There are business trips, and then there are the kind that remind you why you fell in love with machines in the first place.

The Philippines was the latter.

Before we even arrived, the local Italjet community had already proven its strength. On a previous ride-out, around 80 Dragster owners turned up to ride together. Eighty. Not for a launch. Not for a press event. Just because they wanted to ride.

That tells you everything.

When we landed, we had just three days to send out what can only be described as the bat signal. No long build-up. No marketing campaign. Just a simple message: We’re in town. Let’s ride. 

Given the short notice, the turnout we had was seriously impressive. Riders showed up ready, proud, and loud. Engines fired. Helmets clicked shut. No drama. Just that shared understanding that something good was about to happen.

We rolled out of Manila into what can only be described as beautiful mechanical chaos.

Traffic in the capital does not flow. It collides. Vehicles appear from every angle. Jeepneys cut across lanes like they are guided by instinct alone. Diesel trucks roll coal into the sky. Smoke drifts across the road in thick grey curtains. Horns scream without rhythm. The air feels heavy with heat and fuel.

You do not casually ride through Manila. You stay alert. You stay sharp. You read the road like it is trying to trick you.

And then, almost suddenly, the city limits arrive.

The congestion thins.

The lanes stretch.

The skyline fades behind you.

And the road opens up like a reward.

Photo Credit - MIGGZ MOTO

The hills above Manila offer some of the most unexpectedly addictive riding you will find anywhere. Long sweepers that let you settle into a rhythm. Tight mountain switchbacks that demand commitment. Elevation changes that make the engine note echo off the rock faces. The Dragsters felt alive up there, light on their feet, sharp, precise, impatient for the next corner.

Photo Credit - MIGGZ MOTO

It becomes obvious very quickly why two wheels mean so much to Filipinos.

In the city, they are survival and freedom. The ability to cut through traffic that would trap anything larger.

In the mountains, they are release. Throttle, lean, exit. Repeat. Pure satisfaction carved into asphalt.

Photo Credit - MIGGZ MOTO

A few days later in Clark, we saw another strong turnout. Different setting, same energy. That consistency is what stands out. This is not a one-time event culture. This is a genuine, growing community.

We are often asked why, as an Italian company, we place such a strong focus on Asia.

The answer is simple.

In many Asian countries, owning a premium scooter carries almost the same cultural weight as owning a supercar. At a local bike night, one Italjet owner arrived in a Porsche GT3. Many Dragster owners are also Ducati owners. These are enthusiasts who understand heritage, engineering, and presence. They do not see a scooter as a compromise. They see it as a statement.

And that connection is not accidental.

Italjet’s roots are deeply intertwined with Ducati. The founder of Italjet, and father of Massimo, our current owner, began as a racer for Ducati. He later became a dealer, then worked on multiple Ducati designs before deciding to create something entirely his own. Italjet was born from that same racing spirit and independent mindset.

In the Philippines, that heritage resonates strongly.

Our distributor, Access Plus, run by Toti and Ted Alberto, is also the main Ducati distributor in the country. They understand the ethos and history of the brand at a deep level. It runs in the family. Their sons, Troy and TJ Alberto, are professional Ducati racers. Motorsport is not just part of the business. It is embedded in their DNA.

As we travel the world meeting distributors and owners, we are fortunate enough to call this work. It is not all mountain roads and throttle noise. There are meetings, strategy sessions, logistics and long-haul flights. But riding through Manila’s chaos into open mountain asphalt reminds us exactly why we do it.

One final thing.

When we visit from HQ, we are often introduced as special guests. VIPs.

The truth is simpler.

The real VIPs are the owners.

Without them, there is no community. Without them, there is no culture. Without them, there is no Italjet.

And riding alongside Dragsters climbing into the hills above Manila, engines echoing against concrete and rock, you cannot help but feel proud of what that badge represents.