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yobagua said:
Jay, the nite before you left, you Greg Sullivan and I had a chat. We talked a lot about helping some guys out but you never mentioned your own dilemma. I wish you had. We have a mutual friend who is touring with Manny Pacquiao. Danny P.
They are good friends.
Manny has left for Manila after his fight in Texas. Danny will be there soon. He also has a young child in Cebu. If you like I can get Danny to get in touch with you. Maybe his relationship with Manny can help facilitate things faster for you. Let me know.
Keone
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Thanks Keone, friends with influence can make all the difference over here. Please give Danny my e-mail address.

Yes, it is hot here but not as bad as Las Vegas in Summer. The traffic situation is like being in one continuous race with everyone vying for position at all times. It seems like there should be an accident every other minute but somehow at the last moment they avoid a collision. If there were "road rage" over here they would all kill each other.

Today we filled out the long application for Jalo's passport and make an appt. at the Embassy for Monday. I have my fingers crossed now. Then I returned to the little two table room on Arnaiz. I brought my Brad scuffer and some scotch brite. Handy tools to have. I borrowed the same cue again but this time I worked the tip, so I could use english and not have to worry about a miscue. I smoothed the shaft with the scotch brite so it was now easy to stroke the cue.

Best of all Randy had the day off, so I took on the other top players there, one after another. None of them play Randy's speed but they still are okay players. Like good amateurs in the USA. I started out playing Rotation with the first two guys but I had a new plan. The move in this game if you don't have a good shot is to try and get action on as many balls as possible, and try to luck something in. This strategy works for me and I begin winning one game after another. I am not betting anything but playing free pool. Loser pays for the rack here. I win maybe ten out of eleven games with the first guy and now a new player comes in. I am getting in a nice stroke and have the feel of the table, something I couldn't do yesterday. Funny how when you are not shooting it's hard to get loose. Today I'm loose and making balls. I can see the banks and the pockets look big. Every time I fire one in they oooh and aaah. Too cool for school!

Second guy same thing. We play maybe fourteen of fifteen games and he wins two. Now it is the houseman who wants to play. He has been talking to me all day. "How old are you? How long have you been playing pool?" Stuff like that. Now he asks me if I know Ten Ball. Sure I say so he racks up nine balls. Ha Ha. 9-Ball seems easy after a couple of hours of Rotation. This ain't no Diamond either and I'm running out pretty good. I beat him so many games I lost count. All I know is that after three plus hours of play, I have lost four games total. I owe the house 40p. Bunny comes with Jalo and she wants to go for a walk using our new little bike trike I bought for Jalo. The little darling loves riding in that thing. Much more fun than a stroller for sure.

We go to Mall Of Asia. It's HUGE, bigger than any mall in America and crowded too. A lot of upscale stores as well, so there are some people who have money in Manila. We walk for an hour or so and stop at the food court. I tell Bunny I'm exhausted so thankfully we head back to my hotel/apartment after we eat. It's only 8:30 but I crash. I wake up several times at night to feed my baby girl. I feel the same as I did 30+ years ago when my first daughter was a baby. I love looking at Jalo, even when she is asleep.
 
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cuesmith said:
I don't know if you know Linds. He's cuemaker and pool table manufacturer and IIRC he's in Cubao. He's also a regular on AZ Billiards. He was a very close friend to Sir Edwin Reyes. He's also a great guy who loves the sport and the players. If you get a chance to look him up, it would be to your advantage. He knows the PI pool scene better than anyone I know and would probably be happy to steer you. He's been a great friend to me for several years.

Hope all goes well and of course if theres anything you need, let me know. I do have a good friend who's a judge in Cebu if you need any legal help.

Sherm
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never meet him (jay) personally but been a fan/reader of his post here in AZ...had even confused him to another poster (via PM) :wink:
im happy for him... being a frequent visitor that regularly updates PI pool scene to the world.


sir jay, my wife is from that area too (arnaiz st/formerly libertad st. in pasay city) quite congested due to the public market/jeepney-bus terminals... who knows, we might bump one another threre?
 
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I like reading Jays stories of the PI, I played in Mexico in alot of pool rooms for small $$$, maybe the most ever was $10USD, I could tell the guy was stressed. I let him win. Usually I would buy everyone beers including me and play just good enough to win. The equipment was so bad most places that it was a cointoss who was going to win. I did run into better players but never lost more than $10USD. Gosh thats been along time ago it was from 85-91 many trips to South of the boarder.

Jay's stroies reminded me of that, its such a relaxed life. thats what I need to get back to before I die from heart problems.

thanks for the stories Jay and helping me remember mine. man its funny how you lose something in your brain and then something else wakes it up.

be safe over there-especially at the airport comming home. I will be in LA about the time you get back.

best

Fatboy
 
Took the weekend off for some more pool and poker. I do have a fila phone by the way. Interesting I can call the USA from here. No monthly programs here, you just buy "loads." Most everyone texts over here, the load lasts much longer this way. Talking is too expensive.

On Saturday I am on a small side street and we spot a one table room. But first a description of traffic on the side streets. Everyone walks the street with seeming impunity. They barely flinch as cars and motor trikes speed by. This is true even on the main streets. It is as if they assume the drivers will stop or veer to avoid hitting them. Somehow no one gets hit, at least not too often anyway. Even Bunny carries Jalo down the street defying traffic. I constantly move her over to the side. I know I cannot change this culture. Even small children wander on the street like it is a sidewalk. They wait for a car to honk their horn before moving slightly to the side. Weird huh!

In the small room I quickly get a game with the houseman. Rotation naturally. We play many games and I win most of them. A young man comes in and takes over. He is a good young player. He wins more games than me. He plays good on this triple bum table. It is an older Kangeroo model, similar in appearance to the old Gandy Big G's. But this table wouldn't fly in the USA, no one would play on it. It's that bad! Loose, saggy cloth, a pronounced roll to one side and inconsistent rails. For those who are unhappy with less than stellar conditions I would suggest pool in the Philippines is not for you.

But for an old horse like me, I am glad to be playing and have a good game to play. Pool remains a challenge for me after all these years. It is a test of your mental and physical abilities. Good for your mind and body. Why do you think you see pool tables in nearly every Senior citizen center?

I finally quit the youngster and tell him I think there is one game he cannot beat me at. He's interested, so I explain Bank Pool to him. We rack up nine balls and I let him break. He makes a ball and naturally wants to shoot at the one ball. I tell him he can shoot any ball so he does and soon it is three to minus one his favor. Will I lose at Banks too? I run a three and the small crowd applauds me. They think it is now 3-3, but I spot a ball and tell the youngster he is still ahead 3-2. I end up winning this game 5-3. I can save face a little.

Bunny, Jalo and I go to the jeepney stop to catch the jeepney to my hotel. It is near the first poolroom on Arnaiz where I have played twice. The man selling tickets says to me "Any Billar today?" He had seen me play before. Another man chimes in, "Who do you play now?" I tell them no more pool today, I am with my family. When we get on the jeepney the guy taking the tokens looks at me and says only "Billar." I am a known player in Pasay City. Cool!

On Saturday night I play poker at the Heritage Hotel. A fairly big game, 10,000p buy-in (about $225). I play for hours and win 9,000p. My first score this trip. I picked up today's paper and see a big story about Busta winning the Japan Open. He wins about $15,000 for first, beating Efren in the finals. After all these years, they are still two of the best! Paquiao returned yesterday to a huge parade and celebration. He is on the front page posing with the President, a national hero. I will go to One Side tonight, they may all be there. That is their hang out in Manila. Mine too.

I have a feeling this week I will be going to the Embassy every day.
 
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I went to the U.S. Embassy today at 7 AM. My third trip there. Only a one hour wait this time. It is a cumbersome process that people tell me can take months. They dole out a little information at a time. I fill out the application form and they tell me I need to fill out another form. And so on and so on. But I'm persistent. Jalo will get her passport!

I did get to visit One Side last night. No Bata, no Django, No Paquiao. Just me swimming with the sharks. The owner tries to match me up in a "friendly" game he says. But when we rack the balls the young fellow says how about 500p a game. I tell him okay but we are playing One Pocket or Banks. No game! Then another sharpshooter comes in. One of the "unknown" filipino champions, who has never visited our shores. I don't remember his name but I know he is a serious player. He says he will play me One Pocket. So off we go for 500p, only about $11. Not too serious but I want to gauge his speed.

I am one game ahead and he quits the One Pocket. I won the last game 8-1 and he realizes that he knows little about this game. Now he asks me again to play 9-Ball or Ten Ball. No way I say. He's dying to get in my pocket, so he agrees to Banks. We play short rack and I win at first. Then he finds his game and begins to get comfortable. He is one game ahead when I quit. This young man has a little too much firepower for me. He asks to play for 1,000p and I tell him maybe later. I have to go now because I'm going to the Embassy very early in the morning.

I've been here one week, two more to go. I really want to accomplish my task before I head back. Jalo will be a U.S. citizen and I can bring her here to live. Maybe not this trip but next time for sure. That would be great. Her mother (Bunny) is being very co-operative. She knows this is her best chance as well.
 
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Thanks for keeping us posted "Billar"! You are matching up with a world class bureaucracy and hanging in there. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, my friend. :thumbup:
 
jay helfert said:
I went to the U.S. Embassy today at 7 AM. My third trip there. Only a one hour wait this time. It is a cumbersome process that people tell me can take months. They dole out a little information at a time. I fill out the application form and they tell me I need to fill out another form. And so on and so on. But I'm persistent. Jalo will get her passport!

I did get to visit One Side last night. No Bata, no Django, No Paquiao. Just me swimming with the sharks. The owner tries to match me up in a "friendly" game he says. But when we rack the balls the young fellow says how about 500p a game. I tell him okay but we are playing One Pocket or Banks. No game! Then another sharpshooter comes in. One of the "unknown" filipino champions, who has never visited our shores. I don't remember his name but I know he is a serious player. He says he will play me One Pocket. So off we go for 500p, only about $11. Not too serious but I want to gauge his speed.

I am one game ahead and he quits the One Pocket. I won the last game 8-1 and he realizes that he knows little about this game. Now he asks me again to play 9-Ball or Ten Ball. No way I say. He's dying to get in my pocket, so he agrees to Banks. We play short rack and I win at first. Then he finds his game and begins to get comfortable. He is one game ahead when I quit. This young man has a little too much firepower for me. He asks to play for 1,000p and I tell him maybe later. I have to go now because I'm going to the Embassy very early in the morning.

I've been here one week, two more to go. I really want to accomplish my task before I head back. Jalo will be a U.S. citizen and I can bring her here to live. Maybe not this trip but next time for sure. That would be great. Her mother (Bunny) is being very co-operative. She knows this is her best chance as well.
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Don't let those Filipinos high roll you Jay. Send it in!
JoeyA
 
Jay, best of luck in your endeavour with Jalo. Glad that Bunny is being amicable with your plan to better the family's life. Your stories of the Phillipines interest me to no end; I am tempted to possibly go one day soon. :p
 
Jay,

When I was in Iraq, I would get 2 weeks vacation every 6 months, and when I travelled back to the U.S., there was always at least a 36 hour layover in Kuwait for visa purposes.

I had found two tables in the basement of a mall in Kuwait city, where a bunch of Filipinos gamble all the time, My last trip back through, I got matched up with one of Kuwait City's "second tier" players for a $40 race to 3, and I murdalized him in Rotation, getting out in two innings in the first game.

One thing I realized on that trip... Filipinos do NOT like losing at Rotation for money to an American!!!

:D :D :D

Russ
 
Great stuff Jay, thanks for keeping us all in the loop..... sounds as if you have everything under control, but let us know if you need anything....:)
 
jay helfert said:
So off we go for 500p, only about $11.
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The last time I was in the PI, 500p was worth about $130. Long time ago.

Very happy that things are going well with Jalo's passport and that you are having a good time on the tables, Jay. Hang in there, buddy.
 
Jalo's application was accepted today! Now we wait for the appointment to prove we are in fact Jalo's natural parents. I'm armed with lots of proof including a photographic history. It's a waiting game over here (they call it 'filipino time') and you must have patience or you will go crazy. The more difficult it becomes the more focused I am on bringing Jalo to America.

This is the "third world" here and lover's of the good life might find it unacceptable. For me I prefer the hardscrabble life in Manila to New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris and Tokyo, with all their affluence. There is something very real and unfiltered here. No pretense anywhere to be found. It's like being in Vegas in the 60's, anything goes! Or maybe the old West in the 19th century. You must stay on your toes here or you will get pushed aside.

For an old rounder like me, I somehow feel at home. Every day here is a little bit of a gamble. I went out the other night to a small restaurant/nightclub. The young gals working there were beautiful little foxes. All in their early 20's, and totally unspoiled. For a girl from the provinces this was a dream job. I asked them if they had ever met an American man. No they replied. I want to play the matchmaker now. I'd love to introduce some of my young AZ buddies to these sweet young things. Okay EasyE, Deadpoked, Derek Disco and Chris B. I'm talking about you. I got all their e-mail addresses for you. Just send me a PM if you're interested. If you connect with one of them, you can come back with me on my next trip. Chris B. you would love it here. Great gals and loads of good players. Not all champions either. You can play all day and all night and no one will ever ask you for a spot.

This offer goes for you to Torrance Chris.
 
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