Bar Guidelines

This town’s raison d’etre is the entertainment and nightlife industry which generates employment and sufficient revenue to keep Angeles City turning over. I, for one, do not believe that bar owners knowingly participate in human trafficking or the sale and distribution of drugs in their premises.

Recently there has been a spate of questionable activities by police from outside the control of AC authorities designed to victimize foreign business owners and, occasionally, tourists. There has also been an increase in what the authorities term ‘lewd and lascivious behavior’ in some bars leading to a crackdown on shows and private parties being held in the strip.

Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan

During recently elected Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan’s initial term of office in the mid-1990s he showed himself to be honest, fair and approachable. As he adopted a hands off approach to the nightlife in Angeles City then, there is no reason to suspect his current term will be any different. He is, I assure you however, very much against any activity even remotely linked to human trafficking.

The following is a quote from an article posted by J.C. of Margarita Station. John knows Mayor Pamintuan quite well and I believe that if you own or operate a bar in AC you should read this, cut it out, pin it on the notice board in your office and refer to it every day.

Quote “I believe he (Mayor Pamintuan) will allow the nightlife in Balibago to continue to operate and will even support projects to make it a safer place for tourists as long as the owners and tourists don't bring shame on Angeles City and Filipino. But, when he is called on the carpet by the President or other officials from Manila he can only defend things so far. If a warning comes down from the mayors office like the one on August 6 & 7 that some new inspections are going to occur, prepare to be inspected. Make sure your business is clean, take out the trash, check the fire extinguishers, put the staff in conservative uniforms, send the dancers that constantly have “wardrobe malfunctions” on vacation, don’t hang up banners advertising erotic shows, and by all means … hide the bananas & whip (sic) cream.” End quote.

The Mayor has issued these guidelines for all nightlife establishments.

• No topless dancers
• No body painting
• No see-through apparel
• No G-strings or thongs (T-backs)
• One door girl per bar
• A ban on all special events or functions which include erotic performances (i.e. shows) 

It will be a very brave, foolish or naïve investor who is prepared to jeopardize his investment here, and quite possibly his freedom, by ignoring these guidelines. There remain, of course, thousands of reasons to visit the local nightclubs and bars. Enjoy.