POBLACION District in Makati, according to those in the know, is reportedly bursting with unabated decadence as it brightens the night sky until the sun rises anew. Standing in the middle of it all is P. Burgos St., with some saying it is the standard-bearer of the notorious red-light district.
How did this happen? Didn’t Makati Mayor Abby Binay declare last year that she would not tolerate the sex trade and human trafficking in the city? Several hotels, spas, and massage clinics were shut down after her pronouncement.
Since then, however, prostitution has reportedly become unbridled on Burgos St. and nearly streets, not to mention disco and girlie bars.
The police would, as usual, just look the other way, but would promptly pounce on a foreigner drinking beer out in the streets.
‘This brings to mind former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and former Marikina Mayor Bayani Fernando who, despite the persistent opposition of their officials and followers, shut down the red-light districts in their cities.’
As we recall, Mayor Binay ordered the city’s Business Permit and Licensing Office last year to close down all establishments engaged in such unlawful acts. What gives?
Many of those that I talked to are alarmed over the moral decay the Poblacion has spawned in the city, even among the youth. Will Makati officials continue to look the other way?
Taxi drivers are among those very familiar with how the sex trade has become quite brisk in the red-light district. The twist, according to them, is that homosexuals have sidelined their female counterparts, especially with regard to foreign “clients.”
Drunken tourists often regale taxi drivers on the aggressive sex skills of gays and transgenders. Taxi drivers say that if Makati officials would like to see proof, they only have to cruise Burgos St.
This brings to mind former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and former Marikina Mayor Bayani Fernando who, despite the persistent opposition of their officials and followers, shut down the red-light districts in their cities.
Lim faced more than 30 criminal and civil suits in his heroic efforts to stop the operations of girlie bars, discos, and massage clinics in the notorious Mabini district. Fernando was just as undeterred, closing down close to 80 similar establishments in the Calumpang area in Marikina.
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From Head Pastor Alvin Carag of the Church of Living Faith in Malabon: “We should embrace God’s presence. It is God who causes us to be blessed so that we may be a blessing to others. The world needs to see that we serve a generous God, so let us be Kingdom sowers. So that thanksgiving may be offered up to Him Who gives exceeding grace and provision to all of His Kingdom builders.”
