Pinoy PLU Signal: Wet Area Patrons

Ok, let’s make it official. I declare that staying for a long time in the wet area of gyms and spas is a very strong Pinoy PLU signal. Unlike other signals I’ve shared before, I think this one will give you the highest probability of telling whether a guy is indeed one of us.

If you try to think about, it’s quite easy to see why this particular signal is true. First of all, Filipinos are generally quite modest especially with strangers. That alone is a disincentive for many Filipino men, gay or straight, to stay in the wet area where they need to be in towels. In fact, many straight guys I see in the gym don’t even bother with the wet area and just use the locker area as a place to store their belongings and to quickly change clothes. Some straight guys may indeed take a shower or even use the sauna or steam room but will not linger for longer than is necessary.

A second reason why straight men usually forgo the wet room is simply because they, by definition, aren’t physically attracted to other men. Thus, there’s no reason to stay long in the sauna or steam room—there is simply no eye candy for them to ogle at. Conversely, there’s also no reason for them to flaunt their gym-fit bodies there, unlike, say, on the shores of Boracay. Their target market are not other men.

That said, straight guys do indeed use the wet areas. Soaking in the heat and sweating it out is quite relaxing. A typical therapeutic session involves showering briefly to get wet, staying for about 5 to 10 minutes in either the steam room or the sauna, then concluding by cooling off with another shower. There’s an option to go to the other hot room, but this is not often done since one hot room session is enough.

One key difference in telling the straight from the gay at the wet area is the length of time spent there. PLU guys loiter around longer and frequently go back and forth between the steam room and sauna. They often stay in the area for 20 minutes or more. In fact, some notorious gay people don’t even bother with the gym floor itself and instead go straight to the locker room to press their luck.

Another crucial sign that a guy is game, short of physical contact, is if his eyes roam all around the sauna or steam room. Straight guys usually just close their eyes and avoid eye contact. Unabashed gay guys, on the other hand, will turn their heads to scope out the market.

Anyway, if you’d like to read more, I’ve explored gay men’s fascination with the showers, steam rooms, and sauna in several previous blog posts:

• Gyms: the ultimate discreet PLU place
• Discreetionary: Fitness Feast
• Having fun in gym locker rooms
• Fitness First vs. Gold’s Gym
• Sizzling hot!

The guy at the gym

So there’s this guy I’ve been crushing on at the gym. He’s a bit tall (maybe 5′9″), moreno, and with a good homely face. He’s not as ripped as the other guys I’ve seen in that gym but he looks oh so fine and at least has a nice enough body.

I always notice whenever he enters the gym and I always keep stealing glances as him as he goes through his workout. I didn’t think that he’s PLU since I have never seen him glance back for more than a moment and I never caught him staring at other guys in the gym. He just kept to himself as he does his reps and sets.

Well imagine my surprise when I saw him enter the gym one night wearing a black shirt with the Government club logo at the back! (At that time, Government had already closed). I was a bit shocked since if he were PLU, he was hiding it pretty good and then he shows up wearing a gay club shirt! Is he really PLU? Maybe he’s a former employee, but then, why would he go to this gym? Or maybe he doesn’t know the significance of the logo? Nah. It’s very unlikely that he does not know what the logo means. So he must know that the logo is and made a deliberate choice to wear it. Or he grabbed some black shirt from the closet and didn’t realize that it had the G logo at the back? In any case, that shirt proves that he’s indeed PLU or at least gay-friendly.

Being the really shy guy that I am, I never acted on this discovery. If you were in my shoes, what would you do?

Pinoy PLU Signal: Single Gym-goer

A friend once told me that he confirmed that I was PLU when he saw that I was enrolled in a gym. I was utterly bewildered by this, but on hindsight, I realized that he may be on to something.

I now think that if you see a man who is single and works out in the gym, then the chances are good that he is gay. I believe this idea works because gay guys are still men after all. Men are more into looks than women. (I know this for a fact since I’ve seen too many nice and pretty ladies with boyfriends that I wouldn’t give a second look.) Gay guys know how other guys think and thus, to have a good shot at nabbing that hunk, one has to be well-built himself. Therefore we have such stereotypes like the gym bunny and the reason why gym is the gay church.

Of course, this should not be generalized to every single gym-goer or to the preferences of every gay guy. But, don’t you think that there is some truth to this?

Discreetionary: Fitness Feast

Fitness Feast [FIT·nes FEEST] noun 1. Alternate name for the Fitness First chain of gyms. etymology: from the fact that Fitness First is the cruisiest gym chain in Metro Manila.

I've elaborated in a previous post that Fitness First is the best gym if cruisiness is the only criterion. And this is pertinent since after all, gym is the gay church. Thus we have this alternate name for FF (which I got from CC) due to the many carnal opportunities that is possible here. I've visited FF a few times but I have yet to enjoy the feast.

Stories from behind the locker room door

To whet your appetite as to the possibilities that can happen inside the gym, especially the locker room and wet areas, here are some stories, blog posts, and anecdotes from others that I’ve read. Most of them come from blogs I follow and all of them occur (if they're true) in gyms in the Philippines. I’m sure some of you have already read some of these, but for the rest of you readers, enjoy!

• There’s plenty of stories in the Kwentong Kalibugan story collection site, but this story is the one I find the hottest: “First Time Sa Gym - Part 1” (and here’s part 2 and part 3 though its setting is not in the gym anymore).

• The Corporate Closet goes to Fitness First (he calls it Fitness Feast) and some of his gym-cruising-related posts are “FF Ballroom”, “FF buffet”, and “ST - Sensual Training”.

• Tristan’s story has got to be one of the hottest gym-tale I’ve read in a local blog.

• Mugen did a Maria Clara in his “straight” gym despite the obvious invitation.

• Well, McVie had this really interesting series of posts involving this one pretty uptight yet horny guy codenamed “CB”. The first part recounted the initial encounter, then parts two and three included another guy. The last part took a serious turn with the other guy, but that’s how interesting McVie’s entries are (go follow his blog if you haven’t). Moreover, there’s a humorous epilogue to CB, and the other guy in serious episode has its own follow-up.

  Aside from that series of encounters, McVie also has this sort of tutorial/FAQ for gym cruising: one for PLU guys and and another for straight men.

I have also briefly shared one of my own encounters in a previous post. Anyway, such gym happenings are by no means isolated events. I’m quite sure majority of all PLU gym-goers have had encounters in their gyms. After all, gym is the gay church. Hehehe.

Got your own encounters to tell? Tell us all about it in the comments section or give us a URL if you've blogged about it.

Fitness First vs. Gold’s Gym

If you’re thinking of enrolling in a high-end gym with many branches, then your choices would have to between Fitness First and Gold’s Gym. Fitness First has sixteen branches in Metro Manila (including the two Platinum branches of TriNoma and RCBC Plaza) while Gold’s Gym has six. Both feature group classes, cycle rooms, lots of machines for both cardio and bodybuilding as well as a free weights area. The two franchises also offer a good locker room amenities and a wet area with shower cubicles, a sauna, and a steam room. Among the perks that FF offers are free coffee, iced tea, soda; backpacks, a water bottle, and a towel upon sign-up; and one of the most extensive sets of group classes anywhere. GG, on the other hand, provides you with two towels each time you visit (so there’s no need to bring home bulky wet towels) and their branches close at 12 midnight every workday—a boon for those who do OT.

If your goal is to become lean and fit, or to become a buffed-up muscular guy, I would recommend either one. In fact, you can go to any gym at all—even your friendly neighborhood gym down the corner. It’s the gym-goer himself, not the gym, that determines whether the he reaches his fitness goal or not. But since this blog is Discreet Manila, the ultimate deciding factor is the cruising opportunities. After all, gym is the gay church. And between FF and GG, the clear winner in cruisiness is Fitness First, no contest. Most people would agree on that.

I mentioned before that I’m a member of Gold’s Gym. The reason is simply that Gold’s is more affordable for me, having gotten a really good membership deal. I’ve gone to Fitness First a few times using complimentary passes and my personal experience is that Fitness First branches are the ultimate cruising grounds. In all the times I worked out in FF, I’ve been hit on every time. This is in big contrast to Gold’s Gym where it took me a full year before I had my first sexual encounter there (but there were a few instances during that year where guys sent out feelers).

I hear at lot of stories coming from FF and some I even find outrageous and hard to believe. Gold’s Gym is by no means a strait-laced gym (I’ve had a lot of encounters in that franchise and a couple of the hottest experiences I’ve ever had happened in their locker rooms), but Fitness First is in a whole different level altogether.

I have a couple of evidences to prove my assertion. First is the very telling advisory posted late last year at Fitness First branches, a photo of which is shown below (picture stolen from Corporate Closet). No equivalent advisory exists for Gold’s Gym.

For SEO purposes, the advisory reads as follows:

Important Advisory

Protect the Member Experience

Sexual advances of any kind towards fellow members or staff are strictly prohibited.

Please report any untoward conduct to the Club General Manager.

To know more about club rules and regulations, please read the back of your Membership Form, particularly Section 10 (Expulsion of Member).

The second evidence is the fact that somebody did get himself expelled from Fitness First for such “untoward conduct.” Early this year, a (stupid) guy made sexual advances on teen actor Mico Aytona and was then reported to the management and kicked out of the gym as a result. Read all about it in PEP. I might just be clueless, but I’ve never heard of such a thing happening in Gold’s Gym.

Despite these things, “miraculous” things still occur in Fitness First—people just became more discreet with their illicit activities. I really have no idea why Fitness became such a PLU magnet, but I think the big reason is that it just has a lot of branches making it the ideal franchise for gym-hopping. Anyway, the apt advice is to try to avoid doing it in the gym and do it elsewhere instead. Barring that, just try not to get caught. This goes for both Fitness First and Gold’s Gym.

Having fun in gym locker rooms

I mentioned before that one of the cruisiest discreet places for PLUs are branches of gym franchises like Fitness First and Gold's Gym. Well, the particular amenity that these two uber-popular gym chains brought to the Philippines that make them very attractive places for the urban gay guy is the extensive locker room, particularly the steam room and the sauna. Before FF and GG, the only extensive gym franchise is Slimmer's World and their locker rooms usually only contains lockers, shower stalls, urinals and toilet cubicles. Furthermore, there were only a few gyms that have freely available steam rooms and saunas.

While a simple locker room already provides ample opportunities for anonymous interaction, the steam room and the sauna can actually be places for casual sex, especially for those who like the thrill that the possibility of getting caught provides. But even if sex in public places isn't your thing, these hot rooms (literally and figuratively)—many with dim lighting—let you discreetly ogle at some of the finer specimens of male masculinity. It's also best to remember that the look would prove to be a valuable skill here.

One of the hottest casual encounters I had was in the steam room of a Gold's Gym branch and this was the second time I had such a hanky-panky experience in the gym. I don't normally relish doing naughty things in a public place, preferring instead to do it in the comfort of a more private place, but there was this kinda good-looking semikal guy in the steam room at that time and we were the only two people there. I can tell he likes me by the look on his face and I sort of teased him by giving him an unhindered view of the lower part of my body since I was seated at a higher bench and he was lounging on a lower perpendicular ledge.

One thing led to another and I found my manhood being slowly massaged by his capable hands. Eventually he couldn't take it anymore and went down on me. The combination of the hot steam, his very playful tongue, and the fear that somebody might come in and discover us gave me such a head rush of sensations that I soon came inside his mouth. This is quite out of the ordinary for me since it usually take a long time before I can come. After I finally composed myself from the climax, he then asked me whether I liked what happened and I definitely answered in the affirmative. I did not reciprocate his actions and we soon parted ways.

A word of caution: getting caught having sex is a definite no-no in practically every gym. If you're a gym-goer and had bothered to read the fine print on your membership contract, then you would've read a clause stating that soliciting or making sexual advances is a grounds for expulsion. Getting expelled is just the least of it because you are likely to be humiliated if you're caught. As always, consider everything before engaging in risky behavior. I would advice that it's better to just exchange numbers with the object of your attraction and instead meet up outside the gym.

You should of course recognize hunky Marc Nelson in the photo above.
He's one of my ultimate celebrity crushes.

Gyms: the ultimate discreet PLU place

"Don't do that. Don't lie. Not here. This is a gym. This is—this is gay church."—Will, Will & Grace

You know what I think? I think that gyms franchises like Fitness First and Gold's Gym are the ultimate cruising and guy-watching places for the discreet Pinoy PLU. Where else can you find a lot of cute, hunky, and buff guys to ogle at? And where else can you be sure to have like-minded gay and bisexual men congregate to a place that's safe and full of opportunities?

For the ultra-discreet guys, gyms are great places to possibly meet new guys. Unlike bath houses like Club Bath and gay clubs like Bed, you can go to a gym and discreetly get to know other PLU guys without outing yourself to the rest of the people there. Moreover, unlike surfing websites like Guys4Men and chatting on IRC, you can be sure that the guy you're talking to is good-looking and masculine instead of being deceived by fake pictures and misleading profiles. Furthermore, because gym memberships quite expensive, it's almost safe to say that the guys in the gym are not out to skim money out of you and have decent backgrounds.

If I painted an elitist view of the gym lifestyle, it's because that's the way things are. High-end gym memberships are a luxury—there are definitely much more cheaper alternatives like jogging at public parks and enrolling in cheaper neighborhood gyms (like the ones that charge only 50 pesos or so per visit). If you can afford it, expensive gym memberships are well worth the money since you can avail of the facilities for much-needed self-improvement. The perks—official or clandestine—are simply icing on the cake!

This gym phenomenon is actually quite a recent thing. Before the 2000s, the only high-end gym franchise is Slimmers World. Other alternatives are the ultra-expensive gyms found in hotels. Then the 2000s came and international gym chains like Fitness First and Gold's Gym came into the country with extensive gym class schedules, perks like Internet access, free drinks, and gym bags, and expansive locker rooms where you can discreetly eye half-naked buffed guys. Hehehe.

Let me just state that I've been a member of Gold's Gym for over three years now and I've had several great encounters already. *Wink, wink* There are plenty of things to discuss and recount regarding the Pinoy PLU gym experience and you can bet that I'll blog about them in future posts here in Discreet Manila. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, you might want to read up on McVie's Gym FAQ for a teaser of similar things to come. :)

Our gym model is La Sallian Paolo Villavicencio.