Before anything else, a song: “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone / I can see all obstacles in my way / Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind / It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun-shiny day.”Nothing else could go wrong from this perspective, where everything above seems bright and blessed each day, and where everything below seems like a good subject of laughter and gaiety.

via Dansoy Coquilla and the View from Above | Manila Bulletin.

Yehey!! Another Vespa event!!!

Come party with us on our annual Vespa Club Eye Ball!
- Vespas
- Beer bash
- Bottomless food
- Live music
- Swap meet
- Fun & Games
- Etc.

SWAP MEET
- Bring new or used Vespa related items that you want to unload
- Tag a price to it, label with your name and mobile number
- Leave the items at the swap meet table
- We will help you sell them at the event

CHARITY AUCTION
- Donate any item that you want to unload. Does not have to be Vespa related.
- We shall auction off these items during the party
- Proceeds will go to club funds and to our chosen charity project

SCOOTER SHOW
We shall be giving awards to…
- The best automatic
- The best geared
- The best classic
- The people’s choice/most popular scoot in the party

Thanks for the support of our friends at Moto Italia

Piaggio USA President/CEO, Paolo Timoni, hinted at a new and improved version of they yet unreleased (at least in the USA) Piaggio MP3 Hybrid. The much awaited gas/electric vehicle has been currently offered only in the 125cc model might just be receiving an upgrade to the 300cc engine which is currently being used in both the Vespa GT Super 300 and the Piaggio MP3 300.

Here is the excerpt from the interview.

The cost of the now-300cc vehicle was not disclosed, and it will get about 100 mpg, compared to about 65 mpg from a 250cc gas-only MP3. It is expected to be a “niche” product because it will cost more having both an electric and gasoline powerplant. But, said Timoni, “It will kick the ass of the Prius!”

Another thing to look forward to. It might just cost and arm and a leg as well as an organ or two but, heck, green is in.

Timoni speaks about a lot of other interesting in his interview. From the status of Piaggio worldwide as well as the state of the Motorcycling industry in the USA. Check out the interview here.

A fellow Vespinoy member and good friend Gerdie Francisco, mobilegerdie here, passed away this morning. She has been bravely and gracefully battling cancer for about 2 years now and now she’s finally got it beat. She now rests and rides with our Creator and no doubt way in front of Dodick.

Here is the message we received from Gerdie’s brother this morning.

My only sibling and sister Gerdie passed away at 7:17am this morning of May 27. She turned 44 last May 25. Her wish was to live till her bday. Her body will be at loyola memorial park marikina chapel inside the cemetery. She will be buried on may 29 in the morning. Till her last breath she clung to the Lord and never doubted nor lost faith. A true daughter of God. Pls pray and rejoice for her eternal happiness in heaven, God bless. Reggie Francisco

Rest in peace Gerdie. As our site ribbon states. We will never forget.

Apple has released the new iPad commercial which features a Vespa scooter (an ET4 i presume).

Cool!

I got a pleasant surprise this morning as I checked my email. I received a Facebook notification from fellow Vespinoy and Euroscoot member Papa Dom Ochoa. This was regarding her sister-in-law’s, Cristine Quezon, photos being chosen by Vespa USA to be part of their website. Here is the text of the notfication..

Vespa USA emailed my sister in law (older sis of Den) if they can use her pictures for their site. Galeng!!! Check this out

From Cristine’s blog….

Vespa USA has emailed me about their interest in using my photos for their website. of course, i said yes! in exchange, i am getting a set of limited edition vespa shirts for the whole fam. i am super stoked to be getting my share of the 1,500 pcs. produced worldwide. isn’t it rad?

Find out which photos are Cristine’s by visiting her blog here.

President Arroyo has signed the Mandatory Helmet Act of 2010 that requires all motorcycle drivers and their passengers to wear helmets at all times and imposes stiff penalties on violators.

Republic Act 10054, authored by Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., is aimed at protecting motorcycle drivers, back-riders as well as pedestrians from injuries and death in accidents.

The law, however, exempts drivers of tricycles – a motorcycle with a side cab, which is a common mode of transport in the country – from wearing helmets.

“From narrow streets to major thoroughfares, motorcycles and scooters are a common sight every day and night. Wearing helmets will greatly reduce fatalities in road accidents and would also (foster) a sense of discipline in all motorcycle riders,” he said.

Revilla said it took a long while to see his measure enacted into law. There are an estimated 3.5 million motorcycles registered in the country.

“After more than two years of pushing this bill, our long wait is finally over,” Revilla said. “The passage of this measure will not be fulfilled if not for the support of our motorcyclists and the motorcycle manufacturers and dealers who are aware of the danger of not wearing a helmet.”

He said studies have show that good helmets and their proper use are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries and 67 percent effective in preventing brain damage to motorcycle drivers and their passengers.

Under the law, those who will be caught not wearing protective helmets face a minimum fine of P1,500 and a maximum penalty of P10,000.

The law requires the Department of Trade and Industry to conduct mandatory tests on all locally manufactured and imported motorcycle helmets in the country.

Manufacturers and importers of motorcycle helmets are also required to secure a Philippine Standard mark or an import commodity clearance before they can sell and distribute their products or pay a fine of P10,000 to P20,000 if they violate the provision.

(Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=565637&publicationSubCategoryId=65)

Vespa Official Web Site.

Thanks to the constant expansion of a range which currently offers engine capacities from 50 to 300cc, Vespa is able to consolidate its authentic position of a world-wide best-seller in the 2-wheeled sector year after year: in fact, over 122,000 Vespa units were sold all over the world in 2009, which sees an 8% increase compared to the 113,000 sold in 2008. Vespa sales have been over the 100 thousand per annum mark since 2006; this is proof of the exceptional growth this Piaggio Group brand has achieved: in 2004 sales amounted to 58,000 units and in 2005 this rose to 88,000.

One of the most awaited events on the local Vespa calendar has finally been announced.  Now on it’s fourth incarnation, the 4th Vespa Jamboree takes place in the Art Capital of the Philippines, Angono, Rizal.

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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
ANGONO ROUND UP 2010

APRIL 24, 2010 (SATURDAY)
at the HAUNTED KUBO, Angono, Rizal

Party starts 11am onwards!
Eat, Drink and Rock ’til you drop!!!

TERA NA!!!

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Links to the past Angono Roundup threads in Vespinoy.Com.

Courtesy of Jordan Cinco.
Photos of the new Vintage Green 4 Stroke Stellas from Genuine Scooters.

Warning: Scooter Pr0n!