Sophia’s Last Dance

My Vespa PX 150 Millenium edition was named “Sophia” after the Italian icon Sophia Loren.  Her original paint is officially cherry red that was a few shades closer to maroon, my college alma matter’s color.    She came after my first scoot, “Indira” out of India.  There are a handful of Millenium Editions in country that was a cherished gift from my favorite Uncle out of Indonesia.  We started riding in 2002.  

Through the years, she was with me to work, weekend rides all over.  She was pretty, reliable and an apple of the eye on the road.   One time we went to Bicol, we clocked in 800 km without a hitch.

Life happened, Sophia aged.  Another scoot came “Cherie” my LX 150 that bore the brunt of my two-wheel transportation.   During the pandemic, she and the others were garage beauties.  They hardly got out and I still tried to maintain them as much as I could. 

It took years to get Sophia back in the game.  Issues with parts and diabolical and/or underqualified mechanics were the main challenges.

I signed up for the GYEON PH Vespa Days 2026 a while back.  This is my fourth go with Vespa Pilipinas events. Like the last trip in Mindoro, though I also did not finish this one but you will soon read why I still consider this as another riding adventure.

Headed out, donning my signature militaria themed riding look.  Took of at 4am from the meet up place in Mistubishi Valenzuela.  Most participants, did not bother to ride out in unison and just hit the road.  A group of Mindoro vespistis launched and invited me to tag along.  Unfortunately, Sophia was the grand lady and could not keep up the pace with the younger, more agile GTV’s, Sprints and Primaveras.  Barely out of Valenzuela, I was solo, again.

Sophia was in top shape, this was her first long ride in a long while.  On the road it was reminiscent of her youth with the vibrations and purr two stroke machine.   She was running even better than when we took Bicol more than 15 years past, I zoomed past the Shell gas station at the diversion exit where coincidentally, my LX Cherie busted her fan belt in the 2025 Tourism rally.  I think I should have took that route but missed out of Valenzuela.  Oh well, being still under the cover of darkness, I pushed on.  We were out of the city by dawn.

My Italian Babe was doing well for an older gal, cruising at 60 kph and pushing even more on straight aways.  She still had some spunk in her.

By 6 am I stopped for breakfast and drinks at Jollibee in Gapan.  Drank about a liter of fluids and topped up on my fuel.  In a hundred kilometers she consumed 3 liters, not bad.    After about 100 km, I was at McDonald’s in Villasis, Pangasinan.  I had a bio break and took in even more fluids.  By then the heat was sweltering.   

It was from Villasis en route to Kennon that was about 60 km away that trouble started.  Sophia began sputtering.  I knew it was not fuel because she would have at least a couple of liters in her belly.  After again missing the group jump off point for Kennon at another Shell station, I pushed on.  

At the foot of Kennon I stopped, consulted my mechanics and did some things with the fuse.   This is when I still chose to take her up.  About 15 km before Baguio in Station 6, she died.  Electricals were gone.  I still tried and after stopping at a roadside Igorot house, I had to quit at another house barely a hundred meters away.   

There was no shade, the heat was too much.  The Igorot tribesmen were very accommodating and helpful.  They tried to diagnose the problem, nothing was working.  Along with heat, was desperation creeping in.  Mobile signal was erratic being on the side of a mountain.  The Igorots even let me use their phones to call contacts, SMART signal was way stronger in Station 6.

It was my first time to interact act with these indigenous people of Benguet.  Most of theme were there to mine gold.  I was amazed at how accommodating they were to try and help me with my situation. 

I also wondered why they had lipstick on, only to find out that they were chewing tobacco with beetle nut, limestone and leaves.

As I tried to seek help, I set my cowls down on the road, helmet was down as well.  In old Vespa language, that meant a rider needed help.  All the others that passed did not seem to know that old “code”.   They must have been way much younger to know.

Help came, an old college friend rustled a van and brought me to John Hay.   After about 5 hours waiting in the sun and getting rained on in the late afternoon, the transportation finally came.

By the time I got to John Hay registration was long over.    I got to my assigned room and crashed. I woke up and tried to make it to the dinner at the Convention Area but it was all over.  Good thing that some food was left and it was really good.   I managed to check the classic Vespa displays and the new 180 cc model on display.

After dinner, I decided to take a stroll and have a couple of beers to adjust my attitude somewhere nearby.  Ended up in Nevada Square right outside the John Hay area.  After a few bottles, still feeling flustered with my ”misfortune”, I chatted up these guys wearing something like “2T Smoke Rider” on their shirts. 

Thinking they were PX Vespa riders that joined the event, I chatted them up and as it turns out, they were a local band of 2T “purist” rider cum mechanics that hung at that moto inspired bar called Moeging Bar.  They were known as 2T Baguio, and were truly classic two stroke meisters.

Led by Moeging Bar owner cum Master Chef Vonn Esquivel, these guys are the real deal with old school 2T knowledge, willing and able to lend a hand to riders in trouble up in Baguio. 

Over drinks, I told them what happened and they were generous with their expertise and even brought me back to the hotel to check on my Sophia.  They guys also told me how “nice” Igorots are, willing to help people in such situations.  I will never forget that.

As it turns out, the findings of the Igorot tribesmen and the 2T Baguio masters were correct.  A ground caused by a ground at the ignition coil.  The screw came off losing its thread due to the extreme vibration.  Sophia has not done this kind of tango for quite some time.  As a result, the fuse blew, the battery died because of a severed ground wire. 

My chief mechanic went up for repairs and rode her back to Manila for more diagnostics.  She is now running again.   

While waiting in distress at Station 6, I pondered.  I was thinking that Sophia being an “elderly” scoot should quit.  She had many dances.  This should be her last.   I myself will be quitting soon because of my age.  In the heat, getting wet with rain there was also sadness of these realizations going through my head.  I also though of Cherie, my 2013 LX 2v, one of the last of her kind that also has had her own “dances”.

The next morning, bushed and having no scoot, I missed breakfast and all the other scheduled PH Vespa Days events.  Boarded a bus back home and ride was smooth and comfortable. 

In between naps I was re-thinking my options about Sophia. She was on the road with my tech, running smoothly again as reported on the fly.  The classic scooter clocked 609 km for the MNL-Baguio-MNL legs, not bad for an old lady.  Not bad at all.

As I rode back recalling the breakdown, heat and stress that I had to endure, I repeatedly asked myself, “Should this be Sophia’s last dance?”

Nearing Manila, it was like that there was a voice in my head that replied -“Not this one.” 

 

The next adventure is on with my babe Sophia. We will ride up again, soon.

 

Looking forward to the next Vespa Pilipinas rally in 2027!

 

Many thanks to:

- Vespa Pilipinas for another successful GYEON PH Vespa Days, to all the sponsors like Full Print MNL. 

- AJ of Vespa Pilipinas for giving me the kit from Mindoro (I still hope I can get the one from Baguio).  

 

Thanks as well to:

•       the Igorot tribesmen that were so helpful and really tried their best to get the scoot to run again. 
•     Chef Vonn Esquivel & the 2T Masters of Baguio 2Stroke/Moeging Bar.
•       Louie Pawid for the rescue and trying to get other help from locals

 To all who read this, you may take note of the following contacts in case of any roadside emergencies going up to Baguio.

PNP Green Valley Outpost

(074) 442 7944, +63 998 598 7762

BCPO Kennon Hotline

+63 9985987758, +63 9985997759, (074)6208753

The Station 6 Igorot Gold Miners– Victor, Jenwel Camitan, Sherwin Salango, Cyreljeff & Marshal Estimada

+639637363797

 

Chef Vonn Esquivel & the 2T Masters of Baguio 2Stroke/Moeging Bar in Nevada Square. 

Riders can contact them for motorcycle technical assistance - 09195289985 &+63 956 450 6759