HCP was the ultimate online tambayan. If you weren’t driving, if you weren’t fixing your car, if you weren’t out for a meet, then likely you’re hanging out at the forums, beer on the side, sitsirya sa kanan.
Nowadays, kamusta? People are on their pads and phones, seamlessly browsing, no effort, with various ways to express yourself of course with a simple like, love or care, or a complete comment na maari din namang sing-haba ng nobela. Nowadays, people are so used to shield of social media that its easy to disrespect anyone, without the fear of freakin being punched in the face. Tila nakalimutan ng tao ang rumespeto at humarap, magpakatao at magkatotoo. Yan of epekto ng social media. Back in the old HCP boards may nakaalitan yung kaibigan ko, shmpre they had different ideals, iba ang mga alam nila, iba ang mga approach nila sa kotse. Couple of weeks after we were invited to their meet, sa South, couple of EK and EG Hatchbacks here and there, nagkakilala, nilabas ang mga tripod, nag kamayan, nagkasundo at nabuo ang magandang pagsasama at respetuhan. People back then were that way, may pride, may angas pero walang backstaban. People let their cars do the taking ika nga, no matter how old such saying is, amazingly it applies effortlessly in today’s society.
I have always considered myself lucky because I have car friends who has the highest standards, espcialy during the 2000s days then across sa panahon ngayun. People like Mr. Uncle Mark Luna, sila Law Go, I will always have great respect for Alan Lim of Splitsecond and Sam the mechanic, John Moreno, Stew, my earlier visits to H3 with friends on how we witnessed the importance of motorsports and function more than being pogi and more. Just imagine being raised and influenced heavily by those people. Tangina, hindi mo mabibili yan, hindi mo rin pwede balikan. Pranka, high standards, all out, wow factor always at galit sa peke. They can be jerks sometimes, but I love them for that because totoo silang tao and their super high standards (paulit ulit ko ito sinasabi) will wash away all that is mediocre in today’s industry.
Benavon and I thought of selling purely Spoon Parts, nag mix kme ng bit of Mugen and I called the company JDMselect. JDM for a term coined by then Head Editor of Super Street. Jonathan “JDM” Wong, it simply meant Japanese Domestic Market. The word Select? Well, because back then we only sold selected parts and I didn’t want the hassle of selling knock-offs then at bka masita tayo ng Original SPOON POLICE. Only the OGs will understand. Benavon supplied the goods, I built my company, HCP will always be an intergral part of our growth and the rest is history. Tinalikuran ko ang malaking sweldo at komportableng posisyon sa company ng dad ko for this, I was mocked, criticized and had an extremely hard time, but the journey was worth it. Every year, during March 22, hindi ako pumalya mag-thank you sa aking kaibigan for opening the gates for me. That everything that I am, everthing that I have, kahit paulit ulit niya ideny at sabihin sakin na dahil sakin talaga yun, sasabihin ko na dahil sa kanya.
The gates which he opened for me, binalik ko naman sa pagtulong sa tao through our monthly gift giving and employing people and being able to support their families. Hopefully, God-willing now as we open our paintshop to the public, we’ll be able to employ more people through our “assistant” program wherein we’ll be hiring people on a few days basis para magkaroon sila ng konting pang kain sa araw araw nila and their families.
Times flies, so do our lives. It withers away without us knowing it. We take each minute and hour for granted. Its up for us to decide on how to best channel our lives. On pulling each other UP and being the best version of ourselves, spending time with our family and loved ones. Lalo na sa panahon ngayun.......
Your 10 minute blog by yours truly. Take care. Be good! :)
