Motorcycle Philippines

It was another great day to go out and do another seminar like what we recently did in Zambales a few months back. It is always nice to meet new people and share what we’ve learned with them.

The trip was short and fast. The NLEX and SCTEX has done wonders in cutting down travel time. We reached Olongapo in no time and did our initial ocular inspection of the venue where the seminar was going to be held. All there is to know about the Olongapo Convention Center is that the place deserves a lot of praise by the sheer size and way it was built.

After the inspection, we headed down to Max for some mirienda while waiting for our hosts. Upon arrival of the Yamaha Club of Olongapo, we were brought to the hotel where we stayed over night. Even our accommodations were beyond our expectations and we were given a good nights rest during our stay.

By night fall, our main host, picked us up from the hotel and brought us to a fancy pizza parlor which reminded me of what used to be Shakey’s in the 80’s. There were a couple of bands playing that night and they were awesome to say the least. After eating, we were brought to a couple more bars where the bands were at their best. We got the best of Olongapo even before we did the seminar for them. After a few drinks and a lot of entertainment, we were walked back by our host to our hotel for our rest.

The next morning, we left the hotel early and had a quick breakfast before heading back to the Convention Center. After being showed around the place, we proceeded to setup our banners, laptop and PA system. After a quick check, we then waited for the participants from all over to converge and listen to us talk.

Jake was first and after a fun and informative session, I gave my seminar and and answered some questions from the crowd. We were met with a surprise when the hosts together with the City Councilor of Olongapo City presented me and Jake with plaques of appreciation for being guest speakers for their seminar.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Hon. Cornelio Niro who hosted our seminar, the Yamaha Club of Olongapo City for their support, The local government for sponsoring the event, Inside Racing for the giveaway magazines, MCP for being a partner in this movement and all those who participated in the seminar. We hope to be able to go to more places and see more people in the future.

The Olongapo seminar was held last May 24, 2009.
If you are interested in having seminars done in your locale, please get in touch with the MRC office at 725-3949 or the MRO office at 934-4176. You may also send inquiries via email to mroph@yahoo.com.
Thank you!

Prior to the ride, we asked several contacts in Bora if we could actually bring in our scoots to the island resort. All said it’s not easy or it was close to impossible with the strict regulations. Details on how-to were sketchy so our group settled to just leave our reliable steeds at Caticlan. But deep inside, I still wanted to give it a shot. We’ve gone all the way there, so how hard is it really to bring the scoots along on a 15-minute boat ride? But who do we talk to? The coast guards? The boatmen? The porters? We were totally clueless. I admit I was also concerned of about how much that extra trip would cost or if it was even safe to do so. On a personal level, bringing my scooter there will be a validation that this ride is indeed a Boracay Ride. I wanted it so much that I had to at least try. [READ MORE...]

(photo courtesy of Calvin Tang) Here in Philippines, when one talks about a motorcycle mounted with a sidecar, the image of the good ol’ tricycle would immediately pop to any Filipino’s mind. The three-wheeler is essentially a mini-version of the more popular jeepney. It’s a workhorse that carries cargo and passengers which can easily fit narrow streets and alleyways unlike the other bigger public transports (more info about Philippine tricycles here).

Yesterday, Eugene, a ride buddy and founder of Scoot66 (a riding club composed of Vespistis mostly based in southern Manila) posted in vespaclubph forum a couple a pictures of another “trike” not usually seen in the streets of Manila. It’s an immaculate white Vespa PX with a bullet-shaped, Cozy sidecar attached to it. My fascination with single seater, open and roofless sidecars may have been nurtured at a very young age while watching Star Rangers daily in the late 70s. But seeing the picture of those five superheroes now, I realize that their chosen mode of transport looks no different from the mobile patrol of the Barangay tanod (neighborhood peacekeepers) in our area. hahaha!

Here’s the front view of this drool-worthy Vespa sidecar:

So could this thing fit a grown man for a side passenger? Check out the sideview photo and see the legroom.

Yesterday’s issue of the Sunday Inquirer Magazine is all about motorcycles and the people who rides them.

Right on the cover is bossa nova singer, Sitti, riding a scooter. Vespa Nova, the cover story, was written by Eric Caruncho who’s himself a rider.

• For a complete list of other motorcycle-related articles appearing in yesterday’s edition, CLICK HERE.

October 11 marked the grand opening of the Levi’s Philippines flagship store in newly opened Trinoma mall. It opened with a bang by staging a very unique fashion show. When the event organizers got in touch with me looking for six Vespa scooters and riders, I didn’t had a hard time finding volunteers — I, being one of them! Who wouldn’t? It’s a rare chance to parade a scoot in a show, the rider gets to have a gorgeous babe as his backride and he even gets paid for it! Franky, I would’ve agreed even if it was for free!

Here’s the complete lineup of the Vespa boys who took part in the show:

And here are the Brazillian babes who modeled for the brand:

Check out how these models backride on a Vespa. No two poses are alike, I tell you.

• SEE MORE PICS HERE.