It’s time for Vespa Jamboree 4!
Mark your calendars!
File your vacation leaves!
Make excuses or tell half-truths just to be on this event…
…’CUZ ITS GONNA BE ONE HELL OF A PARTY!
VESPA JAMBOREE 4
(The Angono Round-Up 2010)
Date: APRIL 24, 2010 (Saturday)
Place: at the HAUNTED KUBO inAngono, Rizal
Party starts 11am onwards!
Eat, Drink and Rock ’til you drop!!!
performing bands: Milagros Dancehall Collective | Rub-A-Dub | Coffeebreak Island | Neighbors
So bent on goin‘, but don’t know the way? Here’s how…
- (click image to enlage the map)
Or you may join the breakfast ride to Pranjetto organized by the Vespa Club with meet-up points in key locations around the Metro before heading towards the happening place! (You may want to save the number of the spearhead of the group you intend to join):
- 7:00AM: Bunso’s shop along Sampaloc Street, San Antonio Village, Makati | point person: Gerry San Juan (0921.414.6958)
- 7:30AM: Moto Italia, Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills | point person: Wawel Mercado (0917.831.2582)
- 8:00AM: Shell Gas Station along Marcos Hi-way, Marikina/Cainta area | point person: Nelyo Alivio (0918.929.7923)
The group shall ride up to Pranjetto for breakfast. The plan is as follows:
- Ride as a disciplined group until we reach the bridge under repair
- Regroup at the bridge, then ride at your own pace and enjoy the twisties
- Regroup at Pranjetto for breakfast
ETA at Pranjetto will be between 9:00am to 9:30am. The group shall have a leisurely breakfast then take-off for Angono by 10:30AM.
The group is expected to arrive in Angono by about 11:45AM.
Wear your safety gears! 
~ABET
Who rides a helmet?
So what have I been up to since the last time I posted here? Well, I gained a new member in my little family. 
Introducing... Laya Rana!
‘Laya’ means ‘free’ in Filipino. It’s also the last word in a patriotic song called “Bayan Ko“ (My Country). That’s actually where our baby’s name was lifted from.
Our baby’s picture inside my Vespa helmet was taken last weekend inside The Stork Studio when Laya’s just 12 days old. The photographers patiently waited for our baby to be fast asleep to produce this shot. Complete set from this newborn pictorial in this album. Shoutouts to Sofia Genato & Stanley Ong for this shot!
For now, saddle time takes a backseat while daddy duty calls.
Zzzz….
~ABET
adidas Vespa S
Now here’s one pair from the adidas / Vespa line that matches the color scheme of my scoot!
The shoe model is called adidas Vespa S, named after the retro-inspired Vespa with the square head. Indeed the shoes look like an updated version of an old adidas my brother used to wear in the late 70′s with the same familiar blue-red-blue three-stripes.
Here’s the description:
German shoe maker adidas has teamed with Italian scooter company Vespa for an year-long partnership on some interesting sneakers. The first shoe up is this Vespa S model.
The result of this pairing is a streamlined low top sneaker similar to a Samba or Gazelle. White leather is used for the majority of the upper, while blue appears on the fore and aft stripes. The collar surround has also been done in blue. The middle stripe contrast the other accents with its bright red leather construction. A metal Vespa emblem can be found near the heel. Grab yours now at Schuh-You.
More pictures after the jump. Read more…
Vespa Sighting: a scoot in Mandarin Oriental Manila’s lobby
Our website, WeddingsAtWork.com, was the online media partner of the wedding fair held last weekend at Mandarin Oriental Manila. After coordinating with Erika Aquino (the hotel’s Public Relations Manager), my wife handed the phone to me. Erika asked me if I’d be willing to lend my Vespa to the hotel for its upcoming Italian Food Festival at Paseo Uno. Though I wouldn’t normally pass up for an exposure like that, I also know that my scooter is only as Italian as Jolibee Spaghetti. 
Before we hung up, I promised Erika that I would seek the assistance of the Vespa Club through Wawel, our club president, so we could look a more suitable Vespa for their event. In the course of our email correspondence, we learned that the hotel preferred a vintage Vespa. Or a red one. Or better yet, a red vintage Vespa!
I personally felt it was a tall order considering the time constraints. But our club president was able to find the requested scoot within the day. It’s a fully-restored, vintage red Vespa S.S. (Super Sport). The scoot is owned by actor Gabe ‘Okay ka ba tyan!’ Mercado, who’s actually Wawel’s younger brother.
Here’s the Italian beauty by the hotel’s lobby.
The Italian Food Festival is happening until March 28. More info about the event after the jump. Read more…
In 2009, Vespa and adidas Originals collaborated where the iconic scooter met the trefoil & 3-stripes mark in a collection that encompasses both low profile footwear and unique cut apparel. The synergy brought two companies from vastly different industries to share their rich heritage into one tangible line-up.
Since the Philippines is a tropical country, I didn’t bother much about the adidas Originals Fall/Winter 2009 Vespa Collection.
But the Spring/Summer 2010 season brings in a new collection that’s appropriate to riding conditions here in the tropics. Here are some of the items I’m eyeing from this collection.
Vespa Graphic Track Top
description: features a big Vespa stitching on the back, contrast 3-Stripes down the sleeves, two flap pockets, a small Vespa logo across the front
Vespa Casual Lux Shoes
description: full grain leather and suede upper for comfort and soft feel; mid-cut construction for support and style; leather and synthetic lining for rich comfort; grippy rubber outsole with “Vespa” detailing
Vespa Polo
description: scooter graphic on pocket; Vespa logo on sleeve; also comes in black
Vespa Sir Bag
description: features a classic scooter print; with a cell phone pocket, card holder, and an adjustable strap
Vespa Feild Jacket
description: features Vespa logo on the front., four pockets at one’s disposal; one part mod, one part sport
The line is now available through adidas Originals retailers, and even via shopadidas.com.
Gastos na naman!
~ABET
Rumored Piaggio and Ducati merger deal intensifies
The Italian press is abuzz.
Italian newswire MF Dow Jones reported that McKinsey & Co Inc. (a management consulting firm advising leading companies on issues of strategy, organization, technology, and operations) has been contracted to study possible merger between Ducati and Piaggio, two Italian superbrands in the two-wheel motorcycle industry. But the news agency didn’t say where it got the information.
The Piaggio Group, makers of the iconic Vespa, also manufactures scooters under its own name, aside from these other brands: Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Scarabeo, Derbi, Gilera, and the French mid engine sports car Ligier. On the other hand, Ducati is a privately owned Italian motorcycle manufacturer which achieved prominence in the motorcycle industry and in motorcycle racing. The report said that McKinsey has been contracted to evaluate potential merger candidates for the struggling Piaggio Group and that the now privately-controlled Ducati is being tipped as the best option.
The Piaggio/Ducati merger is seen as the ultimate Eurobrand positioned to compete head-to-head with the Japanese Big Four (Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki, and Yamaha). Not only would such a super company have a a wide range of products, but it would also have the volume and the manufacturing capacity to tackle emerging markets in Southeast Asia.
But Piaggio Group’s top brass, in an official statement, defined as baseless, “any assumptions about possible integration of the Piaggio Group and other industry groups.” The company then goes on to deny “categorically, that they have heard of projects or documents of any kind, developed by McKinsey in relation to that hypothesis.”
Stay tuned!
~ABET
Street photography of scoots & riders!
One project of the Vespa Club of the Philippines for the year 2010 is the Portrait Session with our members posing with their respective scoots. As the local Vespa community is full of talented photographers and photo hobbyists, pulling together this undertaking wasn’t very hard to do. Two early morning shoots have been scheduled and done so far, and I believe that there are a couple more to follow. It’s a fun bonding activity for members of the club where ‘models’ also stand in as ‘lightsmen’ when it’s not their turn in front of the camera.
Let me introduce some of the people behind the our club through this photo essay. You may click the photo to view the entire gallery where the particular image is lifted from.
photo by: Darwin Andres (aka vespasol)
This is Kat Manahan (aka vespinaasa) — our very efficient club secretary, a Noynoy Aquino volunteer, and significant other of Rob Martinez (vespaasa), the frontman of Milagros Dancehall Collective. Read more…
a Chinese New Year ride!
The Chinatown Ride is the very first group ride I joined when I got my scooter back in 2006. It has since been an annual city ride adopted by the Vespa Club that has taken the me and my fellow riders to various Chinese restaurants in and around the small and narrow alleyways of Binondo, Manila’s very own Chinatown.
The ride was scheduled a full week ahead of the Chinese New Year/Valentine weekend to avoid the traffic in the area around that time. Members who joined the ride were encouraged to wear red.
It was also the first time that this annual joy ride/ was scheduled around lunchtime. But since I was tired coming from overnight diving trip the night before, I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it this time. But I’ve joined this food trip ride the past three years, and I wouldn’t want to be stopping now… not when it involves lotsa EATING!
I missed most of the photo ops the convoy had along the way, but in the end, my tummy couldn’t complain.
Above is Wawel who brought along his teenage daughter, Therese, as his backride. His account of the ride (and a few other photos) after the jump. Read more…
The unveiling of Manny’s Lammy!
Soon after the Vespa Club‘s visit to the headquarters of Laguna Choppers in San Pablo City in Laguna, Wawel (our club president) quickly arranged for the unveiling of Manny’s Lammy (The Manny Pacquiao-themed Lambretta) here in Manila, before being transported to GenSan, the boxing champion’s hometown. The scoot made its inaugural debut last week in-between sets of the mod/soul band Juan Pablo Dream which has a regular Thursday night gig in Eastwood City.
Transporting this one-of-a-kind scoot has been a logistical challenge, but Wawel did it despite the time constraints. Since our president was out-of-town the night of the unveiling, I was tasked to emcee the simple ceremony. Tops — our ride director — has been tasked to take the official photos which you’ll see here.
from left: Elmer Reyes of Laguna Choppers, Warren Manilay who commissoned this project, and me!
Read the project brief:
A successful entrepreneur in General Santos City, who was originally from San Pablo, Laguna, decides to give Manny Pacquiao an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind gift, and comes up with the idea of a custom Lambretta upon learning of his town mate Elmer Reyes’s exceptional work at Laguna Choppers. He commissioned Elmer to restore and customize a 1962 Lambretta Li 150cc Series 2, with it’s engine upgraded to 175cc.
The result is a true masterpiece! Elmer features the life story and career highlight of Manny Pacquiao until his devastating knock out victory over UK’s Ricky Hatton. The Lambretta is full of jaw-dropping details, and filled with artworks. The inside of each cowl and the bottom of the floor board are painted with artworks, too. Elmer himself did most of the paintings on this scooter, then later was assisted by two other artists. The leather seats were hand-embroidered by the barong artisans of Lumban, Laguna using the same technique that they used on barongs, applying it this time, on leather. Amazing!
The Lambretta was commissioned by power couple Warren and Sarah Manilay. Warren and Sarah own and run Goldenstate College in General Santos. Warren was the former Tourism Officer of GenSan, and is the brains behind the Tuna Festival, which has become key to promoting General Santos as a top tourist destination in Mindanao. Warren is also Chairman and CEO of Golden State Colleges. Together, Warren and Sarah have steered their Golden State Colleges towards achieving phenomenal growth in the past 3 years, gathering numerous awards, forging partnerships with facilities in Singapore, and transforming the school into a world class educational institution for the youth of SOCSARGEN.
Warren and Sarah are avid car restorers as well and have a 65 Mustang, a 62 Falcon and two Lambrettas, while their only son John has restored a 1917 General Motors truck.
It was the couple’s friendship with Manny Pacquaio that prompted them to have a Lambretta custom-made for the Pound-for-Pound King. Like Warren and Sarah, Manny is deeply committed to the people of General Santos, investing heavily in the city and promoting it as a tourist destination. Manny’s Lammy is in fact, destined to be delivered to General Santos City, where it will surely add color to streets of this fast developing community.
Last Thursday was my first time to watch JPD’s gig in Eastwood City which started this year. The band has always been supportive of the local scootering community so it’s easy to understand the support it gets back from the riders. By accounts of Bing Austria (JPD’s frontman) and Bryan Garcia (the band’s manager), last Thursday’s gig has got the biggest scooter turn out thus far. The special parking near the stage is pack as seen in the following pics. Read more…
Logo Gallery – Vespa Club of the Philippines
Vespa Club of the Philippines artwork collection
Just thought of compiling the assortment of artworks done since our club’s foundation in 2006. I plan to add to this gallery if and when a new design comes up in the future.
A little backgrounder for each design are detailed after the jump. Read more…
