Mango's Tribute to 

The Midnight Rambler

Last Updated on November 17, 2007

The new Midnight Rambler

MEMORIES OF THE RAMBLER
Photos and Story by Larry & Tina Agee

Unless a person was "station dito" in Barrio Barretto during the eighties and early nineties, he or she would not understand that there were actually two different Midnight Ramblers. For my money both were my kind of bar, and both were in the same place.

I arrived in Subic Oct.'81, a 38-year old, single, civilian government worker, and because I must have been real good in some past life, the gods granted me an eleven year stay. It took me about a month to find the Barrio, and it remained my home my entire time. 

In the early 80's the Barrio was home to the station-dito's (diesel boat and Sterrett sailors, the sailors stationed on-base, and a sprinkling of us "sand crabs"). The road from the back gate thru the Barrio wasn't paved, and on a good night there would be electricity. The norm was candles and warm beer.

Most of the bars were in the area of the Barrio closer to the base. The only reason anyone would venture past the Irish Rose at night would be to go to Subic City. Beyond the Irish Rose the Barrio was in total darkness. Except for a few local bars, The Rambler stood alone way out there.

The standard response to anyone asking for directions to the Rambler (day or night - it was that well hidden) was "head out toward Subic and get off the jeepney right before it climbs the first hill out of the Barrio, then follow the music". The bar was basically hidden behind a bamboo wall and the sign "Midnight Rambler Bar - We Never Sleep-Open 24 hours" hung by a small opening in the thicket, which was the entrance. The doors, although short-lived, came later.

Inside was a jukebox, a pool table, a dog, a monkey, and a one-legged Aussie with a ZZ Top beard. This was Tony. The jukebox was loaded with great music and played continuously. Over the pool table was a sign "no smoking of marijuana allowed in this establishment". The little white dog named "Rambler" would be trekking around the top of the big-square rap around bar, occasionally stopping for Tony to scratch him. 

And then there was the monkey. There was always this chance of being hit by a flying San Miguel bottle or mo-jo glass after some yo-yo would buy that crazy monkey a drink. Tony was everyone's friend, and the reason so many of us went there. He was a fixture. Regardless of the time (remember, it was open 24 hours) Tony was at the bar. I don't think he ever slept in those early days. 

The Rambler was home to many submariners (especially diesel boat sailors), and since my job brought me close to the submarine world, I came to know these guys both professionally and socially. Professionally they worked as a family, knowing their lives depended on it. This carried over in their social world also. They were like family when they partied together, too. And party they (we) did! Almost every weekend there was a ship's party. Then there were the birthday parties, promotion parties, re-enlistment parties, etc. There was something going on in the bar all the time, day and night.

One thing I never saw was a fight. It was that kind of atmosphere. For some reason no one ever lasted long in the Rambler if he came in with an attitude. I never remember any one being kicked out either. Not even a certain civilian who was kicked out of most bars, and also banned from the pool league. When he was in the Rambler he knew how to act. Tony had that effect on people.

When the diesel submarines Darter and Grayback were de-commissioned, and Sterrett was re-homeported, the days of the barrio belonging to the station ditos were slowly coming to an end. To the dismay of us old timers, progress was slowly creeping into the Barrio. The road was paved, providing for a speedway for the Victory Liners. Electricity became less unpredictable. More bars opened on the Rambler end of the Barrio, and-maybe in order to compete with Magsaysay, and get the fleet sailor to the Barrio (taboo in the early days!) - many of the businesses went to disco, complete with air conditioning, flashing lights and awesome dancers.

During this transition the rambler also changed. Amazingly, it only changed structurally - the "new" Rambler. With the arrival of Kym came progress for the Rambler. Tony was provided much needed relief. Now he only partied half the 24 hours. The bar tripled in size, the music received a huge up-grade, the "munchies" went up-scale, the place became a tropical garden, and many of the faces changed. But the place was exactly the same as it always was. The atmosphere and attitudes did not change. This is the reason the Midnight Rambler was so successful for twenty years. It never changed.

At the bar 1983. Nemie, Me, Randy and Midnite	The annual Britannia party at the Rambler	Kicked back with Tony and the baboy out back	Roy's famous NYE watermelon punch. Andrew, Kym, Mick & Andy.

All hail the Midnight Rambler!

Photos below contributed by Anonymous

Some of the Girls	Monsoons flood the Bar	Merle & Apol	Monsoons flood the Bar	Jeepney passes the Entrance

Photos below contributed by Unknown Source

Midnight Rambler Memories

Well ain't it a shame to see the Rambler go. Like a lot of other people the Rambler was my home away from home when I was in the Philippines. I met my wife there, did my drinking there, made an arsehole of myself there, (not in the same league as Terry though) slept there, played pool there, and anything else you can think of there. No single memory stands out but the people that I met there was the thing that sticks in my mind. They came from all over the world with different backgrounds different cultures different languages and we are all better people for having been there and met one another. To Kim, Tony, and the staff there thank you for always making us feel welcome and for being a part of our lives.   Scotty Mckenzie

 

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