A few weeks ago, one of Manila's most popular dance club cum bar cum hangout cum pickup joint closed its doors. While some say that it's for renovations, many others are saying that it's closed for good. The name of this place, as some of the more perceptive among you may have guessed, was Joy.
They went out with flair, of course. Drag performers on the street, special show numbers etc. The street crowd were doing their usual thing - either trying to catch some cutie's eye, or preening with forced casualness while constantly checking if someone was looking. Nothing unusual there.
Unlike most gay strips, the Malate gay scene is unusual in the sense that people prefer to stand outdoors on the street to socialise (and, of course, advertise one's self), rather than spend time inside any particular establishment. Which could be one reason why many places prefer al fresco seating, rather than indoors. The delish Komiks Club across the street from the former Joy is one example. It offers prime viewing opportunities for people arriving, yet allows one to remain comfortably seated while oh-so-butchly sucking beer straight from a bottle.
In the last few weeks, I've noticed a somewhat disturbing trend in Manila's premier gay promenade. No people! Even at the peak hours from 1 to 3am, few people are showing up. This could be just a slump because of the heat, but at the same time, the place used to be packed. Wall-to-wall with homos. The few times I've gone to visit in the last few weeks, it's been way to quiet.
Not that I'm saying that being Joy-less is the reason. On the contrary, I feel that it's a trend that's been developing over the last few months, maybe years. Perhaps it's cyclical. But most people who used to call Malate home on weekends, have apparently moved.
Maybe it's because the last crop of gay men who grew up with the fun and glam of Malate are tired of it. Some of my friends hate it - "another night to admire someone else's pretensions, wonderful". And some don't want to frequent it - "you can't go every week, that's social death! People might think you have no life. Or worse, single and desperate."
Add to that a general unwillingness to just pick up someone and take him home for a few rounds of hide the lizard. Not from outmoded conventions and "demureness", but because of the comment it will excite among one's friends.
It's sad in a way.
Perhaps the reason the next generation of fabulous young fags have not come in to plant their lipstick on the area is the overabundance of places to go. After all, in a city where being openly gay is accepted and pretty much treated as normal, you don't have to confine yourself. A nice joint for straights will likely be a nice joint for us, as well. The lines are no longer defined, nor usually enforced.
Perhaps everyone's just gotten jaded with the scene. After all, there are so many other options in the city. A few small saunas have opened, a few "backroom" bars (with small, dark back rooms for people to get to know each other, of course. Duh!) have popped up here and there. Add to that the usual crop of gay strip joints, massage parlours, and whatnot, there's really little reason for many to visit Malate anymore. And don't forget cruising in malls. In a city with over 30 major malls in various areas of the city, it certainly helps climate controlled cruising.
Maybe the scene isn't dead. Maybe people are just resting, or getting lazy because of the heat, or just busy with various things in that great drama-comedy serial we call Real Life.
I hope so. I miss the snap, energy and outrageous ambience of the place. In my youth, I found every excuse to visit the area. Whether it was dinner, coffee, hanging out, or boozing, I felt safe and at home in Malate.
I guess a part of me had hoped that I could come back to that, too.
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