Tags: Historical Places, Travel Tales and Tips
By Alexander Villafania
MABALACAT, PAMPANGA – It’s been more than two decades since Clark Air Base closed down but a few of the businesses that thrived during its heyday remain vibrant as ever.
One of these is the Marina Arcade, the so-called surplus haven in Dau. Situated along McArthur Highway, this location is a favored spot for those hunting for imported items, PX goods, and most especially, surplus US military accessories.
The variety of items range in size, quality, and usefulness. There are duffle bags, rucksacks, combat shoes, tactical uniforms, chest rigs, helmets, cots, tents, among others.
There are also some spelunking items for sale such as wet suits, headband lights, and rechargeable lamps. Prices of these items are also quite cheap (compared to buying them in established stores) and buyers can often haggle for prices.
Many of these items are so unique that air soft enthusiasts come often to purchase for their most-wanted accessories. In some cases, items such as tactical scopes, batons, face masks, and protective gears are purchased wholesale and sold in shops in Metro Manila.
There are event combat gears, both real and class A (meaning near-perfect replicas) are sold. There even military-grade branded knives and machetes such as Sog, Benchmade, Ontario, and Kukri though these are quite difficult to find.
The most common are China-made copies of these knives, which, despite their relatively low-quality build, are sought after by knife collectors. A few guns are also available for purchase though most of these are also made in China.
Among the unique items being sold at Marina Arcade are MREs (Meal, Ready-to-Eat), which are specially-made food rations specifically used for combat soldiers. These packaged meals are sold at P150 a pack though people can buy boxes of 12 for P1,200.
When one of the sellers asked where these stocks are sourced, she simply said “imported.” Where they get it is a mystery, add to the fact that there is an absence of a US military base where the MREs are often stocked.
For those wanting to get some cheap thrills with military gear, the Marina Arcade in Dau is a perfect place to go.
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