(I got an email
from a reader, a United States Navy retired serviceman.
I am publishing it verbatim on this blog as well as my reply to
same.)
Hello
Goddy
May
25
Goddy,
I just saw your blog entries for Olongapo and I have to say those pictures caused
a flood of memories...... all quite pleasant.
I have to say that from my first visit to your beautiful country, as a
sailor, and throughout my Naval career thereafter, I considered the Philippines
to be my second home. I was lucky to
have spent considerable time there....... Since I spent so much time in the
Aviation side of the Navy, Gordon Avenue was my favorite haunt. The old places I used to visit for a beer
(every time I got to spend time out in town) were VP Alley and the UA Club
across the street. For sure, I spent alot of time up and down Magsaysay,
enjoying the food, the people and the fabulous music. Thanks for the few pix of Gordon. Those are
rare, to say the least. But they sure do
bring back memories of my younger days and the great time I had meeting some
really fine people. Yes, I visited many
other cities in the Philippines and especially enjoyed the time I was able to
spend on Samar Is. LOVED that place! All I can say is that the people of the PI
are forever friends with me....... You folks are the best!
I
could go on and on..... obviously..... again, I just wanted to say thanks for
posting those pix, especially those of Gordon Ave...... If you have any more,
especially if they are of the old VP Alley or the UA Club locations, I would
sure appreciate seeing them. Of course,
you may not even be able to locate those anymore. But if you have any pix of that area, I would
love to see them. THANKS AGAIN and God
Bless!
Mike
Armstrong (USN Retired)
MY REPLY
Intersection of Magsaysay Drive and Gordon Avenue, Olongapo City
October
29, 2014
Hi,
Mike!
Thank
you for your email and for the kind words and pleasant things you said about my
blog as well as our country—the Philippines—and its people!
I
got your email about an hour just after you sent it and I’m sorry for not
replying right away. I was thinking it
would make you a lot happier if I could grant your request; that is, posting
more pictures of Gordon Avenue, your favorite haunt, particularly the area
where VP Alley and UA Club were located.
I
was quite familiar with both establishments that you mentioned not only because
I used to pass by the area but also because I worked with the Military Police,
Office of the Provost Marshal, U.S. Naval Base, Subic Bay and we had a list of
all clubs, hotels and restaurants (about a thousand of them collectively—if I
recall it correctly) as well as their addresses in Olongapo City and nearby
Subic town. But twenty-two years have
passed since the U.S. Bases’ pullout and I can no longer remember their exact
location. I made an effort to ask an
elderly person out there but he, too, could not recall even the buildings that housed them.
You
probably were attached to Patrol Squadron 47 in Cubi Point when you were
stationed here. I remember VP stands for
Patrol Squadron. And VP Alley must be
for VP personnel. But that's just my
guess.
Anyway,
I am sending you on separate email recently-taken photographs of Gordon Avenue
and other areas of Olongapo and the former U.S. Naval Base and look forward to
sending you pictures of the area or the new business establishments where VP
Alley and UA Club were located.
Thank
you again for your email and God bless!
Goddy
