Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you should have heard by now that BED Bar got burned down last week. Thankfully, no one got hurt. The Philippines does not need another Ozone tragedy. Here’s an excerpt of the statement given by BED Management on their website:
On July 8, 2010, a date we will never forget, Manila’s gay community suffered a tragic loss. The biggest GLBT club in Manila, BED, caught on fire at around 8:30pm. Fortunately the club was not open at that time and no one was hurt and thanks to the heroic efforts of firemen in the area, the fire was quickly contained and did not spread to the other establishments. Sadly, the same cannot be said for BED. Investigation is under way but until then we are sad to announce that BED is closed until further notice.
Despite Mugen’s sensationalist post, I don’t see this episode as a cause for an extended wailing and gnashing of teeth. Yes it’s sad that this unfortunate event happened. And while BED holds a special place in my heart, it’s not as if BED is closing down for good.
When BED expanded from its original hole-in-the-wall space to its current size, the club had to be closed for about a month while renovations were ongoing. Gay and bisexual men managed to cope since there were other clubs, bars, and venues for socializing, drinking and dancing. So I’m treating this hiatus just like their renovation several years ago. BED is not the be-all and the end-all of the PLU clubbing scene. There’s still Che’lu and O Bar along Orosa in Malate and O Bar has a branch in Ortigas.
So cheer up! BED will bounce back and I’m confident that BED will throw a grand re-opening party to celebrate its rising from the ashes. And you can be sure I’ll be there to celebrate along with other BED-heads. 
8 comments:
Agreed, Vince. Unless the owners have other plans, this is but an unexpected interlude.
After it was established that - thankfully - no one got hurt, and that BED wasn't naman razed to the ground, I figured "Well, now's a good time to renovate as any."
And yes - it's not the end of gays.
Not yet, anyway.
i hope that when i see the bed soon it will wow me nang bonggang-bongga
Well what can I say, I learned newswriting from the gods of Inquirer. Lol.
Seriously, With shops, cafes and restaurants around the courtyard now closed, I doubt if BED could be resurrected again. Its like Mint, Mister Piggy's, and Government. They were once the spot, now they are history.
But who knows. BED shaped my life in Malate.
@rudeboy, right on!
@Ming Meows, we expect nothing less, right? :-)
@Mugen, hehehe. As I said, never say never. I really think Bed will be resurrected in one form or another. It may be the same as before it got burned down or it may be so unrecognizable that people will reminisce about the good old times. Whatever it is, I'll be waiting.
It's a good thing Bed didn't become Ozone Part 2. I imagine TV news stations blabbing about "Bed: Gay Men's Hell on Earth" headline. I bet anti-gay groups would flock the site and preach on deserving gay men are to be burned alive and how God's retribution on gay people must be done. Whew!
@ ANONYMOUS : I'm partial to "Flaming Faggots" as a headline myself.
But on a serious note, I'm with you on how the righteous would seize on the opportunity to make "examples" of us.
And on a juicier note, some little birdies told me over the weekend some very intriguing things about what's been going on behind the velvet curtains of BED. And whether or not a resurrection is indeed in the cards.
But alas, like BED's famous doors, my lips are sealed.
how's O bar in ortigas?
@Anon, my thoughts too.
@rudeboy, ay, I've heard something along the same lines. :-)
@icarusboytoy, it's decent enough but I hate their Saturday drag shows. :-p
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