With the proliferation of giant hardware shops in the malls, as well as the mushrooming of more and more "home centers" and "builder's depots" all around the city, DIY is gaining more and more supporters. Access to tools and supplies have been made as convenient as grocery shopping.

It is one of the two things I am sure I got from my late Lolo Rudy, one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. The first is my receding hairline, a topic that I have already discussed lengthily before, and the second is my penchant for Do It Yourself , or DIY, projects.

Saying that DIY has taught me a lot of lessons is an understatement. Because of my DIY adventures, I have survived electrocution, cut as well as superglued fingers together, hammered fingernails dead, almost stabbed myself with screwdrivers (both Philips and the regular kind). I have blown fuse boxes, flooded bathrooms, and have become familiar with the sinking feeling that goes with the distinct smell of burning electronics.

So why do I still run to the toolbox every time something needs attention in my house? I guess the allure of DIY is the natural high every time I successfully pull off a project or repair. Nothing beats the feeling of stopping an annoying dripping faucet by yourself or successfully crimping a RJ45 plug or flipping the switch and not seeing smoke come out of whatever it is you tried to repair.

While it is true that DIY repairs usually cost less because you don't have to pay for skilled labor, the chance of messing up a repair job, resulting in the further destruction of something that could have been repairable, is always there. These kinds of mistakes usually cost more than the hourly rate that you would have shelled out if you had hired a pro. That's one downside of being DIY. Of course there is always the value of the learning experience, but since DIY'ers don't face these problems everyday, it may be months or years before the same exact situation pops up where the hard earned (and often expensive) lessons can be reapplied.

DIY also makes you more critical of the work of the "pros". Just last week, a technician went to my house to install a water heater as part of their "free" installation service. Just by watching him, I could immediately tell that he was a rookie. My initial impression was confirmed by the quality of his work. I personally thought I could have done a better job but since it was free, I let him be. If I were paying for that kind of service, I probably would have sent the poor guy packing, pulled out my tools, and DIY'ed it.

Another thing about DIY'ers is that when there is no choice left but to call the pros in, they are usually active observers. We watch them work and ask questions about the current repair job and ask more hypothetical questions about anything else related that could possibly help us in future DIY projects or repairs.

When it comes to DIY, aside from the interest and the aptitude, one of the must haves are the tools. My idea of the most basic set of tools include the following: a tape measure, screwdrivers (Philips and regular), pliers, adjustable wrench, pipe wrench (at least two), vice grip, electrical tape, Teflon tape, various screws, duct tape, super glue, and cable ties. Among the power tools, the drill should be the first priority. I've been a lucky DIY'er because of my Lolo Rudy, who has one of the most complete tool sheds I've ever seen. So when the need arises, all I have to do is raid his tool shed and borrow the tools I need, from pipe threaders, drill presses, vices and clamps. Maybe if I look hard enough I might discover a lathe machine hidden somewhere there.

With the proliferation of giant hardware shops in the malls, as well as the mushrooming of more and more "home centers" and "builder's depots" all around the city, DIY is gaining more and more supporters. Access to tools and supplies have been made as convenient as grocery shopping. The number of people casually milling around Robinson's Handyman or SM's Ace Hardware is one telling sign that DIY, something that used to be called "disponeering" by the oldies, is here to stay.