komikon 2005 poststrip

Thanks to Beerkada creator Lyndon Gregorio for immortalizing me and my…er…addiction:

Like I said in The Beerkada Blog, the buttons never really made it to the board. I picked those that I wanted before they were displayed, thus sparing the buttons the trauma of being scotch - taped to the board. Concerned citizen ako!

What can I say? I’m a hoarder. A hoarder PWNED!

And you should’ve had more buttons printed, too.

komikon 2005: a view from the booth

Congratulations to the Artists’ Den, the driving force behind the kick - ass Komikon 2005, the 1st Philippine (that’s All - Filipino, galing!) Komiks Convention.  Komikon brought together artists and artists’ groups, aspiring comic artists, fans, kibitzers, serious collectors and mad shoppers like me for a whole day of komiks and contests and buying and selling and exchanging ideas and exhibits and meeting artists and autographs and booth - hopping and picture - taking and awards and awards - launching and man, that was a great day!

Yamiyo tells me that they were at the Bahay ng Alumni as early as five a.m., ready to set up, only to find out that there was no one to let them in.  Eventually of course, they were able to enter the venue to prime it up for some serious komik convention action.  I was there at 9:00 a.m. to serve breakfast to some of the organizers who were too busy to have any breakfast; they were able to get around to eating, but not soon enough (in batches pa, at around 11 a.m., the poor things).

I was there to help (wo)man the Artists’ Den booth, so I wasn’t able to go around much.  The good thing about it is I got first dibs on AD merchandise .  Beerkadet reinforcements came at around 11 a.m. in the form of Wing Zero and Oliver, who valiantly stayed by my side the whole day.  s2chard and iLenz also helped with the selling, and that s2chard can fold shirts, ha! Very professional! 

My first customers (pre - reinforcements, that is) were three Mapuans, two of which made me think I was seeing double:

              
It turns out I was.  I looked from left to right and this guy’s hair grew in length right before my very eyes.  Sabi ko, "Kambal ba kayo?"  and they said, "Opo."  In unison, of course.  So, I said "Hay, salamat, akala ko maaga pa lang, nahihilo na ako, eh."  That was my first big laugh of the day.

My biggest highlight, of course, was seeing Monsy.  Monsy is the shy Beerkadet we’ve been bugging to show face since that almost - meeting at Gloria Jean’s for the Beerkada Book Signing.  For a while Yamiyo thought Monsy was just an Urban Legend.  But I saw, him, and I’ve got pictures to prove it:

                       
Ayan, ha? Nagsasabi ako ng totoo.  There were witnesses, too.  I was sitting behind the long table, almost zoning out, when I saw this guy looking over the Beerkada Merchandise.  That was all I needed: "MONSY!!!", I screamed.  The others thought I had gone crazy.  At may balak pa yatang wag magpakilala ulit itong Monsy na `to.  Huli ka!  There.  It’s all good now.  If every Beerkadet is required a legacy, let this be mine: that I found Monsy, and pointed him out to everyone else.  Bwahaha! I am crazy.

Some other memorable moments include seeing s2chard live for the first time (he says ako ang unang nakakilala sa kanya doon), having my books signed (by Arnold Arre, Ryan Orosco – talagang hindi kami lahat ganun, ha? – and Manix Abrera), seeing Syeri go the whole day without her glasses on, watching her and Henry and Yamiyo and Jon na parang mga sinusian, takbo dito, takbo doon, seeing Lei take on double duty yet again,  watching the other Beerkadets come in one by one to lend their support (Naja, Kai, mikel, Fraggle, Cessie, Criscel — mag-register ka na! – Lorie, Sheena), announcing the winners of the Beerkada Boxed Set Giveaway Contest, seeing Yamiyo make a chore of staying away from the AD Booth for one creepy (but very valid) reason, catching a glimpse of the elusive (and armed) Fifty - Peso Ninja, seeing the pile of money from brisk sales grow larger and larger, having to compute that money and divvy it up and reconcile it with the remaining inventory (sus, kaya nga nag - MassCom, eh ), meeting all these great artists and hearing them talk about their craft, watching young komiks artists get a first crack at their dreams.  This was a great day for all komiks enthusiasts.  Remember this day, y’all.

I admire the members of the Artists’ Den who, shorthanded as they were, dared to dream and braved the waters and worked hard (my goodness, Syeri, may powers ka! Mga lightning bolt kayong lahat.) and pulled off this big event. I can’t congratulate you enough.  Good job.  I’m thinking pencils and art supplies with the Komikon logo for next year.  And sketchbooks and more buttons and pins and more shirts and stickers.  If you guys need help again next year, I’m in.     

True, we were all busy and sweaty and dehydrated and my fingernails were dirty and hindi ako self-combing and nakakalito ang magbilang ng pera and there wasn’t much time for me to go around but who cares?  I truly, truly had fun.  I loved my view from behind the booth.  It was the best spot there.

P.S. This is not a very good article, is it?  I guess I haven’t fully recovered from the work. Or maybe I’m still high from it.  But there will be several better articles and posts and stuff coming out within the next few days, from others who were there and who have their own take on Komikon 2005.  The wave of posts has already started.  Check out the Beerkada blog and forum, plus the other links above, and my gallery for more pictures (some stolen, some mine) and words.  See you all next year.           

on the way to komikon 2005

I made a quick stop to Eunilane Grocery in Kalayaan Avenue for some chichiria and to get Lorie her Hi-Ro (but mostly for some chichiria).  Chips go with dip, so I hauled myself over to that section and found this:

                           
Hmm, maybe they really have lots of it.  If they didn’t, they’d probably call it French Onion Shallow.

Then I was off to McDonald’s to get Pancake Breakfasts for 5 people.  On the way in, I was asked for barya by this pint - sized panhandler:

                          
I didn’t give him any money then.  While I was waiting for my order, though, he walks up to me again and asks me to turn 20 bucks worth of his coins into a bill.  I gave him a twenty peso bill and told him to keep his coins.

I wonder, though, did I just give him money for drugs?  Or maybe he’ll buy something else with it like junk food, or a plastic toy, or gum?  Maybe he’ll panhandle some more so he can buy something more expensive? Anything that he can’t ask his parents for because they can’t afford it?

I just hope it’s not for something bad.  This is one of the few times that I’m happy that 20 pesos does NOT go a long way.

random again

CAB-BLUETOOTH-AN Coding, so I had to take a cab to work. My message alert tone was being papansin (kaya nga alert eh); I think a friend and I were finalizing plans to see each other later that evening. So, anyway, panay sigaw ng “Darna!” ng cellphone ko. At some point in traffic, the cabbie turns to me and says, “Ma’am, `Darna!’ po pala ang ringtone (sic) n’yo.” I nodded absently, while replying to yet another text message. Then he goes, “Ma’am, excuse, pwede pong pa - Bluetooth?” Siyempre, I agreed. It’s not everyday that you get driven to work by a cabbie with a Nokia Series 60 phone. Ako nga sa loyalty program ko lang nakuha yung phone ko. `Nay, baka mabilis ang metro n’ya?

BEERKADA I love this comic. Ever since it came out in the Philippine Star seven years ago, one day before its creator’s birthday, I have been following the strip and have been a hoarder of its excellent (ahem) merchandise. I don’t know if it’s because I’m from U.P. and the comics bring back sooo many memories, or because it’s so intelligently funny, it makes me laugh out loud sometimes, or because it’s crazy and so am I. I just love Beerkada. Sana kayo rin.

PRANING You know those gadgets in toilets that spray fragrance every few minutes? The ones that go “Psst!” It’s supposed to be a pre - programmed (?) spray, right? We have it in the office. My paranoia is that it sprays only when I’m in the toilet. Either it somehow knows that it’s me in there, so it really needs to work extra hard or my pee is so toxic the gadget just has to react violently.

Oi, I gotta get some rest.

dark bulb: nelz yumul at gloria jean’s

Nelz and I go back a few years.  We were…uh… slaves together.  He didn’t say much when I first met him but that silence didn’t last long.  Soon we were talking about comics and movies and music and books and his girls and my dogs and a lot of other things, we shared trips to Subic and Baguio with the Merch Family, met up lots of times and talked some more over coffee (which he doesn’t drink much of.  Well, we talked over the coffee a lot.), went to parties and got drunk (that would be mostly me).  He takes great pictures and makes great home movies.  I love him because he’s funny and he treats his girlfriend well.  He’s my baby bro.  

And he’s one hell of a talented artist. Hell of a.  Artists’ Den member, Burst Graphics artist… `turns out that, while I do enjoy talking to him, he doesn’t have to say much.  Alls he has to do is show you his work.  Excellent stuff.  I love his collages. 

Now you all get a chance to see his art, and maybe even take some of it home.  Block off October 24, Monday, 8:00 p.m.  You’re going to Gloria Jean’s in Gateway, Cubao.  Those of you who’ve gone to other AD events know the drill — a 500 - peso GJ purchase gets you a freebie from the featured artist.  It might not be a caricature, though, unless you want to look like his poster.  You’ll probably get some prints which you should keep safe because this guy’s art is important.   For a preview of his work, you should visit his Deviant Art space.  But there’s nothing like seeing the real thing and getting to talk to the artist himself.

So go.  It’s his first exhibit.  I promise you it’s well worth the wait.

it must be the shirt.

Still on the topic of Ninja Fiesta (see post below) night–well, not really, but read on–allow me to take you back to August 27 (I think it was), the final night of Syeri Baet’s Carpool event at Gloria Jean’s.  It was on this fateful night that we first met Ariel (NOT Atienza) Ornum, a friend of Beerkadet mikel, and one of two Ariel Atienza spin-offs (the other being “NOT Ariel Atienza”. See the difference? Anyway..)

That night outside Gloria Jean’s, Beerkada creator Lyndon Gregorio was having a discussion with his Beerkadets.  Our support of Syeri fuelled his fears (naks!) that Beerkadets are For Hire (not true. We have yet to meet and close with our first customer.), and that our loyalty to him is suspect (Meh.).  The Beerkadets, of course, vehemently denied this [;)].  Then Ariel (NOT Atienza, and I’ll keep doing this, too, everytime his name is mentioned) walks in on this scene and sweetly asks the esteemed Mr. Gregorio to sign his comic book.  His CARPOOL comic book.  The incident spawned this here comic strip, y’all:
         
            

Fast forward to October 14, also at Gloria Jean’s, this time for Lico’s Ninja Fiesta event (ayan, na-justify ko na ang opening line ko), where Ariel (NOT Atienza) makes another, only his second, appearance.  The Beerkadets were talking to recruit Andy, also a friend of Beerkadet mikel, who is thinking of joining the group:

NAJA: Alam mo, para makilala mo kami, mag-join ka ng Forum.  Nag-register ka na ba?  ANDY: Hindi pa po.  JINKY: Aba, mag-register ka na! Mikel, tulungan mo siya, ha?  NAJA: At siyempre, magbasa ka ng Beerkada. Nakabasa ka na ba ng kahit anong Beerkada?  ANDY: Hindi pa po.  JINKY: Ay, magbasa ka na! Meron sa…

ARIEL (NOT Atienza): Oo nga. Dapat binabasa mo! Alam mo, maganda ang Beerkada at nakakatawa! Tignan mo ako, lagi kong dala ito…

And he takes out his comic book.  His CARPOOL comic book.

Do you see the pattern emerging?  Now, on to my theory.  Consider, if you will, this photograph of Ariel (NOT Atienza) from August 27:

                                  
Notice the red Lacoste shirt? Now, may I shift your attention to this photograph of Ariel (NOT Atienza) from October 14:

                            
Pardon Naja, she goes nuts when she’s really busy. But do you notice anything red and common to both Ariel (NOT Atienza) pics?  Anyway, I was thinking it could be mikel’s presence that was causing all this to happen to Mr. Gregorio.  But mikel had left earlier than Ariel (NOT Atienza) on the 27th, and Ariel (NOT Atienza) came on his own on the 14th.

I therefore conclude that it’s the shirt that’s causing all this mayhem.  Shall we exorcise? :) 

ninja fiesta!

With 2 and a half special projects, and about a million more ongoing (I exaggerate, this is true), I’ve had to work over- and double- time to get stuff out of the way and be able to go to Lico Reloj’s Ninja Fiesta at Gloria Jean’s in Gateway, Cubao.  Before that, I had already skipped the first 2 days (October 10 and 12) and missed seeing The Beerkadets who were able to go.  Dratness. But, as I always say, huli man daw at magaling, huli pa rin, pero at least umabot ako.  October 14 was the last day of the Ninja Fiesta and I was so glad I went.  Otherwise, would have had to wait until Komikon (October 22, Saturday, 11:00 am onwards; more details soon) to get my cool Fifty - Peso Ninja/Lico merchandise (Unleashed! to join my copy of The Fifty - Peso Ninja and bookmarks galore!).  Bonus: Beerkadets Naja, mikel, and Fraggle were there.  So were soon - to - be Beerkadets Ariel (NOT Atienza) and Andy, plus Artists’ Den members like Yamiyo [he was happy that day ] Lyndon Gregorio [siya yung gumagawa ng Beerkada? ], Syeri (Carpool), Ariel (The) Atienza (Class and West Side) and Nelz (he has a GJ event coming up, too; more about that later), all in support of Lico.  

The event, of course, was a success.  I was told it was really busy the first two nights, and that Friday, Lico hardly had time to eat because of all the caricatures he had to do.  He told me he had fun, though, and so did we.  Check out these pictures, and some more in my Gallery.  Congratulations to Lico Reloj and the Artists’ Den for a job well done! Ninja Na!!

                                 
                             Self Portrait                          Lyndon, Ryan and Ariel       
                                                                              (NOT Atienza)   

                            
                 Ariel (THE) Atienza and Sandy          Beerkadet Naja and Ariel
 

                             
                             Lico at Work                               Lico’s Art Wall
                         (ang daming fans!)
          
 

butt seriously

I have no updates because I’ve had no life beyond work. But you all know that; I’ve been telling you every chance I get. I don’t even remember half the stuff I did the past few days.

Last Saturday, I had a bit of time to go to Greenhills and pick up monsy’s copy of Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children. Then I was off to National Bookstore in SM City North Edsa to buy office supplies because I love office supplies and National Bookstore is one of my favorite shops. At SM, I bumped into Kai (Sara saw me first) and that was such a surprise, probably moreso for Kai because I had my dorky eyeglasses on and looked like — well, not naman a taong - grasa, but more like a taong - langis; ang oily ko noon. Did I scare you, Kai? Then, alas, I went back home and took to keyboard. Booooorrrrrinnng.

Sunday, I had a meeting at 2:00 pm. I know, “Sunday” and “meeting” in a sentence? Not a good thing.

After that, it’s all a blur. I know today I was in front of the computer all day. I had to take off my contact lenses and wear my dorky glasses because the screen glare was causing a sting in my eyes. And it really felt like my butt cheeks were stuck together forever. Seriously.  I also discovered a nicely strange or strangely nice magazine called “The Stick Insect Hunter“.  I just don’t remember anymore whether I discovered it today or a few years ago.  I am sooo in trouble.  Anyway, it’s a self - published art magazine by Andy Maluche, who’s been living in the Philippines for a while and loves it so.  He’s nuts but I like his work.  His butt’s all over the place.  Check out the site and you’ll see what I mean.   

On a more personal, less buttocky - note: I worked on my fellow Beerkadet Naja’s blog because, well, she couldn’t. I love her pictures. Check out the blog because it’s been recently updated. None too soon. And Paula, I felt the advice I gave you was the best I could for now. Please think some more. Trust me on this. It’ll work out, probably not as soon as you’d like, but it will all work out. “This too shall pass.” Believe me, when it does, you’ll wonder why you were so troubled. Forgive me if I worry about you. I give a shit. Love and peace, Baby Sis.

I promise to make more sense next time. Or I won’t post at all. Cross my butt, hope `to, `day!