It’s the end of an era when I heard about the closure of The Fort at Bonifacio Global City (BGC). In an Instagram post shared last Dec. 11, BGC showed photos of the establishments in the area with the caption, “This is goodbye for now but not forever. We’ll be back. Better than you remember, and better than you can imagine. Until we close up on Jan 1, feel free to hang out at The Strip like you've always done! We'll see you there.”
My first visits to The Fort were spent dancing the weekend away with friends at Fat Willy’s. At the time, I had just graduated and was beginning my career in the publishing industry. This meant attending countless events at some of the hottest spots in the metro, many of which were hosted in The Fort. If an event wasn’t taking place there, we'd often head to Embassy Supperclub to unwind, enjoy great music, and soak in the vibrant nightlife. I even celebrated my birthdays quite often there, too!
I eventually transitioned into retail, taking on the role of marketing manager for Forever 21 (F21) Philippines. When it came time to launch F21’s gift certificates, Members Only—the first-ever membership club next to Embassy—was the perfect venue. The event was a hit, attracting the young and stylish set who came out to celebrate with us.
I can’t help but smile when I think back on those days. The Fort truly felt like a second home to me and many of my friends. Before we said our goodbyes to this iconic landmark, I reached out to some of them to share their fondest memories.
I believe modern Manila nightlife truly began at The Fort. Continuing the tradition of the discos of the ’70s and ’80s culminating in the country’s first true superclub Embassy. Those who found themselves on the dancefloor of the club, having drinks at cuisine, or a hangover preventive bowl of arroz caldo at Cafeteria will surely agree that it was here that Manila’s golden of clubbing got its start. Shortly after, we opened Members Only. It was the first partnership of young nightlife prince, Erik Cua, and the legendary king of clubs, Louie Y. This would lead to many more successful establishments that we put up together. Members Only later on evolved into the luxury club called Prive which, in my opinion, was one of the best places we ever opened. Today, the tradition continues in Uptown Bonifacio at the Palace complex. But none of that would be possible without our start at The Fort.—GP Reyes
I loved the random nights which actually turned out to be some of the most memorable and amazing nights where I met so many amazing people whom I am friends with until now.
This all happened before social media, so interactions in the club scene had more depth. Not being out was to literally be FOMO since there were no real-time stories or posts to see or know what was going on that night. Everyone wanted to be there to see everything and everyone in real life. So we all showed up.
In my opinion, with the birth of social media the nightlife scene and social scene will never be the same.—Franco Saycon, entrepreneur
The Fort Strip was my home base for over two and a half years while I was working at MTV. Back then, it was the only place in BGC to be at. Embassy had just opened up, and it was the hottest club on the strip. When they opened Cafeteria, it became a regular haunt, where we could hang out, have meetings, and get good food. What I loved the most about the place was it was right in the middle of the flurry of activity that was MTV. We would have the Music Summit in the open field on one side, and the NBC Tent on the other was a venue for the MTV Fashionista Awards. We would run back and forth from the office to the event (lots of steps here) whenever we needed anything. It saw us stressed out, but also saw us happy. We made amazing things happen, with so much great Pinoy music playing right alongside.—Bebeth Timbol, lifestyle journalist
There are way too many memories of The Fort Strip—so many establishments and so many strangers I’ve met and created wonderful friendships until now.
I recall this one time a colleague of mine was on a date (not just one date but with four dates all in one venue in the four corners of Embassy). It was Super Klasse Wednesday by Styles Entertainment. It was one of many partnerships we had with Styles Entertainment and Worldwide Womb from 2006 to 2011. It cemented “Boys Night Out” as one of the more shocking radio programs but also known as co-hosting some of the craziest and awesome parties with international DJs.
One other fond memory was us leaving Embassy and Prince of Jaipur on a Wednesday and then meeting and trying to fit eight Aussie-Vietnamese women into my Honda Hatchback and dropping them off …We all ended up in Boracay.
The Fort Strip, you were my first gig in 1999 at Fat Willy’s. I was a promo boy/model (now they are called ambassadors) for Levi’s.—DJ Tony Toni, radio personality
The Fort Strip was once the beating heart of BGC. In the 2000s, it reigned supreme as the ultimate nightlife destination, with iconic venues like Embassy and Cuisine dominating the scene. The superclub was more than just a party spot; it gave birth to fashion and social trends of the decade. For celebrities and socialites, the halls of The Fort Strip felt like a runway, a place to see and be seen.
As the years passed and tastes evolved, The Fort Strip adapted. It became home to new hotspots like Aracama and later, Early Night?, keeping its reputation as a go-to venue for memorable events. One standout moment for me at Early Night? was Garage Magazine’s final Young Talents party before the pandemic—a celebration of its 10th anniversary edition. Cover stars Gab Lagman and Kyline Alcantara headlined the night in summer tie-dye, alongside host Angelique Manto, designer Jenni Contreras, drummer Lorenzo Santos, illustrator Isabella Canlas, and more.
For years, The Fort Strip remained a cornerstone of BGC’s vibrant culture. I’ll always remember the establishments that made it special. Heaven’s Barbeque was the go-to after-party spot for a comforting barbecue fix. Nectar dazzled with its LGBTQ+ nightlife and unforgettable drag shows. Other beloved venues—Pasto, Urbn, Fitness First, Privé, Fat Willy’s, and more—added to its charm.—Rey Ilagan, Manila Bulletin's creative head
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