Discreetionary: -er

-er [ERR] noun 1. an attractive blue-collar worker or one who looks like a stereotypical blue-collar worker. adjective 2. pertaining to blue-collar workers. example: “Enzo [...] and Adong (Wil Sandejas, ‘er’-sexy but whose acting is distracting) are childhood friends.” —McVie, on Sikil. etymology: from the English suffix -er, which pertains to somebody connected with an action, often as an occupation.

It's somewhat a stereotype that gay guys generally like the fair or mestizo, clean-looking, model-type yuppies from the high classes of society so getting attracted to the barako, tough-looking men who often hold blue-collar jobs is considered just a bit unusual so much so that these men are given the term -er. This term comes from the suffix that pertain to many blue-collar jobs such as factory worker, taxi/bus driver, carpenter, waiter, plumber, police officer, and seafarer. Of course, there are many white-collar occupations that also end in -er, but the term exclusively refers to blue-collar workers. According to this thread at the Guys4Men forums (log-in required), the term was coined before 2004 and was popularized on the Internet.

Got any Discreetionary terms to share? Send them my way at discreetmanila at gmail.com.

The raid at Queeriosity Palace

Migs was the first to break the news about a police raid that occurred at Queeriosity Palace (Multiply site) at around 1 a.m. last Saturday morning, April 19. Queeriosity Palace is this new gay bath house that just recently opened on April 5 and it is owned by Wilbert, who also owns Fahrenheit Cafe in Quezon City. All the patrons and staff in Queeriosity that night were detained at the Pasay City Hall. It's not clear what the charges were but the clients were eventually released at around 4 a.m.

lOOking4LoVE, a Guys4Men member, was one of those detained and a he recounts his experience in a thread (log-in needed) at the G4M forums:

"So traumatic. My first time. and we're busted. hay. [...] kailangan daw isama lahat para malaman kung sino employee at customers. after malaman, yung customers papauuwiin daw. pero antagal namin dun. nagpapaimportante pa siguro. parang hostage tuloy kami. na hanggat walang lagay ung may ari e di kami papauwiin. [...] ang kaso kasi, ung boss police medyo mainit. naninigaw. tapos lagi may panakot mga police na ipapatawag mga pamilya ng mga nahuli e mga tago pa namn kami. dapat talaga alamin kung ano ang kaso kapag nandun. bakit hinuli? ano kaso? kaso pag instant na naandun ka mahirap pala. nauunahan ng kaba."

In the same thread, Wilbert has given his testimonial and he claims that the police told him that the tip-off came from The Mansion, a gay blue bar also in Pasay City (quote edited a bit for clarity):

"Sa mga members [na nandoon] kaninang madaling araw, sorry for what [happened] awhile ago. Kaya kayo sinama sa presinto, they just want to check kung may prostitution nga talaga sa Queeriosity at kung talagang member kayo or staff or mga bayaran. Pero, 'di ko kayo hinayaan alam n'yo yan. You're all in good hands. Ayon sa report, ang complainants ay Mansion; sila ang nag-report. Don't worry guys, this will be [the] first and the last hassle para sa Queeriosity members. Rest assured it won't happen again. [...] To Mansion management: kailangan ko [i-voice-out] itong ginawa n'yo sa akin at para malaman ng gay community. [...] Queeriosity is still open for business."

Read the thread to get a better feel for what happened and so that you can make your own decision on how to view the incident.

In an e-mail letter, which was posted in a thread at the PinoyPride.Org forums, Danton Remoto, chair of Ang Ladlad, a gay party-list group that was denied by COMELEC to run in last year's national election, shares his statement and some advice:

Dear Friends,

At 1 am, a member of the gay community sent me a text message saying that police had raided Queeriosity Bath House in Pasay and brought lots of gay men in the Pasay City Hall. Queeriosity is owned by Wilbert, who also owns Fahrenheit in QC. They were asking me for help, and for me to bring lawyers..

Unfortunately, I slept at 12 midnight. I had gone through two radio interviews and two TV interviews regarding the Cebu rectal-surgery scandal and had taught two summer classes at the Ateneo. I also contacted the lawyer of the victim so Ang Ladlad could extend counseling and legal help to him. was only able to get an update this morning at 8 am.

My friend said the gay men were sent home at four am. When I asked if the gay men paid a "token fee," my friend did not text back anymore.

What to do when the police raid a bath house?

1. Calmly go with them and make sure you have your ID.

2. Do NOT make a statement if you do not want to, nor sign anything. You should do these in the presence of a lawyer.

3. Do NOT give in to the offers of financial arrangement. You have not done anything wrong. The police raid bath houses before June (school opening) and December (Christmas) because they need money for their families.

Also, the police raid the bath houses in search of sex workers, implying that these places are fronts for prostitution. They still cannot understand that gay men-to-gay men sex is possible. Makitid talaga ang isip nila.

4. After 12 hours (minimum) or 18 hours (maximum), the police should bring you to the fiscal's office for arraignment, prior to filing a case. If not, you can file a case against the police for illegal detention. Eto ang ikinatatakot ng mga pulis, illegal detention charges.

In all the cases we handled against the police, we won because we were able to prove that bath houses and/or gay bars (yung walang nagsasayaw) are not fronts for prostitution at nag-iimbento lang ang mga pulis.

So keep your cool, keep calm, you are entitled to make at least one phone call using the police telephone and to have access to a lawyer.

Just for your guidance. Have a safe life.

Cheers,
Danton Remoto
Chairman, Ang Ladlad Party List

Interesting words I must say, but while there may ultimately be no legal cause for the detentions and while the cynics in us may call this as just another case of police corruption, the fact is, incidents like this are embarrassing for the discreet PLU. You may not end up in jail but you might out yourself inadvertently to people you care about. Ultimately, it's just a matter if going to these places is a risk you're willing to take. It's a good thing that in the Queeriosity raid, there were no media present, unlike "Oplan Lollipop" where on February 19, 2003, policemen from the Central Police District raided Alta Theater in Cubao at the behest of ABS-CBN mediamen who accompanied the law enforcers with cameras blazing.

What is the legal rationale for these raids? The charges that can be raised stem from three provisions in Philippine Law: 1) Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code or the provision against "immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions and indecent shows," 2) Article 202 of the same Code, also known as the Anti-vagrancy Law, and 3) Republic Act No. 9208 otherwise known as the Anti-trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. I'll tackle more about these laws and the phenomenon of raids in future articles.

High 5: Bed Club Anthems 2003-08 Collection

Well, a friend and I decided to go to the Saturday Anniversary party of Bed and we had a great time. What made the night even greater was when I got to score one of the CDs they raffled off to guests at the entrance. Turns out that the CD is an MP3 collection of the anthems Bed has been playing for the past five years. Here's a list of the songs included in the CD:

1. Kylie Minogue - Love At First Sight (David Guetta & Joachim Mix)
2. Madonna - Sorry (Pet Shop Boys Maxi Mix)
3. Britney Spears - Gimme More (Kaskade Club Mix)
4. Jerry Springer the Opera feat. Alison Jiear - I Just Wanna Fucking Dance (Wayne G Heaven Mix)
5. Rythme Fatal feat. Redd Angel - Man In The Mirror (Club Mix)
6. Get Far - Shining Star (Gianluca Motta Remix)
7. Ida Corr vs. Fedde Le Grand - Let Me Think About It (Club Mix)
8. Misia feat. Kevin Aviance - Into The Light (Gomi's Beauty & The Beast Remix)
9. Rihanna - Dont Stop The Music (Jody Den Broeder Big Room Mix)
10. Moony - Dove (I'll Be Lovin You) ( T&F vs. Moltosugo Club Mix )
11. DB Boulevard - Believe (Club Mix)
12. Angelmoon - He's All I Want
13. Jimmy James - Fashionista (Original Extended)
14. Cher - Song For The Lonely (Thunderpuss Sunrise Club mix)
15. Hilary Duff - Come Clean (Chris Cox Flood Mix)
16. Janet Jackson - Megamix '04 (Chris Cox Club Mix)
17. Bob Sinclaire feat. Steve Edwards - World Hold On (Axwell Remix)
18. Deena Jones & The Dreams - One Night Only (Eric Kupper & Richie Jones Club Mix)
19. David Guetta - Baby When The Light (Rister & Garraud Remix)
20. David Morales - Here I Am (Kaskade remix)
21. Deborah Cox - Absolutely Not (Hex Hector Vocal Club Mix)
22. Studio 54 - If You Could Read My Mind (Hex Hector Club Mix)
23. Whitney Houston - It's Not Right, But It's Okay (Thunderpuss Club Mix)
24. Amuka - Appreciate Me (DJ Paulo's Un-released Tribal Mix)
25. Oscar G & Ralph Falcon - Dark Beat (Murk Monster Mix)
26. Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone (Jason Nevins Club Mix)
27. Kristine W - I'll Be Your Light (Mac Quayle a& Jack Elliot Mix)
28. Bonnie Bailey - Ever After (Eric Kupper Summer Rubdown)
29. Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha (Ralphi Rosario's Hot Freak Mix)
30. Aaron Smith feat. Luvli - Dancin' (Steve Smooth and JJ Flores Mix)
31. JS-16 - Stomp To My Beat (Factory Mix)
32. Suzanne Palmer - Fascinated (Offer Nissim Remix)
33. Rent - Seasons of Love (Gomi's Lair Club Mix)
34. Donna Summer - I Will Go With You (Club 69 Remix)
35. Green Velvet - I Feel Love in LaLaLand (Joe Bermudez Mix)
36. Judy Torres - Faithfully (Giuseppe D's Epic Journey Extended)
37. Kaskade - Everything (Kaskade's Big Room Mix)
38. Sugababes - Push The Button (DJ Prom Mix)
39. Abigail - Let The Joy Rise (Thunderpuss Club Mix)
40. Giorgio Moroder - Together In Electric Dreams 2004 (DJ Marco Ferrari Remix)
41. Offer Nissim feat. Maya - First Time (Offer Nissim Full Club Mix)
42. Heather Small - Proud (Illicit Mix)
43. Rihanna - Unfaithful (Rafael Lelis Club Mix)
44. Madonna - Jump (Scotty K. Remix)
45. Rosabel feat. Jeanie Tracy - Cha Cha Heels (Rosabel Club Mix)
46. Global Deejays - The Sound Of San Francisco (Snow Extended Version)
47. Sandy B - Make The World Go Round (Jamie J Sanchez Mix)
48. Enrique Iglesias - Don't Turn Off The Lights (Fernando Garibay Remix)
49. Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Dj Luis Erre Babylon Club Mix)
50. Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It For The Boy
51. Ultra Nate - Free (Trendroid's Brick City Remix)
52. Jean-Claude Ades - Fly Away (Main Mix)

I don't know about the legality of distributing a CD full of MP3s (and almost all of them are at least 192 kbps quality) (and note that Bed is a licensee of FILSCAP) but I certainly appreciate getting my hands on several of these songs. I'm also elated to finally learn the title and/or the name of the artist of a few songs that had eluded me before.

All in all, I think that the collection is a fine sampling of the popular tunes Bed's DJs have played over the years and I'm familiar with (or at least heard) the majority of them. However, I don't think that several of the included songs deserve to be called a "Bed anthem." An example is "The Sound Of San Francisco" by the Global Deejays; it doesn't have the floor-filler/gay factor that other songs, such as Jimmy James' "Fashionista," has. I would opine that some of the following tracks would've been a better pick for inclusion into the CD instead:

1. Madonna - Hung Up (SDP Extended Vocal)
2. Moony - Flying Away (T&F vs. Moltosugo Club Mix)
3. LMC vs. U2 - Take Me to the Clouds Above (The Mash Up Kids Remix)
4. Gustavo Santaolalla - The Wings (Theme from Brokeback Mountain) (The Manny Lehman / Tony Moran / Warren Rigg Collaboration Mix) [especially this one!]
5. Gloria Estefan - Heaven's What I Feel (Victor Calderone Mix)
6. Paris Hilton - Stars Are Blind (Tracy Does Paris Remix)
7. Samantha James - Rise (Original Mix)
8. Solu Music feat. KimBlee - Fade (Grant Nelson Big Room Vocal Mix)
9. Black Rock feat. Debra Andrew - Blue Water (Vocal Mix)
10. Benny Benassi - Satisfaction
11. David Guetta feat. JD Davis - The World Is Mine (Original Mix)
12. Global Deejays - What a Feeling (Clubhouse Mix)

What do you think? Do you agree with my observations, or not? What songs do you think shouldn't be on the CD and what should take their place?

BED at V

Wow, BED has been in existence for five years? In a world where bars come and go, especially in the PLU scene, BED achieving it’s fifth year is quite a rare thing. So, to celebrate this milestone, BED has thrown a three-day lineup of parties this weekend from April 10 to 12.

Among all the places PLU people patronize, BED holds a special place in my heart. I first stepped inside its doors in 2003 during its first year, back when it had less than half the size it has now. That night was my first taste of the public gay scene outside the comforting anonymity of Internet chats that had been my only outlet before. (Yep, I never did get to experience the heydays of Mint, Mr. Piggy, and Joy.) I consider myself a home boy and a Web junkie and going to a place like BED was quite a huge step outside my comfort zone. I’m glad I had friends to show me the way.

I actually miss the old hole-in-the-wall BED, where you literally had to squeeze your way between hot guys just to go somewhere. There, I met some good friends with whom I still keep in touch with. I also learned to humor the advances Doc Tony (BED’s perennial paparazzi and partner of one of the owners) makes at me (he always gravitates to the young and cute guys). Hehehe.

Two of BED’s original DJs, Cocoy Puyat and Travis Monsod, have gone on to Alchemy (an Embassy-like club in Pasig City) while their protege Toy Armada still headlines in BED along with several other DJs. It was in BED that I learned to appreciate electronic and dance music and I still have nostalgic memories of dancing to the heavy sets of DJ Travis.

While the new “Queen-size” BED has lost the intimacy it had when it expanded, it’s still no less an institution among the PLU population. I haven’t been there as often as I used to, but I still go once in a while for the music, the fun, and the people.

To the people behind BED—Jay, Anthony, Dennis, Ronnie and the others—congratulations on your fifth year! May your club continue to have success!

Photo above by Doc Tony.

Hugot: not your usual gay indie?

If you haven't heard of Hugot, that new Pinoy gay indie film that's having its premiere at the UP Diliman Film Center on April 23, then you must be living under a rock. (Or just stumbled onto this website, in which case, welcome!) To remind you, you can go to Migs' PR post (containing lots of publicity photos) or AJ's excellent paraphrasing of the original promotional synopsis. So, I won't bother rehashing what the movie is all about (like the fact that it's a trilogy of short stories, like the various incarnations of the Shake, Rattle and Roll franchise).

Anyway, I got some inside scoop that some of the people behind the film are anxious that a few articles written about the film (such as in tabloids) have "mischaracterized" the nature of the movie. These production people are worried that viewers who have been moved to watch Hugot as a result of these articles might get mightily disappointed when they see the real thing. I've been given an idea by my source about what the "mischaracterization" is all about and while I can't divulge what it is, I can tell you that the content of the film apparently diverges from other recent indies like Sikil (read my review), Daybreak, and Ang Lihim ni Antonio. While I haven't actually seen the movie, it's probably safe to say that Hugot is not your usual Pinoy gay indie film.

Of course, it could all just be a PR stunt to generate more buzz for the film, but it certainly piqued my interest in watching the movie, though I'd have to wait for the regular screening instead of attending the premiere (blame it on work). And just for kicks, shown below is the trailer for the movie so that you read the cliché-ish line "one night will change their lives forever" again for the umpteenth time. So, do you plan on catching Hugot when it screens?