Back in the 80’s and early 90’s I had some really bad experiences while going to movie theaters here in the Philippines so I just stopped going altogether. I had taken my wife and daughters to a Movie in Manila at a mall in 1994 and was hit straight in the head with culture shock. The bathroom smelled better than the theater, the place was pitch black without a courtesy light to aid in getting to your seat. Cella Phones were just catching on and were in full use during the entire movie. Those whom could not afford the phones talked during the movie from beginning to end.
But the clincher for me was; albeit I laughed for days over it, the pop corn machine was full and the odor was inviting, I stepped up and ordered 4 bags of Pop Corn, and was promptly told that they had no bags to put it in, the bags were not in stock, I then foolishly asked why then did they bother to make the Pop Corn, was that just to tease the customers? Why do I do silly things like that? I think I just like to see the “Head Scratch” when I do.
Thus began my 17 year hiatus from going to the movies here in the Philippines. Until last Monday, My wife and two daughters plus their husbands, my granddaughter my niece and a friend of the girls named Bebe, wanted to go to the movies at the Brand New SM Mall in Olongapo. I handed them the keys to my car and the money and bid them a fond farewell.
My granddaughter looked at me with those pretty brown eyes and said; “Lolo I want to go with you.” My niece Shay-shay joined in and I melted, so with dread I climbed into the car and we went to town. I know my wife and daughters put the girls up to it.
Cecil (My son-in-law) likes to drive and he had the keys anyway so off we went, at the SM Mall the parking in on the fifth and sixed floor, which is steeply uphill with a never ending left turn until you get to the parking area and they charge a fee and no validation of the parking ticket.
The parking space was located and Cecil (My new Son-in-law) proceeded to back in to it, when loud bang is heard and the car shuddered! Hmmm…I wonder what that could be? A very large drain pipe painted white to match the white wall behind it was what we hit. A gasp is heard throughout the car. I lightened the mood by saying, I think we bung-bunged the car, smiling the whole time. The security guard was there, 8 to 9 spectators, plus everyone from my car.
It broke a bolt that held the rear bumper in place and there was no real damage to the car. Cecil was looking at me with big eyes waiting for my anger and I smiled and said; Guess who’s taking the car into the shop tomorrow?”
Then his wife Ymir Thea explained to him about the one time she had driven my Lancer straight into a wall and I gave her and her sister money to go to town while I explained it to their mother. I was laughing the whole time. Cecil felt better, when I said I’ve done worse, and the damage was not more than that little ding. Off to the movies.
Buy the tickets and then fall in line for snacks, Pop Corn, both buttered and with cheese was available; plus more importantly, packaging to carry that tasty treat. Things were looking up. Entering the theater the young man inspected each and every person to insure their cella phones were set on vibrates. Wow I liked that! So into the theater we went and I notice it was very clean and air/conditioned was to the point that you could hang beef there. Courtesy lights were a twinkling, and they took you to your comfortable seat in safety. The only fault I found was that the first three rows of seats were way to close to the humongous screen. Sit up high in the back was the way to go; the movie was “The Avengers” fast action and surround sound with the volume set so that it would turn your brain to Jello, but who cares I’m half deaf anyway. Then I get the shock of my life, my niece Shay is beside me and told me at 12 years old that this was her first trip to the movies. Would that have occurred to any of you? That someone had never been to a movie before? She loved it!
The movie ends and here is my observation of my fellow viewers, no cell phones went off, no one was talking and every single person was polite, even when we were filing out. Five young boys were in a cluster re-hashing the movie minute by minute, but I knew I would see the same thing at any theater in the world. I’m going out on a limb and saying; “They enjoyed the Flick!”
On the first floor there is a Pizza Hut, so we stopped there to eat, all nine of us. Copious quantities of food and ice tea were consumed, and then the eight hundred pound elephant in the room raised its head. Cecil asked his brother-in-law Chrisanto about the dent in the car, Chrisanto explained to Cecil, that I was not angry, as he has known me for over 12 years and had never saw me angry. The following morning they would get the bumper fixed and all would be right with the world again. (So it came to pass)
On the way home, the young ladies were yacking on and all about the movie, when I turned and asked if we could go next week to see “Battleship?” You’ll never guess what their response was…
Paul, Nice story.
Wow the Po has come a long way, they have a Pizza Hut. The place I remember for Pizza was called “Sams”, I think it was right there on the main street in town.
Battleship is in the plans here to go see as well.
Neal;
We’ve even got a TGIF’s. our little town is growing up. I remember Sam’s Pizza and it’s still there unchanged from 1971.
Hi Paul – Your post reminded me of the first time I went to the movies in the Philippines in the very early 80’s. We were visiting Bohol and one afternoon as it was raining we went to see a Chuck Norris movie in Tagbilaren. Well there was more action going on in the wings with cobwebs as thick as ropes and spiders to match. God only knows what else was being harboured in the curtains. I sat the entire time with one eye on the screen and the other on the curtain expecting ‘the thing ‘to jump out at any time.
Glad to say the movie theatres have vastly improved but I prefer watching a DVD at home that way I don’t disturb the other film goers with my snoring.
Kind regards.
Jim.
Jim;
Your comment about snoring put me on the floor laughing, now that I’m seated again I saw at one movie theater long tailed creatures scurrying across the floor, I never saw the end of that Jackie Chan Movie as I swiftly departed in search of a cold beer. Snoring, that was so funny!
Loved the write up !
I rarely get to the movies as I feel my system at home can easily rival the sound.
But for the very few biggest movies of the year I venture out to see the “big” screen.
So far it was MI4 in recent times. Avanger will have to wait til my broken ankle is all the way better (though I do hobble to work and a Tom Petty concert last weekend).
I used to manage a small cinema (280 seats downstairs and 150 seat upstairs converted balcony) in the late 70s to mid 80s in Illinois. We charged a dollar for a ticket for most of that time. I learned just last year they finally shuttered it.
Presentation, auditoriums and even concessions have come a long way. But checking cel phones–awesome ! They should do that here !
Pete;
I feel the same way about watching movies on my system, but the ladies are now over ruling me, and want me with them. My last concert was SunSplash in Japan in the 90’s; it was my 5th SunSplash that I remember? It’s less than a buck to buy pirated CD’s here (Or so I’ve heard) Saturday they raided Greenhill’s Lanes (Store) and removed 10’s of thousands of CD’s. It will open again in a week.
I clearly remember I just went to a movie in 1987. And before that I went in 1964.
I just have to learn to stay home more often. Whew !
Relax folks , whatever you are rushing off to see will be on the TV in about 6 months anyhow. We have one of those TV things and I even watch it once in a while. I still think it’s just a fad.
Charlie;
Don’t wear yourself out, the kids have gotten me to go to the movies again, and now I fear it will become a regular deal. TV will never replace reading for me, as soon as my friend brings back a Kindle E Reader from that big PX in the States, I’ll start on the 500 plus books I’ve stored on my computer. I try to read at least 3 hours every day.
Drat. I saw The Avengers two times, but missed the shwarma eating scene at the end of the credits!-(
Jamie;
We had a Captain out on Diego Garcia in the 80’s, he demanded to see the full credits at the end of the flick, I had a timer hooked to the projector and we would all leave and leave him sitting there. I wonder if he liked Shwarma?
Killing time in the Airport when we left the PI we looked at the movies and having watched Amaya on the TV all of our six month stay we decided to buy it; so the wife could see the beginning. There were 5 volumes 5 hours each and I told the wife get them all, just as well have the whole movie. Got to the USA and started watching it and I liked it as English translation was printed on the bottom. We watched 20 hours and were starting volume 5 and we still hadn’t reached the point we had started at while home in the Philippines. Sure enough after 25 hours of viewing we were not even close. Went on line and found out the movie consists of around 150 episodes and we are the proud owners of 60 of them. Must be one of the longest movies ever made. Need a gunny sack of popcorn and a truck load of SMB to watch the whole thing at home.
Loren;
I’ll keep an eye out for the other 90 episodes at the movie pirate club. Oh wait, they were just raided and closed down. But they’ll pop up in a new location and now you’ll have something to look forward to on your next trip.
I like going to the movies when in Davao City. At the new mall they have a store that will bring your food and drink to you while you are watching the show. Neat. I know what you mean about the aircon, some are just too cold to enjoy the movie but they are getting better. The Hunger Games was the last movie I saw. Really liked that one.
Gary;
When did it dawn on you, that you were watching the Hunger Games and ordering food delivered?
I hope they figure out the Air/Con before I have to buy a sweater, can you buy them here?
I still can’t get over people coming into the cinema in the middle of the screening (or just before the end) then watching it through to the point they started. : )
David;
I’m with you on that, I’ve seen people do it and didn’t understand what the were doing. If they read a book do they start in the middle?
Paul, this reminds me of one of my first dates with my asawa. I took her to the theater in Olongapo on Magsaysay (1985)…I think it was Rambo. I was dressed to impress with my best white shorts and with no courtesy lights or any lights to speak of in the theater, I had to choose the one seat that had bubble gum on it. So much for my clean white shorts. My perfect date was kind enough to escort me the rest of the evening at my rear, hiding my misfortune. I always took a small flashlight with us after that. To this day, I still check the seats before sitting.
Randy;
I drove into this car stereo shop called Mac’s, on Rizal, and in the center they had no roof but the walls were still there with doors on the second floor. Then I realized it was the old movie theater that the roof had fallen in on. There still was gum on the seats!
Hard to believe it’s now been 3 years since i seen a movie and this is coming from a relatively young guy. 2012 it was back in 2009 at Clark SM cinemas. It was actually a date whom i never saw again LoL
Buddy;
Hey I’ve had dates like that, one time in Florida I went to a movie with a date in her car as all I had was a 750 Norton Bike, which she of course didn’t like. I went to get popcorn and took a taxi home. (I never saw her again also)
Looking back now you must be thinking “what the hell was i even thinking dating a western woman?” The lads sitting at the bar stool would skin ya alive for that. Many a man has come here and lived a fulfilling life
Buddy;
A western woman here in the Philippines, that’s like taking a hot dog to a steak dinner. Now I understand why you stay away from movies. (LOL)
Hey Paul,
We just saw The Avengers also, and we even brought a 16 month old child who can be highly disruptive, not to mention demanding. We also talked through the movie. There were no complaints from anybody else around us. We even brought in our own food and drink from McDonalds. Remember Drive in’s?
For over a year we didn’t go to any movies because we had a new baby, and they’re not allowed in a movie theater. But then I found out that there was a good old fasion drive in theater nearby. I thought they had gone the way of the doo doo bird. We no longer have to wait for the movie to come out on DVD. We do this every couple of weeks, amd it’s a whole lotta fun.
Hudson;
2012 and there is a Drive-in Movie still out there, the world has not gone mad; there is hope for us yet. We used to go when it was one price per car load of kids. You’d be shocked at how many teenagers you van fit in a 1951 Merc.
Hi Paul, there’s actually some good movie houses now in the big cities in the PH. I watched the Batman movie there in ’08 @ MOA, nice movie house. But rarely go to the movie here, just once in a while. I probably developed a movie fatigued after one year assignment at the LORAN Station where you watch movie every night and all day all night on weekends. It’s not unusual to get the same movies over from the Navy Motion Picture System again every few months. We trade with visiting ships offshore, still you get the same once sometimes. Sometimes you get reels that start from the middle of the story to the ending (16 mm). Sometimes the good part are missing and I found why, it gets snipped and put together as we have our own reel of the assorted cuts that the guys show as soon as the CO is asleep…or so we think. Sometime we get a John Wayne movie with Japanese overdub which is very hilarious. The good ol’ days. I wonder if the Navy Motion Picture System is still in ops with advent of DVD, streaming and Sat.?
Mars
Mars;
You are dating us when you mention the old 16MM flicks that used to circulate through the fleet. “GFF” marked on the box was always a top seller, up in the mess the projector was always set up and running 24/7.
There are good movie houses here in the Philippines now, but you must admit 20 years ago…. Not so great! But the malls have solved that and the kids and I will be going again this week.
Paul,
It seems like everytime i go to a movie here in Florida theres always a lot of teenagers that like to talk and make alot of noise in the theatre. Had to call security one time because they would not stop and were disrespectful. They were escorted out lol. One thing that would make the theatre experience better would be to start selling SMB. I know Cecil was feeling bad about the car. No use getting upset about something like that, was just accidental, it has happened to all of before and to me several times. It’s just another chapter of life in the Philippines. Also congratulations on your new grandson Jaden. I know you, Lola and the whole family are so proud. Such a good looking little boy. Take care and please keep us updated.
PapaDuck
Beer at a movie, an idea whose time has come! Boy would that catch on with me, Mmmm pretty girls selling beer in the theater, Mmmm!
As for Cecil and the car, he figured out quickly that his father-in-law was easy going, he took the car in the next day, and all is well again.
I put some pictures of the new grandson on FB, and you’ll never guess what next week’s LiP will be about! (LOL)
Hi Paul,
Nice to know that you’re enjoying the movies again in the PH. What you experienced in 94 reminds me of my own during my college years in Manila going to cheap theaters in Sta. Cruz and Recto Avenue (lol). My school was nearest there, so yes, I was in the U-Belt (university belt). They offered a lot more in those theaters, yeah, a lot more hahahah, from vendors walking the aisle selling their food stuff and from girls and gays offering “service” 😉
Jonathan;
Service during the movie? I was in the wrong theater back in 94, try to explain to a wife; “Oh honey, I thought she was an Usher!”
I cut clases when I was in school also! (LOL)
No, I was not cutting classes Paul, since this was already in college, I enrolled early and fixed my subjects in such a way that it won’t disrupt my “entertainment” schedule, that is on Thursdays. It’s the day of the week that they’re changing the films with new release, so on every Thursdays I have probably 1 or 2 subjects max. It pays to know how to manage your time Paul (lol)
You have a great attitude Paul. Loved the story. I feel like going to a movie right now. Favorite part was the Popcorn and no bags. You have settled in nicely here in being happy with only a head scratch.
Corey;
The head scratch is the part of living here that I like the most. I can’t blame the kid working for next to nothing when it’s their boss that dropped the ball. I did ask for a handfull of popcorn, but it was against the rules. (LOL)
Hi Paul – Try the Imax! Ha ha. there are two here, both at SM malls. And then there is cinema where they have lazy boy chairs and unlimited popcorn. You should drive down in Manila and watch Battleship here.. you have car anyway. Ha ha 🙂
Sugar;
I saw my first IMAX movie at the World’s Fair in New York in the 60’s; it gave me a headache, or was that caused by my time at the German Beer Pavilion? But the movies here at SM Olongapo will have to do for now. Someday IMAX will find its way out on the Island, I’ll wait until then! (LOL)
Is there a movie anywhere in the world worth going to Manila to see??? That would have to be a super great movie with free SMBs and pop corn.
Loren;
Mindy does Manila! Naw I’d wait for the DVD.
Hi Paul,
There have been some big movies out lately and my kid in the US keeps me going to the movies a couple of times a month. I haven’t been to the cinema in the Phils yet. There isn’t one in the province. When we are in Manila or Cebu I get the blank stare from the asawa like ‘why go to there?’ Frankly I’m not sure she’s been to a cinema. I think I’ll find out next week when we’re in Manila, hehe.
Mark G.
Mark;
I found that the price of the movie is far better than the US, where you spend an arm and a leg, or your first born child. It was very reasonable; I paid for 9 people with snacks, plus Pizza Hut after and spent about $40.00. Enjoy Manila and the movie! Sugar (above) recommends the IMAX!
Senior,
That story just made my day!! Movies in the PO again.
The last movie I went to in the PO was when I was stationed there in the 80’s You explained it to the tee , BUT you left out one thing RATS AND LOTS OF RATS!!! Forget the restrooms with no tolietpaper or water their were RATS!!!
During the move when I heard something and looked down all I could see was dark figures running around my feet. Needles to say I hovered out of there and never returned.
That’s probably why they never bothered with lights….then you could see the rats! 😮
Randy;
You must be right!
Bruce;
In my response to Jim (above) I mentioned “Rats”; I think Randy is right as to why they kept it so dark in there. No vermin at the SM Movies!
Senior,
So you did. That just proves that my short term memory has a short in it.
God I need some therapy.
Bruce;
All can be cured with the first painted label SMB!
Paul,
Last time i went to the Cinema they were still running Pathe News, ha ha.
I can’t remember how many decades ago that was, LoL.
My fiance and I love to go to movies in the Philippines. He is from America and actually likes going to movies more in the Philippines. He says the theaters in the Philippines, at least in Manila, are as good as anything he has been to in the United States.
One reason he loves movies here is the cost. A week or so ago he wrote me about going to the Avengers in America. The ticket was $13.50. The popcorn, small, cost him $6, and the soda (a medium) was also $6! I had a hard time believing those prices. That is about P1070!! Yikes.
We could go to the movie here in Glorietta 4 for half that…and that is for both of us!!!
And one thing he likes is that the theaters here openly let you bring in food from other places like McDonalds, Wendys, or other places like that. He said in America they would really frown if you walked into the theater with a bag full of food from a local fast food chain.
Cherly;
I think in the states they would bar you for life if you tried to bring in outside food to a movie. Their expencive snacks is where they make the most money.
Hi Tom,
Why not give ur family a treat, try the SM North Edsa IMAXX Theater ( probably a 2.5 hours drive via SCTEX) I watched Dark Shadows last Friday, and its in 2D, it was like being inside the movie and the sound system was awesome my heart beat faster every-time crazy background music was on. Me and my friends cant wait to watch Men in Black 3 because its in 3D. And oh if you get tickets try getting the middle seats, there the best seats in the house and we got them when we watched!
I haven’t been back in Gapo in a year, SM was still being constructed the last time I went there but had to go straight to my friends house in Barreto Subic,but I might check it out im planning to go there soon. Now that I’m back getting in shape , I super miss jogging at Remy Field and chasing after kids who run like there’s no tomorrow, i think that’s how i really lost much of my weight!
Speb Freespiritme;
Dark Shadows is playing here at SM Olongapo, a 15 minute drive for me, I’ve found that I don’t do well with 3D, I have it on my TV and I’ve tried both the electronic and regular glases and I get nothing but a headache.
I only run if someone is after me, but 12 once curls keep me in great shape.
Good morning Paul and again you make my day and make me smile..i think you have a natural writer talent, lol…i imagine you with the pop corn without the bag did you try to get some in your pocket…i am sure you pay first and after they told you they have no bag…lol…
I am also a grand father and i just imagine you melting when she was looking at you, i really know this feeling….When my grand child look at me at take my hand and saying ” Grand-papa S’il vou-plait vient” impossible to resist…no matter your size lol….
I was also 12 years old about when i saw my first movie at the cinema, it was Tarzan and after the movie i ran until home never stop about 2 miles, I do beleive I was Tarzan for little while,,,very good memory…
But i am curious here about the rear bumper bolt, that i have to say it never happen to me,,,or i am a better driver or our bolts here are better…
Cheers and tanks again, to me smile..Never stop to write, we can tell it is from your heart…
Lolo56;
The bold didn’t break, but the part of the bumper that the bolt fits through broke, plastic cars. If I was driving an old piece of Detroit Iron from the 70’s SM would have had to replace their pipe.
So trur about grand Kids, they can twist me like a pretzel. I can’t ever refuse them.
My first trip to a big movie house in Boston was with my Dad to see Sink The Bismark, 10 years later I joined the Navy.