Why do people collect things?

Just some of my Coke collection I posted in Instagram

Almost anything, big or small, can be a collectible item and be a prized possession of its owner.

The reasons why people collect something may vary but the bottom line is, this hobby makes them feel good or give a sense of pride on those precious stuff they kept with care for years.

For some, like basketball fans who collects memorabilia of his favorite team or player is a way of expressing loyalty. For others like coin collectors, a rare find brings such an unexplained feeling of joy and satisfaction.

For a working professional like me who works from 9 to 5 from Mondays to Friday, I seek for a venue to de-stress and have that quiet “me time” even for a while. I found my bliss in the art of collecting. I am a collector of anything Coke, diecast cars and other toys, and NBA cards.

I regularly post in Instagram newly acquire items for my Charles Barkley collection. 

Of all my treasure, I am very proud of my Charles Barkley collection.  Barkley, in case you don’t know the guy, is an NBA legend. Known in the league during his colourful basketball career as "Chuck", "Sir Charles", and "The Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley established himself as one of the basketball's most dominating power forwards. He was the 1993 Most Valuable Player in the NBA and one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He holds two Olympic Gold medal after the conquests of the “Dream Team” during the 1992 and 1996 games. He is also a two-time inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, being inducted in 2006 for his individual career, and in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". Currently, Barkley works as a basketball analyst for TNT.

I would like to believe that I am Barkley’s biggest fans. He has been my idol growing up loving the game and continues to follow his stints as a TV personality. If I happen to stumble upon a Barkley collectible online or in thrift stores, I am more likely to shoot for it for a slam dunk purchase.

I haven’t personality met another Charles Barkley collector although I did meet ups for online sellers who own items featuring my idol like NBA cards, toy figures, jerseys and others. That is why if I find time online to search for groups of people who share my interest, I try to connect with people even from different parts of the world.

Then I discovered Collectors Hive, a social media platform made especially for collectors of just about anything. Since I find the site user-friendly where I can post my collections for my friends and other people can view and comment, I created a profile and started to post some of my Charles Barkley collection. Another cool thing about this site is that I can view my gallery wherever I am and anytime I want through my mobile phone using their app.

My Collectors Hive profile which will soon be filled with more anything Charles Barkley.

In a nutshell, Collectors Hive is every collector’s dream website where one can showcase his or her collection (as in anything); find a missing piece or an item that you’ve been looking for which might just be sitting in a room of another collector, meet people who collects the same thing you hold dearly; and also explore other items that might tickle your interest and start a new set of collection.

View your collection online via the Collectors Hive app anytime, anywhere. Cool, right?

One great feature of Collectors Hive is an innovation in this mobile technology called the Item Scanner that the collector on manual data input of a particular collection item. The user needs to scan the barcode only and information will be generated quickly and store it. Other features are the comparison of specs, prices and stock availability of the item from different international and local store sources. It’s now available for download using Android phones by visiting the Google Play store.

Sounds exciting? Head on at www.collectorshive.com or visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/collectorshive/ and create your own profile. You can start posting your items and who knows, you collection might grow soon. Now that’s one effective and fun work de-stress activity I am definitely looking at for years to come. 

Flipgeeks: What you should have been informed

Whenever a newly acquainted foreigner would ask me how would I describe us Filipinos in general. I often give them the generic reply, “Filipinos are unique people.”

Sometimes, I get a scanner-like look from head to toe from them before they react, “Yes, I definitely agree.”

Well, they should.  Where on Earth can they find people who can finish a plate of steak (rare, medium or well done and P99 pesos lang), using only a fork and molars?  Pinoy houses have life-size fork and spoon as wall displays, a Last Supper repro painting as a must-have in dining rooms, and at least one tabo in the bathroom for it to be call a home.

Philippines is also the home to the world’s largest pair of shoes, the smallest man who can fit a shoe box, and arguably the best boxer who ever lived (who incidentally is also the most versatile of them all ‘coz he cansing, act, host and read a speech that confuses everyone including himself and still gets a loud round of applause).

You might think I know too much but I beg to disagree.  I would like to believe that I am just well aware and informed of things I should know to be able to adapt in the fast-changing world.  I am a flipgeek.

My workstation. The two fellows encircled were just improvised to
look like geeks like their owner.

I read someone referring geeks as bright individuals tuned inward, poorly socialized who felt so little kinship with his own planet that he routinely traveled to the ones invented by his favorite author.  I don’t know if this can be applied to Filipino geeks or flipgeeks because, as I mentioned a while ago, we are so unique that we go beyond conformity.  We are very friendly and can blend well with other skin colors and alien tongues in any direction.

I grew up associated with a small group of individuals who would often meet in libraries.  Others think that all we do is all about encyclopedias and Atlases.  What they don’t know is that we also talk about Triple H, The Simpsons, Marvel and DC and even sometimes our school crushes.  Inside the “Silence Zone” we also get to be reprimanded with a long sssssshhhhhh! from the school librarian which we thought was cool--- we too can violate rules! We also cut classes. Oh yes we do! I think it was during the opening of a Science center in a mall and the other one was for a local Comic Con.

I learned to read with the help of a Pinoy-made Funny Komiks, improved my math skills with Big Bird, Bert and Ernie and discovered what true love means at the age of 12 because Erika’s boy toy in Daimos is my namesake.  These things I learned as a child, being a flipgeek, are the stuff that made me an able and responsible worker, son, father and husband that I am today.  And hell yeah! I think that is the essence of being a flipgeek.

Today, I have yet to outgrow some stuff that in a few years time, my toddler would also find interesting.  I still collect anything Darth Vader, Charles Barkley and Dragon Ball Z.  My iPad is filled with my favorite anime and cartoon videos and photos.  My e-book collection is composed mostly of pdf version of Marvel and DC comics.  I find joy in browsing some to take a breather from a toxic day at work.  It’s nice to feel like I am a kid again from time to time.

My Charles Barkley collection which started since high school.
Early stage of being a sports geek.

The child in me also led me to discover a cool world for geeks like me where manga, collectibles, comics and tech stuff knows no age. Enter all to this sector in cyberspace called FLIPGEEKS.

The site aims to be the number one online resource for Pinoy and provide news, information and updates on everything pop culture.  And boy, I tell you, it’s like I was a boy in a carnival here with so much stuff to read and events to look forward to.

Personally, I like their take on latest games, books, movies and TV shows but of course, the specialty of the house are comic books--- as in lots of them.  I’ve never been this happy flipgeek before.  I just found home.  Now don’t tell me you were not informed!

I am just thankful I have an understanding wife who even accompany
me in events like the recent Comic Con in SM Megamall.

The Legend of the Saint

I was inspired to blog about my PBA idol after his back-to-back 30-point games vs. Coca Cola and Barako Bull recently.

Did you know why Tubid was known as "The Saint" during his college, PBL and pre-Ginebra days?

Well, it was long story but I will make it short. During a game in his first year as a UE Warrior in the UAAP, Tubid was on the charity line for couple of freethrows. A high-ranked CBCP official was watching the game. This official was actually commissioned to look for "the face" for Pedro Calungsod, the Filipino who lives centuries ago who was ordained to be the second Filipino saint next to San Lorenzo Ruiz

After seeing Tubid on TV, the church official said to himself, "This is the face of Pedro Calungsod!"

And the rest is history!

Today, Tubid is known as "Mr. Fearless" --- 1/3 of Ginebra' "The Fast, the Furious and the Fearless" along with Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark "The Spark Caguiao".
There was also a time Tubid was referred as "The Rocket" by PBA commentators

Let's give the "Rocket" monicker to JC Intal who has been using in the amateur league. I've been a fan of Tubid since his college years. I followed his career to his PBL stint with Welcoat to PBA teams Shell and Air 21 and of course in Ginebra. One thing has never change, his flair and intensity as soon as he steps on the hardwood is still there. Not to mention his remarkable athleticism.

The last time I really got hooked to a basketball player was to the Living Legend Sen. Robert Jaworski (also a UE Alumnus) and NBA's Charles Barkley.

Going back to the monicker thing. I really prefer "The Saint" for Tubid. Since he glides in the air as if he has wings and has been the savior of the Gin Kings when Caguioa and Helterbrand are not available. But the "Fearless" is also a fit.

Hmmm.. how about St. Fearless... parang St. Elmo's Fire and dating :-)