Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Vespa Manila Historia

Many a nights ago in a street corner somewhere in Manila, a simple and honest man named Julianito Montana, popularly known as "Mang Titing" labored on Lambrettas and Vespas with passion and vigor. His shop was informally named Scooter Center and eventually was moved to Cailles St, Bankal, Makati. The year was 1960 and these are some of his photos...

I can imagine how they marvelled at every new model that comes out in the market those days. Must be the same when we are in awe of the new LX, GT and Catalized PX models.

Fast forward to the millennium, now, today, Dong’s Scooter Center, still unregistered, is thriving in it’s own right. Without advertising campaigns, no email, no text nor forum promotions, this shop has succeeded with regular and loyal costumers despite sometimes, shabby work. Perhaps, it is a Montana charisma that draws scooterists, collectors and even newbies to this “underground layer”. Cheers mate!

See how the shop looks like now here.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

So funny. I don't even know if it is a stolen scooter or anything. As far as I'm concerned, it is unregistered and is simply feeding of the hardship of other people. No home, no anything. They don't belong on the streets. Get proper registration dude and work hard like the rest of us. Honest? What a joke. Maybe before, but now simply a nuiscense. This shop simple hogs the narrow roads and does not do anything good really. Visit it and see for yourself.

Anonymous said...

I loooove Vespas.

How about you? Are you willing to do anything to own one? If you are, email me. ;)

bianca.vespa@yahoo.com


bianca

Anonymous said...

dude this dong montana's nuts. he sells junk rims with benkongs for 2 grand. and baconed white side wall inserts big time. i was a newbie then and hell did i get robbed with the stuffs he sold me.