Spot the impostor

Spot the impostor.
Clue: He is the ugliest. :-)
This only goes to show you how terrible I am using photoshop.

I got this pictures, during the first episode of season 1 which I already went crazy in love from day one that I saw it. I loved it so much I fantasized of being one of the heroes. And now that season 2 has already started airing, the hero in me has just been charged up again.

Standing full twist flip

Walang sinabi ang Back Street Boys dito. If only she had a group that could also do the same. They could start a new dance group.

Believe it or not, I could do a summersolt when I was still on elementary. Me and my classmate used to play follow the leader just outside our school ground in caloocan city. It is pretty much the same with luksong baka, except that the stunts are pretty much more dangerous. Me and my classmate did some pretty crazy stunts when we were kids. Probably following the craze of the action films of Lito Lapid and Dante Varona. Looking back now, it was amazing that I graduated from elementary not breaking my neck or any bone in my body.

The Lake House

I just recently watched this movie "The Lake House". Which stared Keanu Reeves (as Alex an Architect) and Sandra Bullock (as Kate a Medical Doctor). This movie did not really did well in the box office. But in my book, it is one of the most interesting love story that I ever watched. It is like a pure love story that has a "Twilight Zone" twist on it. You see, Alex lived in the year 2004 and Kate in 2006. But mysterious and weird as it may seams. They constantly communicated through the "Magic" mail box that is on the lake house(which is a simple and beautiful house I might add. I imagine my self owning a house like that when I get rich).

I first saw the trailer of this movie in HBO, which I think that they are going to air this movie this coming weeks to come. But when I first saw the trailer, I was immediately intrigue of the twist of the story. I just could not wait to see what would be the ending of the movie. So, I fired up my computer and downloaded the movie right away. Thank God for the internet and bittorrent. :-)

All in all this is a very relaxing movie to watch, because of the theme of the movie director that is trying to establish from the beginning to end, with the slow and relaxing background music/sound track that it has.

Wish granted by Sterling

I just came from a meeting with Mr. Martin S. Cadlum (VP for Marketing) of Sterling. And I might say that my wishes (from my previous post) have been granted. It is still premature to say it, but I think pretty much of the dream of an Indie comics creator like me is very much in the not so distant future. A bunch of Indie creators were there. Jon Zamar (of Digmaan) greated me,Jonas Diego and the Culture crash gang were there also. Sterling is very serious on releasing a brand new titles. This is totally Sterling and the Independent creator of the comics. Carlo J. Caparas is out in this picture. But they will still retain the existing titles.

Wish#1 - The paper quality

Mr. Cadlum said that this new titles will definitely have a better paper than the previous 5 titles. And the proposed selling price is P20 (Exactly what I predicted/wished that should be).

Wish #2 - Higher page rate

Regarding the page rate is still in the process. But what Mr. Cadlum has proposed to us, for me is much much better than a page rate.

Wish #3 - Super hero based stories

As for this, the artist/creator has the total control over his creation, stories, characters etc.

CJC and Sterling Komiks

Ok, here it is. My personal opinion regarding the new released Carlo J. Caparas and Sterling Komiks. But instead of me start yapping on the things that I like and don't like. I decided to segregate it by using a wish list.

I know that there is already a small buzz in the net that there will be an improvement on the next issue. And a new title which CJC is not included and will be based on an indie comics is already on the study table. But as of now, those are still remain to be seen, and they are still promises. But I remain to be optimistic about it. And I hope that it will push through.

Wish #1 - The paper quality

At the very first time I heard of this P10 komiks, I know that the quality of paper will be crap. Because, come on. You get what you paid for. But the question is, is this really what the masses want? I personally would say "no". CJC and Sterling might disagree on me, because they would say "What do you mean, they dont like paper crap? We are sold out.". And I would say to them "You are sold out, FOR NOW.", and you really cannot tell if the masses will still buy low quality paper on the coming issues to come. I for one, bought the 5 komiks simply for curiosity. I wanted to see what is the buzz is all about. But after seeing the quality of paper. Buying 1 title of any of the 5 komiks next time, remains to be a BIG question in my mind right now.

I wish for a better paper quality. I am much willing to pay for P20 to P25 just to have a quality komiks on my hand. I prefer for quality, instead of quantity. But I totally understand why Sterling pushed for the P10 price. I think they want to capture the market first and jack up the price later.

Wish #2 - Higher page rate

Since now as they say that the sales are very high. I think it is only appropriate to increase the page rate of the artist. By doing this, we can have a little insurance that the artist would do its best and produce his best art possible. Because to be frankly speaking. I was not really impress on the art. With the exemption of a few artist. The art is simply old school from old people. Younger generation of artist should be included.

Wish #3 - Super hero based stories
I am not really into this telenovela on the comics stuff. Maybe I am just very much used to read Marvel and DC comics. Telenovela stories is I think for house wives and maid that has too much time on their hands. But for me, it's not. Again, I understood Sterling that their target are the so called "Masses". But the least that they could do is to create at lease one Super hero based story.

And by the way... the 4 to 5 page story kinda irritates me. It is simply too short.

Bob Ong

Once in a while, I would buy a book that I recommend to for my friends to buy. Recently, I just got my self an interesting book titled "Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino?"

Sophisticated/Genius maid

An old friend of mine emailed me this. And after reading it, I thought this would be a great concept for a comedy sitcom or movie.

--------------------

“I stay awake in the coldness of the darkened sky contemplating why, for some reasons, has my emptiness made itself manifest, extending to that niche where I was given life and growth, that because of austerity I was made separated from…”

- Inday… hindi makatulog dahil nahohomesick

“I am solitary. I find it hard to succumb into slumber, though the downpour of rain should’ve made it easy. This exuberant emotional glue I have for you, cannot be simply washed away. The multiplicity of what I feel for you is inevitable. This isn’t platonic. It’s real, true romance.”

- Inday, nageemote sa may bintana, habang iniisip si Dodong, ang boyfriend niya

“The statute restricts me to love you but you have the provocation. The way you smile is the proximate cause why I love you. We have some rules to think of. We have no vested rights to love each other because the upper household dismissed my petition!”

- ganito nakipagbreak si Inday kay Dodong (driver ng kapitbahay)

-----
Amo: Inday bumili ka nga ng mga isda.. o nga pla inglesira ka… would you please purchase many fishes for our this week’s meals?

Inday: Judging from your statement I believe you meant a variety of fish. The term “fishes”, although rarely and even erroneously used, connotes a plethora or an array of different kinds of the aforementioned gilled creatures. But the more pressing questions before I traveresed the road to the wet market would be: What certain type of fish? Fillet or not? Frozen or just right smack the day’s catch? (Pauses) Aaah… by manner of careful extrapolation, given the meager budget in this houshold’s quasi-peasant middle class taste, I assume then I will source the staple “galewng-gowng”. Am I correct?

Amo: Leche!

Inday: You meant the freshwater milkfish? Then the “ba-ngooz” is it!

- - - -

“La vida no es una broma actualmente. El dinero es tan duro de pasar. Puede usted bajar el precio parci mi? Soy ya su compradora avido diario por favor?

- si Inday tumatawad sa merkado nang isinama siya ng amo sa España

*Drunken shrimp and blue lobster meat with caviar serve with milagrosa rice (red avriety) and apricot sauce
*Vegetables in balsamic vinegar splashed with extra virgin olive oil
*Lychee and peach salad with sour cream cheese topped with lemon zests

- baon ni Junior sa daycare na inihanda ni Inday

“Bloody hell!!! What the f*ck did just land on my cutie top? I mean I’ve spent all day just to make myself look fabulous. I think I’ll have this eewy thing removed in a whip wham of time!”

- reaction ni Inday nung natalsikan sya ng mantika habang nagluluto ng tilapia

“Ipomea aquatica has become the constant ingredient to this Filipino delicacy which is very helpful in the digestion during the peristaltic process of the food we intake. Due to the continuous rains and floods, the harvest of the said vegetable has lessen the production in the market.”

- banat ni Inday kung bakit walang “kangkong” sa nilutong sinigang

“Heavy fire that exerted by the stimulus affect the best conductor of heat which is the steel, causing the “oriza sativa” which is the scientific name of rice to change its state of color, smell as well as the taste.”

- sagot ni Inday nang tanungin siya ng amo kung bakit nasunog ang sinaing


“Off you go! Under no circumstance this house would relent to such unabashed display of vagrant destitution!”

- si Inday, pinapaalis ang makulit na pulubi sa gate… (Taray talaga ni Inday!)

“Allergens triggered the immune response. Eosinophilic migration occurs to the reaction site and release of chemotactic and anaphylotoxin including histamine and prostaglandins. These substance results to increase circulation to the site promoting redness.”

- sagot ni inday nun tanungin ni sir kung bakit may rashes si Junior

- - - -
Amo: Day! Bakit may bukol si Junior?!

Inday: Compromising safety with useless aesthetics, the not-so-well engineered architectural design of our kitchen lavatory affected the boy’s cranium with a slight boil at the left temple near the auditory organ.

Amo: (Di nakareact)
- - - -
“Dear Mom,

Had it not been for the smelling salt, I must have collapsed moment ago. Junior has become a little monster to me. Remember the head accident he had? As if it wasn’t enough, he was summoned by the principal of his shabbily run academe. Oh such an erudite bunch of baboons! I never thought being a governess can be such a strenuous employ.

Your daughter,
Inday”


“Dear Inday,

Walanghiya ka! Magpadala ka ng pera! Nasa ospital nanay mo, dumugo ang ilong kababasa ng pesteng sulat mo!

Tatay”

- - - -
Mister: Bakit tuwing pag-uwi ko, nadadatnan kitang nanunuod ng TV??!!!
Inday: Because I don’t want you to see me doing absolutely nothing!
- - - -

Amo: Inday di ba nanood ka ng The Buzz kahapon? Bkit daw umalis si Angel Locsin sa GMA7?

Inday: Sometimes people choose to leave not because of selfish reasons but because they just know that things will get worse if they’ll stay. Leaving can be a tough act and it’s harder when people can’t understand you for doing so.

- - - -

“Physical stress and excessive work may result to serious damage to one’s body. It is therefore essential that once in a while we take a break from our usual routine to replenish the lost energy we once had.”

- sabi ni Inday sa amo noong humingi siya ng dayoff
- - - -
Misis: Inday, bakit mo binenta yung sirang silya?

Inday: I have computed the chair's fair value less cost to sell, and the value in use using projections for 5 years and a pre-tax discount rate. Accordingly, the value in use is lower, so I decided to sell the chair. This in accordance with PAS18 on Revenue, PAS16 on Property, Plant, and Equipment, and PAS36 on Impairment of Assets!

Misis: ADIK ka talaga Inday!

Quezon memorial circle

Me and my kids went to Quezon memorial circle last Sunday for a family day out. I really wanted to go somewhere quiet and relax with my family, because I noticed lately that I have been very busy with my work. I wanted to spend some quality time with my kids. And aside from that, I wanted to take a picture of Quezon monument. For quite some time now, I wanted to draw a pin-up of Kalayaan with the Quezon monument as the background. But I could not do it, since I do not have any visual reference of the monument. Specially those 3 angels on top of it. I do not have any idea if it is a male, female or a child. I will just post the pin-up of that drawing here in the future, once I found some time to do it.

Aside from strolling around quezon city circle, it has also become an educational tour for my kids. They were very curious about many stuff pertaining that place, specially for my eldest daughter Vannesa. The only thing that kind of disappoint me was the fact that the Quezon Memorial Museum (which is underneath the monument) is CLOSED on Sunday. Ohhh my gulay, there is a printed message there that says "due to conserving energy (mainly electricity) the museum is only opened at Tuesday to Saturday". I for one does not have any objection on conserving energy. But the thing that irritates me is that they are not using their heads (who is ever responsible for scheduling the time and day). Because we all know that Sunday has no work and most of us, it is the only time we go out with our families. And it is the time were Malls and other public places has the most people around. And what do they when there are many people (or tourist) around? They close the museum. Duhhhh.... Would it hurt them to use some of the gray matter between their ears, assuming that they have one .

Conversation w/ the BIG boys

I went to Robinson's Galleria last Saturday (Sept. 15) to deliver a few copies of Kalayaan #2 . And when I arrived at Robinson, when I was near Comic Odyssey, I came across a newly opened Filbars stores. The first thing that came across my mind is that I was concern for Comic Odyssey, because they have a competition now. I decided to go inside to check it out.

Conversation with Fil Barbasa (FILBARS)

When I entered the Filbars store, I immediately noticed that the numbers of comics being sold are fewer than the number of Magazines. I think that this is becoming a trend now for Filbars stores. I once read on another blog (I could not remember which blog) that Filbars has also opened a branch in Iloilo a few months ago that has no comics on it, only magazines. And at SM Fairview branch of Filbars where my house is very near, there are no comics either.

Anyway, as I was looking around at Filbars (Robinson Galleria). A guy approached me and start asking me questions. "Hello, are you a collector?, are you looking for a specific item? Do you work around here?". Normally, I would be hesitant to answer to a guy with questions like that. But I already have an idea who this guy is. His face is a little bit familiar to me because I once read an article on a local magazine about him a few years ago. He is non other than the big boss of Filbars him self, Fil Barbasa. We have talk for a while, he was talking alot of stuff and later on he was offering me a job, a part time job. A business partner as he says. But in reality, as the way I see it. He is just offering me to be his freelance salesman for his magazine subscription. I later on said "ok, I will think about it and gave him my business card."

Without telling him that I’m an independent comic book publisher/creator (I had my Kalayaan#2 hidden on my bag.). I asked him why don't he sell independent local comics on his stores? It is a question that I often asked myself. And thank GOD now I have the opportunity to ask the big man him self. (Figuratively speaking off course, we are just about the same height.). Do you know what his reply is?, he said "Well, I am more on the global thing right now, I am not much on a lokal thing.", in short "NO", or "I don't care about that". Right there and then, I know that he is not a comics enthusiast. He is a businessman, plain and simple. I am not sure if he has lost his love of comics through the course of time, or it wasn't really there on the first place. He talks more on the magazine subscription the he is offering right now rather than the comics that have made his wealth from the past.

When I was in collage, around the early 90's. I was a loyal customer of Filbars store at cubao Alimall branch. At that time, I was admiring the owner of that store for giving us (comics lover) a chance to buy a copy of our favorite comics. Because at that time, there were very very few stores that sell Marvel and DC comics (new issues). And isn't it cool to have a business that you love? A comic book store of your own? But I guess, after talking to him in person, that notion of admiration have eventually diminished. He is simply a businessman.

Conversation with boss Sandy (of Comic Odyssey)

After Filbars, I went straight to Comic Odyssey. I met for the first time boss Sandy. He was not around on the first time I delivered Kalayaan #1, he only goes there every Saturday. I was kind of surprise because he is younger than I expected. At the first time we talked, we simply connects. We have the same wave length. He has the same appreciation and love for the local Philippine comics industry as I do. He supports and help the local industry as much as he can. He has a humble tone of voice and pretty much down to earth. I just could not help it to compare him to Filbars that I recently talked to. They are two different person that has different perspective. One is business and expansion and the other one is business, love and passion.

Bili na po uli kayo ng comics

This coming Saturday (September 15), I will deliver a few copies of Kalayaan #2 that I recently created to comic odyssey robinsons galleria.

Kalayaan and Caroq with colors

I just recently received the colored image of my previous work Kalayaan and Caroq from Berny Julianto of Indonesia. And it is definitely worth the wait. Kalayaan (Philippines superhero) and Caroq (Indonesian superhero) crossover countries of Super heroes. It sure is nice to see my drawings in capable hands of a good colorist.

Together Again

Steve Jobs of Apple and Bill Gates of Microsoft. Together again on an exclusive interview.

This is one of the most rarest thing that ever happened. In their joint appearance at All Things Digital 5, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates discuss their contributions to the technology industry, the qualities they most respect in. It is kind of weird seeing this two together again on an interview. It just goes to show you. Business is business. It is not personal, its just business.

Vanessa Hudgens

It was only today that I knew, when I watched TV Patrol at ABS-CBN channel 2 that Vanessa Hudgens has a Filipino heritage. She is the talented lead actress of the famous "High school musical" of Disney channel. My kids is very fund of that show, specially my eldest daughter. Maybe because that Vanesss and my eldest have the same first name.

But aside from her Filipino heritage. One thing that caught my attention is that she is now facing a scandal that might ruin (or maybe up lift) her career. A picture for her without any clothes on was taken and now being posted all over the net. With a great voice and talented person like her, I know she would have a big name someday. I can only hope that things would be better for her this coming days coz she is just starting to make it big in hollywood.

For more information you can go to her site at
http://hollywoodrecords.go.com/vanessahudgens/

The secret of attraction.

The secret of attraction.

Secret Riches Visualization

The Secret Riches Visualization Tool

Experience "The Law Of Attraction" for yourself, it will both shock and amaze you...

best iPods ever

I will be a apple critic today.

An angry hero

Sometimes when I get stress out or got mad at something. I would just simply put my anger and frustrations on my drawings. It is better than to go out and look for some trouble. At lease in this way I could be productive instead of destructive.

It is an exciting September

It's September already and the Sterling and CJC Komiks is just around the corner. And right now, I am very much busy with my office work(as usual) and at the same time busy with the production of Kalayaan second issue. I am almost done with a few more copies to produce. And aside from that am cooking up something very interesting with Kalayaan. I do not want to go specific with it right now because the deal might not go through. I am just keeping my fingers crossed so that it would come out as a good result.