Gerry Alanguilan's Blog, page 11

Thinking about Asteroids, Meteors and the End of the World

Did you guys catch that awesome meteor that streaked through the skies of Russia last February 15? Wasn’t that just INSANE? Well, if you haven’t seen it yet…

Again, I ask, wasn’t that just insane?

The crazy thing is, nobody, not NASA scientists, not amateur skywatchers, not anybody knew this was coming until it burned up across the sky that morning in Russia. Initial estimates on the size and strength of the energy released by the shockwave were conservative at best.

Get this: latest estimates have that meteor at 55 feet in width and weighing at 10 thousand tons. 55 feet, to give you perspective, is as tall as a building with FIVE floors, all right? This is no mere pebble falling from the sky. This is a monster.

Let’s rewind a few months.

What if… WHAT IF scientists detected this meteor last December 2012… which in space would still have been considered an asteroid. That’s right, a freaking ASTEROID. What if we were told that this asteroid that’s 55 feet in width, and weighing 10 thousand tons was heading straight for the Earth on February 15, 2013? And it will hit us. It will NOT miss. Just imagine that. Just think about that for a moment.

In the past we were always told that this or that asteroid will hit us at some point in the future. Remember us shaking in our boots? Remember us cold with fear when that asteroid hits, but we comfort ourselves with the idea that this was in the far future? Some of us, I’m sure, even thought selfishly that well, I would be dead by then, so I don’t care. You watch TV documentaries about what humanity would do in case that happens. You watch speculative projects of creating rockets that will bring a portion of the population into space to save the human race. You wonder at the pandemonium would ensue just to get a seat in the rocket. And you quietly fume with rage when you imagine only the rich and powerful will get the chance to get on it. YOU will be left here to die. Because you’re a loser. But that’s in the future. FAR future. Nothing to worry about now.

Or so you thought.

But what if we were told that in less than two months time an asteroid will hit us and there was no doubt about it. There are no rockets to bring us to space. There are no ready plans to deal with something like this in just that short a time. All you can do is just sit there and wait for it to happen.

Or maybe you can panic.

You hoard supplies like food, batteries, and clothing. You board up the windows of your house. You gather your family with you. You find God.

Or maybe you go crazy and you start to do things you wouldn’t normally do because you believe you have only less than two months to live. You do great, spectacular things, or you do really horrible, despicable things.

In a world with nothing any more to lose, civility will fail and it’s every man for himself. People will fight and kill each other for food and water. Preservation of life will supercede loyalties and friendships. Civilization will break down.

Perhaps it was a GOOD thing we didn’t know about it. What did happen eventually on February 15, 2013?

The meteor hit Russia, hitting no populated areas. The shockwave hurt around 1000 people, but killed no one. Panic was quick, and we were treated to a spectacular show. That’s it.

Yes, perhaps it was better we didn’t know. Because in the end, it’s not asteroids that will kill us, it’s our own damned selves.

This Despicable Wreck of a Society

Everywhere I go in this hometown of mine I see laws being broken left and right. Worse, they are being committed by people in power and those aspiring to be in power. This is most evident come election time, like right now. I have previously posted a link to the COMELEC rules and guidelines on proper campaign conduct, and I’ve yet to see a single local candidate stick to it. All of them have broken the rules. And they do it with impunity. And COMELEC it seems, is helpless to do anything. I have reported such illegal activities twice, and have gotten no response.

Everytime I go into town my blood never fails to boil whenever I see these politicians smile their fake smiles parading their photoshopped teeth and lipsticked lips at me through posters placed where they are not allowed to be, long before the allowed campaign period begins.

I also see proposed buildings about to be constructed without the benefit of Architects, and of course, those buildings in their proposed perspectives, look butt fucking ugly. That’s what you get for not getting Architects. Strictly speaking, that is illegal now as well. RA 9266 specifically states that every building that is to be constructed needs to be designed and signed by an Architect. This is a law that has been passed for many years now. And yet, buildings are still being built without Architects.

I was part of a team of Architects who met with a group of civil engineers at the local building office a few years ago and that meeting ended on a sour note. I get the impression that the local government just refuses to enforce this law.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.

Today I learn a senator who once tried to pass bills that would control what we read and what we saw, who tried to pass bills that would try to muzzle our freedom online, is now championing another bill that seeks to uphold ignorance.

If ever it becomes law, should I care? I do, but for all we know, this would be another law that would just be completely ignored like all the rest. What makes this law special that it HAS to be enforced while the others that I have listed above never have been?

Fine me, put me in jail for importing a BOOK? FUCK YOU, SENATOR. You aren’t getting my vote. You have NEVER gotten my vote. If I ever decide to vote that is.

I’ve become hesitant to step out of the house because I know I’ll just get mad. Mad at everything and anything, about things that I have absolutely no control over.

I get mad perhaps because I care a little too much about what’s right. At 45, I’m not too sure if it’s a healthy thing to stay idealistic. Because I find I’m mad a lot of the time. And it just eats me up inside.

More and more I’m thinking that to achieve peace of mind means becoming apathetic as well. Because of I stop caring, I will no longer be mad. This country can go fuck itself all it wants and what’s it to me? I don’t care. Would I want to be THAT person? Would I want to be that person who throws up his hands and say “We’ll that’s how it is in this country. Get over it.” Do I WANT to be that guy? For a long time I hated people like that because to be apathetic is to be part of the problem and not the solution. To be apathetic is to surrender, and that leads to atrophy and decay. Morally, spiritually, and intellectually.

Surprisingly enough, despicable wreck of a society that this is, it still works. Our country is generally peaceful, compared to other countries. We aren’t a nation at war. We aren’t a nation under communist or fascist dictatorship where simply writing something like this online can get me jailed or killed.

I am alive. I have a job. I have the freedom to choose which religion I want, and I have the freedom to choose not to have one if I so wanted. I have the freedom to wear what I want, cut my hair any way I want. I can go out and afford to eat and not have to fight with people for it. I have the freedom to vote, if I so choose. I have the freedom to leave the country and visit other places. I am free to improve my standing in life, buy my own property and call it mine. I have the freedom to create a business. I can even afford to be ambitious and dream of achieving big things.

Other people may contend that I should just shut up and be thankful for what I have. Others have it worse.

Is it so wrong, even when I have so much already, to want things to be better? Is it so wrong to ask that the law be followed when it is only the right thing to do? Yes, we have all those things, but we should not just settle for it. We should always strive to do better, always to do things better. If we got it good, then let’s not stop and let’s wish for things to be even better. No good will come from just settling. We do it not just for ourselves, but for those will follow after us.

So am I going to surrender, be apathetic? Be like those other guys who just take it, hold up their hands and say, “That’s how it is!”

I don’t know. It’s a dilemma I find myself in. I know I’ll never stop caring, but I have to do something that will keep me from dying of frustration and anger every time I go out. I want to achieve peace of mind without having to let go of things I believe in. The world will still go on, it will continue to spin, and society will continue to move on even when I die. In fact, society will even hardly notice I’m not there, so am I just getting worked up for nothing? Endangering my life by getting frustrated by things that don’t even know I exist?

My wife always tells me I’m a worrier. I find that this is true. I worry about the littlest of things. I need to find a way to get that in control. I have to learn to let go. It’s a time of great confusion for me. I’m thinking I may have to go away for a while, and think. Somewhere I can just cut myself off from everything. And it’s got to be soon.

For the First Time In My Life, I’m Hesitant to Vote

As soon as I was old enough to do so, I voted. It was a right I was eager and excited to exercise. It’s part of being in and believing in a Democracy. For many years every time I heard anyone saying they wouldn’t vote, I always tried to change their mind.

“Every vote counts. If you don’t vote, you allow the bad candidates to get more votes, and we end up with bad leaders.”

“If you don’t vote, you don’t have any right to complain.”

“Election day is the day you exercise your power to change your government.”

“What do you want, anarchy?”

I said it all.

In many ways I still believe in this process. But this year I’m in a bit of a dilemma. I consider myself a law abiding citizen. I’m always on the side of doing what is right. And I’m always deeply frustrated when rules are violated and laws broken, and nothing has been done about it. I’m even more frustrated when it is people in power who violate these same rules and laws.

The Philippine Commission on Elections has recently released rules on how the election this year is to be conducted. You can read it here. Much of that I already knew beforehand.

In that list of rules, you will see what is prohibited in terms of the campaign conduct of people aspiring for office. Here in San Pablo City, most if not all the candidates have violated these rules. You can see their tarpaulins on places they are specifically prohibited from displaying: electric posts, trees, waiting sheds, pedestrian overpasses, etc. Worse, they have begun campaigning long before the designated campaign period. For local positions, they cannot campaign until March 30 of this year. But many have already started their campaign last year.

They try to couch their campaign with supposedly sincere greetings for “Merry Christmas!”, “Congratulations to New Graduates”, “Happy Fiesta”, etc., but if you are not stupid, you will see exactly what they’re doing.

All notable local candidates, and I mean ALL OF THEM are guilty of this. If all of them are guilty, who do I have left to vote? NOBODY!

On a National Level, the violations are even worse. You can see dramatizations of the lives of these candidates on TV. And for many months previously, you can see ads of their “foundations” doing good work. They don’t come out and specifically say “vote for me!”, but the message is clear. If you’re not stupid.

I cannot, in good conscience, vote for any of them. If now, even before they are in position, they are already guilty of violating the rules, what more if they’re already in place? I cannot be responsible for putting any of these lawbreakers into office.

If this set of rules is to be followed to the letter, many of these candidates should have been disqualified, fined or even imprisoned. I have reported these instances to the Comelec twice before, as early as August last year. And guess what. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

What is the use of releasing those rules and regulations to the public except to frustrate law abiding citizens like me who already know and can see with our very own eyes these violations being committed with impunity. WITH IMPUNITY. And nothing, NOTHING is being done.

I could still be convinced to vote. Name me candidates who have never violated those rules, and I will consider voting for them.

A Comic Book Convention in Iloilo

Click for Larger Image

Iloilo is a place I just love to visit again and again. This is already my third time to the city, and it was a no less enjoyable experience. And to be there for it’s first comic book convention made it a more awesome stay.

The first time was there was 1996 for an Architect’s conference. The second time was for a talk I gave at the University of the Philippines in 2010. Both times were quick visits, specially the second one. I didn’t get the opportunity to really go around and taste the local cuisine. This time I thought it was something I will not miss. So the first day there my first stop after checking in to our hotel was Ted’s for Iloilo’s famous La Paz Batchoy.

Well, I thought Ted’s was just OK. I was actually kind of underwhelmed. So the following day Ilyn and I decided to go and visit the district of La Paz itself and try Netong’s at the La Paz Public Market.

Now THIS was more like it. This one I just loved. Perfectly worth the trip to La Paz just to try it.

At lunchtime we headed to Breakthrough, which is kind of far from the city. But once again, the trip was worth it for the awesome food. We had Chili Lobster!

It tasted pretty nice, and the best thing is, it’s not as expensive as some restaurants in Manila. Breakthrough is located along a beach, so after lunch I took a little walk along the shore.

Foodtripping over, we headed back to our hotel to rest and prepare for a pre-event press conference at the University of Iloilo that afternoon. There we met up with a few friends.

Johnny Danganan and Carlo Vergara

All in all, it was one of the best work vacations I’ve had. Thanks to Jann Galino and the rest of the organizers of the Iloilo Comics Convention!

Iloilo Bound

In a few days I’ll be in Iloilo for the first Iloilo Comics Convention. That’s not just the reason though, it’s also a bit of a vacation time for me and Ilyn. A bit of food tripping, a bit of ghost hunting, a bit of sightseeing. But mostly food tripping. I liked my last two visits to Iloilo a lot, and I’ve always thought my trips were too short. Well, this is a short trip as well, but I’ll take what I can get. I really can’t afford to take too much time off.

Also, I have to finish the inks to an issue of Indestructible Hulk before I go, so it will be a very hectic two days.

Nothing much to add at the moment, but I will definitely be posting videos and photos of my Iloilo trip as soon as I get back.

WHAT IS THE ILOILO COMICS CONVENTION?

http://iloilocomiccon.org/iccon/

Inks on Indestructible Hulk #1

Quite a few people have asked me during the signing and through email if I had inked Indestructible Hulk #1. The confusion is understandable because my name doesn’t appear in the credits of the book. But yes, I did ink all the pages in the issue, and my name was unfortunately left out. They have since apologized and said they would rectify the situation with future printings and issues. I hadn’t planned on posting about it on my blog as the matter was settled, but I also realize I have to let people know who have been curious about it.

Thanks to everyone who bought the comic book and came to our signing last Saturday. It was awesome, guys. Comic Odyssey tells us it’s the most number of people who showed up for an in-store signing so far.

Rogue December Issue Comics Article Rebuttal (UDPATED!)

The December issue of Rogue Magazine carries with it a one page comic strip depicting a short history of Philippine Comics. In it, the writer asserts that Carlo J. Caparas was responsible for the rise of independent comics like my Elmer and Carlo Vergara’s ZsaZsa Zaturnnah.

This is absolutely, any utterly UNTRUE.

Carlo J. Caparas had NOTHING to do with the rise of the Philippine Independent Komiks Industry. NOTHING AT ALL. I don’t know where this writer even got this idea because it is just absolutely RIDICULOUS.

To further validate this, I’ve started to put together, with the help of the many independent komiks creators stretching back to 1993, a comprehensive timeline of significant events and publishing history of the new Pinoy Komiks, where one can see clearly this was all happening without Carlo J. Caparas.

The main purpose of the timeline however, aside from setting the record straight, is to document and archive and to fully cement in history, the accomplishments of modern day Filipino komiks creators.

If you are a Filipino komiks creator who have published comics here in the Philippines from 1993 onward, please send me an email at gerryalanguilan at yahoo dot com with the subject line “Komiks Timeline”. Please include the Title, Date of Publication, Publisher and list of creators.

I will be posting this timeline sometime early December.

Here is the response from Rogue Magazine:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/rogue-magazine/a-letter-from-budjette-tan-on-pinoy-komiks/10151101256362109

I applaud Budjette’s efforts to reach out to Rogue, and while it’s good that we got some kind of response, I feel it’s not good enough. Hopefully, there will be an erratum in the next issue.

Rogue December Issue Comics Article Rebuttal

The December issue of Rogue Magazine carries with it a one page comic strip depicting a short history of Philippine Comics. In it, the writer asserts that Carlo J. Caparas was responsible for the rise of independent comics like my Elmer and Carlo Vergara’s ZsaZsa Zaturnnah.

This is absolutely, any utterly UNTRUE.

Carlo J. Caparas had NOTHING to do with the rise of the Philippine Independent Komiks Industry. NOTHING AT ALL. I don’t know where this writer even got this idea because it is just absolutely RIDICULOUS.

To further validate this, I’ve started to put together, with the help of the many independent komiks creators stretching back to 1993, a comprehensive timeline of significant events and publishing history of the new Pinoy Komiks, where one can see clearly this was all happening without Carlo J. Caparas.

The main purpose of the timeline however, aside from setting the record straight, is to document and archive and to fully cement in history, the accomplishments of modern day Filipino komiks creators.

If you are a Filipino komiks creator who have published comics here in the Philippines from 1993 onward, please send me an email at gerryalanguilan at yahoo dot com with the subject line “Komiks Timeline”. Please include the Title, Date of Publication, Publisher and list of creators.

I will be posting this timeline sometime early December.

“Komiks Is Dead” is a DEAD Issue (UPDATED)

An article I wrote came out in the Philippine Daily Inquirer not too long ago. I will be posting the complete unedited article after my post below. I almost declined writing the article because I was too busy, but I immediately realized the opportunity to talk positively about the state of Philippine comics.

TWENTY YEARS into the life of the Philippine Independent Comics Industry, I would think it would be ridiculous if there were still clueless people around thinking komiks was dead. I mean, really? This is a debate that has raged in various forums, message boards and blogs over the last 10 years, but I think time has proven that it has never really died. That Komiks is very much alive. To me that debate is over. Komiks IS alive. Everyone should really just accept that as a fact, because it IS a fact.

If anyone else wants to waste time and saliva to debate that, well, you can do that on your own because I, and a ton of other folks are MOVING ON. Talk to the fucking wall till you are blue in the face. As far as I’m concerned, anyone who wants to waste time talking about that has got nothing of substance and nothing of importance at all to say to me. And I will not waste a single minute (apart from writing this blog entry) of my precious creative time debating something that is completely and utterly moot. If I did, I’ll just be depriving myself of time in creating MORE COMIC BOOKS.

I think anyone who even says Komiks is dead today is, I’m sure, completely aware of the truth, malamang nangaasar na lang. Or maybe they’re just absolutely ignorant and clueless. Maybe even Bitter Ocampo? Who knows? I really don’t care. They’re now all in my ignore list.

Anyone creating comics, and anyone who is a reader of our comics don’t even have to think about this. Right now we’re just more concerned about creating better comics, and finding more ways to get our comic books into the hands of readers.

So yeah, let’s just not waste anymore time engaging these people guys. It’s just a waste of time. Let’s just do our comics!

As to why I even bother posting about this at all if I say I just want to ignore and say I don’t care… well, I guess just I’m the kind of person who wants these people to know WHY I’m ignoring them. Telling them why they’re being ignored is almost as important as ignoring them. It helps explain my motivations and it prevents them from having any stupid misrepresentations of my silence. I’ve ignored them for years, and to help explain why, this hopefully gives a definite answer.

**********************

Ten Years of KOMIKON

Last October 27. 2012, the eighth Philippine Comics Convention or Komikon was held at the Bayanihan Center in Pasig. EIGHTH you say? You bet! But isn’t Pinoy Komiks dead? Breaking news, son. It never died!

Let me take you back some two decades ago to 1993. The once giant Philippine comics industry was on the wane, with decades old komiks companies closing their doors to publishing comics one by one. But at the same time, something strange was happening. Without any venues to showcase their work, talented young comic book fans started creating their own comic books. They photocopied the page, stapled them together, and sold the comics themselves. Some even went further by actually going to the printing press and have multiple copies printed. Where did they get the money? Most likely some of them had jobs, some of them probably saved up for it, and some probably borrowed money from their parents. Whatever the case, what resulted was the birth of a unique Filipino independent comics industry driven by young people who created, distributed and sold their own comic books.

Even as early as 1994, comics shows were already beginning to be held starting with a mini convention held at the Robinson’s Galleria where enthusiastic comics creators like Budjette Tan, Arnold Arre, David Hontiveros, Gilbert Monsanto, myself and many more gathered for the first time. It began an explosion of self published comic books of all kinds: Comics 101, Exodus, Wasted, P-Noize, Shadow, Memento Mori, Flashpoint, Archon, Dhahmpyr, Indigo Valley, Scions, Tatooed, Pagan Press, Angel Ace, and so many more.

There were quite a few shows that followed there and at other malls, each event growing bigger than the last. 2003 saw the very first San Pablo City Comics Festival organized by the Komikero Artists Group, which signalled the growth of such events outside of Metro Manila.

Along the way, remarkable self published comic books started to appear including Arnold Arre’s four-issue Mythology Class and Trip To Tagaytay, Carlo Vergara’s Ang Kagila-Gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni ZsaZsa Zaturnna, Volumes 1 and 2., Budjette Tan and Arnold Arre’s Batch 72, and the anthology books Siglo: Freedom and Siglo: Passion.

In 2005, a group of particularly dedicated comic book fans and creators called The Artists’ Den decided to organize the first Komikon and hold it at the University of the Philippines, Bahay ng Alumni. Within a few years, the venue had become too small to accommodate the growing number of comics creators and fans. The event moved several times from Star Mall in Mandaluyong, to the Megatrade Hall in Megamall, and eventually to their current home, the Bayanihan Center in Pasig.

Komikon is now held twice a year, once in the summer called “Summer Komikon”, and the main Komikon held around the end of the year.

That the growth of Komikon and that of the independent comics industry go hand in hand is worth taking time to consider. Most of these creators create, sell and distribute their own comics. With no huge distribution arm at their disposal, they sell their comics at every place they are capable of reaching. They can sell at the various comic book stores across Manila including Comic Odyssey which has always been supportive of local comics, and of course, they take full advantage of the local comic book conventions, wherever and whenever they are held.

Big publishers have noted the success of this growing industry and have taken it upon themselves to select some of the more popular and successful titles and publish them, affording the comic books a larger audience than what they would normally achieve.

Adarna has taken on Arnold Arre’s works and have published After Eden, Visprint has published both Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo’s Trese as well as Carlo Vergara’s collected edition of ZsaZsa Zaturnnah, and National Bookstore has published Skyworld by Mervin Ignacio and Ian Sta, Maria, as well as Elmer, 2nd Edition by yours truly.

With the big publishers getting into the act, it necessited the a third spinoff convention of the Komikon called the “Indieket”, which emphasizes and showcases the very roots of the independent comics industry, the self published comic book makers who photocopy and print their own comics. That the Komikon has held such a spinoff event shows how they staunchly want to stay true to their roots, but at the same time being open to growth and maturity. While these small groups are still a very big part of the main conventions, I think that it’s only fitting and right that they have a show all their own.

At the Komikon last October, more new and better comic books were released by an even younger generation of creators as the venue struggled to accommodate the sheer number of people in attendance.

Across the country even more comics conventions are being held. There have been conventions held in Baguio, Bikol, Cebu, San Pablo City, Los Baños, and this year sees the very first Iloilo Comics Convention in December. In January next year there’s possibly another one in General Santos City.

Pinoy komiks is dead? You must be crazy!

“Komiks Is Dead” is a DEAD Issue

An article I wrote came out in the Philippine Daily Inquirer not too long ago. I will be posting the complete unedited article after my post below. I almost declined writing the article because I was too busy, but I immediately realized the opportunity to talk positively about the state of Philippine comics.

TWENTY YEARS into the life of the Philippine Independent Comics Industry, I would think it would be ridiculous if there were still clueless people around thinking komiks was dead. I mean, really? This is a debate that has raged in various forums, message boards and blogs over the last 10 years, but I think time has proven that it has never really died. That Komiks is very much alive. To me that debate is over. Komiks IS alive. Everyone should really just accept that as a fact, because it IS a fact.

If anyone else wants to waste time and saliva to debate that, well, you can do that on your own because I, and a ton of other folks are MOVING ON. Talk to the fucking wall till you are blue in the face. As far as I’m concerned, anyone who wants to waste time talking about that has got nothing of substance and nothing of importance at all to say to me. And I will not waste a single minute (apart from writing this blog entry) of my precious creative time debating something that is completely and utterly moot. If I did, I’ll just be depriving myself of time in creating MORE COMIC BOOKS.

I think anyone who even says Komiks is dead today is, I’m sure, completely aware of the truth, malamang nangaasar na lang. Or maybe they’re just absolutely ignorant and clueless. Maybe even Bitter Ocampo? Who knows? I really don’t care. They’re now all in my ignore list.

Anyone creating comics, and anyone who is a reader of our comics don’t even have to think about this. Right now we’re just more concerned about creating better comics, and finding more ways to get our comic books into the hands of readers.

So yeah, let’s just not waste anymore time engaging these people guys. It’s just a waste of time. Let’s just do our comics!

As to why I even bother posting about this at all if I say I just want to ignore and say I don’t care… well, I guess just I’m the kind of person who wants people I ignore to know why I’m ignoring them. I want them to know how unimportant and unhelpful their opinions are to me, specially if they’re anonymous.

**********************

Ten Years of KOMIKON

Last October 27. 2012, the eighth Philippine Comics Convention or Komikon was held at the Bayanihan Center in Pasig. EIGHTH you say? You bet! But isn’t Pinoy Komiks dead? Breaking news, son. It never died!

Let me take you back some two decades ago to 1993. The once giant Philippine comics industry was on the wane, with decades old komiks companies closing their doors to publishing comics one by one. But at the same time, something strange was happening. Without any venues to showcase their work, talented young comic book fans started creating their own comic books. They photocopied the page, stapled them together, and sold the comics themselves. Some even went further by actually going to the printing press and have multiple copies printed. Where did they get the money? Most likely some of them had jobs, some of them probably saved up for it, and some probably borrowed money from their parents. Whatever the case, what resulted was the birth of a unique Filipino independent comics industry driven by young people who created, distributed and sold their own comic books.

Even as early as 1994, comics shows were already beginning to be held starting with a mini convention held at the Robinson’s Galleria where enthusiastic comics creators like Budjette Tan, Arnold Arre, David Hontiveros, Gilbert Monsanto, myself and many more gathered for the first time. It began an explosion of self published comic books of all kinds: Comics 101, Exodus, Wasted, P-Noize, Shadow, Memento Mori, Flashpoint, Archon, Dhahmpyr, Indigo Valley, Scions, Tatooed, Pagan Press, Angel Ace, and so many more.

There were quite a few shows that followed there and at other malls, each event growing bigger than the last. 2003 saw the very first San Pablo City Comics Festival organized by the Komikero Artists Group, which signalled the growth of such events outside of Metro Manila.

Along the way, remarkable self published comic books started to appear including Arnold Arre’s four-issue Mythology Class and Trip To Tagaytay, Carlo Vergara’s Ang Kagila-Gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni ZsaZsa Zaturnna, Volumes 1 and 2., Budjette Tan and Arnold Arre’s Batch 72, and the anthology books Siglo: Freedom and Siglo: Passion.

In 2004, a group of particularly dedicated comic book fans and creators called The Artists’ Den decided to organize the first Komikon and hold it at the University of the Philippines, Bahay ng Alumni. Within a few years, the venue had become too small to accommodate the growing number of comics creators and fans. The event moved several times from Star Mall in Mandaluyong, to the Megatrade Hall in Megamall, and eventually to their current home, the Bayanihan Center in Pasig.

Komikon is now held twice a year, once in the summer called “Summer Komikon”, and the main Komikon held around the end of the year.

That the growth of Komikon and that of the independent comics industry go hand in hand is worth taking time to consider. Most of these creators create, sell and distribute their own comics. With no huge distribution arm at their disposal, they sell their comics at every place they are capable of reaching. They can sell at the various comic book stores across Manila including Comic Odyssey which has always been supportive of local comics, and of course, they take full advantage of the local comic book conventions, wherever and whenever they are held.

Big publishers have noted the success of this growing industry and have taken it upon themselves to select some of the more popular and successful titles and publish them, affording the comic books a larger audience than what they would normally achieve.

Adarna has taken on Arnold Arre’s works and have published After Eden, Visprint has published both Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo’s Trese as well as Carlo Vergara’s collected edition of ZsaZsa Zaturnnah, and National Bookstore has published Skyworld by Mervin Ignacio and Ian Sta, Maria, as well as Elmer, 2nd Edition by yours truly.

With the big publishers getting into the act, it necessited the a third spinoff convention of the Komikon called the “Indieket”, which emphasizes and showcases the very roots of the independent comics industry, the self published comic book makers who photocopy and print their own comics. That the Komikon has held such a spinoff event shows how they staunchly want to stay true to their roots, but at the same time being open to growth and maturity. While these small groups are still a very big part of the main conventions, I think that it’s only fitting and right that they have a show all their own.

At the Komikon last October, more new and better comic books were released by an even younger generation of creators as the venue struggled to accommodate the sheer number of people in attendance.

Across the country even more comics conventions are being held. There have been conventions held in Baguio, Bikol, Cebu, San Pablo City, Los Baños, and this year sees the very first Iloilo Comics Convention in December. In January next year there’s possibly another one in General Santos City.

Pinoy komiks is dead? You must be crazy!