A balikbayan friend found this out when he asked and was referred to a midtown spa where he was given "extra service" after his massage.
It is an open secret among gay businessmen and professionals that for safe quickie sex one can go to practically any massage parlor in the metro and have pleasure in the curtained privacy of their cubicles for P100-P500, masquerading as tips.
Unlike the unorganized gay bars (only three in the whole Cebu), spas are plentiful and enjoy a voice.
Media may have compromised itself by accepting ads from spas-cum-sex dens.
The really exploited figure in these spas is the masseurs.
Despite their constant contact with sex-starved "patients," they get no weekly "hygiene" from the city health department.
Macho dancers have to do so at their own expense (or he doesn't get to dance).
Like macho dancers, masseurs are from marginal families.
They badly need jobs where no diplomas are required.
But these jobs offered at the spas are illusory.
Practically all spas pay their masseurs on a commission basis only.
They don't help shoulder their “employees'” SSS, Philhealth, etc.
Although masseurs earn tax-free commissions ranging from P50-P100 per service, they can only do so much in a day.
There are days when a masseur has no customer, but only very few spas give an allowance, and when they do P75/day is average.
Thus, a masseur has to resort to do "extra service" ranging from hand jobs to getting himself used sexually.
We enjoin Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, Cebu's champion of morality, to take a bold step and force the powerful spa industry to shape up or ship out.
