For those in the know is pool on average more popular in the Philippines than in the US???
Let me put it this way. Where our home is in Pampanga, about 50 miles outside of Manila, you will see men walking around with pool cues quite frequently. The biggest difference may be that Pool is fully accepted as a career choice in the Philippines, thanks to the influence of Efren and Bustamante. Efren is a national sports icon over there. There is no negative stigma attached to playing pool in the PI.
That said a lot of the little neighborhood poolrooms have closed during the last ten years. But that may be more a factor of increasing rents and better use of the space than anything else. One other thing that may surprise you if you come to the PI is that you won't find any bar tables. It's ALL big tables over here! Even in the bars and bowling alleys.