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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At Erwins house

I went to Erwin Ropa's House a week ago to give him a complimentary copy of Kalayaan 8. For those of you that does not know Erwin. He pencilled and inked almost half of the pages in Kalayaan #7. And he would probably do some pages in issue #9 again. It is a big MAYBE, since I am still working on the script.

Erwin emailed me a very very detailed sketch map going to their house. It became almost impossible for me to get lost. Their house is only about 20 to 25 minute commute from our house. It is only fare for me to go to them this time, since about a couple of months ago, he and his wife came to visit us at our house.

Erwin and his wife, together with his parents lived in a very nice subdivision. And their house has a nice backyard that many fruits and vegetable grows. It is something that I have always wanted to have. Because when I was a kid, I used to plant many vegetables,fruits and trees at my parents house in Caloocan North. And sometimes I miss those things.

Just like geeks, we talk for hour about comics and geeky stuff. Is this a start of a new Komikero North? I am not sure. Will see.. :-)