Heading to Angeles and Clark

We checked out of the Manila Hotel on Friday Morning and headed for Clark via the North Expressway tollroad.  I had been on this road during my visits to the PI in 1967/68, but for alumni from the mid-60s or earlier it is new.

Traffic was a killer until we got past about Bulican north of Manila, then it opened up nicely.  I got my first view of Mt. Arayat as we passed into Pampanga Province.  It was difficult to see through the rain and clouds surrounding the mountain, but I recognized it immediately.  Rain was still falling lightly as we exited the expressway just north of Dau and Angeles.

My first view of MacArthur Highway brought another surge of nostalgia.   There it was, traffic, noises, people, and some of the old odors of more than 32 years ago!

Some things had changed.  The road looked better and wider.  The streets were cleaner.  And then there was the Dau MacDonalds.  We stopped for lunch.  I picked a cheeseburger meal with fries rather than rice.  It was great!  Also great was the taste of an old fashioned coke with real cane sugar!  I can't drink the corn syrup/other sugar recipes in the states.  I was in heaven!  I'm not sure what the meal cost, it was either a couple of dollars or several thousand.  I hadn't gotten used to exchange rates on the fly yet...lol.

We then headed for the base.  Passed 1st Street Balibago, one of my old stomping grounds.  It looked a lot different.

I also noticed that the old Balibago fields were gone, converted into what looked like parks.  We turned right on Checkpoint Road.

There it was!  The main gate to Clark, blocked by the huge Salikot Gate.  Jeepneys, traffic, trikes, and people swarming everywhere.  There was also a large carnival just outside the gates!

Our first drive down Mitchell Highway to the Holiday Inn brought back many more memories.  We stopped at the Clark Museum before the Holiday Inn.  Said hello to Cephie and did a short tour of the exhibits.  They have a wonderful setup.  Can't wait to get our exhibits on display.  She has a very nice area set aside for us with a lighted display case and mucho wall space.  We promised to visit again next week.

On to the Holiday Inn (old Chambers Hall, which didn't exist when I was at Clark).  The hotel was beautiful!

We partied that night in Angeles, visiting many of VJ's old haunts on Fields Avenue.  He was a legend here too from the old days.  It was amazing how many still remembered him.

Saturday late morning we drove out to the Four Seasons Restaurant operated by Bruce and Carmen McTavish.  Bruce is a world class WBC referee and has handled 4 of the 5 biggest fights of all time!  The food was amazingly good and cheap.

Saturday afternoon we headed back out to Fields to visit Cathy Forren '76 at her nice salon.  It was great to finally meet and thank her for the help she has given us in preparing for our November trip.  VJ's dentist, Dr. Tayag was right next door, so we waited for him to finish.  Five fillings and a cleaning - less than $100!

Later that day we drove out to Carmenville to visit Luz Hawkins, Bruce's wife.  It was nice meeting her too!  They have a great home!

More partying in Angeles and Fields Ave. on Saturday night.

Sunday we headed out to VJ's Gomez Family Reunion at Holy Angel University in Angeles.  Over 400 family members showed up from all over the world!  Had a great time.  Met the former U.S. and China Ambassador.

Next - Wagner High

Comments and Lessons Learned:

-  traffic was very heavy in Manila until we got out of the city
-  took about 1 1/2 hours to Clark via the expressway
-  PI cokes are much better than stateside
-  fast food places are all over the Angeles area - MacDonalds, Little Caesar's, Dominos, KFC, Pizza Hut, etc.  All the food was cheaper than the states, but seemed to be as good quality.
-  traffic is miserable on Fields Ave near the main gate - all the time
-  the Four Seasons restaurant on Clark had the best stateside food selection of any local restaurants
-  more stateside merchandise is available through the duty free shops on Clark than was ever sold by the old BX and Commissary.
-  several banks and ATMs are available on Clark.

More soon.

John '65 and VJ '70