Kindness Transcends and the EK Hatch...

I've always wondered how Kindness transcends everything. How one’s kindness can survive different settings may it be when dealing with different people, families, car groups and the like. Can a person’s kindness eventually make him survive say for example he’s courting a girl who is partly materialistic and user friendly? Or suddenly being sucked into a barkada, wherein a lot of them are free loaders, will kindliness eventually triumph everything wherein he’s gong to earn the respect that he deserves? My good friend told me that good things happen to good people and I’ve always believed him on that, thats everything may eventually work out for the better, only faster or maybe smoother given the person has paid his dues and have treated people with what they truly deserve, if you know what I mean. 

People have different colours, we all know that. Everyday we encounter people through friendships, random conversations, relationships and dates. The joys of dating women is a truly remarkable experience. It demands understanding, it’s synonymous to discovery by all means, it requires control not in the physical sense but as we delve deeper, I truly meant holding off some emotions or reactions that are brought upon by the mere fact that you tow have been brought suddenly together, as you are from different worlds and thus sparks and clashes of sorts. I just feel that sometimes, if you’re wise enough, you get to predict the other person, or you see thorough actions or tendencies. You actually know what the other person is trying to do but you hold off your reaction through words primarily because not everything has to be acted upon, or given a solution, or maybe a conflict. Or when someone criticises you, you just keep quiet or remain idle because deep inside or even through the eyes of many, by all means, through the simplest tangible things or maybe what you are and what you have, you are simply bigger and better. Not everything has to come down to “sumbatan” or “yabangan”, sometimes, its better to keep quiet and stay low, not because an argument is tiresome, but because there is still a tiny ounce of person to person respect and the outcome is even better. 

Have you seen the recent pictures of the EKHB Cradle meet at the Fort BGC? Now thats transcending. Through 20 plus years, as the newer models have come in, STI’s, Evos, Jazz’, the BRZs and 86’s, the Civic’s still look so relevant. The style, and the simple form may contribute largely to that but in the end, the Civic EK’s will always hold as special place in this industry. Thats something you cannot buy with money, these cars more than money are a result of a careful selection of parts and patience. The feel and how people perceive of them are something thats only dictated by time, and they age like fine wine. :)

Goodnight everyone. My food is here and I'm digging in. 

It's Complicated

Women, of different attitudes and tendencies. I need not say more or elaborate on my experience but I’m sure you get me. The emo song plays on the radio and you couldn’t relate more, that the song fits your situation. Ive always believed that being single and in the “zone” is always a blessing and a curse. Its a blessing because you get to be in the market and there is no better feeling than admiration and certain emotions that make you do more, make you excel, make you do anything for that loved one. The bad side is, being love sick, you slow down, you got idle times, you have a tendency to day dream and the like. Women are indeed a mystery, that as much as you think you’ve met them all, boom, you’ll find someone who you like so much, who’ll turn your world upside down and in the end, it will not seem to work out. 

Much like into cars, there comes a time that you’re in an undecided or flat state wherein you not quite sure what step to make on your project. Am I better of selling it, buying this newer engine which is a K20 and ditching the good old b-series, or having everything stripped out and getting a new colour or shall end up selling it for an 86 or a BRZ. Is my car’s generation long gone and forgotten, do I rely upon its tried and tested chassis, and legendary image or shall I hang a figure at OLX and make a trip to the nearby car dealer for a new purchase. As humans we’re born undecided, or at least born to make decisions. Our emotions play a huge role in our humanity, may it be towards our special someone or the hobby which we all truly love. So as much the “Its complicated” adage is used in a lot of relationships, it too can be used with your personal relationship with your car...

My friend Aly and I was traversing the Edsa traffic and I was dearly honking on my customer’s Js Racing Civic FD which we’ve helped built over a course of a year, his dad too drives a City GM that of which we have provided a lot of parts too. I was honking and they didn’t choose to look at us given that both were untinted. Knowing myself, I’d bring down the window and say my hellos but it was futile. I laughed it away and I knew it was going to be part of my blog. 

I've always believed that fellow car enthusiasts has this auto-wall in front of them. That they appear to be masungit and just look straight or sure make an effort that they don’t get caught looking at your car. Im not saying its a bad thing or lack of appreciation, but I think its just natural for enthusiasts because they got pride, and such quality is deeply rooted in this hobby of ours. Im pretty sure that when you get to know that suplado car enthusiast, he’d be the most jolly person you’ll meet. This is also related to my experience of meeting a couple  of EK hatch enthusiasts back in 2006 from South who were a bit maangas at the HCP Forums but when we met them, they are the warmest car guys you’ll ever meet. 

So I guess that's it for now, I need to head out and get some grub. Have a great weekend guys, take it easy. :)

The Better Car Group..

I’m at the second floor of Harbour Point Mall, having my favourite Burger and Fries after much window shopping and finally being able to get myself a pair of shoes. Its been 1 month since I had my day-off by the way, this was like, “finally!”, I could get some rest and some time for myself since I’m a weekend-less and holiday-less kind of person. I used our service car going here at Subic, its the Jazz which I intended as our service unit/demo car for our products. Honda’s will always be Honda’s. They have this certain compact and edgy feel which have been present even amongst their older models. I may not be a car reviewer, nor a magazine editor, but I do know that I have owned a couple of them, and driving one for weeks on end and as part of work duties truly reveals their real character as opposed to just a few days. Well, there a typhoon and the winds are a little strong, so the car was pretty much swaying at Nlex and Sctex, something which I’m not used to with my other cars. Cute nonetheless, purpose built like a swiss Knife with various uses and functions. I even slept on it during the Glenda Typhoon wherein a pack of mosquitos invaded my house plus the non electricity. It was in short, an instant tent on wheels. 

London weather is so nice, and is my ideal weather. Gloomy but not too much. There’s a bit of drizzle just enough to keep things cold. They also call it ramen-weather nowadays. The detailing guys probably hate it, but in my case I always make it a point to wash my own cars, sort of like a bonding with the machines. 

I was talking to my good friend as I was driving, then I had to stop on a gas station to finish the conversation since it was becoming more intense and I had to best convey what I had in mind without being bothered by the obstacle-like buses o the left lane. I just though that car groups aren’t always built with the pure intention of just forming one at first though. I come to realise that most car groups are also built with the intention to start something better, something o the side, something which opposes, probably as revenge, or maybe a breakaway thing. Am I right? Car groups are built that way nowadays, through competition, by conflict of past members and the like. Look around you, I don’t want to name a few as respect to them. 

That in the end, whatever group an individual chooses, what is important is he’s comfortable with it, since that is one of the main goals of car groups, not the conflicts, not the annual fees, individuals often look forward to EB’s, to fun runs, to basketball games, and billiards, to drinking sessions and birthday parties. 

I got to grab my massage now my friends, take it easy this weekend. I heard Ortigas is buzzing since its a payday weekend and the malls have a 3 day sale. Spend you money wisely! Put them on car parts haha!

Wanted: Real People

As I was buying my favourite health drink at Shell, I chanced upon a few groups with their usual gatherings, open hoods and the like, it made me think of the Honda generation usually composed of the EG and EK platform with their usual B-Series engines, and now the K’s. I wa just wondering on how complete an enthusiast would be if he basically ran through all those cars and then basically now is driving a BRZ or an 86, a Skyline or an STI. How those that compare to a guy, who’s fortunate enough to be given an STI as his first car by his mom and dad. I wonder how a conversation would run through if you make these two people talk. Is it a case of shallowness, or how deep the roots run. How experience plays a huge factor, or the abundance or lack of knowledge. 

I was also browsing at some pics over the internet, and read about some short articles about Era-Period-Correctness. Its basically using the right parts for the car based on the time of manufacture. Say for example, if you’re building an EK9, its best to use a B16 rather than a K. Or Sw388s rather than a set of grey CR93’s. Or Ray’s ZE40’s on a BRZ or 86 rather than the Banana Type Wheels which look best on an AE86. Do you follow such? Or do you believe that upgrades and modifying transcend it. 

As I grabbed mirienda at Katipunan with my friend, a short discussion with her reminded me of the figures in this industry. On how others can be as flashy as they are at shows and events, but in reality have tons of financial troubles with them. Or maybe someone who relies heavily on his wife’s financial backing for his business but has the guts to text models and date them on the side. Or someone who displays all his purchases and new stuff over Facebook but issues you a bouncing check. Or maybe how often do you encounter individuals who only reward you with a smile or a greeting when you only bring them the cash that they need or basically when you buy from them. Rich kids who only take one year to buy something which you have been working for basically 9 years. The bragging which you find excusable since those are close friends, or that guy at Facebook who regularly rants and does never ending selfies with models and posts totally odd hashtags. As heavy and cash intensive as this industry is, its just like any other sector of society if you ask me. the cool cars, nice bags, young and beautiful women, the brilliant talk, the dazzling display of lights, the bass, cannot simply hide the basic-ness of it all. The background and instruments are different, but the players are all the same. So if you have a bunch of real people with you, especially in this industry, hold on to them with your dear life. 

A Social Experiment

A few days ago, Topgear posted a picture of mine on their Facebook Page to be viewed by their 700,000 Plus Followers. And you guessed it, haters are going to hate. It’s basically a random pic at my garage of a Jazz and an Impreza, creating a contrast of Green Cars Vs the Gas Guzzlers who often makes trio to the gas stations. 

If you follow my blog at jdmselect.blogspot.com aptly named Stay on the Left Lane, I have a couple of blogs that are about Haters. These are:

Hater Mentality

Connected More Than Ever

Leave Rice on the Table

For a long time I have been following the post by Top Gear and been an avid fan of the comments being posted in relation to the picture. I have often wondered how it feels to be in that centre spot, how it would feel to be hated, or being thrown negative comments on, something which does not happen to me ever primarily because I hate conflicts and consider them as an emotional baggage. I would often even see myself giving advice to my friends telling them to stay away from some troubles on the internet, or having a nasty 1one1’er at the forums or a certain Facebook thread. When people bash you in the internet, its just a wait-see thing actually. This is because you cannot be saviour-like and debate everyone, you’re only good as your handle, your prior posts showcasing your character and a few public pictures which everyone can fester on. 

But I have always wondered, because at the back of my head, I could finally complete my curiousness and even trump everything I have written about these haters by actually being there”hated”. Sometimes in life you have to experience a certain emotion to awaken something in you. May it be for motivation, pure curiosity, to keep you grounded or to simply “feel” what others could have felt. Its no different from dating, or going for a long stroll or even a hike. Probably a road trip, or going out of the country to find yourself, to be lost and finding your way in the end. 

By finally being at the centre or the hot seat, add to that, Top Gear even put a really aggressive caption by putting “Check out my Garage” which in the first place I know nothing about, it even added more fire to the comments being thrown at. 

My Social Experiment has finally come to a close through that final “thing”. I do think that no matter how much you write about something, if you haven’t experienced it first hand, everything is just mediocre. 

I do believe that each one of us has their “hater” gene. Its just that some are quick to react, or moulded and raised in a way that they can control it, while others on the other hand cannot. I know that everyone has their hater moment, this is dictated by our own upbringing, experience, standard in life, capability, buying power, standard, and educational achievement and background. I know a couple of people who hate B-Plated Cars, they have this certain discrimination against cars that are converted. The same goes for people who look upon a person’s school. I guess that extends to job applications and the like. Another would be a person who hates the fake stuff, as with my ex-girlfriend who owned 2 Channels, an LV, a Prada wallet, a couple of expensive shoes that I don’t remember anymore, she hated people with fake bags, or at least the ones who flaunt them as if their original. How about fake parts? I’m sure you know a couple or that can even be you. How about secretly hating the individual you never expected to be more successful than you are? Has that ever “secretly” crossed your mind and heart?

Hindi ba nagagalit din tayo sa mga pinuno ng ating bansa dahil mas magagara ang kanilang mga sasakyan at kasuotan kaysa sa atin? Na mayroon silang isang katutak na alalay kapag sila ay nasa labas, mall or kainan? Hindi ba may halong inggit din ang ating galit laban sa mga anak ng mga pulitiko na walang awat kung gumastos ng pera, ang karaniwang bukambibig natin ay “galing sa nakaw” Galit din tayo sa tayo sa pagbabago di ba po ba? Kung saan ang sistema ay hindi natin matanggap sapagkat tayo at nasanay na. Galit din tayo sa mga taong bumoto sa mga pinuno tulad ni Erap, Jinggoy, Aiko Melendez, Bistek at Bong Revilla. Ang tawag natin sa kanila ay masa, na para bang higit tayo mas nakakataas sa kanila bilang tao. Na ang binoto nila ay bobo din tulad nila. Alam ko marami din galit sa mga "rich kid" na madaling nakakahingi ng kahit ano sa kanilang mga magulang, kapital, pera, bahay, na kung saan tayo naman at hirap na hirap kumakayod nang mag-isa, ang tanging tangan ay ang ating "pride" bilang isang tao. 

Sunddenly I remembered my friend Mr. Law Go who had a heated argument with a guy from Honda Club. It turns out that those guys are siblings of my batchmate from college. We ended up meeting them at Alabang for an EK-Hatch meet back in 07 and well, you guessed it, they definitely are one of the warmest and kindest persons you can ever meet in the car club community. Oftentimes, a person's aura on the internet is total opposite of what he is as a person. Internet conflicts are resolved my simply meeting them in person.  

In every facet of life there is a hater, it cannot be avoided since each one of us has their aspirations. Its nearly impossible to be a noble as a saint after all. 

Riding the Wave.

It's a rainy evening here at the Ateneo, I just finished jogging. I'm waiting at the shed which overlooks Katipunan with the big Eagle symbol behind me. Its a joy hanging out here because you get to see how Katipunan has evolved over the years. The high rise buildings, the new and hip resto’s and of course the long standing Sweet Inspirations and Mcdo. I remember walking through Katipunan with the joy of holding a Coney Island Icecream and with Filbars in sight.

Do you actually take time to sit, relax and go through your memory? Does anyone actually do that? Do you really go through your memories through childhood with your yaya, or your gradeschool fights? Or the slide at the back of your schools, the spiders you caught during lunch time? Or the footlong and sago which you regularly ordered during lunch as you ate in the football field? The girl you’ve been crushing on perhaps? Or the time the tindero cursed you because you dropped your 1 peso coin in his full gallon of watermelon drink? The Math teacher your dreaded because he always kept you standing in the middle because you weren’t fast enough to answer the questions, or the Science teacher who somehow smelled the same as the mongo plants she was experimenting on. The Snes and Genesis Streetfighter nights, the phonecalls with the girlfriends and a lot more…

As I was headed here, I saw a group of bikers who were riding a particular style of long-slung bikes, like miniature cruisers, they had tattoo’s and were sporting long hair and matching shirt. Similarly, a group of rat-look EFs buzzed though me as I was making a U-turn. They too had that familiar hockey mask in their headrest and all the stickers resembling their counterparts from Japan. The 3^rd were skaters, passionate on their craft, they had their thrasher look getup. The cool-looking Vans matching each unique skateboard. I assume that each design is a reflection or their belief in life.

I couldn't help but admire these people. In a complex world wherein we are pushed each morning as we get up to meet deadlines, make profit and please people, these guys are breaking out of their mold and enjoying life. Life which is full of passion for the things they aspire for. That beyond all the obligations that father time has blessed us, they have something to focus on, to thrive on. It’s not merely being different, or having a hobby, or being an enthusiast. Its living IT. And living life. To put it bluntly, I think these guys as they ride together, they get this feeling that is unique and similar to a couple of surfers waiting for the next big wave. Think obout it.

I promise myself that my next road trip will be southbound. And I wont bring a Mac this time, only an Iphone (lol). No baon of paperworks and a very small zero star appartelle or Kubo to stay at with a wonderful view of the mountains or the ocean, the breeze blowing through my face and whispering a common word called “life” unto my ears.

Have a great week everyone. Keep safe! J

Some Random Thoughts...

Father time skilfully plays with us in so many ways. Tonight was really something to be remembered. Just imagine someone very significant from your past reincarnated to present. So the question, is, how do you deal with that. You gain access to her through good friends, you observe from speech, through very similar physical features, skin colour, build. It was like entering a time machine and being brought to past. Partly as a ghost, as much as you want to talk to her, touch her and listen to her, the “present” does not allow you to do that, because simply and metaphorically, “times have changed”. That the sweetheart from UP is no more, nor is the swimmer from the Philippine Team. This is just a random rant from yours truly. Because sometimes I wonder how I got into this industry and should have been teaching, writing or doing voluntary work for the NGOs.  

One of the most important things for today is a friend finally revealing his self. How he thinks of certain relationships, how they go about. How he truly feels on his situation, his frustrations and what not. Its always refreshing to finally hear someone’s side of the story, after all his FB pics, rants and posts, which in the first place you’ve been wanting to dig out since day one, you finally see the real him. Discovering that he too, is human. That the things you sympathize on, whether related or unrelated to him, are the same things he’s gradually revealing. That is good stuff... 

Going on long drives present a gazillion things to ponder and dream about. The smell of burnt wood as you pass through the roads of provinces remind me of the days our parents would leave us in Pampanga and just go about our normal life, on vacation. Driving on a very long road also can be a very quiet one. I am reminded of the days wherein I would just sit at the bench of Church Of Gesu at Ateneo and look at the stars on a plain Wednesday evening. Crickets cheering and leaves cracking, and thats about it. You look up the sky and for some reason you get sucked into its solemnity. Breakfast being cooked in the nearby houses as you make a stop over in the middle of nowhere reminds me of breakfast in grade school. Erick Luz, a long time friend would put his heavy arms around us “barkada" and we would head to the Cafeteria and grab the usual Tocino, Egg and Rice. The staff would usually serve those in plain “platito’s”, the food looked so plain though it tasted good enough to fill us up in the morning with good laughs and kalokohan, all go which we will never forget. When you usually go for drives, its always unavoidable to encounter a few boys playing basketball at a makeshift basketball  court. That clearly reminds me of our teacher whose class was right before PE. She would sit there, delay leaving and watch us dress up into our basketball gear. To keep the story short, she was enjoying what she was seeing. Stories of such can never be forgotten and are engrained into our hearts. I wish yours is filled a lot too. 

Good night everyone, random rants, just for tonight :)