I am featured in Uno Magazine

(Click Image to Enlarge)

I am so happy, because today I got a copy of the December issue of UNO Magazine. And I am featured in this issue. And it is not just a small panel. It's a whole freaking PAGE . And on top of that, this particular issue is a big one. The dimension is much bigger than your usual men's magazine. My interview and the cover of Kalayaan 7 and 8 are very clear ang big. That is right, it is an interview of me, done by Mihk Vergara. I have been anticipating this issue of Uno magazine for months now. I have been eagerly and silently anticipating for this magazine to come out on stores. And now that I have one, I can say that it is quite worth the wait.

Thank you very much to Mihk Vergara and Ramon de Veyra for making this possible. Please do buy a copy if you have a chance. This is truly a happy new year for me... :-)

Happy Holidays

I wish all of us a happy, safe and relaxing Holiday. Leave all of your worries and problems for now and try to enjoy this vacation. Take care everyone.

Powerhouse Pin-up

I got a little bit inspired and did this Bayan Knights : Powerhouse Division pin-up. I hope somebody would color this since I really sucks when it comes to coloring.

Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths

This is one movie that am really excited about. I really missed the Justice League Unlimited animated series. Thank GOD that they came up with this movie. I really wish it's February already.

Please visit their site at http://warnervideo.com/justiceleaguecrisis/

Up up and away.

When I was growing up in the 80's. One of my favorite show was the animated cartoon series G.I.Joe. I was a die hard fan. I memorized all of the characters. Even those character not so often being featured. One reason that I love this show so much is probably because of their neat gadgets and vehicles. One in particular is this Cobra C.L.A.W. glider. Back then, I was fantasizing that this technology would be cool if it would come true.

Guess what?, I has come true (in a way).

The person using it, still needs to be transported to the sky using the traditional plane. And from there. He jumps out and activates the jet. But even so, it is still super cool. Just watch the video below.

Morgan Freeman Chain of Command

Colbert can rap

Who ever said a comedian/commentator could not rap?

I was so surprised when Stephen Colbert of "The Colbert Report" suddenly took a mike and rap on stage. During a live performance Stephen Colbert pairs up with Alicia Keys for a parody of her and Jay-Z's hit "Empire State of Mind."

Dear Anonymous

Dear Anonymous

I am very sorry for not posting your comments here, even how flattering and kind words that your are saying. Paki read na lang po ito -> Sorry Guys. Kindly state your name na lang so that we could have a better communication.

Thank you very much. :-)
-Gio Paredes

Powerhouse Color Cover

Something to look for next year.

Bayan Knights: Powerhouse division
graphic novel

Cover art
Pencil: Gilbert Monsanto
Inks: Reno Maniquis
color: Brian Joseph Valeza

Not the final look of the cover.

BJ Penn is just Awesome

I just finished watching UFC 107, "The Prodigy" BJ Penn VS Diego "The (not so) Nightmare" Sanchez. And man, what a fight. BJ Penn was cool as ice from beginning to end. While Diego was all show (with that yesss.. yesss thing during his intro walk to the ring) and could not live up to all what he said about BJ. He said he was going to do this ... and do that. But in the octagon, it was noticeable that BJ Penn dominated him from start to finish. His angry/crazy look could not do anything to hurt his opponent either. And it is kinda over acting if you ask me.

At the begging of round 1, I jumped from my seat and said a tagalog cursing word out loud as I saw Diego got hit by a serious right punch from BJ and he was knock down. I thought it was going to be a quick fight when Diego hits the canvas by the powerful and accurate punches of BJ. But to Diegos credit, he recovered and proved that he has a though chin and still has a lot of gas.

In a way, I was happy that it did not ended quickly in round 1. I wanted BJ to punish him more (sorry Diego fans). And boy what a punishment BJ gave to Diego. While the Prodigy came out of the fight almost unhurt. Diegos face was all bruised, bloody cut lips and soo beaten up body. But the most noticable damage was the BIG cut on his left forehead (about 3 inches if I am not mistaken) caused by a nasty right kick by BJ. His cut was like a broken pipe flowing with blood. It was so nasty that the doctor decided to stop the fight in the last minute of round 5. After this fight, the pretty boy Diego is not so pretty anymore.

From round 1 to round 5. All attempts of Diego to take down BJ was useless. Every attempts came with a punishment from BJ's fist and elbows while they were on the fense. Diego was just out classed.

A busy December

It is a surprisingly busy week for me. I am more busy than I usually am with my day time job as a Analyst/Programmer. Our company had expanded our branches to a total of 110 and still counting while other 5 more branches are still under construction and would probably be opening early next year. With this, my responsibility as the head of the IT department had also grown exponentially. I have a few people that are now working under me. And looks up to me as their leader. Which sometimes I am not very comfortable with.

I could still remember when our company was so small and our old office in Kamias was so cramped and we only had 20 branches or so when I have joined the company almost 8 years ago. I guess a growing company has its pros and cons. Both for the employee and employer stand point that we should try to live with.

New Kalayaan Fan Art

Fan art by Tey. A fellow Bayan Knight.

Fan art by Jethro Morales. I met him once when I was delivering Kalayaan comics to comic odyssey in Robinsons Galleria. He bought issue #7 and #8 that day.

Both art will be included in the FAN ART SECTION of the next issue of Kalayaan (issue #9). Just do not ask me when it will be coming out. This issue is the most challenging yet. I am seriously thinking on adjusting the frequency of the publishing of Kalayaan comics. I might make it every six months (or maybe longer) instead of four. It is seriously affecting my health, my day time job and my family time.

The 2nd San Pablo Comics Festival

I'm already in our ortigas office, but I am still tired from yesterdays comics festival. It is very much exhausting (because of the distance traveled) but very much enjoyable. And the view and climate of the place is breath taking. It would be nice to get a house there someday.

Here are some of the pictures that we have taken.

Bayan Knights meeting place at SM Megamall at 7am in the morning.

Renie Palo was my seatmate during the entire travel time to San Pablo.

A nice picture of the country side. :-)

I will post more pictures again soon.

Fantastic print output

After 3 long years and a thousand (approximately) prints later. I have retired my old Canon Pixma iP1600 and bought this new Canon Pixma iP1980. And the print out put is just fantastic. I was very much embarrassed for the past 6 months (give or take) with the kind of print cover that I have been selling. Because of financial constraints, I have spent many long hours thinkering my old printer just to make it look better. And now with this new one. I am very much releaved.

My next project would be to find the funding to make this baby a continious ink system (CIS).

Hero Nation

Last Nov. 30,2009.... I attended Hero nation. It was produced by Hero Channel (a local cable company). Omeng Estanislao and Gener Pedrina both working at ABS-CBN knows some people that have provided us a free pass and a free table to sell our comics and stuff.

Me with Omeng Estanislao. He has this cool top of the line Nikon digital camera. Ingit ako :-(

During the event, Kajo (of Trese) dropped by our table. Afterwords he went on to the Hero tarpaulin sketch wall and started drawing. It is actually a wall specially designed for sketching. The Hero organizers even provided the markers for it. Gener immediately joined him. And after seeing that they were drawing their respective characters, I got envious and joined them also. And then before we knew it. Lots of people were looking at the three of us sketching on the wall.

Kajo with Trese and Kambal. Too bad I forgot to take a picture with him for a remembrance. Sayang... :-( While sketching, Kajo said to me that this is a great example of a free advertisement. :-)

And during this sketching time, we did not noticed that one of the host of Hero TV was already at our backs, together with the camera crew and every thing. And before I knew it, he was already interviewing me in front of the camera with all of the peoples eyes are n me. And the giant projector view screen also added nervousness during the interview. It was an excellent opportunity for me as the host asked who was I drawing. And after explaining that it is a character of a comics that I have. He was very surprised and he also asked me where people could buy my comics. Badabing badaboom. Kajo was right. It was definitely a free advertising. :D

One of the most memorable person that I have meet during the event is VJ Andrei (I hope I got his name right, I only asked Gener of his name). He is a Hero TV host/reporter/MTV VJ. I only recognize him by face when I sometimes pass through the MYX channel.

He was really into my comics. He keeps coming back at our table even if he was taping a segment with his camera crew. He bought many of my comics and even they were taping, I have seen him reading issue #1 of Kalayaan already. :D He then came back to me and asked me so many questions. Who is Rhea? How saw the genetic enhancement of Kalayaan? Does he have any weaknesses? and many more. He was so makulit in a very very positive way. It only shows his interest in the story of my comics. And that is a comic book reader that I would like to have . On the back of my mind. Wait until you read issue #4. It will blow your mind, hehe.

Okay, I completely lost all of my dignity by showing you this. I got this Rey Mysterio mask from Omeng. It is actually an imported mask directly from Mexico. One of this office mate once went there and got it for him. Bagay ba? :-)

At this point of time, we totally lost it because of fatigue. We were like the three stoogist. Astroboy got the better of all of us. :-)

2nd drilling for oil in Sulu Sea

I sincerly hope that they hit plenty of oil there. It will be a good day to us all Filipinos.




Matapos madiskubre ang langis sa Palawan, tinatayang milyun-milyong bariles ng langis sa Karagatan ng Sulu ang hinahanap ngayon ng pinakamalaking oil company sa mundo. Mula sa Sulu Sea, nagpa-Patrol, Alvin Elchico. TV Patrol World, Lunes, Nobyembre 30, 2009

Comicology interviewed me

I have been interviewed by Comicology. And it is probably the most wackiest and most entertaining interviewed that I have been for a very long time. He has almost the same sense of humor that I have, and it was very much fun for me to answer his questions.

http://comicology.i.ph/blogs/comicology/2009/11/29/living-the-geek-dream/#more-228


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Komikon featured in GAME magazine

(click image to enlarge)

(click image to enlarge)

Komikon 2009 is featured in the November issue of "GAME" magazine. And what is interesting for me in this personally, is that my comics is there. It is shown on the lower right side of the page (together with my tummy and my hands pointing down) . It even has a caption saying "Don't be shy, pick your favorite!". :D

I got the hold of this information because of my brother texted me, saying that my nephew bought this magazine and saw my Kalayaan comics on it. I went like "Wow" and gone to the nearest book store and bought a copy.

Too bad they did not mentioned my name on winning the 3rd place of the Grassroot Award. They only mentioned the 1st place. :-( Oh well, better luck next time. And I have this feeling that I will be having this luck on this coming month of December. :D

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Twilight

I just recently watched "Twilight",the first one and not "Twilight : New Moon". It is a good movie to watch. Specially with your special someone at your side, since it is more of a love story than a horror one. The only thing that got to me is that the Vampires on this movie does not fear the sunlight. It gives me the impression that they are "Day walkers" just like Blade. But unlike the vampires in most of the movies that I already watched. Instead of becoming a pile of dust when hit by sunlight. The vampires in this movie sparkles in cristals when exposed to sunlight. It is like they have a body of sprinkled diamonds as their skin. That is kind of weird for me.

But none the less. Over all, it is still a good movie to watch.

I'm in Komiklopedia

Well actually, I was already in Komiklopedia for quite some time now. But it is only recently that my profile has been updated. For those of you that is not familiar to the site. It is one of the most comprehensive resource for Filipino komiks that you can find. It is an online Philippine Komiks Encyclopedia. And I am very much honored and lucky to be a part of it.

Click here to view my profile in Komiklopedia.


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G.I.Joe Resolute

I was at Sputnik last night to replenish the stock of Bayan Knights #1, #2 and to also deliver Boy Ipis #1. While I was there, while I was having a conversation with Paolo (the caretaker of Sputnik at that time) , he mentioned this new awesome G.I.Joe animation movie. He said that he literally cried because how beautifully it was made. When I came home, the first thing I did was to search it on youtube. And I was not disappointed.

Sputnik signing pictures

I am still groggy with this event so I will just get right to it. Many thanks to all of the people that came in Sputnik for the signing. And also to the management of Sputnik.

From left to right. Mihk (of uno magazine, sitting on the stairs), Josel, Chez, Me and Macoy.

Macoy, Me, Eric Bana este.. Paolo pala :D and Chez.

I bought "Ang Maskot" by Macoy and Bear Bong by Josel. I really love what Macoy did with the story telling in his comics Maskot. It was a very very pleasant read. When I return to Sputnik, I will buy other comics that he made.

I did a lot of sketching at the event. Some student even asked me to draw on one of their sketch pad. I also did 3 connecting sketches (seen above) for the 3 owners of Sputnik.

Renie Palo, holding the Kalayaan cutie that I made from the "do it yourself Munny" Toy.


Salesman na salesman ang dating ni Levy dito. :D

This is Andrea. One of the readers of Kalayaan that had her issue #4 signed. Some other fans were to shy to take a picture with me. When I was there. I could not help notice it that most of the issue that I signed where mostly issue #4. Well guys, if you love the story of that issue. Wait until you read the story of issue #9. This issue will be very thick. I am not finished with the script. But by my estimate, it could be 35 pages or more. Erwin Ropa onced told me that I could always split it in two. But as for now, I am still not sure.

Shameless Ad :-)

Sputnik small event

I will be at Sputnik Comics in cubao this coming Saturday for a small event. Chez (of Sputnik) asked me a couple of weeks ago if I could be there of my own signing. I very much hesitate using that word. Because every time I hear of an artist signing, a famous person comes in to my mind which is clearly I am not. So that is why I used a small event as a title of this post.

For people that knows Sputnik, they have already an idea that it opens afternoon through night. And sometimes even up to 2 am in the morning. The reason for this is because the area is much lively there at night. Bars and restaurant near are often filled with people at night. And those are the times that many Kalayaan comics are being sold.

I will try my best to be there at 6PM(since because I will be on a client on the afternoon) , and I will probably be leaving in 11PM. So if you are near the place or work near the place. Please drop by and say hello. :-)


Sputnik is located at Shop 60 Cubao Expo (formerly known as the Marikina Shoe Expo) on Gen. Romulo Ave., Cubao, Q.C (near Pure Gold supermarket).

Store Hours:
Mondays - Thursdays, 4 - 10 PM
Fridays, Saturdays, 6 - 2 AM

Sorry guys

A few years ago(I forgot the exact date) . I have already stated that I was not going to post anymore anonymous comments here in my blog. But I did not strictly implement those rules. For I have posted comments of visitors that uses aliases. And this past few weeks, I have been receiving more anonymous posters than the usual. With much thinking, I will be implementing this rule once again more strictly. I have felt that it is quite unfair for me that people knows everything there is to know about me. And I will have a conversation to a person that I do not know even a small and simple thing as his real name.

I have the same views about anonymity as boss Gerry Alanguilan (Click here to read his reasons) . The only difference between me and him is that he is very strict about it. And now, I have come to realize that I must do the same thing. Sorry guys.

Please also check this article.
The value of opinion by Gerry Alanquilan.

Another side of me

I would like to share to you guys, the other side of me. You already know that Gio Paredes is the publisher and creator of Kalayaan comics. But this time, I will show you another kind of Freedom. And that is financial freedom.

In a nut shell. Financial freedom is the ability to do what you always want to do in life without any worries of any kind of financial problem. To spend time with your family and to do what you want, when you want, whenever you want. A freedom from fear or worry. Having multiple streams of highly leverage income.

But in order to do that. You must first change the way you think. You must also study the game of investing and business. You must also have a mentor to teach you. Learn from their experiences and listen to their words of wisdom. One of my mentor in real estate investing is Trace Trajano. He is the the best selling author of the book "Think Rich Pinoy". In our social networking site (http://buyfirstdeal.ning.com). He recently posted a heart warming story which I would like to share to you.

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Kumusta na kabayan!

First, I would like to thank you for being an OFW. My dad used to be an OFW and I know the many sacrifices you are enduring right now just so that you can provide the best for your family. I admire you, I appreciate you and in my book, you are a true Pinoy hero.

Second, I would like to help you. I would like to help you in the same way I helped Bobet, a former OFW. Under my coaching, from being broke and in debt, in just 12 months Bobet became a millionaire. Bobet is in fact back in the Philippines. He no longer needed to work as a nurse here in the U.S. He no longer misses his wife and kids. He can now kiss and hug them everyday. He has achieved in 1 year what most OFWs will never achieve in their lifetime. How did he do it?

I taught Bobet the Secrets of Wealth. And if you want to be like Bobet, read on because I want to teach you the Secrets of Wealth as well. But there’s a catch. You will only understand the Secrets of Wealth by understanding how my dad, an OFW like you became broke.

I’ve experienced as a child what I call a roller coaster of wealth. In Tagalog, we call this “Gulong ng Palad” (Wheel of Fortune) because there are times we’re on top of the world and there are times we’re at the bottom. When my dad comes back from abroad it is like a fiesta. The alcohol is overflowing. The whole town seems to be at our door step and my dad’s pasalubongs never seem to run out. Packets of cigarette. Bottles of whisky. Chocolates for the kids. Jewelry for my mom. It is like we’re millionaires every time my dad goes home.

But we’re millionaires only for a short time.

Two weeks later, the money’s gone. My mom and dad start to argue. And my dad seriously considers going back to the ship. He borrows money from his mom – my grandmother (we call “Nanay”). One time, my mom and dad even asked me to borrow money from Nanay because both of them were already turned down. I guess that tactic worked because Nanay couldn’t say NO to his apo and we ate dinner that night.

Then things turn for the worse. The many friends who cheerfully greeted my dad’s homecoming are no longer around. Instead, creditors start hounding us, pounding at our door. At 8 years old, I am taught to lie and tell the creditor my mom is not around even though she is just there beside me kneeling and praying the creditor goes away.

From feeling like millionaires for a few days to being dead broke 2 weeks later – describing it as a roller coaster or a wheel of fortune is an understatement. My mom and dad managed to squander all their savings and more.

So 2 months later, my dad is back at the airport again. We have tears in our eyes once again as we bid him goodbye. My dad would have to work hard on a ship 10 months in a year mostly to pay off our greedy lenders and creditors.

My dad tried to invest – buying a tricycle but the business became bankrupt as fast as it was started. My dad recalled that tricycle with pride in his voice “It was the first stainless steel tricycle in our town”. He was proud of the product but he did not take the time to understand the business.

There were many days our home is literally dark because we couldn’t pay for the electric bill. Once, as a 9-year old boy, I was devastated when I saw my books have been sold so that we will have food on the table that day. Then the worst happened: we lost our home to foreclosure because there was no money left to pay for the mortgage.

Is the story above familiar to you? I bet most OFWs have the same lifestyle cycle as my dad. Rich one day then broke another.

Have you discovered the Secrets to Wealth in my dad’s story?

At its core, it really is very simple. You will be wealthy if you do the exact opposite of what my dad did.

Don’t waste your money by throwing a lavish home coming party for the whole town – SAVE your money instead. Have a small gathering with your family and loved ones. Your children will appreciate it more because they want your presence more than your presents. Get into the habit of saving at least 10-20% of everything you earn. The earlier you get that habit the wealthier you will become or the faster you will become a millionaire.

Bobet saves 50% of what he earns. No wonder he has become a millionaire in only 12 months.

But you cannot save your way to millions. You have to learn how to invest your savings. My aunt who used to work as a bank clerk, who earned 1/10th of what my dad earned as a seaman is now a multi-millionaire because she learned to invest her money. Your savings must go to “work” for you. They must produce good returns or profit. But you cannot stop there. You have to reinvest your profits so that your wealth can grow exponentially.

My aunt started a business butchering chickens in the wet market (palengke). She saved half of her profits and lived off the other half. She then put her savings to buy a store. The profits from the store and the chicken business were then invested into a farm. The profits from the farm, the store and the chicken business were then invested into a resort. The profits from the resort, the farm, the store and the chicken business were then invested into apartment buildings.

As a result of saving, investing, and reinvesting her profits, my aunt becomes richer and richer even as she works less and less while my dad because of spending, borrowing, then spending becomes poorer and poorer even as he works harder.

The choice is yours. Bobet chose to become rich and he put in the time to learn and apply the Secrets of Wealth. Bobet is now in the Philippines employing 30 people because of the businesses he started. 30 families now rely on Bobet because he applied the Secrets of Wealth and Bobet is proving you can become wealthy even back home.

I like you to be wealthy my friend. But the choice is up to you.

By Trace Trajano
http://buyfirstdeal.ning.com

Kalayaan = Jiyuu

I was doing some research for a possible future issue of Kalayaan. It involves a story about Japan and the Philippines. Then I was suddenly curious what is the Japanese word for FREEDOM or KALAYAAN. To my surprise, based on this site. This came out, Freedom = Jiyuu, Furi-damu, Fuki. I was tempted to use Fuki, but the story might come out a comedy, instead of a serious one. But the one that got my attention is the word "Jiyuu". It almost sounded my name. What an interesting coincidence that is, isn't it? :D

And just to make sure, I have emailed the sister of my wife that now is living in Japan. And she just confirmed it. Jiyuu is the most common Japanese word that is being used to describe for freedom. :D

Kalayaan site update - Comics Delivery

I have recently updated the Kalayaan Comics site. And the recent update is the very first ever cross over of Kalayaan and Maskarado (created by Reno Maniquis) entitled 'Magkasangga'. I was so glad when Reno gave me permission to publish this as a web comics. To read it directly, just please click here.

Sorry about to the non-tagalog reading people out there, because it is written in Tagalog.

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I went to Comic Odyssey today for a comics delivery. Kalayaan #8 is now available at Comics Odyssey in Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas, Robinsons Manila and Eastwood. Back issues are still available at those stores.


And while I was there, I had a chance to meet one of my favorite artist. The famous LAN MEDINA :iconthepunisherone: because he was also there for a signing of his new comics released DEATHLOK #1 under Marvel. I immediately bought a copy and had it sign by him.

Fan Art by Freely Abrigo

Fan Art by the famous Filipino Cartoonist Freely Abrigo (Creator of Kulas and Kapitan Tog ang Superhero na laging nauuntog!!). Please visit his multiply site at http://freelyabrigo.multiply.com/

Natawa ako sa nag comment sa Multiply site ni Freely. Sabi kasi, para daw may down syndrome si Kalayaan dito. LOL

This makes me wish that my character should have a comic strip of his own. Thank you very much for making this Freely. And recently, he just confirmed me that this version of Kalayaan will be guesting on the 3rd issue of Kapitan Tog. I just can't wait to see it. :-)

Kalayaan Comics Delivery

I will be going to Comic Odyssey at Robinsons Galleria this Saturday (November 7,2009) to deliver Kalayaan #8. And it also happens that it is the signing of the famous Lan Medina for his new Deathlok #1. See you there guys.

New Kalayaan Site

This is the new Kalayaan Comics Official Website. Many thanks to Myke Guisinga for helping me with the design. I have transferred to a new free web hosting site (www.x10hosting.com which I think is far better than my previous host in terms of file management and other stuff) , simply because Geocities have stopped its free hosting services. The site is still far being complete because I am still uploading all the fan art and other stuff. Internet explorer users might also experice some minor error on some image alignment which I am still trying to figure out. But if you are using firefox as your browser, you will be just fine.

For those of you reading this that owns a site/blog that has the old link. I would very much appreciate it if you change it to this new one -> http://kalayaancomics.x10hosting.com/

Thank you very much.
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