A bouncer’s day at work begins at night as crowds—all dressed up and excited—form by the entrance, ready to electrify the room with excitement.

THE DANCEFLOOR is engulfed with vibrant lights, booming music, and a motion from a tide of bodies. Coming from different walks of life, party-goers find themselves gathering together as they step into a bar, preparing for another night to remember.

Partying has become a staple of youth culture, symbolizing the carefree feeling that every college student yearns for after days, weeks, or even months of pressure that came before.

While customers immerse themselves in the flashing lights and reverberating bass of the music, bouncers like Kuya Richard and Kuya Bernardino act as safeguards—attentive and alert to ensure that everyone is safe.

Duty calls  

Kuya Richard, a 40-year-old bouncer, is one of the team leaders in Blackbox Katipunan. Working as both a bouncer and a cook for about two years, he emphasizes the need to be considerate towards the actions of both his coworkers and the customers they serve.

“Tatlo kami[ng] [bouncers]—dalawa sa loob, isa [sa] labas. Crowd control ang trabaho. Kapag may nakita na kaming commotion, kami na agad yung pumapagitna,” Kuya Richard states.

(We are three bouncers—two inside, one outside. Our job is crowd control. If we see any kind of commotion, we are the ones who intervene right away.)

With shifts lasting from 7 PM to 4 AM every day, a sense of urgency becomes necessary as many things can happen throughout the night, such as sudden fights, chaotic crowds, and guests who act spontaneously when overly inebriated. Kuya Richard carries this attitude of mindfulness at home, where he takes on two other roles: a solo parent and a breadwinner.

On the other hand, Kuya Bernardino, now 39 years old, started as a group dancer and entertainer in Malate. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the clubs shut down, he had to make ends meet and apply to be a security guard, which was considered a frontline worker.  When the pandemic slowly eased, his experience as a guard pulled him back to the dance floor, but this time, as a bouncer for two bars.

Kuya Bernardino takes pride in his experience and firm attitude. He talks about how he remains calm even when situations in the bar escalate, emphasizing the importance of professionalism when he is on the job.

“Mahigpit kasi ako sa pinto (I am strict at the entrance),” Kuya Bernardino shares. However, once the customers get past that barrier, he mentions being more lenient when he roams around and greets familiar regulars.

As Kuya Richard and Kuya Bernardino navigate the unpredictable nights that prompt them to be middlemen for tipsy disagreements and caretakers for vulnerable guests, they emphasize that remaining firm becomes a prerequisite for being a bouncer. However, this stern facade does not stop them from forging connections with their customers.

For the two bouncers, passing greetings, genuine smiles, a positive attitude, and random invitations to join the dance floor allow them to feel lighter.

Club classics

While the club’s doors welcome anyone and everyone to a fun time ahead, the night always finds a way to call for more responsibilities for both bouncers.

Kuya Bernardino recalls an instance where a fight broke out between two patrons, where one of them got beaten up in the club’s comfort room. As the situation escalated, he had to gather his fellow bouncers and waiters alike to help stop the fight.

Similarly, Kuya Richard has also put his own safety at risk when he took a bottle to the head, trying to diffuse a messy situation inside the club. In his time as a bouncer, many of these cases and petty fights were caused by men and their ego as they usually are “nagpapasikat sa kasama,” as Kuya Richard says.

“May insidente na [ang gulo] talaga [ng] kinalabasan. [Hindi na ma-handle] yung gulo, nagpapa-backup na kami sa barangay,” Kuya Richard recalls.

(There are incidents in which the fights end up really messy. We cannot handle the mess, so we call back up from the barangay.)

Both bouncers are used to these situations—carrying drunken patrons to safety, dealing with rude customers, and interjecting in occasional bar fights. In these instances, Kuya Bernardino always reminds himself of his boss’s words, “maximum tolerance for customers.”

“Yung tatapak-tapakan ka na lang ng mga customer, na mura-murahin ka. [M]ay mga na-[experience] ako na ganon. [Kaya ako] mapagkumbaba,” Kuya Bernardino says.

(I have experienced being stepped on and cursed at by customers. That’s why I am humble.)

Despite such encounters, Kuya Richard and Kuya Bernardino’s deep care and respect for customers shine through every moment, be it smiling while they patrol the premises or guiding customers into quieter spaces or to their rides home after a night of fun.

After hours

Beyond unruly customers and intoxicated patrons, being a bouncer also takes a toll on both Kuya Richard and Kuya Bernardino’s personal lives. When they both arrive home after a hard night’s shift, they assume their positions as “family men.”

“Sa umaga, inuuna ko yung labahan. Maya-maya dadalhin ko [mga anak ko] sa school. ‘Pag may time pa na matulog, matutulog ako. Preparation ko bago pumasok mga dalawang oras tapos pupunta na ako sa duty,” Kuya Richard shares, highlighting how he manages the household and provides for his seven children.

(In the morning, I do the laundry first. Then, I bring them [my children] to school. If there is time to rest, then I’ll rest. I prepare for about two hours before heading to my duty.)

Meanwhile, Kuya Bernardino comes home to his eight dogs. Though he is not the sole provider for his family, he always gives what monetary support he can.

Both men dedicate their nights working hard towards their dreams and hopes for their families, not letting the peculiar working hours and physical demands hinder them. 

Being in the bar fuels them to turn their hopes into reality, while still feeling fulfilled by the relationships they have built with their co-workers, management, and patrons.“Lahat ng mga staff namin ka-close ko, ‘tsaka mga [kapwa] bouncer ko. So, parang magkapatid na. Halimbawa, may away man, magkakasama kaming lahat,” Kuya Bernardino says fondly.

(Every one of us in the staff is close, the same goes for my [fellow] bouncers. It’s really like we’re siblings. For example, if there is a fight, we usually would stick together.)

When the lights turn on—signalling that partying hours are over—people leave one by one, and as Kuya Richard and Kuya Bernardino go back home, their lives are only beginning again. What remains are the unique stories scattered across the room: fleeting connections, shared laughter, and memories forged in the dark, all made possible by the bouncers.