Gerry Alanguilan's Blog, page 14

Colorado Cinema Shooting

When I first heard the news the other day, I tried really hard not to think too much about it. I preoccupied myself with other things to keep myself from thinking about it, but now, today, I realized I could not get it out of my mind. For much of the night last night, I looked online and tried to learn about the victims as much as I can. I don’t know why. Perhaps I wanted to make a personal connection to who they were… get to know them for some reason.

But why? Why do I care? I guess it’s because these people may have been geeks like me. They were, after all, in the cinema to watch Batman. I myself am planning to watch it tomorrow. Across the thousands of miles that was our connection. These people had something similar with me. It was as if it was me in that cinema. It could have been me.

Who is to blame? James Holmes? Guns? It is true that it is James who did the killing, but I dare you to deny that if he had an axe instead of guns, he would have killed far less people. Guns are a big part of why these 12 people are dead. This is something America needs to accept if they wish to keep the death toll from things like this down. Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure many in America would not. And that’s the tragedy. And so more of this will happen. Denial makes it inevitable.

Here in the Philippines, it has been a part of life to submit oneself to bag and body checks whenever one enters malls, hotels, schools, transport depots, public buildings and so forth. This all came about after a spate of bombings in the 90s that resulted in tightened security across the country. It’s a measure that’s never really gone away. People have come to accept it as a way of life, and in fact, people feel weird and strangely insecure when no such checks are made or if such checks are made so perfunctorily.

It is certainly some sacrifice on personal freedom, but it’s a sacrifice I am personally willing to pay. I think the time is coming that America may need to adopt such measures. It’s a sad world that we have to do this, but this is now a part of life. We can take the negative view and consider it oppressive, but I think it’s all a matter of choosing, and fighting to see the good in things.

My condolences go out to all the families who have lost loved ones. In spite of what I said earlier, I’m truly hoping these things will never happen again.

Coming To Singapore

I’ll be attending the Singapore Toy, Game and Comics Convention (STGCC) this coming September 1-2. Although I’m coming in as a guest of STGCC, I have to thank Komikon for making it possible. If it’s not for Komikon, I most likely won’t be going at all. Thanks guys!

STGCC will be held at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands. Please head on over to their site for more info.

I’m pretty excited to go as I’ve been curious about STGCC for a while. I’ll be going there as part of the Komikon contingent, and we will all be sharing a table. I’ll be posting more about this as the date nears.

Komikon’s Indieket 2012

Today was the first Komikon Grand Independent Komiks Market convention or “Indieket”, at the Bayanihan Center in Pasig, Metro Manila. It’s basically a Komikon, but emphasis on locally produced independent komiks. I was there today to give a talk on how Elmer developed from it’s inception to right up to it’s international recognition. Hopefully, those who are doing komiks today might get some pointers on how to try and do the same thing. Because to be honest, if I can do it, anybody can do it, and probably even surpass what I did.

With Trese writer and co-creator Budjette Tan

I remain amazed at how much Philippine Independent komiks still persist and continue to grow stronger as time goes by. I went around the floor and it’s full of enthusiastic artists creating comics for nothing but the love of the medium.

Mabuhay kayong lahat!

Photos of Tony DeZuniga, Alfredo Alcala and Malang in New York, circa 1970s

Steve Santos, son of famous Filipino painter and cartoonist Mauro “Malang” Santos, posted these fascinating photographs of his father on Facebook, along with legendary Filipino comics illustrators Tony DeZuniga and Alfredo Alcala on the streets of New York and in Mang Tony’s apartment in the 1970s. With Steve’s permission, I’m posting them here.

Alfredo Alcala, Malang and Tony DeZuniga

Malang, DeZuniga, Alcala

DeZuniga and Alcala

Alcala, DeZuniga, Malang

DeZuniga and Alcala

Alfredo Alcala

Tony DeZuniga

Tony DeZuniga on Komikero.com

Alfredo Alcala on Komikero.com

Mauro “Malang” Santos on Komikero.com

Francisco V. Coching for National Artist

Bibsy Carballo wrote an interesting article on Francisco V. Coching with regards to the National Artist Award. You can read it below:

Wanted: A national artist of the people

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=813758&publicationSubCategoryId=70

I think it goes without saying that I wholeheartedly support Francisco V. Coching for National Artist. There is one thing that keeps this from happening, and it’s primarily the Philippine art world’s snobbishness when it comes to comic books.

I have no doubt that many in the art community went up in arms against Carlo J. Caparas, not only because he was unqualified, but also because his body of work consists of comics. This is something that I had always thought of during that whole debacle. Am I wrong? I’m pretty sure I’m not.

I still cannot forget the newspaper critics/writers who turned down their nose at Coching’s National Artist bid several years ago. One even went so far as to say that Ang Kiukok’s victory didn’t matter too much because he won over “just” a comic book artist.

It would be pretty useless to froth at the mouth at this… I’m realizing the Philippine art world is mostly elitist in their taste, and would never even consider the possibility that comics can ever be considered as true art. Unfortunately, this thinking is true for some working in comics as well. This is why a lot of them consider comics as nothing more than disposable entertainment. Some also believe comics are nothing more than a stepping stone to what they perceive to be “higher” forms of art.

What can I do about it, except to write my opinions down here and say I wholeheartedly disagree with the lot of them. That I believe comics to be true art and literature. That I create comics to aspire to that standard. That I celebrate the work of many talented creators in Philippine comics who I believe are creating true art, among them Francisco V. Coching, Nestor Redondo, Alfredo Alcala, Alex Niño, Tony Velasquez, Larry Alcala, Mars Ravelo, Pablo Gomez, Cloduaoldo Del Mundo, Francisco Reyes, and so many more.

In the end, for Coching to be National Artist is merely a formality. He IS a National Artist in deed, even if he’s not recognized by a snobbish few. His work has spoken for and has represented Filipino sentiment, emotion, humanity and culture for several decades, and has done so through the highest standards of the craft. He is much respected and admired by those who do see and understand his work.

I don’t need the validation of the Philippine Government and the Philippine Art Elite to know and believe Francisco V. Coching to be a true artist of the people, and a true National Artist.

For more on Francisco V. Coching

Francisco V. Coching: Filipino Komiks Creator

http://www.alanguilan.com/museum/coching.html

Francisco V. Coching by Abe Florendo

http://gerry.alanguilan.com/archives/1864

The Life and Art of Francisco V. Coching

Coffeetable book published by The Vibal Foundation

http://www.vibalpublishing.com/products/college-tradebooks/philippines-studies-art-history-culture/item/178-the-life-and-art-of-coching.html

Francisco V. Coching’s El Indio

Collected series restored by Komikero Publishing, and published by the Vibal Foundation

http://www.vibalpublishing.com/products/college-tradebooks/philippines-studies-art-history-culture/item/173-francisco-coching-el-indio.html

Video 48: The Art of Francisco V. Coching

http://video48.blogspot.com/2008/02/art-of-francisco-v-coching.html

EPIC Comics Weekend

“Epic” is such an overused word, but to be honest, there’s really no other way to describe this past weekend. It was truly epic. A once in a lifetime event or more appropriately, a series of events. May 26, Saturday, with Summer Komikon at the Bayanihan Center. The crowd at its peak was just INSANE.

Feel free to click the above photo for a large copy. If you were there, see if you can spot yourself!

The crowd was looking at the stage, which just so happened to have comics writer Mark Millar (Wanted, Kick-Ass, Superior, Supercrooks) on stage, along with Leinil Francis Yu and Indonesian colorist Sunny Gho. The whole Superior/Supercrooks team was on hand and it’s something I don’t think would ever happen again, at least not in the near future.

Here’s a video from my point of view.

Awesome as it was seeing Mark Millar there, I thought the real stars of the show were the indie komiks creators, who once again came out in force and released a whole slew of great new Philippine comics, most of it self published by the creators themselves.

Elmer at the National Book Store booth.

The following day, May 27, it’s Mark Millar day at the Glorietta 5 Atrium. Before we went there, we had a bit of a private time with Mark and he’s just hysterical. He’s witty, quick on his feet, with a crazy sense of humor.

I had him sign one of my prized possessions, a copy of “Saviour”, one of Mark’s earliest works which convinced me what a talented guy he is.

What I said at the Q&A later that day is true. I had quit inking in 2005, and I told Leinil that I would come back to inking if he ever got to work with Mark Millar. I had been following his career since those Saviour days right through Swamp Thing and then his current Superhero stuff with DC and Marvel. Leinil even offered that I ink Ultimate Hulk Vs Wolverine. I said no. He offered me Secret Invasion, I said no. But then he said he’d be working with Mark Millar on his next book, and of course I said YES. Good thing I was already done with my personal projects like Humanis Rex!, Timawa and ELMER, and I was free to do more inking. Besides, I needed the cash to fund my self published projects so that was a consideration as well.

With Sunny Gho, Leinil Yu, Mark Millar and Miguel Ramos of National Book Store

Budjette Tan shows Mark a copy of Kwentillion and Trese.

Mark with my wife, Ilyn

ALL RIGHT! Quick food blog post:

Ok, I just had to talk about lunch yesterday (thanks NBS!). For a country boy like me, it’s not often I get to eat something as good as this. It was amazing. Best sashimi and seaweed salad I’ve ever had. This was yesterday, I still keep thinking about it. Maaaaaaaaan.

The crowd at the Atrium of Glorietta 5!

Click photo for a much larger image. See if you can spot yourself!

It was the most number of books I signed in a single sitting! We were there from 2:30 to 8:30pm. They had to cap the number of people who can have their stuff signed up to only 1,000 (most brought more than 1 book to sign) or else the mall would have closed all around us. But I felt like I could just go on and on. It was awesome! I can’t thank all those who patiently in line enough. Most of them were in line as early as 9am and only had their books signed at around 7-8pm. So we were all very thankful and grateful at the everyone’s support and patience. You were all great!

Photo with the NBS crew.

Mark, Leinil, Ilyn and my mom.

Look at that pose on Leinil!

Thanks to Miguel Ramos and National Book Store for making this event even possible! I continue to be amazed at the interest and support that National Book Store has been giving to comics in the past few years. They’ve been publishing and distributing a lot of Filipino made comics. They not only sponsored Summer Komikon, they also began distributing 2 volumes of Marvin Ignacio and Ian Sta. Maria’s “Skyworld“. That book is pretty good guys! I hope you check it out!

Also, they beat out every single retailer in the world and was able to bring Mark Millar here to the Philippines. If you only knew the amount of copies of Supercrooks #1 NBS had to buy to make that happen, you’d be staggered. Let me just say this. If we had to sign all those copies, we’d be at it for a week, non-stop!

Here’s a video of the two events by Ferdie Barba:

Related Links:

Summer Komikon (and thoughts on KREATION)

http://freakayaspencils.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/summer-komikon-and-thoughts-on-kreation/

Summer Komikon was truly memorable

http://www.beerkada.net/2012/05/27/summer-komikon-was-truly-memorable

Summer Komikon 2012

http://nopickup.blogspot.com/2012/05/summer-komikon-2012.html

Gigantic Komikon Photo Gallery by William Endo

https://plus.google.com/photos/101067406526908771307/albums/5746968078831963489?banner=pwa

More links as they come. If you know of any links to Komikon and Mark Millar in Manila, please let me know in the comments and I’ll add them here. Thanks!

Summer Komikon is May 26, 2012! Mark Millar on May 27! (UPDATED)

Believe it or not, Summer Komikon is THIS WEEKEND!

As the poster says, it will be held on May 26, 2012 at the Bayanihan Center, Unilab Compound, Pasig City from 10am to 7pm.

How to get there? Check out this map!

Special guests include Heubert Khan Michael, Freely Abrigo and Elmer Damaso. But you can bet a whole lot more artists from the local independent comics scene to the guys doing comics for Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and Image are going to be there.

I will have a table myself, but I really won’t have any new comics to sell. I’ll probably let go a few more pieces of original artwork at that crazy slashed Komikon only prices, plus a few comics and mags in my collection that I’m willing to let go. Elmer is going to be sold by National Book Store, and I’m all out of Bold Stars. I was considering giving Summer Komikon 2012 a pass, but I thought well, I might as well go and just hang around and check out the new comics the other guys are doing.

I will also be selling sets of Arnold Arre and Budjette Tan’s “BATCH 72″ for P100 a set. This is a rare item from the early days of Alamat so get yours while I still have stocks! There are three issues in the set, all standard sized comic books.

I will also be selling other more obscure books I’ve worked on in the past.

Oh yeah! Every year there’s a huge line at the entrance to Bayanihan Center. Do you want to avoid standing in line? You can buy your tickets right now and you can just waltz in the con as soon as you arrive, providing the con is already open that is. You can buy tickets at any branch of Comic Odyssey!

AUCTION FOR MINDANAO SCHOOL CHILDREN (Lapis at Papel)

At the Komikon, there will be an auction of original artworks by the likes of :

HEUBERT MICHAEL KAHN

CARLO PAGULAYAN

CARLO VERGARA

LEINIL FRANCIS YU

EDGAR TADEO

KAJO BALDISOMO-MORING

MANIX ABRERA

This is all for “Lapis at Papel”, a charity to benefit Mindanao school children.

For a more in depth guide to Summer Komikon goings on, check out their Facebook Page as well as their Official Page.

And because no Komikon is complete without Omeng Estanislao’s amazing drawings….

Click for Larger Image

See on the 26th!

Oh yeah, if Summer Komikon is not enough, see you as well on the following day, May 27, where you will have a chance to meet THIS guy.

Click for Larger Image

I’ll be there as well, drooling. I’m a big Mark Millar fan, and it’s something that never really went away even when I got to work with him.

Filipino Comics Illustrator Ernie Chan Passes Away

Mark Waid, Ernie Chan, Alex Niño, Gerry Alanguilan, Tony DeZuniga, “Filipino Invasion” Panel, San Diego Comic-con 2012. Click for Larger Image

So soon after we lost Tony DeZuniga, we lose another great Filipino comics illustrator. Ernesto “Ernie” Chan, also known previously as Ernie Chua. Ernie worked extensively for American comics specially on titles like Conan, Kull, Batman, Doctor Strange and so many more. For a period of a few years in the 70s, Ernie did a lot of covers for DC comics.

I met Mang Ernie for the first time during the San Diego Comic-con, although I’ve been corresponding with him via email for a number of years. To be honest, I couldn’t recall how I felt because I was kind of shellshocked during that time. It was also the first time I met Alex Niño, and to be in the same room with him and Mang Tony, and Mark Waid, Whilce Portacio was also there… my mind probably just blew a fuse.

I am saddened to hear of Mang Ernie’s passing. I heard from Tina DeZuniga that Ernie had been feeling sick during that convention, and he found out he had cancer soon afterwards. It’s sad to lose one, but it’s truly crushing to lose so many in such a short amount of time.

But Mang Ernie lived a full life. He had accomplished a lot. There was a point in time that he was one of the hottest artists working comics. DC wouldn’t give you the honor of drawing so many cover on their mainstream titles if you weren’t so well regarded. He deserves to be remembered and recognized as someone who contributed positively to the image of Filipinos and their talents worldwide.

Summer Komikon is May 26, 2012! Mark Millar on May 27!

Believe it or not, Summer Komikon is already next Saturday!

As the poster says, it will be held on May 26, 2012 at the Bayanihan Center, Unilab Compound, Pasig City from 10am to 7pm.

How to get there? Check out this map!

Special guests include Heubert Khan Michael, Freely Abrigo and Elmer Damaso. But you can bet a whole lot more artists from the local independent comics scene to the guys doing comics for Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and Image are going to be there.

I will have a table myself, but I really won’t have any new comics to sell. I’ll probably let go a few more pieces of original artwork at that crazy slashed Komikon only prices, plus a few comics and mags in my collection that I’m willing to let go. Elmer is going to be sold by National Book Store, and I’m all out of Bold Stars. I was considering giving Summer Komikon 2012 a pass, but I thought well, I might as well go and just hang around and check out the new comics the other guys are doing.

Oh yeah! Every year there’s a huge line at the entrance to Bayanihan Center. Do you want to avoid standing in line? You can buy your tickets right now and you can just waltz in the con as soon as you arrive, providing the con is already open that is. You can buy tickets at any branch of Comic Odyssey!

For a more in depth guide to Summer Komikon goings on, check out their Facebook Page as well as their Official Page.

And because no Komikon is complete without Omeng Estanislao’s amazing drawings….

Click for Larger Image

See on the 26th!

Oh yeah, if Summer Komikon is not enough, see you as well on the following day, May 27, where you will have a chance to meet THIS guy.

Click for Larger Image

I’ll be there as well, drooling. I’m a big Mark Millar fan, and it’s something that never really went away even when I got to work with him.

Why Tony DeZuniga Mattered A Lot to Us

In the last 10 or so years, appreciation for an earlier generation of comic book creators has grown here in the Philippines. It’s something that I personally feel very happy for because there a lot of things to admire in the decades of work that the men and women of Philippine comics have done. In many ways, they all matter to us today, we who currently work in comics. They *all* matter, no exceptions.

Tony DeZuniga mattered a lot to us because he became one of us. He joined us at our conventions, he hung out with us, interacted with us, and by doing so, he showed that he embraced us and accepted our contributions to the comics industry.

He was our friend.

And when he fell ill, the local comics community quickly gathered to help. We really could do no less for any of our friends.

On a personal level, I found Mang Tony’s presence at conventions gave me a sense of security. He was a rock. An anchor. A steady presence I knew I could count on. He was there every time without fail. I knew that if I went to a comics convention, he would be there. And that was comforting to me.

He was, and still is a huge inspiration. I’m not exactly a very young man anymore, but whenever I think of Mang Tony, who was still active and still pushing his artistic boundaries well into his 70′s, it was terribly, terribly inspiring. I wish I could be as active and creative when I reach his age.

Now that he’s gone, I have no doubt that he will continue to inspire us. And while our conventions may seem empty now without him, as if something would always be missing, his memory will help keep us going, and keep us making comics.

Thank you very much, Mang Tony for believing in us, and for accepting us, and for making us feel good about being comic book artists.