Chicken and Bingo

Chicken and Bingo: Soldiers stationed In the Philippines would hire a prostitute (typically via the bartender) as a live in lover for their entire time the solder was stationed in the Philippines. There was basically a code of conduct or rules as to how the relationship worked: Solder paid for the prostitute and her apartment (by the week or month). Prostitute could still do tricks during the day but at night was there for her man, she may have even had a husband and children who lived back on a rural farm. The soldier was not allowed to cheat (sometimes referred to as butterflying) on his prostitute; this was considered a huge humiliation and disgrace to the prostitute if the Solder cheated on her. Prostitute were known to stab, cut or disfigure the other woman or the even soldier and worse for doing such a disgusting social wrong. As I understand it, the prostitute was analogues to a wife and took care of the home and her man. On Thursday night the man would take his prostitute out for date night which consisted of “Chicken and Bingo”, this was the highlight of the prostitutes’ week. These social norms seem odd to people here in the USA but it was totally normal and expected in that part of the world 1970s era. The usage if the term “Chicken and Bingo” can be used in a variety of contexts: Basically it is doing what is normal and socially accepted and expected in what otherwise is considered a taboo (prostitution and taking her out in public etc.) social activity.