The Rundown

Man.. its been awhile since I last updated my bloggo. Things just got a lil hectic... the holidays, etc etc. I've always wanted to write something here... but for some reason I just cant. A lot of what I'm supposed to write got piled up and I just lost my momentum. Hopefully I can get everything back to normal and get my toilet ideas in full swing again.

A lot has happened to me since my last hockey tourney post. Another "first" in my life.

Actually this year has been a year of "firsts" for me. First time on a lot of things.

Lets do a quick recap. Though some of this may not mean anything to some, its a big deal to me.

1. Finally joined the auto transport show at Megamall.

- Though I didnt win anything, it was a heck of an experience. Something I'll always treasure. What made that experience special to me is the fact that a couple of years ago, I was just a mere spectator of that event. I've always kept track of my transhow life and its always nice to think about how I was just watching and drolling at those beautifil cars before. Then a couple of years later when I founded Honda Club of the Philippines, I got to know some of the shop owners and a couple of friends who joined the show themselves. Giving me the priviledge to enter the so called "forsaken realm".. meaning I finally could go across the damn rope barrier and mingle with the big fishes in the car industry. I also got to know the organizers in the process. Giving me certain perks :) Hey, it pays to know the right people :). Then this year, I just the show myself. Thats something I'll always be proud of. Seeing my car displayed there. Seeing people take pictures of my car.. hearing them talk about it and what they have to say about it was really nice. After the event, I felt I fulfilled another one of my dreams.

2. Winning at a carshow.

- Of course when you join car shows you want to win something right? Who doesnt? That has always been a big problem of mine since I started joining carshows. Its because of the fact that if you wanna win at carshow, aside from having unlimited stash of cash, you need to make your car as WILD as you can. I'm talking about bright colored paints, doors opening and closing like crazy and cars with bodykits like spaceships! Thats just not my thing. For me, I want my ride to be simple and solid. Extreme in its own way. Something everybody would want to drive and own for a very, very, long period of time. Something which I'm sure I was able to accomplish with my ride.

This year, in one of the carshows that I joined, my car was able to win 3rd place Best Honda! Woohoo! That was an awesome moment. Something that I will surely cherish forever.

3. Winning at a Car Audio Competition

- This has been one of my frustrations also because when I decided to "bling" my cars audio setup on 2005, I did it with the target and purpose of joining car audio competitions. For some reason, I just wasnt able to join any of the audio competitions that came up. Finally this 2007, I joined the EPITOMY of car audio competitions. I joined the IASCA contest at the new venue of the Custom Car and Sport Truck Show (now called the Manila Auto Salon) at the SMX complex of the biggest mall in asia. Aptly called S.M. Mall of Asia.

I didnt change a whole of my setup to begin with. I just upgraded my separates to bigger ones thats why my setup, if youll think about it, are all still "2005 specs". I won 3rd place at the rookie category! Besting out 14 other competitors in my division. Except for the 1st and 2nd which is a BMW 7 Series and a 3 series :) I'll take 3rd place anytime! Given the amount I spent on my audio setup compared to those other big wigs. Their setup alone costs twice as much as my car. Hehehe.

4. Joining the Whiterock Half-Ironman Triathlon.

- This was the race I could only dream of joining a couple of years ago. I finally did it last 2007 and it was damn good. It was a GREAT experience. I was just so happy and proud to finally be able to finish that race. I was never the sporty one when I was a kid. So for me to finish this, in a very respectable time for a first timer, is a very good thing ;) I posted my writeup about my Whiterock experience here so I dont really need to elaborate about the race anymore :)

5. Winning at a Triathlon race.

- Like the carshows, winning something at triathlon races was something that I've always dreamed of. Something that I've always wanted. That dream got fulfilled when I won 2nd place on the last triathlon race of the year, the Extri Off-road Triathlon. Thats the event I was supposed to write about but I just got caught up on a lot of things and wasnt able to muster enough time and momentum to finally do it. Till now. :)

That race will always be special for me. Not only because thats where I won my first triathlon medal, but also because thats where I decided to start taking triathlons a little more serious. That pave the way for me to join almost 90% of the races here in manila. Hopefully in 2008, with me taking my training a notch higher, I'll be able to do better.

6. Personal Life

- A lot of firsts also happened to my personal life. As much I'd love to share it here, I think its best that I just keep those things to myself. :) If I have to say something about it though, I'll have to say "Its All Good!". Because it really is. :)

Onwards to 2008! :)