VWCP Batangas Christmas Party

What: BatVolks Christmas Party

When: December 26, 2010 (Sunday) @ 11AM onwards (lunch time)

Where: Engr. Onin's Garage, Riverville Subdivision, Brgy. Palanas, Lemery, Batangas

What to Bring: Potluck, Bring food and drinks to share! The Club will also provide food. Exchange Gifts (P300.00 worth of gift item)

Here is a list of those who confirmed and committed to attend:

1. Erwin Arinsol
2. Eric Laparan
3. Fredi Kalaw
4. Kiko Salazar
5. Aj Adajar
6. Niño Apuntar
7. Carlo Mercado
8. Joel Alili
9. Clark Apuntar
10 Gilbert Palencia
11. Boie Cubos
12. Billy Villanueva
13. Edwin Besares
14. Teddy Salazar
15. Robin Diaz

Yun di pa nagconfirm, punta na lang kayo.

COME ONE, COME ALL! RAIN OR SHINE!

TAGPI: Edwin’s Roadworthy Hoodride

Taking out politics in the VW community means non-discrimination of what ever veedub you have. Whether it’s a beater or a pristine resto, a German or Brazil unit. That’s the first rule of VWCP-Batangas a.k.a. BatVolks.

As Batboy Freddie Kalaw once said “a VW should not only be shiny and flashy, it should be roadworthy”. So here is an example of an air-cooled VW that maybe is short of a jaw dropping paint job and “cool” interior but is way ahead of its brothers when it comes to completeness of parts. Edwin Besares’ Tagpi, aptly named for its appearance.

Tagpi is a 1968 deluxe beetle. Exterior shows a good patina, indicative of its age- not bad for a 40 year old paint-job. Adding to the flavor is some repair or patches of primer that simply adds attitude for its stock stance. Bumpers are original German steel with period correct bumper guards. Chrome hubcaps maybe the only shiny on the outside as it contrasts with the black painted steel German rims. Pop-out rear quarter windows keep the passengers cool. Vintage Bosch horn will surely wake you up!

Inside, original seats with original leather seat covers screams for dear life as horsehair peeps through the torn seats. Original seats are complemented with original side panels. Original steering wheel is presents as well as the chrome trims on the dashboard. Radio is period correct unit. Original EMPI T-shifter makes each gear change with ease. It still sports its original window crank handle and door lever.

This humble hoodride is a roadworthy beast with its good running 1600 overplant. Transmission gear box is from a 1978 Brasilia partnered with rear Brasilia drum brakes for more stopping power.

What more can I say? It’s your grandpa’s bug still alive today. I wonder if Edwin has full resto on his mind.

BatVolks Celebrates 3rd Anniversary With Kids from Orphanage

Last July 24, 2010 BatVolks celebrated its 3^rd Anniversary. The event was attended by the following members:

Clark Apuntar

Eric Laparan

Emier Jobli

Boie Cubos

John Aquino

Gilbert Palencia

Tato Abarentos

Jun Sundiam

Newton Caguimbal

Malou Elefante

Macmac Hernandez

Freddie Kalaw

Richard Mojares

Onin Apuntar

Kiko Salazar

Liza Rosales

Chona Zara

Teody Alvis

Activities

7:00AM Meet up at Shell Gas Station near Fernando Airbase, Lipa City

8:00AM Bug Run Kicks off

9:00AM Arrival at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Children’s Home, Labac, Taal, Batangas

10:00-11:30AM Program/Presentation by children from the orphanage

11:45AM Gift Giving

12:00 Lunch and Playtime with Orphanage Children at Jollibee Lemery

1:30-2:30PM Photo Session at Taal Basilica, Taal, Batangas

2:30-3:00PM Bug Run to Cuenca, Batangas for Fellowship

3:00PM Fellowship

5:00PM Awarding of Badges to (Liza #622, Kiko #623 and Eric #624)

6:00PM onwards Dinner/Party

The BatFolks did it again, proving that BatVolks is not all about VWs. It also fosters camaraderie, provides friendship and relief and outreach to those in need.

We are not just a club… We are BatVolks!

BatVolks 3rd Anniversary

July 23, 2010 marks the 3rd Year Anniversary of the Batangas Volkswagen a.k.a. Volkswagen Club of the Philippines Batangas Chapter.

Three years after the founding on this humble VW Club:

10 men became 42 men and women who dedicate their time and efforts for the club.

Awarded 100-Point Club Badges to its 24 deserving members.

A successful one-day VW Car show which was attended by hundreds of VW nuts and enthusiasts.

More than 36 Club meetings.

More than 15 bugs runs, not missing the World Guinness Record Bug Run and Bug Run to VWCP Cabanatuan's VWCar Show.

A relief operation for victims of Tropical Storm Ondoy.

What more can you ask for?

This is not just a Volkswagen Club... This is BatVolks!

The VCWP 100 Points Badge

It's not just a badge...

Nor a rare VW accessory, nor car bling.

Earned through strong dedication and allegiance to our dear VWCP.

It's not like a gasoline station give-away that is earned by points.

It's not just a badge...

It is an award for the hard-core VW nut from the VWCP.

It's not an article that cannot be bought...
It's what you earned by blood and sweat, gasoline and oil...

Kapit Bisig sa Araw ng Kalayaan Featuring BatVolks

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS

Who May Join?

Any Volkswagen enthusiast and hobbyist who is willing to be a member, follow club rules and take part in the club activities can apply for membership;

Such applicant must be a law-abiding citizen, should have good moral character, and vouched for by any member;

How to Join?
Those who wish to apply and be members of the chapter will be on a “probationary member” status;

He or she is required attend two consecutive regular/formal monthly meeting. Attendance to these meetings will have corresponding points that will be awarded and added to his or her credit after formalization of membership;

Formalization of membership can be attained on his or her attendance to any of the next regular club meeting after the two consecutive meetings attended and upon payment of membership fee of Nine Hundred Pesos (P900.00); and

Failure to attend two consecutive meeting for probationary members will mean restarting of application for membership;
As per BatVolks Resolution No. 1, Series of 2010

HERSHEY IS BACK!

Hershey has been fast asleep for months in our garage in our house in Cuenca. She has been a head-turner when she roams the streets of Lemery… a 1978 bug sans the all fenders and aprons. Flat black paint, bare interior (just two stock ’68 seats, no rear seat, no sidings), stock rims painted white and flat black and most of all she’s a weed eater, asphalt scraper.

This was Hershey before the ratrod craziness started… (July 2008)

Four months after… (November 2008)

But hibernation has come to an end. This year she will emerged from her deep slumber with anew look and attitude… She got 4-inch top chop, framehead extended 10 more inches… she is slowly transforming at the moment. Her late model front hood was replaced with one from a ’64. This is how she looks now under the torch...

She will receive lipstick-red accents for the flat black strip-to-metal paint job. Interior will include vintage Superior Industries “The 500” steering wheel, lipstick red leather on ‘68 stock seats with white piping… More to come…

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…"