Bong Hilario, sharing his Era...

What a wild year. That's how I would describe it. We got people fighting on Facebook. We have someone who's an enthusiast, loves going to carshows, is part of a group but you know, he actually doesn't have a car. There's also a car blogger who actually doesn't have a car too. Or certain personalities who look so dreamy on Facebook but got such a dark heart. Oh well, the wonders of the internet and modern society. So with that, how's the internet nowadays. Quality diba?

With that out of the way, we move on to the more important stuff such as the loss a great, and that of course is idol Bong Hilario. 

I wish everyone had a deep sense of understanding how Bong moved this world from the night races, to dominating sanctioned races. From the boys who started with SOHC engines, to the highly technical and savvy people who had the Bseries to the K-Engines. When people said H3 only dominated the races, he brought out performance monsters to feed the Transportshow and Autosalon goers. That certain "feel" for such memories cannot be replicated. I wish I had the ability to make everyone feel that, the young generation who now drive modern cars, the STI's, the FD's and Jazz's. I wish I can take you back to arguments and clashes on Autoindustriya and Tsikot, or Kotse.com's old talkboards. I wish I can take you back to the races that take till early in the morning, or being with friends to visit his simple shop at Antipolo back then. The never ending technical discussions with the EGs and EK's being the star. The clashes against the Corolla's. The fear of facing the H3 creations, That certain "feel". I have so much details and memories and I wish I got the time to share them all. Truly an exception, that of which cannot be bought. 

Just imagine what people so close to him could write about. The H3 boys, the family. Just imagine that. I am just so FORTUNATE to share his era, his time, his dominance, his influence. That is enough for me, and through this simple writing is my salute to you Sir Bong Hilario. Thank you for shaping this industry. 

Goodnight and I find myself again closing this coffeeshop...

Slouch a little, live a little.

I wonder what does it mean to be alive, driving back home with the windows down, hearing the sound of the engine and the quick bursts from the muffler. The BOV signaling your hesitation on a few bumps and curves on the road. It was one good night after all, at the bar with some of our good friends from the industry celebrating their 3rd anniversary. Our friends from the photog-industry have always been good to me. More than anything, they have helped us in many ways and have also given me a wider perspective on things in our own industry. 

The very pretty singer clearly knew what songs to sing, and our friends couldn’t help but relate, add to that the intoxication from overflowing booze and a couple of hard drinks. And most importantly, a level of controlled despair, as much of them, still single, hopeful, hopeless, loving, loveless and still aspiring for that one girl to turn their world upside down. This I guess is living, to give in the our weaknesses as humans, to live and let go, to move away from the daily stresses and simply sit down, slouch, relax and open a few drinks with friends. Let a few good songs be the soundtrack of your life from time to time. 

I live alone. The projects greet me in the garage with open arms. I opened my door, NBA games left open in the TV to keep the air a bit noisy, I pack up for Tagaytay. Going up very early in the morning reminds me of long trips outside Manila as a kid. The hint of breakfast being cooked at the nearby houses warms the heart, the Christmas decor still lit, people lining up for church reminds me its a Sunday. I settle down in a small cramped wooden house to grab sleep for a few hours. 

That was a wild week by the way, but as you’ve always known me, I couldn’t afford to be caught up in the mind with all those things. The last 2 weeks of Autosalon and now the B2BX was so busy, and I was going back and forth different shops and individuals to bring them their parts. I’ve always believed in parts though, more than the “stickering”, a new term which I have developed for people putting stickers on client’s cars even if in essence does not give it really any true value. I’m proud to say that we have provided the main stuff to a couple of Manila Auto Salon participants, from seats to brake kits to suspension and such. Those are the “mains”, period. 

A few trips outside Manila keeps me sane, an early morning breeze, a book to read and writing. That I love and it keeps me grounded. 

Pasko na huy! Pakinggan mo ang mga tugtugin sa radyo, sa kapehan, ang mga himig sa simbahan. Langhapin ang amoy ng bibingkang niluluto ni aling Nena sa kanto, masdan ang mga makikinang na ilaw sa mga bahay at lugar-pasyalan. Ilapit ito sa iyong damdamin dahil hindi mo mamamalayan na ito’y lilipas na din. So what better way is to indulge yourself in such. Have a good week guys, be good. Keep safe. :D

There is more to it, go search for it...

Two quick voluntary trips to Tacloban has taught me what no experience has taught me ever before. That there is more to life. More than the cars, or the glamorous places, or the lavish dinner and wine or basically the things we take for granted. It will, in many ways, like the girl that you met in college or you took to the prom, will turn your world pretty much, upside down. 

Believe it or not as it will come from me, there is so much "deep" beyond this industry of ours. Go search for it. 

When you need to take a pee or a number two on a floating CR by the shore on stilts, you know you’re down to the basics if you know what I mean. When the military planes that harbour you to and from Manila has that lingering stench of the dead, recognise that clearly, devastation has hit, albeit the strongest in history. Manong Lidio, a local is kind enough to lend me his Barako so I can get to the Barrio’s faster and more efficiently. With him as my back rider, nearly 1 year after such impact its hard to believe the news reaching Manila that Leyte has completely recovered because here is a deep kind of sorrow still surrounding the area. The smell of the air is different, though is may be only in my mind, coupled of the earlier images I saw of the town months ago, it will always present that eerie feel. The town of Guiuan, as one of the hardest hit, though a different face of the news is being sent in Manila on how it has recovered, I completely disagree with it. I dare the lawmakers to ride a plan and go there. The same way I disagree with life style checks and simplicity amongst the lawmakers whereas everyday as I come from my house, I pass by the intersection which leads to the main gate of the House of representatives, Porsche’ LC’s, and a couple of Lexus’ coming in? Truly, the Phippines will always and will be only as good as the morale of its representatives. 

Habang nilalakad ko ang kahabaan ng Ortigas upang masdan ulit ang ningning na bigay ng mga panahon o araw bago magpasko, nakasalubong ko ang mga iba’t ibang pamilya, bitbit ang kani- kaniyang mga pinamili, ang mga bata, sunod sunuran sa mga magulang na tila may gusto pa ipabili, yumayakap at umaasa, na sa bawat ngiti nila ay lalambot ang puso ni Tatay para sa isang pang laruan mula sa Toy Kingdom. Ang Pasko nga naman talaga any para sa mga bata, kung saan sila pa ay bulag sa piit at hirap ng mundo nating ginagalawan. Ang imahe ni Santa, ang Christmas tree, ang mga bituin, regalo and ngiti ay siya lamang tumatagos sa kanilang murang isipan, at wala ng anuman.

This scene or moment draws me back from my Facebook conversation with a very good friend named Lawrence. We were talking about things which I told him to delete afterwards so as not to offend anyone but basically its about fatherhood and how it changes the landscape for a majority of car enthusiasts. How fatherhood changes one’s priorities and a developed instinct to provide and fend for the children. Hey Interstellar is so good by the way, they had a couple of points there that we need to ponder on, rarely does a movie exhibit such emotional content beneath all the CGI and science mumbo jumbo. 

Going back, I believe that there are phases, such as easing off a bit from the cars and the parts and moving the priority to the kids, and when business is good and everything is settling for the better, its only natural for an enthusiast to go back to his roots and maybe go a bit all out once again. It's not as if he's not enjoying, the good man owns a couple of businesses, an original Evo5 and a daily, so what's to ponder on? :P

Thats it for now, I seriously need to grab dinner, have a great week ahead everyone, I’m thankful we had a loaded Sunday, I almost feel not working tomorrow but thats impossible haha. Good night everyone. :) Be good. 

Pause Muna..

There's a life that is attached to this industry and not everyone knows it. When its getting too artificial, or a bit gloomy, or Laguna-beach-esque like in MTV, it kinda drains you a bit especially if you’re really an enthusiast more than anything else. When relationships seem to shallow already and it starts to in a way lessen your spirit. Observe as the others proudly post and seem to be absorbed by the perks of it, that it seems that it has taken over their life, may it be the beautiful faces or the nightly hang outs and what not. When you’ve seen to much attitude, or basically things which are definitely way off the mark as what a good education can provide. Or even questioning yourself as why you have gone down from a queen sized bed to a mat spread out on the floor in exchange for freedom and a view of what they call the real world. When you’re completely blanked because sometimes its never rational anymore and you end up wasting much clock.

Times like these, makes me want to step back, take a closer look at my roots, and well, just basically build another car. It's not pride or a simple whim, it's not trying to prove something or even competition. I call it a cure or a major therapy. Nothing else trumps all these emotions but an excellent canvass to start with and a slew of parts. Go old school with some post its, a calculator and writing down the things you need plus a budget to work on. It is but a simple gesture, or maybe a symbolism of a car guy. That no matter how deep or been tainted by the workings of this industry, he can pause, think over, and do what he does best. Something that is brought about by his passion, what ultimately, what brought him to what he is today. I think I want to go back now. Read between the lines. 

Staying true to your roots..

As I am writing this, I am headed to one of our country’s poorest areas. We need to work at night time, as not to attract any attention and more importantly, move faster without any distractions. 

The SUV market is exploding and we are all aware of that. I am taken aback by a conversation I had with a fellow shop owner in Banawe of the thought of gradually crossing over to accommodate such. I listened to him carefully and well here are my thoughts. Since its my birthday month, I won’t hold back too much so read carefully because the manner of thinking or writing won’t happen again anytime soon. 

I am an enthusiasts, who was influenced by my EX’s kuya with his Spoon Car back in the 90’s. I drooled when he and his brother in law would drive the streets of Kalookan with their B-Series EKs with those shiny TE37s and Advan tires. I promised myself to work every summer then so I could save some cash and experience a bit of the same. Fast forward to college.

As an enthusiasts, as abundant are the very pretty women in our school, we also had “car personalities”. There was this guy who had a B18 Civic EK with a Group5 visor and now owns a very well respected shop, I  also remember a kitted Mitsu Galant with 18s or 19s 5zigen wheels, it was basically an introduction to what they would now call VIP. A bunch of Civic SIR’s here and there, and a true pocket rocket in the form of a EG Hatch also with a B16. Of course Botchi would have his Evo back then, and an afternoon barkada of Spoon Caliper equipped EKs parked at Johnny’s for a quick game of billiards. Fast forward to after college.

I was lucky enough to find a good set of friends whom till now I am together with, and in form, are still one of the figures or personalities in the industry. We were ripping though the Subic racetrack on track days, talk about parts all night long at Alan’s place at Splitsecond Greenhills and spend wads of cash on karting at the once Mario-kart like location in Bicutan. JDM and rare are common words of discussion, it is by all means high level. Fast Forward to now..

Looking back, to my background and the parts which I have dealt with and the hard core clients I have been able to serve, I don’t see myself crossing over if you know what I mean. Its not as if we woke up one day as businessmen and thought of selling parts to a wide variety of audience. It does not work that way for me. Sometimes money isn’t always the driver here, we give way for passion. We cater to sport compacts, and would want to keep it that way. We envision projects the way they deserve it. I dream of K20 EKs, FDs and Jazz’, or wide body 86’s and BRZ’s. I aspire for track-attack Evos and STIs with those tasty diffusers which makes you wanna tail them for a glimpse, or a driving experience with an S2000 which clearly you had a hangover with. As much as I hate to say it but not all cars are meant to be modified. The SUV your dear parents gave you, no matter how many chips and beans you put unto it would never be a sport compact. If you see yourself drawing your enthusiasm and putting too much cash on a vehicle which is basically really not meant to be, I would plainly say buy a Jazz, a Silvia, or an Sti, because I know, that at the back of your mind, that is the pinnacle of your purpose. 

Let SUV's be themselves, let them serve their real purpose. Let sport compacts be sport compacts, and let have the parts they truly deserve.

And that is the reason why our shop is not crossing over. We stay true to our client base, we stay true to their passion and most importantly, we pattern the cars we modify to the same ones the Japanese are fixing too back in their homeland.

The Afternoon Feel

Maybelle annd I made a stop over after watching a epic play by Floy Quintos at Palma Hall in UP to grab a few fish balls, a hotdog sandwich and drinks at the nearby sari sari store. We sat amongst the trees with a clear view of all the joggers in the area and the field as it housed a mix of football and frisbee. The area is highlighted by the signature afternoon shade from the sky, as the air is filled with energy and enthusiasm. Such “firsts” for me like spontaneously just stopping over, buying some fish balls, the sandwich, even that pink cotton candy and randomly just hanging under the tree for a casual conversation are things which do not happen often, thus are now engrained in my head. It is as if I didn’t want it to end but as I always say, time sets all the rules and I knew it was ending in a few minutes, prompting me to absorb every detail. The setting, also solidifies my idea of what it feels to study in UP. In the past I have discarded it as just another school managed by the government, but after spending that moment, and a few days before it I finally caught the UP “feel”. though hard to explain, it can be described as life in college with a huge amount of diligence, freedom, expression, and the typical “Pinoy Life”. In my honest opinion, the campus has a certain chemistry which is hard to beat even with the likes of Lasalle or Ateneo. 

Cars on the other hand share the same sentiment of you ask me. Different cars have different feels unto it. Others may feel so reliable, others feel so luxurious and distant to the road, and others feel as if they are exclusive machines with the only purpose of ripping the road. As I always say, its best to drive as many cars as possible for you to complete such idea. It would be better of course if you built a lot f cars during your lifetime, because beyond the body kits, lights and aesthetic pieces, are a car’s soul. That of which is rooted upon handling and driving performance. What makes you Civic FD different from your sister’s Altis? :) What makes your Evo7 different from your best friend’s legendary EVo5? Why does a Nissan Silvia put a smile on your face when you drive it as compared to a car 20 years younger? Questions that may guide you for many years to come. 

"Life is too short to drive Boring Cars"

I was talking to a few of my friends the night before at CBTL, as I was discussing living alone and all it's plus and minuses. In reality, its all plusses since you have all the benefits of well, living alone if you know what I mean. You just have t be responsible enough and realistic with your budget as it is a true gateway into independence and keeping everything straight. Aside from that, I had to keep the client's cars that I bring home for painting and various upgrades away from the irritable eyes and ears of parents. One big minus would be food. Since I don't cook and no ones cooks for me yet, I'd have to result to eating out which is always a welcome adventure at first but lonely and tiresome through the latter. Dating on the other hand is a whole different story.

The Facebook sidebar and notifications list is such a wonder isn't it? Through it you can almost see through a person's character? How? through his likes, posts, and comments. Forget about being a Doctor, Excutive, Pastor or Mentor, do you have a friends, who oftentimes post nude pictures on a private or secret Facebook group page? I even described him to my friend as someone who I almost looked up to through his profession, but she readily said, "it does not matter Donds", and politely tapped me in the arm as her sister was in the back seat. Probably someone who has a genuine love for cars? As 99% of his posts on Facebook are about cars and nothing else. Or someone who surfs as he rips through the waves during weekends and oftentimes goes shopping at Quick Silver and Hurley giving you a quick indicator on his passion. Or someone who builds cars, writes on a regular basis and reads 3 inch thick books on weekends, and you know he's not 1 dimensional. 

The saying "life is to short for boring cars" in reality can be applied to everyone's lives. Whether you're really into cars as you own a Civic, Jazz, Evo, Silvia, and 86 or the exotics. I just gave someone a quick advice and asked me if I was reading what I was saying over the phone. As Mr. Raul Roco would say, ""Write everything down...memory is treacherous.", and thus here I am, writing it down. The saying also applies to general life, and loving life as we know it at the same time paying homage to our parents who have sacrificed so much for us during their lifetime. (I prepared dinner for them tonight btw :)) Our parents have given us life, gave us education, worked for us, woke up early in the morning, strived for what is best, fed us, worked to give us the best and raised us to the best of their ability. No matter what your relationship is with your mom and dad today, distanced or close, dependent or independent, alive or not, this is a principle which I believe must be ingrained in all of us. That in the end our parents would like us to be in a very good situation, not in something which we sometimes or often regret, not in something that we are ashamed of, or something we hide, or something that stresses us everyday, or something na "pwede na", things that make us cry, or bring us down, or a certain emotion that makes us feel like we're inside a box and we can't escape. 

Life is too short to drive boring cars, and that adage simply translates to living life to the best way we can. You and I, and everyone else should be having dinner at a nice resto with our loved ones having a great time with a great view in front of us, candle light dinner at home, or going to La Union for surfing and ripping the waves on a Sunday Morning, or going for a drive on your tune car to Tagaytay to grab your favorite cheesecake at BOB, having a good and intellectual conversation with random laughs and giggles in between, or running hastily through the halls of Powerplant to watch your epic movie, or lying in the beach and starring at the horizon as the blue rush unto your feet. Looking up the deep blue sky, closing your eyes momentarily and thankfully saying praises up above, that there is good in life and these are the things that our parents I'm sure have wished us to be having. 

Cheers! Our Ateneo Junior Midgets is having a big game tomorrow mornong against Xavier, so I'm hitting the sheets early. Goodnight everyone and have a great weekend!