Making History

I’ve been reading a lot about Philippine History in the past few weeks which makes me remember taking it up back in grade school and high school. But unlike most people I know, I actually liked the subject!

Well, on second thought maybe I just got blessed of having good teachers every now and then. Looking back –yeah, there were year/grade levels that I too got bored in my History/Sibika at Kultura. I remember having a very stiff, soft-voiced, near-old maid, history teacher in high school. I’m not sure if I actually learned anything from her. To top it all off and as if to spite me, the classes were usually held at 1 PM or 2 PM in the afternoon!

But then there were also the great teachers that I had. My history teacher back in grades 5 and 6 was an about-twenty-years-veteran on the subject –and boy was she entertaining! (Well, most of the time at least) And then my senior year in high school… yeah, I enjoyed history back then too. 

Maybe what I am just trying to say is: history should not be boring if you’d be creative in telling it. It’s just as entertaining, intriguing, fun and exciting as your favorite TV series and movies. All you have to do is tell the lessons like one. Heck, for all I know, maybe you’ll even like it better than the movies!

Going back to my readings, I have discovered a lot of minute details in our history. Details that were never told in the classrooms I’ve studied at. I thought if only some of them were told in high school history classes, the subject would not be such a drag.

I was surprised to know how the Katipunan revered Jose Rizal so much, that they hung his portrait in their halls and used his name, “Rizal” as password in their secret organization, much to the disbelief of our National Hero when he learned about it during his trial. How about the Supermo saving Emilio Jacinto on their retreat to Balara? The Spanish bullet got too close for comfort, sparing Bonifacio’s neck, but not his collar.

Then there was the time when Rizal waited by the highway on his horse, for the carriage of the sweet Segunda Katigbak, a girl whom he wooed. He’d be brave against the firing squad when his time comes, but on that moment, he’d withdraw and ride the other way from a lost love.

Could you imagine Andres Bonifacio disguising himself as a woman to avoid detection? Well, he did! And then he lent his legendary bolo to the care of a katipunero, since it was too big to hide under his skirt. Unfortunately, that bolo never found its way back to the Supremo’s hands.

Well, those are just some bits and pieces I’ve discovered in my readings from the pages of Ambeth Ocampo, Teodoro A. Agoncillo, and Leon Maria Guerrero –some of our finest historians.

My next (and biggest) comics project would require me to do all these research on our history from the Rizal, to the Philippine Revolution, until the Philippine-American War. And like I’ve always said before, I am the writer who seldom reads. I can only read up to ten consecutive pages of a book before my eyes get heavy and doze off. The rest of the book would have to wait until the next time I hold the book in my hands. So imagine how long it takes me to finish a novel, much more say –a biography of Jose Rizal? All the readings and research may be tedious tasks, but I will do everything to make the best effort  in every aspect of its creation. Because I know once it is completed,  it is something that I will be proud of for the rest of my life.

Go Get Your TPGFA Comics Anthology!

The late poster that I am; The Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards Comics Anthology is finally out! To those not familiar with that, it all started several years ago when Neil Gaiman visited the Philippines for the first time. On what he probably thought would be a routine signing and interviews event, transgressed into something much larger than he initially expected. He greatly appreciated how the Filipinos’ received him with “a wall of sound”, before ultimately getting astounded by the plenty amount of untapped talents in the country.

To cut everything short, he, together with Jaime Daez’s Fully Booked chain of bookstores, decided to put up a series of contests that encouraged Filipinos to explore the magical and fantastic world of the unreal and use it in our literature. This, after Mr. Gaiman observed that almost all of the works by local authors that he was able to read, tackled the realities of one’s self and his surroundings. Very few wandered into the realms of our fantastic mythologies and legends. Not that it was a bad thing, but he longed to see Filipino unrealism, created by Filipinos.

The result was The Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards. The contest that (if I am not mistaken) has spanned seven years since the first challenge was announced to the final judging of the third installment of the series last March.

And now, all the winning entries, plus some other notable entries that didn’t make it, are published in the thickest (and very gorgeous) pinoy comic book that I’ve ever seen. I’d like to mention too how the book itself is great. It’s the best pinoy komiks ever in terms of printing and paper quality! Thank you , Fully Booked for not going cheap on it.

I was blessed to have my entry get picked as a winner in the second TPGFA. My story, “Afterlife” made the third place back in 2007. The experience allowed me to get published alongside an array of highly talented fellow Filipinos who share my passion for creating original stories and comics –not to mention sit and dine beside Neil Gaiman himself. That victory (although it was not the grand prize) also initiated me as a serious comics creator –specially as a writer. It boosted my esteem to write more and somehow, I proved to myself that I can accomplish a lot more in comics than what I usually did before the contest.

It was mentioned in the awarding ceremony of the third contest that Neil and Jaime agreed on three installments of the TPGFA. Did they mean the third TPGFA was the last of it? I am really hoping it wasn’t, because I have set a personal goal to win it one day –I am thinking, the next one!

Click here for a review about the book:

Yes, I am Still Alive!

I wouldn’t say I got busy, although I really did at times. Not that I’ve been totally tardy, but I just had my attention diverted into “other things” like this, or this, or playing this, and this, and that, etc… I still do get some free time to blog but either I am lazy, or I would have rather read, instead of write. Write scripts and other stories rather than blog entries.

And guess what? As weird as it is for me to admit, I actually missed blogging! How about that?

I’m kinda feeling that the blog but is just around the corner, waiting to take a hefty bite on me. We’ll find out in the days to come if I’d shoo it away of if I’d let it have its fill.

Summer Komikon 2010 is just around the corner, and every warm-blooded komiks lover should go. And as for the Komiks Manila gang, we’re still gonna have to see what we can come up with. But we will be there come April 17, 2010.

And oh! Why, look at that! Over there at the sidebar, under “Komiks Manila Komiks”. If it’s not the Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards Comics Anthology from Fully Booked and uhrrm… Neil Gaiman. Some guy named “Jerald Dorado” has his work included in it, and now he thinks he has the right to place it there.

Now, to hit the publish button and then I’m off to bed.

Merry Christmas

It’s been a long while since I updated, but I thought this occasion needs a special attention and greetings really should be sent. I write this entry on our company’s Christmas party, just past 4AMwith the song “Alone” being sung in videoke in the background. Oh my god, that squeal!!! lol!

Anyways, I’m drunk and shouldn’t be blogging at this time (I should be worrying how to effin’ get home!).  But nevertheless, Happy Christmas! But not to you, who gets offended by the greeting.

I only hope the next year brings more opportunities for me to write updates for this blog, Komiks Manila, which it knows I truly love.

There!

Tinangtuko on “Faith” –an Art Exhibit

Tinangtuko, an art group formed less than a year ago is having its second group show starting on the 6^th to the 20^th of November, 2009 at the Prose Art Gallery, 3^rd Floor LeRose Realty – 832 Arnaiz Avenue cor. Paseo De Roxas, Makati City. The exhibit entitled, “FAITH” will showcase works from an artistic quintet composed of Jerald Dorado, Kei Liwanag, Alethea Rio, Tata Rosales and Norven Valenzuela.

Jerald is an artist, writer and creator for comics and graphic novels. He currently experiments on an art style that he calls Guri-gurism. The first piece of such artwork will be featured in this exhibit. Kei, on the other hand, is a digital painter that rediscovered her love for traditional art. Her digital works had been featured on different art books that have been published internationally. Alethea is a Fine Arts graduate from UP, Diliman. She now works as a freelance illustrator and graphic artist. Norven, an Honorable Mention Award winner on the prestigious SHELL National Student’s Arts Competition, paints in oil while he works as a graphic artist in an advertising firm. And last but not the least is Tata, a young, up and coming artist completes the line up for the show.

For Tinangtuko, “Faith is more than just believing. It is an inherent drive to live what we believe in.” This show will be an avenue for them to encourage others with a reassurance that there is more in life than meets the eye. Where there is hope, there is faith.

Drop by on the 6^th, November at around six o’clock PM for the show’s opening. Meet and greet the artists and enjoy refreshments with some acoustic music. 

The Kengkoy Joint No.0 Online

As promised a few days ago, The Kengkoy Joint is now online! Available ABSOLUTELY FREE, only here at komiksmanila.i.ph. Damn, I feel good!

Click here to read fullscreen (Scribd).

The Kengkoy Joint Numero 0

Here are the list of stories and contributors for the book.

Answers (Story by Jerald Dorado, Art by Samuel Donato)

The Tomb of the Sleeping Gods was breached, releasing powerful souls of long-dead deities who seek human hosts to live again. The mad god of The End, Wakas was reawakened together with his ambition to bring all of existence to a halt. Only Lumen, the goddess of Answers knows the key to avert Wakas’ wicked schemes. And she will need the help of a powerful, but most disregarded hero of all –and he is found in the body of a young man, mining the marbles of Romblon.

The Legend of the Golden Pupu (Story and Art by Jerald Dorado)

This is the story of the Pinoy Passenger, Tsuper-man, Kadyong Kadiri and the rest of the gang in their quest to find the legendary “Golden Pupu” –a priceless treasure, hidden n the jungles of Laguna. It has been featured in this site before. The first few pages have appeared in Topak humor Magazine a few years ago, but it has found a new home in Kengkoy Joint.

Lazir (Story by Jerald Dorado, Art by Benjo Camay)

A masked vigilante roams the streets of Metro Manila, 2095 AD. Inspired of a patriot who died for the country almost two hundred years before his time, he takes the image of a National Hero to force justice into the society. His ways however, are nothing identical to that of his pacifist idol.

Gods Ablaze (Story and Art by Jonathan Ledesma)

The immensely popular Shun-008 of Deviantart.com delivers in these teaser pages of his upcoming series. The story is still being worked on at this moment, but by what we’ve seen in the pages, I’d brace myself tight for an action packed series if I were you.

Ang Mutya (Story by Godfrey Escota, Art by Franklin Ouano, Words by Jerald Dorado)

Unfortunately, we ran into some problems in this title, and there is a possibility that we might do a second take on it. I guess that happens sometimes if you try to finish an eight page story in four days. I’ll keep you updated.

Lazy-Eye Chico (Story and Art by Godfrey Escota)

It’s been forty years since a hardworking hen laid a peculiar egg –peculiar because it’s shaped like a cube! Four decades have passed and now that egg has hatched. The origin story of Lazy-Eye Chico unfolds. Together with his boy, Bigote and a host of hilarious characters, this series will surely take your fancy.

Pin-up Gallery

Includes works from Komiks Manila Artists: Mara Miranda, Alex Aguilar, Timothy Terrenal, Malaya De Guzman, Marvin Del Mundo, Shelly Soneja (Artist/Writer), Gio Tenco, Dave Gonzales, Zena Establecida, Andrew Santos, Rosame Gregorio, Neil Amiel Cervantes (Artist/Writer), Mico Suayan, Oliver Leang, Olei Ampayo, Jaime Salangsang, Sandeson Gonzaga, Cheyenne Quintana.

  Watch out for a heavier Kengkoy Joint and more stuff from Komiks Manila, SOON!!!!

The Kengkoy Joint Launch + Photos

Well, this is an extremely late update about The Kengkoy Joint launch at the First Metro Comic-Con.  Needless to say, the Komiks Manila crew managed to finish everything (as I’d say it in the office) just in the time of nick! The final product was a gut-wrenching, 60-page, rag of pure komiks goodness. That’s a lot of pages! And everything was made from concept to stapling the pages together in just twelve days.

Unfortunately, we ran into a printing problem on the opening day of the convention, which prevented us from releasing the book on that day. But everything went smoothly on the second day.

I intended to make The Kengkoy Joint available online right after the launch, but I decided to hold it for a while, so I could make some more edits on some things in the book that I overlooked in the first edition. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I’d be able to do so this week so make sure you stick around for that.

Here are some photos that I stole from my friends’ Facebooks (heheh…):

Okay, now that you’ve seen some of our photos at the launch. Scroll down some more  and make yourself feel a little bit better about that Caparas: National Artist hullabaloo.     

Lazir Butchers Ex Gov. Carlos (The Kengkoy Joint)

This story sold The Kengkoy Joint No. 0 to readers at the Metro Comic-Con. Visitors were free to browse the books on display at  our booth, and a lot of them bought instantly in one glance at these pages.

I would have nominated this the the Komikon 2009’s Best Comics Scene of the Year Award, if only ithe nominations hasn’t been closed yet. Well, maybe next year. Hahaha.

These are just teaser pages for our original character, Lazir. Watch out for a complete story soon (tentative first Q of 2010).

Set in the turn of the next century, Lazir is a vigilante-type superhero who adorns a mask that bears the image of Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal. But unlike the pacifist patriot, the theatrical Lazir uses deadly force to bring justice in the society.

“Change is nigh.” –Lazir

*Update:

The Kengkoy Joint is available for free as webkomiks. Click Here.

The Kengkoy Joint

Two days before the first-ever Manila Comicon, I am happy to announce that Komiks Manila will be attending the event this coming Saturday and Sunday, the 8^th and the 9^th of August, 2009 –in full force! This will also mark the release of our first ever effort to create a komiks, The Kengkoy Joint.

As of this writing, we are yet to compile the pages, and most of them are still unfinished. But I don’t worry. Not a bit. My team is THAT GOOD.

Please get a copy of the komiks from our table at the IAS Manila Studio booth. We’d be happy to sign, and even do sketches for everyone who’d bother. We are yet to decide about the price, but I guarantee everyone a great bargain—probably one of the best you’ll get this year!

The Fire Wolverine and a Brilliant Brain Fart

The Weeks Prior

Hello once again, people of the world! Recession is beating the crap out of me! Apparently, they figured it is an awesome (and handy) tool to use against your employees; especially in our good old, beloved, third world country.

Anyway, a lot has happened during the more-or-less-two-weeks of my blogging hiatus: there was the Komikon Summer Fiesta 2009, and then there was the Free Comic Book Day. I wasn’t able to attend both events, but I heard and read fall about them from friends and blogs. They all said the events turned out great!

The Philippines became a non-swine-flu-free country just a few days ago. AH1N1MO La Salle!!! LOL! Then there were the more serious matters like the taxation of imported books crap! We’re all happy a mandate to lift the ridiculous rule was already released by the President –some people remain skeptical about it. though. Now, alligators and vultures in the Lower House and the Senate are all-eyes on the next buffet they are preparing to feast on, the CON-ASS.  

And oh! Let’s not forget about the season’s greatest hit: “The Hayden Kho and Friends Show”. Beats every damn reality show there is and ever was. I wonder when the next season will start. <Cue Music>

The Fire Wolverine

As for me, I was just here most of the time. Sitting at my desk, writing, drawing… surfing the net… yeah those kinds of stuff. I’ve had several storyboards that I worked on and some commissioned works, but my best gig was having a chance to  have a talk with little kids, helping them create their own characters, based on the things they learned in their summer camp.

Basically, I was invited just to illustrate the characters. The kids –a dozen of them, thought about how the characters will look like, their powers, etc. I was just there to draw. They say kids say the darnedest things, I say they think them too.

What follows are real gems:

Twitti-Novelist?

After that I busied myself working on submissions and other stuff. In between all of those, I came up an idea in Twitter. See that silver box on the side bar? That’s Twitter, Tarzan. Click it, follow me, and scroll down to see my previous posts, just in case you want to read the FIRST EVER –that’s right, FIRST FREAKING EVER, Twitti-Novela in history: The Tragic Tale of Ipie the Cockroach, based on a true story!

It’s been a slow start for it, but I see great possibilities for the idea in the near future.

Here’s the Twitter link: http://twitter.com/Komiksman

And here’re three more of those kiddie drawings. Next time, people!

Dominant

This kept me from updating this blog in about a couple of weeks.  I am exhausted but happy to have met the deadline. 

My sincerest congratulations to all the members of Team CG Hub-Pilipinas. Like I said before, we are already winners for giving our best.

Everyone, meet the Matris…(Click on images for big-ass views.)

Komikon Summer Fiesta 2009 in 14 Days

As you komiks fans have most probably heard already, this year, we’re not just having one, but two Komikons! Talk about old news, eh? Hehe… Well that goes to the three of you who just happens to be passing by or lost.  In a few months, we’re then having the Manila Comicon! Wee-hoo!

2009 appears to be a really good year for komiks conventions, right? I just hope it turns out good for the komiks itself too. Who needs a convention if the komiks are crap, anyway? Lots of people are coming up with promises of komiks that will blow us off our seats, building up hypes for everyone to watch out. –And I am hoping they all would. Bring it on, you guys!

They’re also saying 2009 is going to be a huge year for local komiks. It’s such a bold statement, and I have been waiting ever since! But so far, the first quarter of the year just ended and I am yet to see any of these komiks. Hmm… perhaps in the Summer Fiesta, I’d suppose. 

 For sure, there will be an abundance of indies of personal works, collaborations and anthologies once again in the UP Bahay ng Alumni, come this May the 16^th.

Just a little thought about these collaborations though… struck me all of a sudden. On giving away your ideas, stories or art, make sure that you get properly CREDITED AND COMPENSATED on every work that you’ve done in the book or whatever it is that you’ve came up with.

And hey! Make sure about what your collaborators’ intentions are. Some people out there might only be using you, your talent and your ideas for their personal benefit. Yeah, there may be a little print of your name in the credits, while some guy’s or group’s name headlines the book, promoting him or it. Turns out, you’ve just provided them ad materials for free. If self-advertising is the purpose of the “publisher”, then I think he should pay everyone who worked for the project accordingly.—Just a friendly reminder for our young creators out there.

I really wish Komiks Manila could be there this Komikon Summer Fiesta. I’ve talked to the guys about going, but we decided to just focus on the next Komikon in… I think November. I don’t want to give you guys anything that’s half-baked, so maybe I’ll just pass by in the fiesta if I could.

Have fun, you guys in the ‘Kon! And congratulations in advance to all the komiks creators, old and new! Mabuhay kayo.

Official Komikon Site: http://komikon.blogspot.com/

The Battle for Dominance

It has been a great time for art these past few months for the Komiks Manila guys.

Global recession was in full swing by March this year, forcing our office to cut down our working days to four days instead of five every week –a decision which proved to be hazardous not only to my paycheck, but also to my belly. All those hours spent sitting in front of the computer, pigging out on everything from chips, pizza and pancit from my neighbor’s birthday party, surely took its toll in my tummy.

Anyway, what I lacked from physical exercise in the past month, I am glad to say I made up for by practicing my digital art. I managed to make the dead hours productive. Every minute I spent scribbling on my pen tablet, practicing this modern medium, would resonate to a lifetime’s worth of indelible knowledge. Read: PRACTICE!

And to spice it all up, the past couple of months were also times for major online art contests on various sites, so every piece I made were all of a sudden double purposed. First; to update my portfolio just in case all hell breaks loose in regards to this whole “recession” cinema jigs, and secondly; every piece is an entry for the contests, with a potential to actually win me something! Isn’t that sweet?

Here are the contests that I and my friends entered and, ahem! –won (on some).

Darkstalkers Tribute Book

I posted about this several months ago, and I am happy to report that a lot of IAS and Komiks Manila guys made it to the book. Some weren’t picked but they are coming back next year to give it another shot. Congratulations to these guys who are returning winners:  Timothy Terrenal, Marvin Del Mundo, and Mark Taduran! And also to new ones, Godfrey Escota and Jerald Dorado! Unfortunately, the contest guidelines don’t allow the winners to post their winning entries online, so I can’t give you any of the images just yet. Once the book is out, you’d be able to see them all here.

Don’t Panic’s Street Fighter 4 Design Competition

It’s a shame that this site chooses to pick online votes instead of quality in choosing the winners in their contests. Had it been the other way around, ogodo and emasor should be champions, hands down.

 Women dig Randy Santiago’s new bod. (Guile concept by God Escota)

Wacom Mobile Suit Design Contest

This contest kept the IAS studio buzzing on the night of the deadline. Glad to say everyone got to finish and submit on time. We’re still keeping our fingers crossed, as this contest is yet to be judged. The Wacom Intuos 4 prize is really gorgeous. Probably would look good on my table. Yee-haw!

Mobile Suit concepts by: (CW) Jerald Dorado, Gio Tengco, Drew Santos and Jonathan Ledesma.

Natives of the Lifeless Forrest (CG Hub)

The battle is really tough in this contest. To most people, just seeing the works of CG Hub’s hard-hitters is enough for them to lose heart and shy away. But come on! We already know that competition nowadays is very tough. Consider yourself blessed that they are showing you how high the bar is currently set, so you’d know just how much more effort you need to exert to reach it.

These people are winners already to give their all in this contest; sorry I can’t provide the iphones and the software. Heheh…

The Promil kid learns how much the critters love to dance to the tune of How Gee. (Benjo Camay)

Rebirth of Mother by Timothy Terrenal and Night Feeders by Sandy Gonzaga.

And lastly…

Dominance War IV: The Rise of Demons

Freyal Emperor by Joongmin Park 

The latest installment of the Dominance War Series. Now, if you think “Lifeless Forrest” is tough, then what more DWIV? Imagine all the hot shots in major online art communities in the world battle it out for err… Dominance!

Not only that the prizes are so yummy, the prestige you get in winning this contest, you won’t get from anywhere else.

Check out how it’s coming along and melt in your seats. This is where the world’s elite pick its best. 

Contest details here. Deadline for entries: May 11, 2009. 

Now, get started with your entry if you plan to join. This competition should be easy enough for Filipino artists to top. “Sisiw!” as Alex might say.

The Discarded Screws

I thought it was about time that I put faces onto some of the people I mentioned in this blog. 

The opening night of Alex Aguilar’s exhibit, “Reflections of a Discarded Screw” was a blast! Of course I, along with my office mates attended the show. We had some cocktails, drank up some booze and rocked with Alex’s band, Maniac Kiss.

We also took photos. Here are some from Kei’s camera (Click for the whole image):

Tiger Uppercut!!!!

 Too many for captions! LOL! –Komiksman

Doomsday Clock

Oh, sorry. It’s Just the Manila Comic-Con. Pushing through finally.

Reflections of a Discarded Screw –an Alex Aguilar Art Exhibit

If I was a discarded screw, what would I ponder upon? Here is what some of them are saying:

•     A middle-aged screw: “I’m getting rusty… sniff!”
•     A gay screw to fellow screws: “Let’s bolt in!”
•     A flat screw to a Philips screw driver: “I’m sorry, but… we just don’t connect.”
•     A screw from former US President Bush’s head: “Great! MORE empty space!”
•     A screw from Alex Aguilar’s head: “Now, where are those effing nuts?”

Openning night is on April 1, 2009. I guarantee this is no obscenely sick April Fools joke, everyone.

Alex is also in Deviantart and Facebook.

Alex Niño Reminds Me Why He is My Favorite Artist

He came to town and I missed it. It really would have been nice if got to see him, his original artworks, see him sketch, and hear him talk.

Oh well, there’s no use crying over spilled milk. I guess I’ll have to wait for whenever he gets to visit again. But in the mean time; I’m glad the Americans (or is it the British?) bothered to create the internet, where I can browse for Mang Alex’s artworks, anytime my broadband bills are current.

I was loitering in cyberspace when I came across these (click on images for larger viewing):

Alright, that’s it! Whatever Mang Alex is smoking, I’m having too! Hardcore voodoo? Witchcraft? Hell, even if I have to open my mouth and wait for the patak ng puso ng saging on a midnight full moon, I’m gonna do it to be this good!

Man, he’s so good, it’s almost unfair.

(For the rest of the images, I’ve uploaded them here so you can easily download them bootleg style. I saw these first in Randy Valiente’s blog and the rest of the images, from this site.) 

Who Can Kill Dr. Manhattan?

Dale a tu cuerpo alegria Macarena …

His powers are virtually limitless: he can re-arrange atoms, his own or of another body; he has unlimited power/strength, physical or projected; he can create objects –even life, from absolutely nothing! –Not to mention his ability to boundlessly duplicate himself, each one capable of everything that’s aforementioned.

The Hulk, the X-men, etc. pose no more threat to him as the world’s strongest beetle or the” X-termites” as he would probably put it. Even Superman would be gone in a single gesture.

His ability to see the past, present and the future simultaneously would foil any time traveler’s attempt to murder him or Jon Osterman.

So who?

Heck, probably either Rambo or Chuck Norris can do the job. If not, well I’m sure he’d be no match to Julio Valiente.

Watch the movie if you still haven’t. It’s great even without the squid. Really! 

 ***

Hit the comments if you can think of a character that can kill/defeat the blue guy, will ya? Thanks.

A Champion Lays to Rest (A Francis Magalona Tribute)

I commute to get to work. I usually take a bus until halfway the journey, and then take a cab for the remaining miles. It is faster and cheaper that way.  

It is also good that the busses taking the Las Piñas-Lawton route are now much, much better than it used to be. I’m talking about new bus models, nicely furnished interiors, cool air conditioning, and mind you, LCD flat screens for television! It is on these TV’s only that I get to watch, well, TV! I leave at around 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm so I get to catch noontime shows on these busses, particularly Eat Bulaga, which keeps me updated with their gags and their whole dabarkads thing.

Sometime last year (I know now it was October), as I climbed up the bus stairs and looked for a seat, I saw a band performing on the show. It was Ely Buendia with his band, Pupil. I knew I was in for a treat. They were playing their new single, and they were rocking the house! Being an Ely fan, I chose the best seat in the bus to catch the show.

I was happy to catch it live and I sat back as they finished the song –so I thought. The band started to play a very familiar tune all of a sudden. Just a few notes and I knew what it was. I got excited! Just when I thought the show was over, it was just about to start!

There was a change of ambience in the screen, what was hip eventually turned into wild. People started clapping, standing up. Some of them probably identified the upcoming song as well and they were as excited as I was. Louder, more energetic cheers soon followed.

I waited for him. I knew he’d show up any minute now. The man is going to be there, back from his ordeal –triumphant by the looks of it.

“Pandemonium”, as Julia Clarete described it ensued, when a man, dressed in white shirt designed with a leukemia awareness ribbon came up the stage. Clearly, this man was well loved, missed.

He takes center stage. All eyes were on him, gathering everyone in the studio’s attention. Heck, probably a major part of the entire country’s population! He starts with his spiel, strong as ever.

Feel the chills crawl up your spine when he says: “I am back home, ladies and gentlemen. My NAME IS Francis M!”

Watch:

This is my last memory of him, and probably will stay the fondest. Too bad this fan didn’t get a chance to meet him in person and introduce myself. Manila is such a small place after all.

He was a music icon, one of those few who can truly claim the title —A patriot of this country, a champion to the Pinoy music scene, and an inspiration to all aspiring musicians, mostly of the hip-hop genre.

When others rapped about sex, violence and tasteless jokes, this true-blue artist rapped about Filipino values, national pride, hope, and the power of unity –things that we hardly hear about these days.

Francis Magalona was a voice, screaming his ideas to the top of his lungs, amidst the chattering crowd of the majority. Together with a select few others, they were voices that are often overpowered by the common notion of helplessness and lack of hope. They knew they were vastly outnumbered, but they kept trying.

They knew their voices were small and mostly unheard, but through their lives’ works, they pray that their little voices keep echoing throughout eternity.

A Pleasant Surprise: Bumping Into Arnold Arre and Consequently, to Martial Law Babies

Bakit ngayon ka laang… (Photo from Arnold’s Facebook) 

Almost a week ago, Leanna and I were in Trinoma, walking around, trying to digest an excellent Filipino lunch over at Abe’s restaurant, located within the mall’s premises. I just finished a hefty amount of serving of their oxtail kare-kare which meat’s tenderness I can only compare to a baby’s tummy. Well, not that I eat babies but somehow, I cannot find a description more perfect.

 Anyway, I had so much of the stuff; I had to doggy bag the rest of the Lamb Adobo we ordered. The damned dish didn’t last five minutes after I got home later that evening! Yum, yum!

 We had to move around soon after the heavy meal. We didn’t get too far though as we found ourselves browsing for reading materials at the nearby PowerBooks Store.

It was about 2:30 PM when I saw a copy of Andong Agimat. I picked it up to show Leanna, and then I noticed the rest of Arnold Arre’s graphic novels were in display on the same table. I’m talking After Eden, The Mythology Class and Martial Law Babies here, friends. Plus, there was this new komiks called Private Iris, penned by Jaime Bautista and art drawn by Arnold as well, I think it’s now running on its fifth issue.

I was really eyeing the white, trade paperback graphic novel with bold letters on it, when a woman approached me and said that the books are made by a Filipino artist named Arnold Arre –and he’s going to be here for a short talk and book signing later at 3:00 PM! It was only then that I notice around seven tables set in the area, all made up for the Arre event. In my head I thought, how the hell did I miss that?!

Also playing on an LCD screen was the following video (I know the event’s done and over with, but it shows Arnold doing some wicked sketches, so it’s definitely still worth watching):

I casually replied to the lady, really? That’s great! In my most coñotic tone, and then grabbed the book, Martial Law Babies, hurriedly paid it over the cashier, as soon as she turned her back on me.

Needless to say I waited for the event. Arnold was a little bit late, but I forgive him. He was looking good. Better than the last time I saw him I think on a Komikon. He told some stories behind his latest novel, which copy I held tight in my hand and proceeded to answer some questions afterwards. The event went on smoothly. I even bumped into Wilson Tortosa and his friend amongst the crowd.

Based on the book’s title and on his previous work, Andong Agimat; my first guess on what Matial Law Babies was about was: it’s a story about people and the supposed “hardships” during the Marcos regime. Human rights violations, abuse, and suppression. But now that I’m done reading it, I find out this notion to be really, really stupid.

It is about nostalgia, just as Arnold discussed well in his talk. And he used a group of friends to cleverly portray it. I won’t tell you more because the graphic novel just won my quest for the first ever book that I will truly review. One of these days it’ll just pop in here. In how many weeks? –I don’t know just yet.

But what I do know is this: Martial Law Babies is one of the best stories that I read from a Filipino komiks creator, regardless of what timeline: the new guns or the classics, this book is easily among the greatest. Go and get your copy now! Do it as support to the local pinoy komiks artists and industry; and also for your very own enjoyment! It beats the crap out of Luna Mystika anytime.

This is one book you’d want to own and be proud of.

Martial Law = Imelda Marcos = Footwear

The Martial Law Babies website (this rocks!)

http://arnold-arre.com/