I don’t really understand what drew my man to this car. He is hooked. He spends most of his afternoons hanging out at Santy’s, his favorite Volkswagen Service Shop, just chilling out with fellow VW enthusiasts, if not having his Beetle cars serviced.
You got it. Beetle cars. My husband owns not just one, but two VW Beetle cars - ‘67 model and a ‘74 Brazil model which he just recently restored. (In photo above, the yellow one behind the powder blue car is his.) I think there was even a time when he had three - two Beetles and one Brazilia model.
There is quite a number of Volkswagen aficionados in our province in Pangasinan, Philippines. Actually, they have formed a club: Volkswagen Club of Pangasinan, an affiliate of the national org - Volkswagen Club of the Philippines (VWCP). They have line up of activities each year, all year round. They go on trips to join other clubs in their car shows and contests. Or sometimes, they just go on bug runs - in a convoy from one destination to another, usually with their families. The last one was held in Baguio City in November 2006. I heard even actor Aga Muhlach is an active Beetle aficionado and has a convertible Beetle. So is the father of actor Onemig Bondoc, Doy Bondoc, who is a past president of the VWCP. Someone also told me that business tycoon Danding Cojuangco owns an array of 1930 series Beetle models. And to top it all - Bureau of Immigration Commissioner and former Dagupan City Mayor Alipio ‘Al’ Fernandez also restored a 1303 model which took him a year to achieve the ultimate desired results, costing him around P300k. Now, his son, Dagupan Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez enjoys driving said car every Saturday around the city.
There are other celebrities who own this kind of car. Photo below shows the car used to be owned by sexy actress Rosanna Roces but which was recently bought by Gerald Tan, a young bachelor Fil-Chinese businessman in Dagupan City, Philippines, who is incidentally president of the local Volkswagen Club. It didn’t come at a cheap price, though. If my source is right - the price is said to be P500k. See? Who says Volkswagen vintage cars are not costly?
(Red convertible car, said to be formerly owned by actress Rosanna Roces.)
Ah, I guess aside from another woman, the strongest rival of a wife over her husband is his car. But at any time - I would rather compete with a car than with another woman. 
Those vintage beetles are so cute! I remember when I was a kid I used to count all the beetles I would see in the streets.
“Kotseng uba!” My nephews would scream and then hit a closest friend in the back of the head. Hindi ba kayo magkakapikunan niyan? Hindi daw.
I am still fascinated by these cars also. They had a meet last December in Manila but I missed it. I would have loved to take some pics.
Toe, they’re a rarity nowadays, and not cheap to maintain them especially if you want to use just the original parts.
Eric, hubby says they have a meet again in Manila this April - this time, featuring bikini clad girls riding in beetles. Hah! I’m sure he won’t miss that one! hehe.
VW cars are really cute. Through the years VW continuously improve and produce great cars as well as quality car parts such as Volkswagen power steering pump,wheels and other accessories for all your car needs.
hi rhodora,
wow! great to know there is VWCP! might just get one to tinker on when time comes for me to retire in Baguio. lots of fond memories about VW cars. grew up in baguio around them. beetle,kombi, kharmann ghia(sports car?) and fastback. used to record baguio-manila trips in 3 to 3 1/2 hours then. kennon road was a mere 30 mins to traverse then from checkpoint to checkpoint. ooops i’m bragging now. hope to meet you and hubby someday and talk VW cars solely. nice family you have. say hi to ermin garcia of Sunday Punch. was a hi-school classmate of mine at SLU. keep blogging!
Hi, Joe! Thanks for dropping by again.
Oh, you will surely get along well with hubby. He’s crazy over these cars!
Ermin Garcia was your high school classmate? Small world, indeed!
Email me when you come to the country for vacation.