The 28th Manila International Bookfair

The Manila International Bookfair is one of the annual events that I always try to go to buy more often I could not due to schedule conflicts. This year, by hook or by crook, I must go.

This is taken from the website: http://www.manilabookfair.com/

This Year's Theme

All eyes are focused on reading... when all roads lead to the Philippines’ biggest and most prestigious book event... We take pride in presenting to you The 28th Manila International Book Fair -- the undisputed book exhibition in the country for almost three decades.

The Philippines’ bullish economy as attested by international economic and financial institutions recently is just one of the key measures for the sudden growth of foreign investors in the country. Even existing multinational and Filipino-owned firms confirm the exciting business prospects ahead. This encouraging business climate further entices more local and foreign individuals and companies to test the Philippine market especially through locally-staged international exhibitions, and one of the major exhibitions in the country today that is recognized internationally is The 28th Manila International Book Fair.

With more than three hundred local and foreign exhibitors featuring hundreds and thousands of book titles, the most number in any book exhibition in the country, the event promises once again to bring together both foreign and local players in book publishing and its allied industries who are expected to rake in millions in outright sales and orders from their target markets.

Last year’s staging had more than fifty thousand visitors. Indeed, the figures are viewed to increase every year as more exhibitors, more great deals and buys, and more exciting and educational special events are expected to fill the halls of the country’s premiere exhibition venue located at the heart of Metropolitan Manila-- the World Trade Center Metro Manila.

We call on our partners in the book industry to re-echo what books and other educational materials can do to us individually and collectively for the growth and development of the country. So let us INSPIRE ourselves and each other... ASPIRE to reach greater heights for ourselves and ultimately for the country... by READing... at The 28th Manila International Book Fair!

The bookfair would open from August 29 to September 2. Jesuit Communications would probably have an MPT there (hi Roma!) and comics people will surely have a booth to sell their merchandise. There would be lots of book launches for sure (calling Dean Alfar and Elbert Or!)

Click this link for the schedule of events: http://www.manilabookfair.com/events.html

Punta tayo! Reply lang ang mga sasama. :)

KOMIKON!

It's official! There's going to be a Komikon this year despite the circulating rumors of the event not pushing through! The Komikon is an annual comics convention showcasing the Filipino talents in the reviving Philippine comics industry and this year would be its third with the theme: "Myriad Voices, One Medium, One Nation! " Check out the official press release here:

For the past two years KOMIKON cemented relationships among players in and out of the comic book industry. Be it peers, colleagues, readers, creators, publishers and retailers, KOMIKON is THE venue and the EVENT for sharing and renewing ties that bind.

This is where the depth and width of Filipino talent in creating various worlds and stories, from the golden age to the here and now are showcased. KOMIKON also served as the link for the local market to reach out to the global village. Bottom line, this once a year fest promotes the rich medium that is comic book, which can be seen through the myriad of local works drawing from influences not only locally but from our foreign counterparts as well.

Indeed KOMIKON is the celebration of the great art form endearingly called by Pinoys from all walks of life as Komiks. This was the medium that once served as our “national past time” particularly during its golden age from the 70s to the early 80s. It was an industry that gave birth to superstar illustrators and writers. Komiks opened a window for this unique breed of artists to break into the international scene. Their Komiks stories led to adaptations into other media such as film, television and radio making them part of an unforgettable part of our local tradition of excellence in art and literature. KOMIKON is the event that aims to gather its supporters and creators in one place to commemorate komiks as it deserve to be distinguished.


KOMIKON 2007 will be held at the UP Diliman’s Bahay ng Alumni on November 17, 2007, from 10am to 6pm. Again it will showcase the creations of Filipino artists from various genres and themes and give tribute to the creators and their creations. The 3rd Filipino Komiks Convention aims to bring together comic book artists/groups and publishers in a venue where they could present their talents, works and services to the public. Most importantly, it aims to give a break to aspiring comic artists. It would like to offer a venue for new art groups and different generations of artists for a free exchange of ideas. Hopefully it would lead to a transcending of stereotypes and broaden the scope of comics – from local to international to cross-cultural, sequential to strips, amateur to professional and traditional publication to independent comics publishing. This event will raise awareness of the exciting state of contemporary Philippine comics industry.

Contests like the Independent Comicbook, On the Spot Comic Strip Making and the Original Character Making Contest hopes to bring out the next generation of Comic Book creators to the fore front. Our special guests, comic book superstars from the past and present, both coming from the local and international fields will be available for consultations. They will share insights about the industry through their multifaceted experiences. Fun-filled activities will also be provided by our exhibitors through their respective booths and own activities.

Komikon is also the home of the Komikon Awards, a vote-based awards given to those who the readers, creators and other supporters of the medium deemed to be deserving. Taking the cue from the film industry that yearly take time to award meritorious films and give accolades to their worthy creators, the Komikon Committee will open the nominations for the 2nd Komikon Awards in this event for the following year. The Komikon Awards will give the opportunity for readers, creators, publishers and retailers to nominate and vote for the best in the industry, both local and international. The awards aim to encourage solidarity within the industry to produce quality local books and promote wider readership in the market.

This year’s event is organized by The Artists’ Den and Groundbreakers Inc.

Groundbreakers Inc. is owned and run by artists and writers alike. One of their main goals is to provide the best local talents with the opportunity to garner professional experience and success in the industry, not just locally but internationally as well. By doing so, they hope to make the Philippines one of the prime source of talent for the Manga industry in South East Asia and eventually the world. One of their aims is to bring forth these talents to both local and international markets and to showcase to the world the potential of Filipino artists and story tellers through high quality Manga publications.


The Artists’ Den, on the other hand, has a long-term commitment to help art groups grow, to promote goodwill among fellow Comic Creators and support different works and activities among appreciative audiences. The organization had been witness to the ups and downs of the comic industry as members themselves are mixed up in it. The group has actively participated in the past conventions and now would like to have a convention that focuses on comics alone.

For more information and latest event developments visit http://komikon.blogspot.com and join the discussion on http://www.komikon.tk

***

Hay... the Komikon. I was there the last time and it was such an experience having to interact with komiks artists and writers, as well as hang out with friends in the small community of komiks lovers. I just hope that I would be free that weekend, I don't want to miss this for anything!

a Teaser and a Goodbye

A teaser for all y'all Culture Crash Fans out there:

Click the link: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/59721023/

I'm stoked!

***

Btw, this would officially be the last post for this website. This website had a good run and a lot has expressed their comments on how the site was very useful to the Pinoy comics enthusiast and to the industry in general but alas, one must learn how to let go of good things, especially if one's more important commitments keep interfering with such good things.

I'd keep the page up for sentimental purposes, most importantly for the links, but please be aware that I am only putting up whatever links I can find for one final update hopefully in the next few weeks.

I'm also in the process of transferring most of my links to this great website partly owned and operated by my high school batchmate, Garro.

Komiks.ph

Please support the said website. Its bigger, badder and better than this old blog and for all you comic creators out there, you can even get your own domain, put up a site and have your works seen together with all the other aspiring and established Pinoy comics creators! All in one nifty, Pinoy comics portal!

With that out of the way, I want to thank everyone who have been supporting this blog and Filipino Comics in general.

Reach for the stars people, a full revival of the industry is not out of reach! All it takes is a word here, a line there, some brushstrokes, streaks of color or even the absence of color, and if we do it together, even a small pixel of a dot can mean a lot in the one big panel that is the Philippine Comics Industry.

Filipino comics, love natin 'toh!

julz aka woofster

Experimental Manga Workshops at the Marikina Shoe Expo

Got this from joanah tinio... if you have other announcements regarding comics workshops, press releases, comic book launches, and new titles, please e-mail me at woofydogg@yahoo.com.

woofster

EXPERIMENTAL MANGA WORKSHOPS AT THE MARIKINA SHOE EXPO


The Japan Foundation, Manila, in cooperation with the Future Prospects Art Space and the Artists Den, presents "Experimental Manga at the Expo", a series of manga drawing workshops at the Future Prospects Art Space, Marikina Shoe Expo, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City on November 18 & 25, December 2 & 9 2006 and January 13 & 20, 2007, from 2-5 pm.

Topics to be covered are:
1) Illustrating Emotions Through Facial Features by Elmer Damaso (Nov 25) ;
2) Exploring and Expressing the Darker Emotions by Marius Cornelius Funtilar (Dec 2); 3) Alternative Media in Emotional Drawing by Nelz Yumul (Dec 9);
4) Women, Emotions and Drawing by Joanah Tinio (Jan 13); and 5) Techniques in Expressing Emotions with Drawings by Melvin Calingo (Jan 20).

Lyndon Gregorio will facilitate the initial workshop on November 18. The culminating activity will be an exhibition of the works by the participants on January 28, 2007 at the Future Prospects Art Space.

Workshops are free but participants are required to bring their own drawing materials (sketchpad/ paper, colored pens and pencils and, other coloring materials). Only fifteen slots are available per session, thus, interested workshop participants are encouraged to call and register their attendance on or before Friday, November 17. For inquiries and reservations, please call the Japan Foundation, Manila at tel. no. 811-6155 to 58.

Bambi C. Diaz
Program Officer for Arts & Culture
The Japan Foundation, Manila
12/F Pacific Star BuildingSen. Gil Puyat cor. Makati AvenueMakati City, Philippines
Tel # 811-6155 to 58 Fax # 811-6153

KOMIKON 2006!

Artist's Den in cooperation with At The Drawing Board presents...

KOMIK KON 2006: The 2nd Filipino Komiks Convention

Featuring the first ever
KOMIKON AWARDS

With Guests of Honor:
STEVE GAN (Ang Panday)
CARLO VERGARA (Zsa Zsa Zaturnahh)

Special Guests:
RONI SANTIAGO (Planet op di Eyps, Baltic & Co.)
ELIZABETH CHIONGLO (LoveKnots)
and many more

With Band Performances by:
KIKOMACHINE and PLASTIC BALLOON

October 21, 2006
UP BAHAY NG ALUMNI
10am TO 8pm
50 PhP Entrance Fee

For more information visit
htp://komikon.blogspot.com
E-mail komikon@gmail.com
Come join our forums boards at http://www.komikon.tk

Join the biggest comic book creation seminar of the summer!

Glass House grand guru David Campiti and a host of GHG talents, in association with Studio Sakka,

presents

4th Annual MANILA COMICS CREATION SEMINAR

2-day seminar workshop

Learn various advanced techniques and practical details for a profitable career in comic book and newspaper strip creation from comic book professional writer/agent David Campiti; artists lecturing at the Seminar will include Rainier Beredo, Jinky Coronado, Tina Francisco, Jeffrey Huet, Jonathan Lau, Carlo Pagulayan, Wilson Tortosa, and others, including some special guests.

October 14-15, 2006
10:00am-7:30pm
SM Megamall, Megatradehall, Conference Hall
Function B

Limited Capacity Only!

So hurry up and sign up now!
P1000 per ticket. Good for 2 days with free meal and drinks, free drawing supplies, limited ashcan memorabilia and lots of giveaways. Personal one-on-one portfolio review by the professionals.

For more details: Pls. call our office (02) 365-2974
or mobile number, 09198436312 and look for Michelle Calanog

Send us email of your inquiries and ticket reservation
at http://us.f304.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=azrael@gmail.com or mailto:Michelle@glasshousegraphics.com

Official Website Visit http://www.glasshousegraphics.com/

KOMIKON

The 2nd annual Komikon event is coming this October and lo and behold, this site was nominated for an award!

Thanks to that crazy person who nominated this site!

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've been out of the loop for a long time now, and I hardly know what's going on in the industry. I've been to busy changing careers. :)

Anyway, head over to www.komikon.tk and vote away! Support the local Komiks industry!

woofster