Jumping out of that box...

After arriving 30 minutes ahead of time and taking a nap at the nearby parking lot, I quickly fixed up and walked towards Church. To serve some information, this was at GCF at Ortigas, during its 5:30pm Service.

As I was walking leisurely towards the building, a car almost hit me, obviously he was rushing towards the GCF basement parking. No sorry's, no apologies, no short beep beep or whatnot, the guy just headed down to park his car. 

Faith, religion. Yes. No matter how hard you pray, and how attentive you are at Church, during the message, how many times you read the bible and study its true meaning, it will never ever change who you truly are, at heart. Clearly, it goes to show that some people use Faith as a front, some sort of having a "sense" of belonging. Probably a mission or purpose during Sundays? Something to cancel out all their shortcomings or bluntly speaking, their sins throughout the week. To feel intimate or focused at times, to jump the bandwagon of serving a one true God. In the end it will always be the person, on what's inside that heart, what kind of character revolves around that person. We've all been witness to these kinds of individuals, you know that.

Somewhat parallel to this is how we drive. Are we just really selfish cardboard boxes driving around the Metro? Bots, machines and puppets driving around doing about our business. Or had we got time to honk your horn to say thank you for letting you pass. Or waving short hand to the person who gave way. Or signaling some people at the pedestrian to freely pass.

Have you experienced a jeepney driver or taxi driver who looks so clueless and surprised that you actually gave way to him in a busy intersection, with his engine jerking from suddenly accelerating. 

He was surprised, thats just about it. He's so used to the rudeness of Philippine driving, the mind your own business, bumper to bumper kind of driving, that we was left clueless during that "kind and noble" moment of yours.

Have you experienced such? Maybe if we become more "human" with our driving, others may follow suit. 

Hater Mentality

Are you a hater? Do you see yourself hating on other people's rides? Or secretly hating? Not "liking" because you simply think that you can do better? Has this much to do with pride? 

I've recently noticed that on Facebook wherein the common enthusiast turn into haters when shown or showcased of other people's masterpieces. Is it a natural progression for enthusiasts? I've always thought of it as something natural which comes hand in hand to being competitive. I guess its uncontrollable these days since people are cloaked behind the thick vale of laptops / desktops and the mask of a forum handle. 

I think guys should be selfless, they should stop hating may it be though small talk through the internet or even during barkada discussions. Why cant we appreciate rather than hate? Why cant we hold ourselves back and bring back the Starter's enthusiasm towards cars? Do you remember or even see yourself hating when you first started fixing up cars? I don't think so. I assume you would rather be curious and or smiling, rather than picking on the flaws and the trash parts the other car has.

Respect is key, discipline is second. The song by John Legend quickly reminds me of: Who do we think we are?

Are we that great as to be unappreciative of gradual steps? Of budgets, and individuals who don't intend to be purist and Transhow-regulars but rather enjoy the lighter side of tuning?

After all, they guy with the Ferrari may be laughing or mocking secretly on the things which we think are the best. We will never know. 

So relax, appreciate, don't hate. Breath the air of variety and consider it as a painting, an empty canvass, a community, a school, wherein enthusiasts are all in long journey.

Fun Run Barkada or the Solitary Guy?

On one occasion during one of my very busy x100 days, I decided to go to Megamall after some errands in Ortigas. Going to Megamall, on a weekday presents you with the liveliest of occurrences, particularly at the food court.

With an empty tummy only means one thing for me after a long day on the road doing deliveries and such, it means the all time favourite Pinoy Toppings with is huge serving of rice. As I was feasting on the food I carefully scanned around the other tables, I can see different bardkadas, all laughing, having fun, and picking on the usual "tanga" or "funny guy" from the group. As they usually say it, hindi completo ang barkada kung walang tanga or someone to pick on usually.

This scenario directly reflects that of the common fun runs. What better way to enjoy your car than by going to Tanay, Tagaytay, Subic or any driving road with your friends, letting your cars rolls, which is what they're designed for, hanging out for coffee, cake and drunks, 25% car talk and 75% random stuff. Things usually work that way.

I wonder how ultra rich guys do it. Do they stare at their projects all alone at night while sipping on that expensive wine? Wonder in its beauty and power as he goes around the village or compound. All alone with no one to share it with?

Or does it really the way for some solitary kind of guys that they don’t want anyone seeing their projects even with the internet age? I heard the NSX guys in the US are that way.

So which do you prefer? 

Why I Write..

As I was browsing through the internet particularly Honda-tech forums, researching, part-studying the parts of the new Civic and how interchageable it was to the Civic FD, I came across some post by competitor shops at Facebook. Boy, did they evolve into posting parts and installs, similar to what we did and have been doing for the past 6 years. Remember, JDMselect is an online shop and we’ve thrived through the internet even before we formally opened a tangible shop. In our hearts, we will always be an online entity; furthermore, I have even dedicated a separate office for basic inquiries, sending parts Nationwide and demos, that being: JDMselect Kalayaan Avenue.

Posts like: At the ______ Shop, installing this or that, or New Arrivals, or sending tracking numbers of shipments, or pictures of cars with quotes and captions etc etc etc.

I would be lying to myself if I said I wasn’t partly irritated but you know, the internet is a free world, we need to understand that. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Maybe my years of posting in such manner sort of influenced them, or maybe they are just evolving, just like the internet, so easy and convenient in sharing such. I just wanted to get it off my chest that’s all, if there’s something you won’t get from me, it’s hating. I’d rather appreciate and reflect than hate.

So here we are, approaching JDMselect’s 6^th year. Please do not forget about us, remember that we’re enthusiasts, not a bunch of greedy guys selling fake parts at original prices, push selling and the like. We sell high quality parts, we educate others by posting and elaborating, we smile when we entertain questions, we text or call the soonest that we can, 12:00midnight is usually allocated for answering the hundreds of questions we get on Facebook (Just click on the message tab right below our Cover Photo at the JDMselect Facebook Page) before heading to sleep. 

Remember us, as the Pioneers of sharing on Multiply and Facebook at least here in the Philippines. Our experiences, our parts, our installs, all our shipments and proof, pics of being annoyed or entertained as we are stuck in traffic, maybe a random shot of the road as I head to the shop on Sunday.  Remember us for these small things, as you wake up early in the morning, seeing our greetings and the never ending parts posts. Remember us for our enthusiasm even for the simplest of cars.

The only thing probably that I can offer you now is this. My writing, my blog, how I narrate such thoughts at a level which is probably so opposite of a typical parts and service guy can provide. It’s easy to pour in captions and all, shallow words which are constantly copied and pasted.

But to write with the heart and mind, these things cannot be bought nor can it be attributed to expensive vices or hobbies.

This blog is a piece of my mind, reminding you that there’s a working brain behind all of this. As much as I can, I write the best way possible, this too is homage to my extra-diligent classmates at the Ateneo, who now are surely very successful in their own fields. To my teachers, professors and mentors.

Pizza is now delivered and it’s time for dinner. Have a great evening everyone. Take it easy.J

Imported VS Local Kits.

Finally, time to write an entry to our JDMselect Blog. I find so much meaning into writing things which relate to cars and the like, but in the recent months, things have been so busy that I couldn't find time to even write a single entry. Hopefully, this would spark something in me "again" to write these entries. 

Proving that JDMselect isn’t just a mindless, brainless entity who sells parts, posts parts, installs parts and the like.

Like you, and all the diligent people in the world, we like our minds working, brainstorming, reflecting, studying, read some books here and there and keeping ourselves up late watching interesting thing on YouTube, may it be related to cars, installs or something completely and utterly UNRELATED if you know what I mean.

So after 2 months of the Autosalon, probably it’s safe to probably write about in, or comment about it. After all the Facebook ramblings, arguments and bitter things, I think it's safe to blog it.

Yes blog about the usual controversy which is, well, I know you guessed it. Original/Imported Plastic Kit vs. Local Kit. There's a lot of debating surrounding such issue, lots of blind Nationalism being thrown in the issue, hard work, change the awarding system here and there..

Well for me, you might have predicted that I am biased towards imported ones. Well of course the quality of plastic kits from Taiwan or Thailand or even the ones from USA are way better. Many of you may disagree with me here but I'm sure on the back of everyone's minds, yes, they are admitting to such. Why is it better? Why does the kit fit better OUT OF THE BOX, than locally fab'd ones?

Is it because of the technology, that vacuum, the chemicals? Yes? 

Or probably the skilled men involved to such work? Yes? 

Or is it because of the equipment or a huge facility focused on manufacturing these kits? Yes? 

Or because these companies are putting serious money behind their products?

Or maybe because these Taiwan/China/Thailand companies have graduated so long ago from Back-yard looking fabrication spots. Yes?

It’s easy to bring in Nationalism and protecting jobs into the issue because simply, you're involved in it. You have a shop that fabricates Local Kits. You're a huge part of the local industry that why you can say such things but I guess you have to leave it up to the judges and of course, the audience/clients/buyers.

Use the local Myphone analogy. I'm sure the big heads behind Myphone are proud of their product, and they would love to attach Nationalism behind it, ang pagtangkilik ng sariling atin slogan, but what are the audience, you, me and everyone else, is buying? Iphones, Samsung Galaxies etc..

It's just the same thing with Imported and Local Kits. If the builder/buyer/client deems that quality is better abroad, let him decide. 

Do imported kits garner more points from judges? Does the paint jive well with it? Does it simply look better during your months EBs with friends?

Does your Iphone gather more Ohhhs and Ahhhs at the classroom or office? Does it work better and seamlessly connect to every service in the internet?

You decide, after all, it's your money. :)

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!