Is the philippines gay friendly
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They also served an excellent breakfast buffet.
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Gay Bars in the Philippines
When it comes to gay bars in the Philippines, don’t expect too much.
There were no official gay bars in Boracay, El Nido or Cebu, however there is a small gay scene in the capital city of Manila.
Gay Bars in Manila
If you travel to Manila, check out these gay bars:
O Bar Manila – this is the most popular weekend gay club in Manila.
You can either pay for a private car (up to $60) or find yourself a group minibus where you are more likely to pay around the $15-20 mark.
Boracay
Finally, after being a little bit away from the tourist track I wanted to go somewhere with a bit more life.
Like everywhere I went, Boracay is a very beautiful island and one of the more well known and established destinations in the Philippines.
Boracay is a relatively small island split into three ‘zones’ with each zone centred around a bus station, 1, 2 or 3.
The main and most popular zone to be in is zone 2.
This would remove the requirement of undergoing a costly and tedious court process, putting the country one step closer to guaranteeing the right of intersex persons to legal recognition.
Outright’s research in 2025 indicates that lesbian, bisexual, and queer women in the country are subjected to various forms of online gender-based violence, including hate speech and sexual harassment, and that anti-LGBTIQ stigma impedes access to redress from official channels.
Moreover, these events would hopefully stamp the gay Philippines on the map.
One of the annual events in the Philippines is the Metro Manila Pride March. These are the ones I did and I was blown away by the beauty of the places I was taken to.
All tours are similar prices, around $20-40 per person with lunch and snorkelling gear included.
This cemented the significance of the gay Philippines to society. After this event, there have been various pride march events that takes place across the country.
Recently, the voice of the LGBT community has already reached the Congress. In 2018, Republic Act 11166 established state policies that prohibit discrimination based on HIV and AIDS status.
It looks fun!
F Club – now closed.
Boyzone Bar – unsure if this is open, listed on google but no socials to verify (let me know!).
The One 690 Entertainment Bar Manila – this is a gay club and high production go-go show with ‘friendly’ staff if you get our gist.
One cottage even has its own plunge pool!
The main town of El Nido on the harbour has a great atmosphere with lots going on, but it is very much a backpacker place and that is not what I was looking for.
El Nido Mahogany was just a 5 minute tricycle journey ($2) from the main town meaning it was much quieter and secluded – perfect for a romantic honeymoon.
I loved that the breakfast was served on my own private terrace at the time I requested it.
Knowing it was my honeymoon they even had some extra special touches such as covering the bed in flower petals on arrival (which I messed up by walking in and putting the fan on!)
There are no other meals served here but there are many options nearby including a restaurant at the nearby El Nido Coco Hotel which I used for a romantic dinner.
The owner here was from France and she was a very lovely host, I highly recommend!
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Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island – Cebu
This was a special trip so I wanted the best in 5 star hotels.
It is a place where everyone is welcome.
Cebu
My first stop was the province of Cebu.
Eating at these hotels is quite pricey in comparison to eating out, however I decided to do a bit of both.
Taxis and tricycles to get around when you are on each island are cheap. However, the bar below is said to be popular with the local gay guys:
Tiki Resto Bar, Palawan – Tiki Bar offer food, music, drinks and live entertainment and can be found in Puerto Princesa.
Gay Bars in Cebu
Navigator Gay Bar – this gay bar is listed as temporaily closed but you can keep an eye on its Facebook page.
Gay Saunas in the Philippines
There are two gay saunas in the Philippines, both are in Manila.
So whenever you try visiting the different islands on this archipelago, you could try to ask for the schedule so you could join. Some of these words also use trademarked brands and names of celebrities to connote a concept.
Before, its members were the only ones who were able to understand this lingo. A bill that would enable this change through an administrative process is pending in Congress.
I love my luxury hotels but I also love my adventure activities.
Of course these activities are for straight and gay travellers alike, but I can vouch that I experienced these with no issue as a gay traveller.
Canyoneering in Badian (Cebu)
I had seen a video on YouTube of people canyoneering in Badian and knew I had to do it!
If you have never heard of canyoneering before its very straightforward.
This event had a total of up to 20,000 attendees.
Before heading to the gay Philippines, you should try to consider some things. It is an exciting place which also hosts several drag shows. From here you can then take your connecting flight to whichever island you wish.
However, this is not as straightforward as you might think so you need to plan ahead else you will end up back tracking and getting unnecessary flights.
I suggest taking a look at AirSWIFT.
I decided to stay on Mactan Island which is just 1 mile off the coast of Cebu Island, as this is where most of the 5 star hotels can be found.
My Cebu itinerary was very straightforward – relax for the majority of the time, and see the island whilst doing a few activities.
Cebu is also one of the islands with an international airport so this made things easier from a logistics perspective too!
El Nido
El Nido has been voted one of the most beautiful places in the world and I can see why.
El Nido is a small town on the island of Palawan.
However, take a 45 minute ride on a tricycle and you will arrive at the beautiful Nacpan beach.
I really wanted to do this because I wanted a mix of fun activities but also some down time. The bar is located in front of Amoranto Stadium.
Jefz Cafe Manila – now closed.
Gay Bars in Boracay
It is also worth noting that while Boracay does not have any gay bars or clubs, I found with it being so touristy it was very open for gay couples.
I felt comfortable having a night out, dancing together and being affectionate with no trouble at all.