourself (best thing that can probably happen to anyone).:wink:
It's so true, but you'll probably never hear the local patrons complain about it either, even if they can't kick a good safety because five out of six rails are dead, or slow-roll one home because the table's not level. I sort of admire that.
Let's see, late 60's, 2000's. Hmmm, only forty years apart. I remember Las Vegas in the 60's and Newport, Kentucky and Bossier City, Louisiana. All potentially very dangerous places back then. I still feel that most large cities in the US are more dangerous today than almost anywhere in the Philippines. The only place I've been warned about in the Philippines is the Southernmost island where there are terrorist armies controlling certain areas. I don't know about you, but if I'm warned to avoid a certain area, I don't go there.
Linds who is known to build topnotch cues and billiard tables also build barbox tables, here's one waiting for delivery(to be assembled at the customer's place
Thanks for the picture. Is that the only brand of bar box over there? Johnnyt