MANILA (National Capital Region) -- area code (63-2)

The population of Manila is over 10 million people (more than 400,000 Utopians live here).
• Lesbian listings
• Manila Gay Scene Updates message forum
• Men in Manila message forum

• Manila Out
  6022 J. Villena St, Guadalupe, Makati, 890-3174, email. Regularly distributed to the gay and mixed-crowd bars in Manila, Cebu, Davao, schools, mass media and government agencies. Explicitly advertises itself as "a voice of 7 million gays and lesbians" and devotes a big bulk of its pages to queer slants in all its news, stories and even advertising, with intellectual writing and less of the racier layouts that all other gay lifestyle magazines focus on.
  
  

• Nouveau Manila English Center
  San Juan St, 527-2942, email. A gay and lesbian-friendly learning center for English proficiency. Programs designed for non-English speakers. Utopia Member Discount

• Ishmael Bernal Community Center
  127 Macario Asistio Ave, Caloocan City, 359-0468. A unique arts-training shelter for out-of-school and unemployed gays and lesbians in urban slum areas. By providing opportunities for art-oriented gay youth to discover their talents in theatre and painting, the Ishmael Bernal Community Center will contribute some alternative channels for gays other than loitering in the streets and being exposed to negative social influences such as substance abuse.
• Long Yang Club Manila
  Local chapter of this international east-west social organization.
• The Pink Film Festival
  Mowelfund Film Institute, 66 Rosario Drive, Cubao, Quezon City, 721-1915, 721-1961, email. Organizers of the annual gay and lesbian film festival. The Pink Film Festival held one of the Philippines' first public screenings of lesbian and gay-themed movies in 1998.
• Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP)
  Email. A Manila-based support, contact, and information group focused on the needs, issues, and concerns of transsexual women in the Philippines. They seek to improve the public understanding of transsexualism and to encourage a helpful and supportive community amongst Filipina transsexual women.
• UP Babaylan
  Email. The University of the Philippines Babaylan LGBT student organization, established in 1991. UP Babaylan continues to push for gender rights and equality inside and out of the academic setting.

JunPines Travel Consultancy Bel-Air Village, Makati City, 897-3298, 0905-290-9669, email. JTC is a gay-owned travel consultancy specializing in customized holiday planning that fits your personality and lifestyle. Unlike operators of package tours, JTC offers personalized itineraries to suit individual tastes, preferences, expectations and budgets. Whether you are going on a personal holiday, business trip, intimate honeymoon, spiritual quest or working holiday, JTC will select locations and design a plan for an exclusive and truly memorable experience. Utopia Member Discount

• Pagan Nomads
  173-B Scout Chuatoco, Roxas Dist, Quezon City, 411-8539, 412-5783, FAX 411-8539, email. The first gay and lesbian friendly management and travel consultancy in the Philippines. From luxury holidays in Amanpulo to fun in Boracay with your partner, they supply alternative tours to the Philippines, Asia and the world. Utopia Member Discount

Click here for Manila hotels and accommodations.

Click here for Manila bars and clubs.

Click here for Manila cabaret.

Click here for Manila discos.

• Fitness First Gym
  Block 26, Lot L303, Lifestyle District, Westgate, Filinvest Corp. City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
• Fitness First Gym
  Tecno Plaza One, Eastwood City, Libis, Metro-Manila.
• Fitness First Gym
  8/F Robinsons Summit Center, Ayala Avenue, Makati City.
• Golds Gym
  Glorietta 4, Ayala Mall, Makati.
• Hardcore Gym
  185 Ronquillo Bld, Kaingin, Balintawak Q.C., 415-1510, email. Gay-friendly gym near the Royal bus stop on Edsa. Their clients include police, guards, macho dancers, and discreet gays.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "All Fitness First wet areas are very cruisy, especially in Makati during lunch break and late afternoon until night; ABS-CBN during afternoon; Robinson's Place Ermita and Alabang late afternnon until night. The newly opened branch in Mall of Asia is cruisy, too." -- piolo23, Nov 8, 2007

Click here for Manila massage for men.

• Alta Cinema
  Aurora Blv near Cubao, Quezon City. Very cruisy. Sun best in early evening.
• Film center near Plaza Hotel, especially mid week and late evenings
• Harrison Plaza
• Robinson Mall, Malate
• Shangri-La Plaza facilities
• Starbucks, Festival Mall. On Tues a regular group of gays who chat on Internet meet here.
• Swimming pools
  • Rizal, a public swimming pool, (not always very clean) on the Rizal Collesium, near La Salle University. A lot of young, good looking University guys and serious swimmers.
  • ULTRA, Merlaco Avenue, inside the University of Life, Pasig City. Fabulous. University guys and serious swimmers, with lots of young, hunky men. The showers team with cruisers. The pool is 50 meters, clean by Manila standards.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Ladyboys are very prominent walking along Adriatico St day and night. They draw your attention almost instantly if you give them a glance. What strikes me the most is that the beautiful guys come only out of their hiding at night. During the day there are not to many good looking ones around. I guess they are all working or sleeping. The nearby Robinson shopping mall is a popular gay hangout, especially the Figaro coffee bar. If you are looking for a lover I recommend you screen thoroughly before making the plunge. Also keep an eye on your wallet. Many tourists have been taken to the cleaners. But all in all, Filipinos are a warm-hearted and friendly people." -- noc, Nov 16, 2006

• Cafe Havana (Cuban cuisine)
  Adriatico St in the Remedios Circle area. This is a bold, brassy and classy eatery. It is a little pricey but it has the style to warrant the cost. The crowd is mixed, with some gays, and the food is really good. Flirty waiters are all show. The owner does a lot to support the gay community. Dress code and reports of door guards showing preference to foreigners over locals.
• Campus Diner
  Taft Avenue, half way between Quirino Avenue and Vito Cruz Stations, not far from De La Salle University. During the day--an eating place for students--but by night it turns into a karaoke bar.
• Deutsches Haus Restaurant (German and international)
  105 D-F, Scout Castor Corner Tomas Morato, Quezon City, 410-5927, FAX 410-5927, email. Friendly service, excellent food and drinks. Open to people from all walks of life and definitely some friendly gay staff. Open 11am-11pm. Specialties include all kinds of German sausages, pork knuckles, and beers. Utopia Member Discount

  The Rainbow Project (international cuisine) Orosa Napkil Courtyard, Maria Orosa St (at the corner of Julio Napkil St), Malate. Gay-owned and operated restaurant and lounge bar, right next door to Bed (same owners). Dine al fresco at their 100%-car-free outdoor area with choices ranging from pastas to seafood to steaks. 2/F is a laid-back lounge with reasonably priced wines and cocktails, plus a yummy set of coffees mixed with liquors. Open Wed - Sat, 20:00 until late enough that you can enjoy breakfast after the clubbing! Utopia Member Discount

• Sala (Western fine dining)
  610 J. Nakpil, Malate (off Remedios Circle, near Mr. Piggy's and The Library), 524-6770. This small 5-star restaurant is one minute from the Orosa Courtyard. Excellent western cuisine and splendid interior. Service is very good and the all-male waiters are most presentable. Sala is an upmarket restaurant but prices are low compared with similar places in other Asian cities. Definitely a place to start the evening for those who love an exclusive western meal with first class wine. Attracts a gay and straight mixed crowd.
• Sonata (mixed)
  Maria Orosa St near intersection of Julio Nakpil St. In the courtyard building with Komiks and New York Café. Indoor and outdoor seating. Inexpensive drinks and food, so its a popular place to sit and watch gay passersby. Cheap drinks and friendly service.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "The Manila food scene is great: value for dollars at really good places. Cafe Adriatico as a reliable brunch haunt and check out the caipirinhas at Havana across the street on Remedios Circle." -- redd, Apr 27, 2006

Click here for Manila saunas for men.

• Bottom-less at Top & Bottom Shop
  Nakpil Cor. Orosa St (above O bar), Malate, email. Now, Filipino gays can wear their pride on their sleeves with Bottom-less Shirts. With statements ranging from subtle to screaming, they offer a wide range of clever designs to capture your personality. Celebrate queer pride fashionably.
• Firma Home Accessories
  Unit 2604, Cityland 10, Tower 1, 156 HV Dela Costa St, Makati, 892-8879, email. A gay-operated home decorative and accessory shop. It carries a large variety of home decorative items, jewelry, plus fashion accessories from all over Southeast Asia and items designed and fabricated by the shop's own little "manufactory". Open until late in the evenings, which means partygoers can drop by to admire or buy some of the beautiful items on display.
• Firma Home Accessories
  4/F Rustan's Dept Store (Home Section), Ayala Center, 813-3739 ext 268, email. Second branch of this shop.
• Pride Exchange
  2/F Orosa Courtyard, Oroso and Nakpil St, Malate, 522-9429, email. The first and only gay shop in the Philippines. The shop sells clothes, sexy undergear, kinky toys, condoms, lubricants, gay and lesbian literature, tapes, CDs. Open Mon-Thu from 3pm-midnight and Fri-Sat from 6pm-3am.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Shopping is great -- found European labels in sizes that I could not get hold of in L.A. Check out Makati for the shopping: Rockwell, Glorietta and Greenbelt, to mention a few places." -- redd, Apr 27, 2006