Quezon Avenue’s nightlife is a different realm to the innocent bystander, one who knows nothing of the secrets its exterior hides. The place itself assumes a double identity, one that takes on a different façade during the light of day, before fading away completely to give way to the neon signs and sounds of what has overtaken the innocence of daylight. Entering this foreign world mandates a different vernacular, one that encapsulates the people and the stories to be found.
Agency/Handles: A person or company that manages and supervises bookings, advertising, and other needs of its providers. This is akin to the agent or manager of an actor. The agency keeps things smoothed over and running in efficiently.
ASP: The “adult service provider”—the politically correct term in the industry. ASPs can either be under management of a certain club or massage parlor (hence the need for agencies and handlers), or freelance (see “street walker”). An ASP can provide any sort of “service” that falls under the agency’s terms, and within the asking price.
Stroll: The path frequented by “street walkers,” or those who freelance in the adult service industry. Street walkers pick up their own customers, and negotiate their own prices and terms of service. A strip of Quezon Avenue littered with KTV bars, massage parlors and the like serves as the stroll of that particular area.
Papasan: Derived from the Japanese word meaning “father,” this word means the male manager of a massage parlor—one who holds authority over the providers. Also referred to as “barong” or “bisor” (derived from “supervisor”), the papasan has a female counterpart, named, appropriately, the mamasan.
Shill: An insider from the adult industry pretending to be a satisfied customer. Similar to the “mole” used by police, the “shill” provides information and an insider’s point of view into the industry, which can be anything from exact details of an encounter to specific names, locations, and other particulars.
NSA: No strings attached. The ultimate encapsulation of the adult service industry—immediate satisfaction, the fulfillment of one’s innermost desires—all without the complex nature of a romantic and intimate relationship. NSA is everything that defines the allure of this business: after all that has gone on, one does not need to look back. One can simply pretend it never happened, and take off into the lonely night.
