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Vespa Club of the Philippines 2008 Officers

December 19, 2007

Last Friday, Vespa Club of the Philippines (VCOP) held it Christmas Party at Pivo Beer and Brats in Ortigas Home Depot complex (thanks for accommodating us, Rikki!). At the same time, Rico & Eugene (VCOP co-founders) decided to hold the very first election for the club on that same day. Here’s the list of of the VCOP officers for 2008.

vcop-2008officers.jpg
from left: Mario (sec), Rico (past prexy), Joseph (RD), Mon (VP), Dax (PRO) and me (prexy) [photo courtesy of Bob R. aka don vitto]

President - John Rana (bartmaniac)
VP / Tresurer - Mon Santelices (Naughty DOG)
Secretary - Mario Rodas (waspUP)
PRO / Enforcer - Dax Morfe (cruiserdax)
Ride Director - Joseph Santos (projectV)

I know what you’re thinking. I couldn’t believe it myself, at first. Me… Vespa club president? :D haha! Read here for some backstory so you won’t remain as shocked. ;)

Weeks ago, way before the VCOP election was announced, my name was already being floated around jokingly as a “potential presidentiable” by my Vespa friends in and outside the club. This insane idea actually came during a drinking spree with Dale, Bert & Tonton (I had my usual iced tea) who cooked up the entire “campaign” thing — a classic case where the sober one gets the butt of jokes. They even thought of zany acronyms (JRFPM) and slogans (Run na, Rana)! Not one wanting to be labeled as prude, I went with the flow. Some may have believed it, but I never took seriously any pledge of support from anybody.

Then I got a call from E telling me about their decision to hold an election and asked me if I’m willing to serve should I be nominated. Of course I said yes but from that point on, everything felt surreal. It suddenly dawned on me then that what started as a joke, refused to stay as such anymore.

At the time of the election, members were given ballots with names of all the VCOP members eligible to hold positions. Voters were asked to tick five names from the list. Did I expect to win? I wanted to but I was also okay if I didn’t make it. I was ready for either scenario. But it turned out that my fellow members wanted me there along with my four other comrades.

To all my friends in and outside VCOP who thought that I could make a difference, thanks for the support. To Rico, our past president, and the rest of the 2007 officers: our gratitudes for hurdling the necessary birth pains and eventual baptism of fire the club endured in it’s first year.

Viva VCOP!

-o-
{▫}
J0HNRANA

john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com


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Posted in Local Scene, Personal |

18 comments

  1. Congratulations John! :) - Jasper and Nyree

         by Nyree December 19, 2007 at 8:53 pm

  2. Thanks, Nyree! Happy anniv naman sa inyo ni pareng Jasper!. :)

         by John Rana December 20, 2007 at 2:18 am

  3. CONGRATULATIONS SER JOHN! MORE POWER TO YOU AND VCOP!

         by Jerome05 December 20, 2007 at 8:19 am

  4. Thanks Jerome! Prayers to your mom as well. :)

         by John Rana December 20, 2007 at 11:27 am

  5. hanep, prexy na, eic pa ;)

         by mimi December 21, 2007 at 12:43 am

  6. AYOS!

    akalain mo yun! Congrats el presidente!

         by Jason December 21, 2007 at 12:43 am

  7. Mi, mas far-fetched yung pagiging EIC. But who knows? bwahaha :D

    Jays, mas kapani-paniwala naman yung sa akin kaysa being Top 25 in the world! :roll: bwhahaha

    Seriously, thanks guys! :)

         by John Rana December 21, 2007 at 3:28 am

  8. Congrats John see you and your club soon, will have more time in Manila this year looking for a place to live looking forward to ride with your club, if you need any thing from California just let me know

         by Terry and Herminia December 24, 2007 at 5:47 am

  9. Thanks Terry! Hope to be able to send you the stuff you requested by January. Thanks for the patience. :)

         by John Rana December 24, 2007 at 7:51 am

  10. Pasensya na puro weddings e, ngayon lang nakapag-check ng blog. And presidente ka na pala! Congrats pre(z) and Merry Christmas!

         by bong December 25, 2007 at 11:01 am

  11. Merry Christmas pare. Kitakits bukas. :)

         by John Rana December 25, 2007 at 8:14 pm

  12. congratulations, john!

         by alvin December 27, 2007 at 4:06 pm

  13. congrats brod!

         by mitlancer_gsr December 31, 2007 at 5:45 pm

  14. [...] on collecting scooters Little Billy writes about Mod Kevin John Rana elected president of the Vespa Club of the Philippines 2 Strokebuzz confirms all the latest buzz about the Genuine [...]

         by Scootercast website changes and travel tips for Italy | SCTRCST Scooter Internet Radio January 31, 2008 at 6:19 am

  15. Im wondering if you could refer me to a good mechanic but doesn’t charge too much. Several mechanics have already done trial and error on my px 150, malaki na nagagastos ko and yet my vespa seems to be getting worse. Can you please help out a fellow vespa lover? please email me the contact no.

         by walter March 6, 2008 at 12:49 am

  16. Hi Walter! You may visit this thread in Vespinoy and choose for one of the few vespa mechanics listed/recommented there: http://www.vespinoy.com/forum/index.php/topic,1637.0.html

         by John Rana March 6, 2008 at 11:56 pm

  17. where can i buy a vespa scooter in manila?

         by fred medina July 20, 2008 at 11:50 am

  18. congrats.. ^_^
    well..
    you really don’t know me..
    same here..
    but, i really love Vespa..!!
    i really want to get one..!!
    where you can suggest me to buy this babies??
    please tell me..!! ^_^
    looking forward to your reply.. ^_^
    thanks for the time.. ^_^
    GOD BLESS!! ^_^

         by Geddy October 14, 2008 at 12:20 am

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