Death Of A Decade

On April 24, 2003 Bed Manila opened its doors to gay clubbers. It was not the start of gay clubbing and how Malate came to be, but it was when clubbing made such progression to new heights, that the Manila gay club scene would not be what it is now.

As a young gay clubber in Manila I also started going to Malate and its offerings. Bed was already three years old when I happen to visit Malate out of my curiousity to see what it is like to party with people like us.

Unfortunately Bed was closed that time as that was a Tuesday.

Chelu and Obar were the first clubs I have tried. Obar back then was still free of admission and Chelu was still more of a chill-and-videoke type place.

Then there was Fluid, a twinks and yuppies place where the entrance was cheap and the crowd was good enough that I didn't even dare think of entering Bed. When Fluid closed down, it was then that I decided to enter Bed and see what the fuss is all about in the very infamous club I have been hearing from schoolmates. Groping and booking notwithstanding.

You have to admit, Bed is a club for the 'elitists'. Entrance fee that time already was a whopping Php300.00, and at that time, a student can barely afford to go inside, save for those who are on the VIP list. Believe me, I used to save my allowance just to get in!

My fondest memory was when McVie, Tristan, LondonBoy, Carrie, and Mugen and I partied the night away. It was McVie's birthday back then. And he was also the one who introduced me to the ledge.

Oh, that legendary ledge. Where you feel like a god even for the night! Where the platform provides you that sense of power and energy to go on through the night, just dancing away. That's where my love for the ledge sprouted. And it doesn't matter if people look at you from beneath trying to get your attention or not, or you just feel the music and the rhythm. You and the ledge are all that matters.

Songs like Fashionista, I Just Wanna F*cking Dance, Absolutely Not, etc. were being played by the DJ and you got hammered by the betraying alcohol and the enchanting sound. Nothing amounts to that feeling.

But just like any other superclubs, Bed had its time of rising and falling...

When news got out that the club was burned, people were in disbelief. I for one was saddened by the news but I have long not stepped into its premises for more than a year.

People looked for places to go, clubbers scrambled over Metro Manila just to check any new gay clubs around their areas, and as it was perfect timing, a club in Ortigas rose. With the hopes of the young and not-so-young gay clubbers to be entranced.

For more than two years, Bed remained close. Shut down from the rising pink population. Some people missed the club. Some did not.

Then news broke out that Bed was re-opening again! People were spreading the good news like wildfire. I too were telling acquaintances of the event.

Unfortunately, the re-opening was much criticized for its sky-high entrance fee. The place got bigger and better in many ways one could enumerate but the crowds dwindled in numbers. People went there because of nostalgia. I was just at home resting that time.

Since Bed's reopening, I only went there thrice: the Love Yourself Anniversary last year, the official launching of Hornet last month, and lastly, the Farewell Party last April 27, 2013.

Yes folks, Bed, our Bed, the Bed we have been going to for several years will be closing and transferring to a new place.

MGG, Mugen, Nishiboy, Daredevilry, and Discreet Manila were all there to witness the last hurrah. All were in high spirits even if it was short-lived. We were there. We were present. We gave all our energy because soon we know it will be over.

So it's not really because Bed is closing down. It's more of 'What will happen to Malate now?'

That, we will see in the coming years.