If Fred Flintstone had a scooter…
If Fred Flintstone had a scooter, here’s what it would look like. 
The first time I saw the Vespa Attack II image teaser, I got thoroughly amused with what I saw. It’s funny and captures a piece of what the Philippines is. But I never thought the image was real. I’ve assumed that some expert Photoshop manipulation was somehow involved in generating the witty visual.
It was only recently that I found out that the image is genuine: real Ifugao tribesmen (grown men, at that!) with authentic wooden scooters in these modern times. What the hell do they still use it for?
Wood carver Rafael Bucchanan, 30, poses for posterity on his scooter made of palayon wood as he waits for the wooden scooter race to begin in Banaue, Ifugao. (by: Rick Reyes for The Manila Standard Today)
It is said that the wooden scooter used to be an integral mode of transport of our Ifugao brothers in the earlier days; but in this age of motorized transport, it is now solely used and cutom-made for the unique race within the 12-day event called Imbayah festival.
photo by: Rene Gaviola
The freewheeling race runs for about four to five kilometers downhill. The race and other activities in the Imbayah celebration and merrymaking also aims to rally support from tourists and international funding agency to help in the preservation of the fast deteriorating rice terraces in Ifugao province.
The original photo from the VA2 teaser (see my prior post) is by Sly L. Quintos. More wooden scooter images from Sly: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Who would have thought that these scooters still exisited? Well, there’s always something new you learn everyday. 
Yabba-Dabba-Doo!
-o-
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J0HNRANA
john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com
This is COOL!!!!
Philippines have lot’s of thing to offer. So keep it coming.
Thanks for the visit, Jerome5!
saya cguro ng makasakay ng ganyan scoot sir!! sana someday makakita ako sa personal ng ganyan!! salamat
Tama ka, Peter! Ako rin, gusto kong maka-balik sa Banaue just to witness this wooden scooter race. Kaso once every four years lang yata nangyayari ito. Parang Olympics..hehehe
Kind day! I enjoyed your post. Keep ‘em coming!
mahirap ata gamitin yan…walang preno at wala din helmet..anyway, oo nga kala ko dati joke lang yan..yun pala totoo..trolley style..galing