Songs: A Time Machine

Listening to Different Sundays on 88.3 brings about different emotions unto one's self. It deeply related to what as we usually call, the soundtrack of the different memorable experiences of our lives. 

May it be the barkada's carpool of a Hi-ace van going to the ball, all suited up, nervous, handsome and fidgety, or a summer trip with your classmates, leaving from the school grounds, to Batangas, E-heads, Foo Fighters in the background, you open the car's window, and the cool and fresh breeze brushes through your face, or moments with close friends as you head to Antipolo at your favorite place, lying down at the grass, with eyes planted unto the sky, waiting for each shooting star and ready to make that special wish. Dave Matthews, plays the lullaby as you guys get to sleep with dream and aspire of your future as you step out from college. Or riding the "bangka", dizzy yet excited as you get of a glimpse of Boracay, the rhythm of RNB and hiphop can be heard from a far, and who could argue that it truly blends well with what we commonly call the summer air..

Truly, songs are a time machine, and in my opinion, is the best way to feel and relive the past, even for just a second. 

Graduation

As I was listening to 88.3's OPM rock on a Saturday afternoon, heading back from the supplier, I quickly recalled my grade school days as Parokya ni Edgar played. The days when we had our class night at that old auditorium and we had to sing, as a class Harana, with our classmate who really loved acting, headed up front and did some extra emo-actions. Such experiences cannot be brought back, and remain solely for memories and look-backs to time long gone.

In many ways, if you look back to your own experiences of such, you would 9 times out of 10 say to yourself, finally, “nakatapos din ako, nakagraduate din ako”. Truly such beautiful life experiences are part of a long and painful journey of the academe. 

Its the same way with cars I guess, graduating from the usual bolt on stuff like mufflers and intake, to creating a full blown race engine, travelling to Manila even to have that dream engine built or flying the tuner from Manila to Cebu, all expense paid, it’s the same way with wheels, starting on the usual budget friendly Rotas, then later on, finally, being able to afford genuine TE37s, wheels which you've only dreamt of, or read at magazines. Remember the days of cut and compressed springs? Then on through your car-life you then we able to afford some decent springs from TEIN, then things get a little more serious and you shift to a set of coilovers which you' so anal about as you adjust them weekly on Sundays after your morning jog. Probably another form of graduation is selling that sport compact and buying a pickup or a van for the kids. And just like any school boy, there are cases that one simply does not learn, problem child, a repeater as you may call it, and thus, on his twilight years purchases a Civic EG and modifies the hell out of it. 

There are so many examples of these forms of progression, the bottom-line really is, everything is so much sweeter when taken at a right pace, wherein you learn through the process, you get so much data through the problems and fixes that sometimes you feel like a genius for a couple of weeks. A labour of love as you may call it.

Right now, I have so much respect for the people who built. Not bought. Give credit, where credit is due.

Graduation and its various forms. Enjoy!

What is your Red Bull?

You’re in traffic, because of the gutter deep water in the next intersection, or at the office waiting it out, it’s as if the clock is taking too long to reach 5thirsty, or probably at class, listening to that very boring professor that can almost sing lullabies to kids to get them to sleep. The aircon blowing through your face almost half asleep, you’re bored... With everyday life, of the need to wake up, work or study, do the routine, finish, eat then sleep and back again.

As car enthusiasts, what keeps you motivated as you pass through that stage that it gets a little boring? You have so much love for cars, and tuning and everything related, but it’s easily drowned by the amount of work you have to do, or the never ending thesis that you or your group-mates have to finish before the sem ends, the amount of effort to keep things running in the company or striving to send the kids to a very good school, things like that, responsibilities, tasks, promises, obligations, tend to make things vague for us, it simpler terms, it kills our enthusiasm.

For me, the best way to liven up our enthusiasm is to appreciate the smallest things that relate to our interest. From being chased or tailgated by a WRX as you come from Antipolo downhill from from a late night seminar, to spending 5 minutes just staring at the Fairlady S30 your oh-so-rich boss just parked in front of your office. Or accidentally coming across a carshow at the mall while fetching some groceries, the S2000 kinda like saying hi to you, smiling at you, with its intercooler right up front. Or a barkada night watching the last batch of BMI videos that just arrived at the mailbox. Or simply stealing your newphew’s manga of Initial D and actually witnessing what really happened after Stage 4. A quick visit to a parts shop probably to breathe the air that keeps us all alive, or hitching a ride home on your friend’s Evo5 in a way could be a quick fix or a drug.

Appreciation is key, as I said earlier, avoid taking things for granted, recall how much time, money and effort you spent building your project car, because nowadays time flies to fast that we fail to grasp the true meaning, the inner workings of the hobby which we all love. 

Influence.

Looking back we all had our influences. As you are reading this article, you are probably hooked up in the same addiction with all our fellow enthusiasts. May it be it be your personal satisfaction of owning and tuning your car, probably a high priced VIP sedan, your track weapon on weekends as you make your way to Clark, probably a restoration which you and your dad started years back. A joint project with your brother to combine funds and finally build what you guys have been dreaming of for years as you read countless Super Street magazines, or something simply out of love for cars, or out of hate as you built the best car you could as your girlfriend broke up with you and uttered the words: “buti ka pa, di ka nangiiwan”.

Personal is the word that covers all of these, but what triggered you to be in this hobby? What type or when did the reaction take place as you then decide to enter this industry?

My influence came from a guy named Glen, who I considered much of a brother back then. To put it simply his Civic VTI, with the carbon fiber hood, Spoon sidemirrors, Spoon chin with his Winmax sticker on it. That strange looking Spoon N1 muffler and all the Spoon strutbars looked alien to me. The swan-like sticker looked cool though, so as his matte black Sw388s, yumm. The car was, well lowered by some yellow colored dampers and black springs, firm but not bouncy, or should I say perfect? Everything was original of course.

That as early as the 1996-1997, individuals like him were building Spoon cars in the truest sense. The sparks really flew when I hitched a ride going home to Marikina via Commonwealth, the dazzling display of gauges, and the then, very cool looking VAFC illuminated the dark cabin as we flew across the “unrestricted Commonwealth” of the 90’s past 100kph.  The distinct sound of the Spoon N1 muffler was all that I can hear even when I was in bed, dreaming. To him in a way, I owe where I am today, and the passion for cars.

Pause, Stop, Reflect. switch of that engine, take a sip from your Happy Lemon and take a bite from that glazed donut.

Who was your influence? What pushed you to be who you are today? When did you realize that your really love what you do? 

Proyekto ( Tagalog by Demand)

Because of a lot of people are requesting that I write in Tagalog, I’ll be giving in this time considering that tomorrow is the commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan, or Day of independence. I also wanted to show, through this blog, Tagalog, or English, that beyond all the glitz and glamour of cars, beyond all the parts, and the stereotype closely attached to motorsports, that there’s a brain behind all of this. And a heart that can speak clearly and can relate through humor, sarcasm, truth or plain experience. Its also a salute to all my beloved Filipino teachers in gradeschool and highschool whom I learned so much from, they taught from the heart, thank you... Except the one in college who kept on collecting money for his "special projects" =P

Nuong isang Byernes ay maaga ako nakauwi sa bahay dahil sa inspekyon na aking ginawa sa shop na malapit sa aking tinitirhan. Naisipan kong maglinis muna ng sasakyan para pagpawisan naman, at matapos nito ay ginamit ko ang aking bisikleta, isang mountainbike na biniili ko sa isang matalik na kaibigan na nagpaparating nga mga makina galing Japan. Oo, super-gaan ng bisikleta kung nais mo tanungin., Nagikot-ikot ako sa village, at makalanghap ng sariwang hangin, lalo’t kakatapos lang ng ulan at konting bagyo. Nakaksawa na kase mag jogging sa Ateneo, panay puno at pari nalang ang aking nakikita. Peace!

Ang composisying ito at nais ko tawagin na: Proyekto. Ano ba ang iyong proyekto? Ito ba ay isang Lancer? Isang Nissan Sentra na sinasali sa mga sound competition? Isang Nissan Silvia na pang drift? Ang paboritong Honda Civic o di kaya isang Jazz? Naisip ko ito dahil sa pagiikot ko sa aming village, ay nakita ko ang mga ibat-ibang proyektong kotse na matagal ko nang hindi nakita, ay ngayon ay sa wakas ay nabuo na din o kung titignan mo ay mas maganda o kompleto na.

Marami ako nakita ngunit ang mga nakatawag pansin sa akin at ang mga sumusunod. Ang EG hatch ng kinaiinisan kong tao, na laging nambabalya sa akin sa basketball nuong maliliit pa kami. Nangangalabaw, naniniko at marami pang iba, ang EG niya ay mayroong Spoon setup, malinis at simple lang. Pitong taon nung una ko ito nakita ay naka TRD mags ito, at medyo masakit sa mata, ngayon, all Spoon Yellow, may nasilip din ako Spoon caliper at Ce28s. Nakita ko din ang 240sx ng aking kapitbahay sa kabilang kanto, nagsimula ito bilang isang Garage queen na minsan lang paandarin, at pumapalya pa. Basag ang mga ilaw, bugbog ang kaha, ngunit kung iisipin mo, kahit sa panahon na iyon, ay nakikita mo na kung gaano kalaki ang potensyal ng proyektong iyon. Alam mo na ang tuning scene ay punong puno ng mga Honda, at kapag nabuo mo ang 240sx na yan ay sigurading angat ka. Huli ko nakita ang kotse niya nung 2005, at ngayon, ay kinulayan niya ng silver, naka-coilovers sa tingin ko, staggered Work Meisters, Bride seats, yun lang ang aking natanaw. Sa tingin ko ay masaya naman siya sa kinalabasan ng kanyang proyekto. Nakita ko din ang Lancer itlog ng kabitbahay naming na mahilig manligaw, lahat ata ng babae sa village namin ay nilagawan niya, pati na din ang mga katulong. Nagsimula lamang yan maraming taon ang nakalipas sa isang muffler at isang damukal na Ralliart and 5zigen stickers, ngayon, kulay puti na siya at bunuo niya ito bilang isang Evo 1, sa tabi nito ay isang real Evolution 8. Sarap!

Ang progreso ng ating mga projekto ay kasabay ng progreso ng ating buhay. Kaya nga may mga proyekto tayo na di madaling bitawan, di madaling pakawalan. Napapamahal sa atin ang ating mga sasakyan, sa hirap at ginhawa, ng manalo kayo ng barkada niyo sa basketball league, o nuong nakipaghiwalay sa iyo ang iyong girlfriend at hinataw mo ang iyong kotse pauwi, o nuong bumaha sa Espana at napilitan ka na iparada ang iyong sasakyan sa mataas na lugar at doon magpalipas ng gabi, o di kaya, sa pinakasimleng salita, isang sasakyan kung saan ibinuhos mo lahat, higit sa pera, ang pagod, hirap at mga ideya.

Hihipuin ang makinis na kaha bago matulog sa gabi, pagmamasdan ng ilang minuto, wari’y nakatingin din sya sa iyo, nagpapasalamat, sa maraming taong pag-aaruga. 

Car Appreciation.

My encounter with a young adult compelled me again to write about something. Don’t you hate it when you see these younger individuals, those who are given just a few tasks to do but often fail to do so. Those who fail to see the complexity of life in general or the inability to see their faults.

Some would contest that they became successful behind parents who are so lax and liberal. Some on the other hand stand by their achievements and believe that strict parents have contributed to what they are. 

I on the other hand believe that it’s part upbringing and 75% IN YOU. If you’re lazy, and give little respect to the tasks at hand, and your responsibilities as a person, then I think one doesn’t need to be a prophet or a messiah to see your future. Question is, are men and women built this way nowadays?

This brings me to quickly relate such issue to our appreciation for cars. Is your appreciation for cars in general considered a “brat”? Confined, tunnel vision, on strictly JDM cars, Sport Compacts, Honda’s, Nissan’s, your cousins Evolution 9, your neighbours STi with 19 inch TE37s, your barkada’s K20 endowed Civic EK?

Or have you developed into a more mature, car appreciating individual, who has a taste for well built sports compacts, such as your Tito’s old school Corolla and his paborito: a 4g63 equipped fully restored Boxtype? Do you truly respect the amount of sweat, blood and tears in restoring a 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger or breezing through the recent Transport show, at awe at the beautiful classics of past which we owe so much from, laying the foundation for the cars which we enjoy today. Appreciating the panels, the trims, constantly asking, curious on how that guy brought in those hard to find parts and emblems for a car five times your age. Classic European cars of the 70’s and 80s, truly dominant during their time, and arguably the one true canvass which Japanese and Korean cars have patterned their vehicles to.

Did your heart beat faster as that Bentley Continental GT passed you at Sctex at 7am in the morning as you and your dad made your way to have breakfast at Subic, overly enthusiastic and narrative, on how it held the top speed record on ice. Truly tastes and appreciation mature, this is why I have a high regard for those in the online and print industry. Through them, and though their appreciation and interpretation as ultimately car-loving individuals, we are able to see through the metal, the plastic, the wood and the nuts and bolts of things.

The SIR. Hate it. Love It.

I recently had a conversation with a few friends at the supplier place. They were talking about a recent thread which came about at Tsikot.com, regarding a feud or probably a misunderstanding on some JDMU (JDM Underground) members. I’m not sure if its the same thread but it also talked about the Civic SIR. People were discussing, why a 12 year old car has such a high value under its belt. There were also comments such as driver attitude, generalizing all SIR owners as “Asses” on the road and such. Some comments also stated that its beyond the times already, and newer cars have already taken its place in terms of being the king of “Pocket Rockets” Another poster even chose the road of discussing purchasing power, and some comparing it to equivalent tuner cars such as the Lancer, Corolla and Sentra and their corresponding engine swaps.

I was fond of the thread because it was a time machine. Reading the thread felt like using the good old Internet Explorer rather than Chrome. It was like using my Acer Aspire with a Pentium 400 and a 3dfx Graphic Card, using a 800x600 CRT, and a mouse that had “bombolyas” (reference to Tulfo brothers as they threaten Mr. Raymart Santiago J ). On hand was a burger from Hotshots which was twice as large as it is today, and in the background your sister had her MP3 downloads of all the hottest boybands playing in her very thick IBM Laptop.

Truly it was like the 90’s as they discussed by people hate and love the SIR. I think this topic has been discussed a hundred times already.

For me it was rather simple, so simple that it’s almost embarrassing, but at the same time, I wanted to voice out something which current EK SIR owners might share with me. Please bear with me.

The EK SIR is a Casa released car with a potent but not great B16A engine. At that time, people got a taste of the Type R Engines B16B and B18c which were used by Honda on their sport models such as the CTR and Integra Typ R. Because it was assembled by Honda, not by some garage or a tuner, the SIR held its value well in the market as a factory released and valid pocket rocket. The aftermarket support was tremendous also during that time and up to now if I may say. It would take me a day to discuss the amount of parts available and the ease of access to it as compared to other car models, it was truly an affordable tuner car at that time. Being able to build an EK Hatchback a few years back courtesy of Splitsecond, no matter how perfect  the conversion is, no matter how complete the parts are, it can never compare in terms of feel and value to an SIR. People may disagree with me but it is what I truly felt. The handling, the suspension, the noise, how the steering felt, how the doors closed, you can never replace the precision of a casa as they say. As we fast forward, the SIR is being used at the car shows, reinventing itself through better parts and that wiretuck we oh so love, it still wins some car shows and time attacks, autocross events, drag events, featured at magazines and such, BUT looking at the whole picture as of 2012, it is NOT at the top of the food chain anymore. This is something our friends on the road and well, at the forums should understand. It may be the decade’s favourite tune car, but times have changed and there are newer and better things in the market.

A guy commented saying, that it became affordable, and more people can buy it now, there’s another saying that people who bought the SIR in the past, are now buying cars from PGA, and if you’re buying one now, you’re so late. Those statements are all true. But allow me to just share how the SIR’s character and value is so “against the flow” as we compare it to its similar counterparts, at sulit.com or the most basic form: Manilla Bulletin Sundays.

The SIR is 12 years old and is selling at around 350k to as much as 600k. Even more if it obviously has more parts. Got pocket change and balls to buy a 12 year old car for 500K? I salute you. For the same amount you can buy a 3 year old City, Jazz, Yaris, Vios, Swift.

A good friend of mine was telling me of a story of his customer already spending 300k, and yet he feels that his SIR is so bare. By the way, the owner also owns an 2011 STi. Now that for the parts.

Right now, I can think of 10 friends, single and married, who own executive sedans, SUVs, newer cars and such, but still has an SIR at their garage. Their common term when I talk to them: “Panlaro” "Pang-Porma" "Pampabata"

Economists forgive me, but I just wanted to use the term Performing Asset. The SIR is one. As a sideline, I’ve sold 3-4 SIRs together with a couple of VTis already in a year, mostly outside Manila, it truly is a money maker, it truly has value. Now that's demand!

As of now, I’m guilty of resto-modding one, with the right parts, I’m able to use it once or twice a week, I even use it for deliveries and going to the shops. My girlfriend hates it, it has no tint, it feels old, the knobs, switches, the fabric and dash are so 90s, but it gets me from point A to B with a little more excitement, very raw. It’s as reliable as my 2010 car. Good?

Analogy: If the AE86 was Japan's favorite tuner car, because of the abundance of parts, affordability, know-how and such.

I can readily say that the Civic SIR is the Philippine's "AE86". Its a tuner car that we all learned to love, beyond its age, and limitations, we all got a hold of it and loved it. :)