Faye Villanueva's Blog, page 4
September 29, 2015
MA-I Fever Ka Na Ba?
In my previous post, I wrote about what happened during the Grand Launch as well as the “Araw ng MA-I” launch. Here now is what has been the reaction so far, after people have read MA-I already. It’s too long to put in one post so I decided to do another post instead. Here are some snap shots of it.
Proud to get a copy of the newest Pinoy manga series, “MA-I” written By Faye (and Arya) Chelabian and bublished by CSM. I highly recommend this series to homeschoolers to encourage their kids to read in Filipino and learn pre-Hispanic customs/history at the same time. – Grace Gaston-Dousel, author “True Love Weds”
Definitely worth the wait! -Kevin Mina
Finally! Finished reading MA-I! A must read for everyone who would want to see our rich Filipino culture, with its amazing character, mind boggling plot, laugh and cry at the same time! Haha! Five stars for you guys! Can’t wait for the next books! -Hanah Alparas
Suportahan at tangkilikin ang sariling atin! Pinoy Manga! Sobrang ganda ng plot twist kahit masakit sa puso. Nakakataas ng lagnat eh! Please give us the next book! -Patricia Santiago
Naunahan pa ako ng mga estudyante basahin ang Ikalawang Yugto. 1 & 2 palang dinadala ko hinahanap na yung 3rd book. Haha! Level 3-A loves this book! Salamat sa may pakana! -Bianca Bonifacio
Naapreciate ko yung teamwork ninyo at yung mission behind MA-I. Asan ang next book? -Mytch Calayag
En Villasis, Palanca award-winner, author “Agua,” writer ABS-CBN
Acel Bisa-Van Ommen (former lead singer of Moonstar 88) was one of the firsts who grabbed a set of MA-I Books. I was actually overwhelmed at the fact that she was more giddy with having an autograph signed. Hello? I’m the fan girl here. I love her music since I was in highschool! We exchanged books in the end. (with Patricia Santiago and Hanah Alparas in pic)
(c) Hanah Alparas
My nephew, Jake, instantly finished the five books during the Grand Launch Part 2, and has repeatedly read the comics when they got home. He coined the term “MA-I Fever”. Have you caught the fever yet?
(c) BJ Villanueva
Parang Lord of the Rings, talagang aabangan mo yung susunod na kabanata. -BJ Villanueva
Caught on Cam!
On of our mentors who taught us the techniques of storytelling, award-winning author Grace D. Chong, caught peeking through Book 3, Si Malakas at si Maganda.
(c) CSM Publishing
One of the first kids who lined up to our book signing event was this boy, who was looking for a new read since TOMO (a graphic novel too) has ended already. Posing behind the father and son are Makaka and Ka’lila cosplayers.
(c) CSM Publishing
Posing with another book author and friend, Ate Yah Munar.
(c) Yah Munar
Caught on cam too! Joey Garcia of Day by Day Ministries takes home a couple of MA-I sets with him. Day by Day is known for sharing the gospel by preserving our own cultural heritage. (c) Joy Solina
Sir Edwin Arceo of CBN Asia was also one of the firsts to line up at the book signing event. He’s written a review about MA-I. Check it out.
(C) CSM Publishing
“Hindi po ako nagsisinungaling–anointed at may kapangyarihan ang pagkakagawa!” – Edwin Arceo
Read full post here: BOOK (KOMIKS) FEATURE: MA-IInilathala ng Kawangis Komiks (an imprint of CSM Publishing)
Tatay Romy braved to witness the Araw ng MA-I by himself! And guess what? He’s made action figures of MA-I Characters evern before the books went public! He’s our editor’s dad and he too became a fan. Aba ageless pala ang pwedeng abutin ng MA-I!
(c) Joy Solina
Ka’lila himslef (played by David D’Angelo) had good words to say after reading MA-I Books. Check out his review below: (c) CSM Publishing
“Napagtagumpayan nina Arya at Faye na bigyan ng emosyon ang kanilang komiks at buhayin ang namatay na sekreto kung bakit namayagpag ang komiks noon.” – David D’Angelo.
Read full post here: Ang Kwento ng MA-I at Bakit Dapat mo Itong Subaybayan
He also did a “manganized version of their skit here:
Alam ko iilan palang itong mga comments na ito dahil sa bookfair palang unang naging public ang MA-I Komiks, pero kung naiintriga ka at gusto mo ring malaman kung ano at bakit ganito ang mga reaction nila, pwede pong mag-order ng MA-I komiks sa order@csmpublishing.com (pwede po nila i-ship sa inyo saan man kayo sa mundo). In a few weeks time available na rin po ang mga libro sa major bookstores sa Pilipinas so abangan po natin yan!
Ikaw, MA-I fever ka na ba? Share mo naman sa iba o i-post sa MA-I Facebook page. Makakatulong po ito upang mas maraming makaalam at tumangkilik sa MA-I. Kapag po marami po ang tumangkilik dito ay tiyak MA-I-tutuloy po namin ang kwentong nasubaybayan na ng iba. So we encourage everyone to please spread the word about MA-I especially if you think this is a good material to bring back the love for Godly-Filipino culture. Para pong Heneral Luna yan, marami pang karugtong, at kailangan ng funds upang maituloy ang iba pang mga proyekto. Tangkilikin nawa natin ang sariling atin.
Sumainyo ang lakas ni Bathala!
Related posts:
MA-I: Ano Ito At Bakit ito naisulat? (Naruto Press Release)
Ranneveryday: MA-I: A Filipino Manga that Promotes History, Culture, and Values
MA-I: Ano ito at Bakit ito Naisulat? (Authors Interview)
Araw ng “MA-I” (September 20, 2015)
Last September 17, we formally launched our first graphic novel series entitled “MA-I” at the 36th Manila International Bookfair at the SMX Convention Center. During that time we received positive feedback already especially from other authors that our advocacy behind the series was actually promising.
Arya and I talking briefly about why we wrote “MA-I” and what it is about. (c) Joy Solina
Pabebe wave muna after the book was unveiled! (c) Patricia Santiago
September 20 was a bigger day for us though. Our target audience filled the crowd– friends and passers by. Plus, we had cosplayers catch the attention of everyone!.
The whole “cast” of MA-I. From l to r: Arya, Apo Guinoo (played by Ferrari Lacson), Aman ( Benjie Cassi), Lakan (David D’Angelo, Jr.), Luta (Helen D’Angelo), Ka’lila (David D’Angelo), Makaka (Christian Cascaro), Tiktik (fatima Jongco), and me (C) CSM Publishing
Arya and I speak briefly about why MA-I was written. (c) CSM publishing
Luta and lakan pose with MA-I books
AlDub?! Alden look-a-like jaycee Abuel (who apparently is Arya’s cousin) surprised us with his presence while Yaya Dub look-a-like Ella Rodelas played as his partner. True Love waits. yes :) (c) CSM Publishing
Arya telling Lakan and Luta cosplayers what their characters were like.
(c) CSM Publishing
Apo Guinoo, Luta and Lakan with Retired officer Romy Solina (who was fanboy mode at that moment), and CSM Publishing’s CEO Abner Lacson (C) CSM Publishing
Ang mga kontra-bida
(c) CSM Publishing
The cosplayers did a short skit to represent the story of “MA-I”
(c) CSM Publishing
MA-I cosplayers with our editorial manager Joy Solina (in blue) and her father who became a fan, Romy Solina (he also did action figures of MA-I characters but weren’t displayed in the event because they might be crushed due to the high density of people there)>
(c) CSM publishing
Us with the proud parents
(c) Bee Villanueva
Kids picking up MA-I Books (c) CSM Publishing
If you’re wondering kung “Ma-tao ba?” maybe this picture can answer that question. (c) CSM Publishing
We signed books from 2-7pm. I’m not quite sure if it was because we’re slow in signing?! But that’s quite a long time. (c) Joy Solina
For the most part, it were Spin 180 youth Fellowship that filled the booth. Thank you!
(c) CSM Publishing
We’d like to thank CSM for believing in our vision to bring the Filipino cultural heritage to our modern day literature and for arranging all these events for “MA-I.” We’d also like to thank the Naruto Cosplayers for being responsive and willing to do this with us. And of course to friends and families. Here’s the thanks that I posted the other day:
For more about MA-I, you may visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/maikomiks
or read some of the press releases here:
MA-I: Ano Ito At Bakit ito naisulat?
Ranneveryday: MA-I: A Filipino Manga that Promotes History, Culture, and Values
MA-I books are now available at CSM Publishing (you can email order@csm-publishing.com wherever you are in the world) and will be available at major bookstores in the Philippines soon.
Related posts:
MA-I: Ano ito at Bakit ito Naisulat? (Authors’ interview)
Check out what people say about “MA-I” so far>> MA-I Fever Ka Na Ba?
September 14, 2015
Breakthroughs in Bookfairs
Although planned, at the end of the day it all falls down to what God will bless. surprisingly, that was where He lavished His support and we had a breakthrough that year, so we continued the P99 Lahat until the next year. Eventually, the other publishers copied the P99 Lahat concept and We at CSM eventually made the P99 to P100 (just to make the “sukli” easier to handĺe). God used that plan to be a catalyst to revolutionize how the bookfair turned into a rave party. Of course, the huge thanks go to the boss who believed and the team that worked with me
A photo posted by Faye Villanueva (@spatialchild) on Sep 14, 2015 at 5:52pm PDT
September 10, 2015
I’m writing a really sad story…
and I’m hating myself for it.
I remember one of my closest friends and editor, Ate Daff. She hates sad stories. I hate sad stories too. She’ll hate me for doing this.
Writing this hurts so much that it feels like I’m hurting myself! Aray!
Just to let you know, I couldn’t divulge a lot of details about what I’m working on right now after I got done with the first five books of MA-I. But I can maybe give you an idea. I’m currently working on another comic book series (hoping it will be published too) and it’s completely different from the feel that Arya and I have given to MA-I.
Some character sketches for this story.
It’s a story I’ve worked on since I was 14, and actually became a school play when I was in junior high (same year), then I expanded it into a novel during my college days and now I’m back to rewriting it as a manga series (and translating it to tagalog),
This story has a more serious tone, as it is inspired by a true story of a missionary family massacred by an angry mob inside their own home, and only the first born child survived but she struggled in her faith and sought for revenge.
Reminds me of what’s happening to people exiling Syria, flood in Japan, traffic in Manila, twisted rules and perversion in America, persecution everywhere, broken lives and rejected love from you and I. Excuse me for the term but yes, shit happens. It’s painful. And God allows it sometimes. Trust me, hard as it may be, there’s good reason for it.
What I’m writing right now stems from those broken hopes and dreams, inspired by the lives of true people’s experiences– a murderer who kills for revenge, a tycoon seeking the truth from all the lies, an elite soldier torn between following his convictions of getting involved in conspiracies he’s asked to do, an abused princess who hides under a jolly mask, a disabled orphan seeking a family to accept her. Along the way some stories end up undone. I am tempted to be biased on giving a resolution to everything (as the writer) but Sometimes, (you know, like in real life) that’s really how it is. And good stories often end up being loved because the truth is, they mimic the reality of the readers. (So yeah, I’m trying my best to make it as real as possible). An reality is: sometimes our stories really end up open-ended.
So what do we do when our stories end up undone or sad, or depressing? One of the characters here would often say: “There is truth behind the truth. There is hope beyond the horror.” No matter how horrifying your life gets, it doesn’t really end there. Though there may be unresolved issues, when you draw all these sad stories at the feet of Jesus, He will surely surely surely stitch the broken pieces of your heart and comfort you with His embrace. never mind the situation, or the people around you, or how your problems will be solved. As long as you’ve given Him your heart, it’s going to be fine. Your horrors will turn into hope.
Life will always have horrors, how the horrors end depend on how you react to them.
“Greater is he that is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
September 7, 2015
Behind the scenes on MA-I
Hello dear all. Some of you are already having a hard time sleeping na siguro because you can’t wait to get a copy of MA-I book series na. Thank you for your support. Sana hindi lang talaga kayo dadalawa o tatatlo (LOL) na super excited. I only realized lately that I am not excited. I am more nervous than anything else. Yet I do want to remind myself that what’s important in all of these is that what we did with MA-I will be able to inspire all of us that we have a role to play in the world, no matter how seemingly young or powerless we are. We want to inspire you all out there that you and I can be heroes, and it can only be possible with the help of Someone bigger.
But before we get to the launch a few days from now (mark your calendars please! It’s on September 20, 2pm @ SMX and you’ll be able to meet the main characters LIVE!), instead of spoilers, let me share a few behind the scene happenings when we were doing the first five books of MA-I.
Below: Arya working on Ka’lila’s Insignia.
Some interactions between us and the editors:
1. “More blood please.” was one of the first comments.We were apprehensive with putting blood splatters on scenes of war. But they feel the gravity of scenes were so downplayed that it was hard to understand the gravity of the situation.. So when we got this comment from the editors, Arya and I looked at each other and said, “Wait, what?” Below: “blood” applied in Book 2.
2. WE revised the first few scripts several times, including a certain character named Lolong in the story. We couldn’t move forward because something bothered both the editors and writers (I can’t count how many back and forth that was). We finally moved forward when we removed Lolong entirely from the rest of the script. Sorry, Lolong, panira ka lang talaga. So the also supposedly bloody war scene opening has been pushed back and saved for the later books . Below is the title drawing of what was supposedly the first Book.
3. After having one of the editors’ niece read all five drafts of MA-I books, the niece had a worried face as if crying, “Why? Why? Why?” I’ll leave it at that. Ready to flip the tables. Below: scripting Book 5: Aman at makaka
4. We made them cry in Book 4. Maybe you have to have tissue on hand too when you read it.
5. “wala bang stuff toy na Aman?” says another editor. We were surprised at how charismatic Aman turned out for them though to us he wasn’t supposed to be that appealing. This is where you can say that the characters really have a life of their own. Below: Early character sketch of Aman who was supposed to be blond.
6. Editor’s father is an artist. She showed him character profiles for MA-I and he started doing action figures right away!
Main Characters (1st Arc)- hand made by Romy Solina
(c) Joy Solina
7. The series was supposed to be entitled “Alamat” until GMA 7 came up with a cartoon show of the same title. Nevertheless, we believe it’s for the better. We do like the new title better!
1st cover concept
Another cover concept
8. Because of this project, our editors are now manga readers and they’re really enjoying it!
Draft SKETCH
Final Output
I hope this will make all of you more excited! Let’s support lokal and let’s read something that will really take us back to our ethnic roots!
LOL :)
Manga/Anime Review: Full Metal Alchemist (1st version & Brotherhood)
Genre: Action. Supernatural. Steampunk .Mystery. Suspense
Here’s a review of a not so old but not so new story which I am currently watching for the third time.
I’ve first read the manga of Full Metal Alchemist and have since become a fan. I read it almost in one sitting. The story is really intact. But when I watched the Anime, I got frustrated at how far the story is from the manga. So I learned that there is another version of the series pala that is more loyal to the manga.
1st Takobon of FMA
Let me tell you first about the Manga:
Full Metal Alchemist (Manga):
Story: 4/5
The story is very intact and rather short unlike the popular counterparts (FMA manga ran for about eight years ata as compared to naruto which ran for 17 years and One Piece which is still running from 1997 up to now!) but to me it’s an advantage because the story doesn’t beat around the bush. It’s progressing really nicely and keeps its readers interested with what will happen next. To me this is a well thought of story, hindi sabaw, intense, mind boggling. It’s a good read for those who like mystery, suspense, action, drama, comedy rolled in one. It was mind-blowing for me that I wasn’t expecting two brothers who wanted their body back to actually come face to face with a 400 year old problem that concerns the survival of the whole country. It was both shocking and actually tasteful.
Another thing that I like about FMA is that it doesn’t use Satanic symbols (as compared to Yuyu Hakkushu, Hunter X Hunter and Sailormoon), even if it seems to. It also pays respect to women because of the absence of fan service (for those who do not know, it’s the drawings that have sexually suggestive outfit, figures or expressions to satisfy the young readers), and also it doesn’t contain any sexually suggestive plots or actions. FMA is very strong in its principles not to kill, not to neglect family, honor life and fight for truth. All in all this has become one of my favorite stories, if not the first.
The .5 that I discounted from my score however, is the fact that sometimes I do not understand if the current Chapter I am reading is in the current timeline or a flashback. FMA story has a lot of jump in timelines back and forth from the present and the past with different characters so it took a while for me to get to where the story is at. Other than that, I believe the story could have been expounded more. There are a lot of other characters and details in the story that could have been given more narration (ex. back stories of those who came from Xing, more detail of how the Homunculus was created, what did Hohenheim do for the past 400 years?, how about Astremis’ interaction with neighboring countries?, and how did Mustang become an adoptied son of Madam Christmas?). So much can still be told. We’re talking about a story that ran for 400 years so it could have been as long as (or longer than) One Piece. But Arakawa ended FMA briefly, Still the story remains intact. Kudos for her on this.
Illustration: 4.5/5
I have a lot of respect for Arakawa’s drawing despite the face that some may find this simpler than other mangas. FMA graphics are easy to understand, nice to look at. But Edward Elrich could be a little bit more appealing (like Gray Fullbuster of Fairy Tail, perhaps?). Anyway, I think that’s all i could say. Besides, to me what’s always more important is the story.
Full Metal Alchemist Anime (1st version) :
Two brothers. worlds apart.
2.5/5
Ok that’s quite a rude grade. I do love the ideas put in the first version of FMA Anime, but the story is so SABOG. They started the story quite similar to the manga but in the progression, there came characters that didn’t have significance in the entirety of the story, the indentity of Homunculus and the fruit of human transmutation aren’t quite consistent, and then there is no foreshadowing of the last event that there is another dimension pala apart from their world. The villain’s schemes where fueled by an anger from a broken love story where Envy was their son (and Ed and Al’s half brother) . In the end of the long journey, Ed and Al parted ways. Al remained in the original dimension (of the world with Alchemy) while Ed found himself inthe world where Physics was used. It’s an interesting, fast-paced anime, but it also hurt my brain because as a viewer i wasn’t able to catch up to all the gazillion twists that were happening that weren’t necessary. It wasn’t boring though. But at the end you’ll feel frustrated because after all that, the brothers weren’t able to achieve their goal and they were separated.
Full Metal Alchemist Anime (Brotherhood):
This story of Hohenheim doesn’t exist in the first anime version.
5/5
I love brotherhood that I am watching it again today. The things I pointed out earlier about the manga, they improved in their anime. They rearranged the jumps of the timeline into separate episodes and even the first episode began with a chase (compared to the manga which started slow with conversations about belief in God and then composition of human, which is overwhelming for others agad). of course it’s for Shounen, so they started with a bang. And so it was. I love it.
REcommendations: Read it!
If you are an aspiring MANGAKA, read or watch FMA (Brotherhood)
If you want something dark, mysterious, suspense and yet doesn’t go against your convictions (as a Christian, if you are), then here’s a good material for you.
If you’re done with it and want more, I’m sorry there’s no continuation (yet). Right now the author, Hiromi Arakawa, is busy with two series (and two is already a handful). You can still go check out her new series’ entitled “Silver Spoon” (slice of life/ horticulture/ educational) and “The legend of Arsalan” (action/adventure/ historical fiction). Both are already being made into Anime. I look forward to the latter, actually.
But if you’re not interested with her other stories because they’re not even close to the feel of FMA, do wait for the manga series I’m currently working on!
Something personal:
FMA is my standard for writing a good series. I must admit that FMA has inspired me so much to write something similar and it has initially been a struggle to deviate from doing something similar (I’m thankful though, I got over it, don’t worry. I’m doing something that feels the same yet very different). Hiromi Arakawa is also one I consider my role model. She’s a woman and mother of three, writing for Shounen. It knocked me off my feet. First, that a woman would write such an action packed, astig story, secondly, that this FMA story has gone so far to become a wordwide hit without it being sexually compromising or occultic. So it gave me the glimpse of hope that you can be popular even if you are clean. I’m gearing towards that.
August 18, 2015
I’m a Loser (“Forgiving the Dead” Silent Manga)
Last March, I made an entry for a contest hosted in Japan called “Silent Manga Audition.” I made a manga entry based on one of the articles in the book “Beauty For Ashes,” (CSM Publishing, 2013) entitled “Forgiving the Dead.”
And you know what, in July, they announced the winners. I wasn’t one of them. Of course it felt sad. But now that I look back at my entry, I understand. This is the first manga I’ve ever done in a long time, and the first I’ve done that is purposed to be open for public. The others I did, I did them when I was in high school and they were just a form of catharsis. So it’s actually fine. As they say, the fact that you joined the contest is already a huge accomplishment in itself. I don’t know what that’s really worth, siguro pampalubag lang ng loob, but I’m taking it anyway.
I am grateful I watched Barakamon before I experienced this defeat. The main character, Handa, was a high- achiever and somewhat called a prodigy in the world of calligraphy arts. Until a curator commented that his works were lacking the heart (or it was something like that), he lost his balance. His father sent him to a faraway island to reflect on his artistry, and along with that (and all other sorts of happenings) joined a contest where in the end he was defeated by someone younger than him. A slap on the face, but he eventually learned that it is not about the winning, it’s about the journey.
Sure, no matter how much of a prodigy one is (to start with, I am neither a prodigy or a genius. I’m just trying really hard on things), someone will always be greater than him or her. I’ve been slapped so many times. When I was in school, I always won in poster making contests, singing contests and oratorical contests. When I got out of it, I was swallowed by the reality that I am not even worthy of having an award. I joined the Palanca too, but to no avail.
To add up to that, I passed several manuscripts several times to different publishers. I passed portfolios too to many publishers, and I always received rejection letters. Last year I self-published an ebook, and how crappy it was that I only got 1 book sold for the entire year (whoever it was, thank you!).
Rejected. Dejected.
But Handa reminded me again that it’s not about the winning. It’s about the experience you gain out of doing that which you worked hard for, and after knowing your defeat, how will you stand up and move forward? Certainly, if you take things correctly, you will stand out as a better person. Keep trying, but know also how to tweak things a bit and do them a bit better than before. maybe someday you will win. Maybe also, you are to win in a different arena.
I’m sharing with you the entry I made for Silent manga, and I share it with humility. It did not win, but I am hoping that you’ll catch the lesson in this manga and take it with you. If you do, then I feel like I’ve won already.
(NOTE: The manga is supposed to be read from right to left, per page. )
It’s the same motivation I have with MA-I. I know I am no good. I am a novice mangaka. I don’t have awards and I was never educated with arts. As I did the drawings for MA-I, tears were falling down my cheeks. I am so ashamed of bringing my artworks out in the public. I had questions like “Can we really pull this through?” “Will people really like this?” “I feel bashers coming, saying, they can draw better than me.” But guess what, this was an opportunity given to me and so I had to keep going and do my best, even if my best is not good enough for others. Again, at the end of the day, it’s not about the winning. I don’t live to win, I live to inspire. So if the message cuts through and speaks to the heart, then that to me is more rewarding than people being impressed by how good I am, or even getting an award.
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Cor. 1:27
August 17, 2015
MA-I: Ano ito at bakit ito naisulat?
So the bookfair is just a few weeks away and we’re almost all set for the launching of MA-I, which we hope to be a hit especially to teenagers who love anime and manga! I’m thinking that maybe if you loved Naruto, One Piece and/or Avatar:The Last Airbender, you will easily love this one too!.
Here’s a llittle behind the book insights we’re sharing for those who are curious to find out more about the book series MA-I.
Gosh, I do feel a little apprehensive in sharing this video because I feel I’ve gained ten pounds in this. Kaya hindi ako nag-artista e. Anyway, that personal comment aside, I hope this will stir more interest in you. I find the images shown a little too weak yet. I promise you, as the story progresses, so does the images!
Here’s the teaser vide CSM did for MA-I:
So, we’re hoping to see you at the launch! That will be on September 20, 2015, 2pm, Booths 1-5 @ SMX Convention Center. See you!
August 3, 2015
MA-I: Ang Bagong Pinoy Manga na Aabangan Mo (Press release from Naruto Cosplayers PH)
“Noong unang panahon, ang mundo ay kilala sa pangalang MA-I.”
Kawangis Komiks (an imprint of CSM Publishing) partners with Naruto Cosplayers PH (NCPH) for the promotion if its newest comics entitled “MA-I.” Ma-i is an emerging manga series that is uniquely Pinoy from its drawings, to its characters and its story line. It is something that both hopes to inspire an interest among fans of various comics genre.
Ma-i is classified under the Shounen (young boys), Action, Fantasy, Comedy genre with its primary target audience being boys from 13-19 years old. It also aims to capture girls, as well as younger and older comic book readers.
MA-I: An emerging manga series that is uniquely Pinoy
Adventure stories in comics form used to occupy a secure niche in Pinoy literature. But for decades now, Filipino comic readers have been more fascinated with foreign publications rather than indigenous ones, and our original Pinoy comics have been relegated to the background.
Written in a uniquely Pinoy manga style, MA-I aims to recapture the interest of today’s generation and to reintroduce Filipino youth to the richness of our own culture and history while promoting positive values using Filipino mythology and legends—which puts the material on a par with mainstream comics series that feature Western or Japanese culture.
Click to view slideshow.
About MA-I
MA-I is about a fictional world called MA-I, where harmony among the land and its mystical creatures had been marred by a dark being named Ka’lila, and a young boy named Lakan, together with his friends, must take on the quest to defeat this darkness which is larger than themselves.
The initial release has five books (chapters) entitled “Si Lakan,” “Palaboy,” “Si Malakas at Si Maganda,” “Ang Alitaptap,” and “Aman at Makaka,” focusing on the main characters in the series and their initial forays into the epic struggle between good and evil. Each book also features a trivia page about the Filipino culture and items (such as crafts and weapons) common during the Philippine pre-colonial era.
Each book contains more than 50 pages and will be sold for less than P100. The whole series is planned to have 60 books when completed.
Cosplaying for Mai
Naruto Cosplayers PH (NCPH) will officially be providing cosplayers for Ma-i. The cosplayers will initially appear on the book launch at the 36th Manila International Book Fair during “Araw ng MA-I” on September 20, 2:30pm.
Characters that will play Ma-i characters includes David D’Angelo as Kallila, Benjie Kasi as Aman, Helen Cleodara D’Angelo as Luta, David D’Angelo Jr. as Lakan, Ferrari Lacson as Apo Guinoo, Aroon Orduna as Makaka and Fatima Jongco as Tiktik.
Book Launch
MA-I will be officially launched at the 36th Manila International Book Fair on September 17, 2015 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia. There will be an “Araw ng MA-I” on September 20, 2:30pm, at CSM Booth Nos. 1-5 and cosplayers will make an appearance! Avail of the special book promo presented by CSM Publishing. MA-I is published under Kawangis Komiks, an imprint of CSM Publishing.
About the authors:
Arya Chelabian grew up learning valuable lessons from local folklore and novels as well as Eastern (manga) and Western comics. He is a graduate of Industrial Engineering at Mapua Institute of Technology where he spent his vacant time at the fire exit with friends, playing Hunter and Legend of the Five Rings, and sharing stories written by both famous and unknown authors. His love for values found in the Bible and the beauty of the Filipino ethnic culture drove him to write this story. He believes that stories can influence the next generation with important life lessons the way stories of old have influenced him. He is an engineer by profession.
Faye Villanueva has been creating stories and drawing since she was a toddler. Her influences are classic and Christian novels, Japanese and Western comics. She attended intensive story writing workshops (mostly for film) during her college and working years (as a Communications graduate and practitioner). For the past decade, she has contributed her designs and illustrations to various published books in the Philippines. She now desires to bridge the gap between otakus (manga and anime fans) and God. Follow her at Instagram @spatialchild.
Press Release taken from: http://narutocosplayers.com/csm-publishing-partners-with-ncph-for-ma-i/
Credits to Riza Rivera and Dave D’Angelo
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