Olongapo is a 1st class highly urbanized city in Central Luzon (Region III), Philippines. Located in the province of Zambales but governed independently from the province
Along with the municipality of Subic (and later, Castillejos and San Antonio as well as the municipalities of Dinalupihan, Hermosa and Morong in Bataan), it comprises Metro Olongapo, one of the twelve metropolitan areas in the Philippines.
These color photos were taken by Edgar that captured street scenes of Olongapo, Philippines in 1974.
Along with the municipality of Subic (and later, Castillejos and San Antonio as well as the municipalities of Dinalupihan, Hermosa and Morong in Bataan), it comprises Metro Olongapo, one of the twelve metropolitan areas in the Philippines.
These color photos were taken by Edgar that captured street scenes of Olongapo, Philippines in 1974.
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| The Victory Liner terminal |
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| Outside of the NAVBASE Subic Main Gate, looking back across the bridge toward Olongapo |
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| A little farther down the street but looking forward (towards Rizal and Magsaysay intersection) |
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| Around the corner onto Magsaysay |
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| Closer still to the Main Gate, but looking back away from it |
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| Del Rosario Enterprises |
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| Kong's was the only restaurant in Olongapo that was popular with US military personnel |
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| Looking toward the Rizal and Magsaysay intersection |
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| Magsaysay Street |
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| Magsaysay Street |
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| Magsaysay Street |
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| Magsaysay Street |
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| Magsaysay, looking toward the Main Gate |
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| Manila Avenue heading towards Kalaklan |
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| Note D'Wave Club (round blue & white sign) |
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| Olongapo street scenes with the burned-out Pauline's Club at right center (it burned in late 1968 or early 1969) |
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| Olongapo street scenes |
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| Olongapo street scenes |
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| Olongapo street scenes |
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| Olongapo street scenes |
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| Plaza Hotel. The building with the white arches on top is actually another hotel, the Marmont |
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| Pussy Cat Nite Club |
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| Rizal Avenue from bridge across creek toward traffic circle |
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| Rizal farther towards Magsaysay Street looking back |
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| Rizal farther towards Magsaysay Street looking back |
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| Rizal farther towards Magsaysay Street looking back |
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| The Apple Disco (not a true disco) and the Purple Haze Club (at right with the curved projection above the entrance) |
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| Traffic circle where Manila Avenue runs into Rizal Avenue |
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| View from the bridge from the Subic Main Gate to Olongapo |
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| View from the bridge from the Subic Main Gate to Olongapo |
I sure wish Gapo looked like that now. It was so clean and no traffic, the economy was much better with the base.
ReplyDeleteMan this brings back a lot of Memories , " smiles," at Jolo's and the Joy Club 2 , and The Brown Fox and the Sierra Club , I remember Standing Shore Patrol and meeting up at the B-52 club over by the Traffic Circle, and all the drunks we hauled in this was back in 1984
ReplyDeleteThe people of Olongapo were wonderful. It is impossible to describe this place to others (Filipeno or American). The energy of this place was powerful. . . everything was MORE
ReplyDeleteMore real, MORE intense. . . The air was electric with possibilities unlimited . . . You cannot describe it unless you were there. You cannot comprehend it if you did not live it.
ReplyDeleteI visited Po Town a few times in June 1971. It was surreal. Great beer; San Miguel, great bands, great bars; Pauline's, The Rocket Room, drunken sailors, and ... well if you were there you know.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe this was 1974. I left there in mid-1970 and the streets were NOT paved. The streets were all mud in the rainy season and dusty in the dry season. I didn;t see a single 'club' that I recall except Kong's which was a lot different than that. And Kong's wasn't the 'only restaurant in Olongapo that was popular with US military personnel'. Papagayo's was much more popular (tacos!). I think these photos are presented as earlier than they are to appeal to military personnel who were there earlier. I knew Olongapo like the back of my hand, including the off-limits areas. I rented a house off-base.
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