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 Pride March 2009

Comments from Utopians:

"General advice travelling in Manila. Photocopy your passport and bring it with you. Don't bring extra money if you go out at night or to a sauna. And don't bring credit cards or ID. Too many stories of pickpockets or drugging and stealing, so be careful." -- billylondon, May 18, 2010

• 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.

• Pagan Nomads
  Unit 4, 49 K-9th St., West Kamias, Quezon City, 928-7472, 359-7309, 092-0835-3761, 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. Cruisy in the late afternoons.
• Fitness First Gym
  Mall of Asia. Cruisy.
• Fitness First Gym
  Robinson's Place, Ermita.
• Fitness First Gym
  Tecno Plaza One, Eastwood City, Libis, Metro-Manila.
• Fitness First Gym
  8/F Robinsons Summit Center, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Especially cruisy at this branch during lunch break and late afternoon until evening.
• Golds Gym
  Glorietta 4, Ayala Mall, Makati.
• Isaak Gym
  185 Ronquillo Bld, Kaingin, Balintawak Q.C., 0918-554-2376, email. Gay-friendly gym near the Royal bus stop on Edsa. Very discreet and a lot of security guards, masseurs, twinks and macho dancers come here to muscle pump.

Click here for Manila massage for men.

• Cinemas
  • Alta Cinema
    Aurora Blv near Cubao, Quezon City. Very cruisy. Sun best in early evening.
  • Baclaran Cinema
    In front of Jolibee.

    Comments from Utopians:

    "Foreigners should absolutely stay away from Baclaran Cinema. Two gays (one a cross dresser, the culprit) found out I did not speak Tagalog. They surrounded me and played with me. Later, I found out all my cash was missing from my wallet. They were so sly at stealing only the cash!" -- chor999, Jul 9, 2009

  • Film center near Plaza Hotel, especially mid week and late evenings.
  • Remar Cinema Cubao
    Near Gateway, only a few meters away from Alta Cinema. If you've been to Alta, Baclaran or any of the shabby Quiapo cinemas where PLUs abound, Remar is cleaner, bigger and well-ventilated by comparison. To meet younger men, pay P$110 for the deluxe (upper part) of the cinema and you can also cruise downstairs. The lower area is mostly for mature men. It is cheaper (P$80), but you may not be allowed to cruise upstairs.

    Comments from Utopians:

    "Went to Remar cinema on Fri. Would recommend it -- safe, clean and many hot guys." -- wilfrid, Sep 6, 2009

• QC Circle
  You'll find cruisers here who usually circle this area on a daily basis from 7-11pm and from 4am onwards (especially when it's still dark). The area for gays is the 'hill' near the ballroom dancing studio.
• Shopping Centers
  • 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 50m and clean by Manila standards.
• UP Circle
  Another hot spot. Cruisng time is usually 6-10pm (there's a curfew). There is a CR near the naked statue on the right side where cruisers usually 'chill out'. Just like in QC Circle you'll also find guys who jog or brisk-walk alone or with a dog. Just look them in the eye to see if they have the same thing in mind.

• 3rd X Café
  82 Tirona Hi-way, Mabolo, Bacoor, email. Gay-friendly. Good music and food. Utopia Member Discount
• 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

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 12, North Syquia, 1991 M.H. del Pilar St, Malate, 524-8740, 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.