BatFolks: Your Friends In Need

As 2009 is approaching to close, a Typhoon hit the country in September. Leaving thousands miserable. Typhoon Ondoy was unforgiving, the Province of Batangas wasn't spared especially its western part.

October 9, 2009, despite the early call time of 6AM at St Bridget College, Batangas City, the BatFolks went to Lemery, Batangas to transport relief goods to 100 families affected by Typhoon Ondoy. The activity was a partnership with St Bridget College Department in coordination with Miss Fina and Sister Anya. BatVolks donated Php5,000.00 worth of food items not to mention Man and Bug Power to deliver the goods to typhoon victims.
Members present this morning in no particular order were:
1. Liza Rosales and husband Rodel
2. Chona Zara
3. Bhoy Frane
4. Noods Lontok
5. Arnold Arellano
6. Kiko Salazar
7. Lord Ilao
8. Onin Apuntar
9. Clark Apuntar
10. Tato Abarentos
11. Richard Mojares
12. Gilbert Palencia

Before we left SBC, it rained heavily while we enjoy coffee and tv courtesy of Sister Anya.
We had fun distributing the goods to the people of Lemery. The kids enjoyed eating hard boiled eggs. And Kiko seems to be their mascot.
We left Lemery by 10AM.

THE RED DEVIL: Arjay and Bheb's 1978 Hoodride

Arjay Mangubat and his loving wife Bheb had always wanted to have a car of their own that can transport them from point A to point B. Arjay had “japanese cars” running on his mind as their first car, but something else revs up in Bheb’s imagination- an old Volkswagen Beetle. The wife wants a bug because of it’s appeal to the public’s eyes especially the children. She wanted their car to be something not ordinary.

They asked friends who are members of the BatVolks to help them find them a Bug. Luckily there was one for sale in Lipa City. It was a red 1978 Brazilian Beauty. Though the original seats were replaced with Japanese surplus as well as the original steering wheel, it didn’t taint that vintage feel and look.

After a year of cruising this bug around the Province of Batangas (it has been to the mountainous roads of Lobo, it is a regular transport to road trips to Calatagan and Nasugbu, etc.), the couple decided to give their red bug a good reward of doing some simple repairs on the sheet metals and a little but in-your-face paint job.

Alex Tubino of Alex VW Motorworks gave its 1600 engine a clean bill of health. The suspension received the same attention, new ball joints and tie-rod ends were fitted into the bug. A general rewiring job was also done to get rid of the spaghetti under the front hood.

The body panels were hand-beaten to make it straight. Minor body repairs were made to some panels that needs them. Bhoy, also of Alex VW Motorworks prepped the unit for paint. And Arjay himself painted it with red oxide primer giving the bug that corroded hoodride look. The paint was accented with complete polished aluminum body moldings and white fender lacings. 3-colored Wolfsburg crest adorns the front hood, telling everyone the German roots of this Brazilian Beauty.

Econo Beetle steering wheel is painted white and fitted while interior is white leather and red Swede. 185/60 R14 rubbers on flat-black painted PAWI Licenza Alloy Wheels provides the grip and driving comfort on all corners.

The bug’s name is apt for its look… it’s called The Red Devil.

LOLA: Kicko Salazar's Show Girl

For this year our first featured car is a 1974 bug owned by Francis “Kicko” Salazar.

Kiko is the youngest member of BatVolks. He joined the club last year January 3, 2009. So it has been a year now since he embraced the BatVolks way of life: camaraderie, fun, friendship and love for air-cooled VWs.

Before he got his ’74, he previously owned an “unidentified bug”- it is due to the bugs identity crisis. The body says it’s a German CKD (complete knock down) assembled here in the Philippines, but the registration says it has a Latina origin which is Brazil. Kicko got tired of thinking how to make his “unidentified Bondo-bucket” a head turner but still after a few good sums of money… he decided to sell it.

The amount he got from selling his previous bug was used to purchase another bug, but this time it is a 1974 Brazilian beauty. With a stock 1600 power plant and stock tranny, it is nonetheless a good daily driver from San Luis to Batangas City (that’s 60-70k kilometer per day!). Handling is good on all four corners with stock 165/80 R15 tires shod with white wall inserts on stock rims.

Paint is two-tone metallic blue and off-white. The same color scheme inspired the stock interior panels and seats. There are three (3) stars on the lower skin the rear quarter panels inspired by Kicko’s tattoos behind his ears. Vintage-style roofrac provides carrying pleasure for beach picnics and skimboard gimmicks. Hang-type air-conditioning unit is installed to keep the ride cool during summer and driving around the Metro. An “old-skool” looking radio provides reggae music via its USB and Micro SD ports, imagine a Sapphire radio with volume and tuning knobs but with a twist!

I told Kicko that his Latina Bug should have a really sexy name… Lola (Low-la). Do you still remember the Barry Manillow song Copa Cabana’s opening line? … “Her name was Lola, She was a show girl…"