Little Tokyo

Engie (demure) and Pen (pacute)

It's my first time this year to spend some quality time with Engie, Pen and Marge. I admit that I miss them so much but life gets in a way so it took me this time to finally see them. However brief the encounter was, I must say that I enjoyed every minute of it (cheesy).

We had dinner at Little Tokyo and we ordered a lot (busog). I was not able to take pictures because we devoured them as soon as the food hits our table. "Yummy," Marge would often say, she can't seem to have enough of their (huge) takoyaki.

Engie texting someone on the phone (Miguel?)

Marge (as if she didn't know I was taking her photo)

Pen (nth glass of rice tea? unquenchable thirst)

Pen and Engie (one of the sweetest couples I know of)

sweet nila sa akin :))

'Til next time.

A Day In San Pablo

I went to San Pablo City, Laguna last Jan. 20, 2008 to go to Gerry's birthday. I am a bit too early so I've waited for Johnny since I don't know how to go to Gerry's parents' house. So I took the chance of photographing some interresting place in San Pablo near the Sampaloc lake.

Click this link to see the rest of the photos: A Day In San Pablo Album

Greetings!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone. I'll be spending the holiday season at my hometown. Wish us all the best!

Komikon 2007 Reminder

Don't forget to attend Komikon 2007 on November 17, 2007 (this coming Saturday) at UP Campus, Bahay ng Alumni, UP, Diliman. I do hope you will support us. Below are the covers of the comics that we will be selling on the event.

Paper Clip Komics Issue 2:

 Paper Clip Komics Issue 1:

 Paper Clip Komics Specials 1: Children of the Dam

Part Two (The 2nd Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards)

It's time once again for the The 2nd Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards by Fully Booked and Neil Gaiman. The categories with its prizes accordingly are as follows:

Comic Book Writing Contest

1st Prize – Php 100,000.00

2nd Prize – Php 30,000.00

3rd Prize – Php 15,000.00

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Writing Contest

1st Prize – Php 100,000.00

2nd Prize – Php 30,000.00

3rd Prize – Php 15,000.00

The contest starts on September 1, 2007 and deadline of submission of entries is on October 31, 2007. We only have less than a month to go before the deadline so for those who are interrested better turn on your light bulbs to spark ideas into your brains now.

You can download your application forms here and the contest guidelines here.

Goodluck!

Mom in the City and some other stuff

My mom arrived last Sunday here in Manila to visit me. She stayed at Pan Pacific with her friend Ms. Aranas. It's been quite some time since we haven't seen each other and I miss her a lot already. My mom lose a lot of weight due to volleyball and very effective diet (I had to ask because I am struggling to lose some weight myself). We had dinner and I ate a lot (guilty) because I want to spend more time with her. I didn't bring extra clothes (how stupid of me) because I want to look perfect for her, so I had to go back to my pad after dinner. She brought a lot of lanzones for me and my friends so I had to bring about 15 kilos of lanzones all the way from Manila to Quezon City. I am very much kuripot so instead of riding a cab, I decided to commute. Bad idea. I know. I had to carry it all the way from the hotel to LRT1 then after arriving at Doroteo Jose station, carry it all again to LRT2. My sweat seemed not to stop on dripping like a leaked in the faucet. You don't have to imagine how I looked after I finally arrived at my pad. As a consolation for a hard work I ate a lot of lanzones. I ate a lot that I end up having LBM (yes, up to this very moment). My mom left at about 3pm kanina for her 5pm flight back to Mindanao.

I have no plans on going to work yesterday (also today) because I'm suffering from LBM but I had to because the presentation of my design on new data entry is due this coming Wednesday already and there are still so much to do. To make matters worse (aside from coming back and forth to the loo), before 4pm I accidentally deleted two of my programs. I can't retrieve it back because the database back-up is done every night after office hours. So all the programming I did for the entire day (yesterday) was just for naught because there is no way I can get it back. I had no choice but to start all over again from the back-up program I had last Friday. Asar.

Well, the good thing about having LBM though is that I am losing weight. I am actually losing some pounds. Yehey! My office mates notice so that (somehow) is a good thing. I think.

I think I have to go back to the loo again. Bye for now.

Kidapawan Fruit (Timpupo) Festival 2007

Schedule of Activities of Kidapawan City Fruit (Timpupo) Festival

August 18- thanksgiving mass, fruit float parade, opening program, passporting, cutting of ribbon: trade fair and booth competition, wall climbing, 1st camp Apo 24 hours adventure race, pop dance and dance sport competition.

August 19- inter-collegiate, cheerdance competition, guest band performer "Jr Kilat"

August 20- , paper mache competition, various fruit contest and fun games, talent night for "Search for Lakambini Year 2"

August 21- fruit farm tour and search for ideal fruit farm, info. & comm. technology (ICT) forum, forum on good agri. practices for mango, final search for Lakambini ng Timpupo Year 2

August 22- fruit congress, exhibits and product demonstration, jobs fair, SK night featuring a guest band performer

August 23- fruit galore with guest Marc Logan, WOW Davao Game show, search for Ms. Fruity Gay 2007

August 24- Street Dancing competition (host: Marc Logan), inter-collegiate basketball semi-finals, battle of the bands

August 25- koong trail rehab and clean up drive, inter-collegiate basketball championship, 1st Mayor Gantuangco airsoft friendship game, 1st mayor RYG Cup motorcross competition

Trivia: source http://www.travelsmart.net/article/105007/

Kidapawan was derived from the Manobo words “tida”, meaning spring and “pawan” meaning highland, hence, “Spring in the Highland”. The first settlers were predominantly Manobos. The influx of Christian settlers from Luzon and the Visayas has resulted in the evolution of the word Tidapawan to Kidapawan.

The city has a total population of 94,823 as of 1998, with 40 barangays. It has a total land area of 273,252 hectares. Later, four other municipalities were created out of Kidapawan, thus diminishing its area to 33,926.4 hectares.

On Feb. 12, 1998, then president Fidel Ramos signed Republic Act No. 8500 declaring Kidapawan a component city of Cotabato. Despite strong opposition from certain sectors, RA 8500 was finally ratified on March 21, 1998.

The city’s strategic location at the foot of Mt. Apo provides the city with vast tourism potentials waiting to be tapped. One of the major tourist attractions is the Mt. Apo’s twin peaks and home to the almost extinct Philippine Eagle.

The city has two lakes, one is the Lake Venado which is hidden among the mountain ranges at an elevation of 7,200 feet above sea level and the other one is the Lake Agko, a steaming blue lake where hot and cold springs converge at an elevation of 4,200 feet above sea level. It is five kilometers away from the jump-off point at Barangay Llomavis.

To know more about Kidapawan City visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidapawan_City.

PS

If you're in Kidapawan City, don't forget to drop by and visit our bar "Don Henri's Bar" located at KCRCI Compound, Quezon Blvd. (National Highway), Kidapawan City or shop at 6A 24-hr Convinience Store located at Quezon Blvd. (National Highway), Kidapawan City fronting Madonna Hospital.

WIKA2007

Theme: “Maraming Wika, Matatag na Bansa”

(Free translation: “A gift of tongues for a strong nation”)

Wika2007 Blog Writing Contest

http://www.pinoyblogosphere.com/wika2007

wika2007@pinoyblogosphere.com

The Wika2007 Blog Writing Contest is a group writing effort aiming to trumpet the beauty and strength of the Filipino Language in line with this year’s Buwan ng Wika theme: “Maraming Wika, Matatag na Bansa” (Free translation: “A gift of tongues for a strong nation”). With the significance of the Internet in shaping the culture today, blogging about the Language will not only enforce the online Filipinos’ love for their native tongue, but also promote it to bloggers around the world.

The submission of entries will officially start on August 6, 2007, and shall end on August 18, 2007. Judging shall be from August 20 to 25, 2007. The winning entry will be announced at the Pinoy Blogosphere site on August 29, 2007.

The contest is open to all Filipino bloggers, both in the Philippines and abroad.

Here’s an excerpt from “Keynote na Talumpati sa 2007 Nakem Conference”:

Ano ang batayan at katwiran ng “Maraming wika, Matatag na bansa”?

Ang batayan at katwiran ay may kinalaman sa pagiging multilinggwal at pagiging multikultural ng mga Pilipino. Sa halip na isang disbentahe, itinuturing ng komisyon na napakalaking bentahe ang pagkakaroon ng Pilipinas ng mahigit na 170ng wika. Pangsampu tayo sa pinakamaraming wika sa buong daigdig, sa kabila ng palasak at mapangmenos na palagay na ang mga wikang ito’y pawang mga dialekto lamang. Ang natural na kundisyon ng karaniwang Pilipino at ng karaniwang mamamayan ng daigdig ay hindi lang iisa ang alam nitong wika. Sa karaniwan, ang Pilipino at ang karaniwang tao sa daigdig ay may alam na dalawa o mahigit pang wika. Si Hesukristo ang pinakamainam na halimbawa ng pagiging multilinggwal, sapagkat marunong siya ng Aramaic, ng Hebrew, Griyego at Latin. Si pangulong GMA ay mainam na halimbawa ng isang Pilipino. Maalam siya sa Kapampangan, Sinebwano, Ilokano, Tagalog, Ingles at Espanyol. Dahil sa katotohanang ito, ang ideya at pangakong pag-unlad sa ilalim ng isang sentralisadong nasyon-estado na may iisang sentralisadong wikang pambansa ay naglalaho.

Read more

Source: KWF, “Maraming Wika, Matatag na Bansa”

by Ricardo Ma. Nolasco Ph.D., Tagapangulo, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino

The Organizers

The Wika 2007 Blog Writing Contest is organized by the moderators of the Pinoy Blogosphere. The Pinoy Blogosphere is a group of around 400 Filipino bloggers who work together to promote a strong Filipino community within the blogging scene.

Prizes

• Grand Prize: Php5,000 + 1yr Domain Registration. + 1yr 100mb hosting


• Second prize: Php3,000 + 1yr Domain Registration + 1yr 100mb hosting


• Third prize: Php1,000 + 1yr Domain Registration + 1yr 100mb hosting


• plus consolation prizes…

Click here for the whole details...

Michael's Birthday

Another year has gone by and another year that I was not home to celebrate my brother's birthday. I may not be there to greet you personally but you know I always be there for you. Happy birthday borther!!!

Komikon 2007

Yehey! Komikon is fast approaching! It's on November 17, 2007at UP Campus, Bahay ng Alumni, UP, Diliman. I am already so excited to attend the event. There will be more komiks this time I expect. Paperclipkomics is definitely going to be there. We will still be displaying Issue 1 & 2 and hopefully be able to release Issue 3. See you all there!

First Visit at the Manila Zoo

It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid to someday visit Manila Zoo and be able to see some animals that I can only see on tv. Last July 22, 2007 I finally been able to visit the zoo. I didn't know at first where it is located exactly but I know for sure it's in Manila. I sent a couple of sms to my friends whom I believe know where the zoo is. Only one of my friend replied. Ryan sent me a reply stating that I should drop by Quirino LRT station and from there, the Manila is just a couple of blocks away. Unfortunately, the sms came a little bit too late. I already got out from the LRT in Pedro Gil station so I decided to walf from there to get to the Manila Zoo. It was a very long walk and I already felt tired. However, upon seeing the zoo, I forgot how tired I am and the feeling that flows through me is pure excitement because after 27 years, finally I would be able to visit the zoo and watch the animals in front of me and not on tv.

It was a Sunday so there were a lot of people. The entrance fee is only Php 40.00 and if you're a Manileño you only get to pay Php. 20.00.

Upon entering, the elephant greets you. It was a sight to behold, at least for me. The elephant is so big and fat yet all by itself. I think it loves to see us. It keep on posting for the people who kept on cheering it up. It took me a couple of minutes before movng on to the rest of the animals.

Below are some of the awesome pictures taken during my visit at the zoo.

The birds are so lovely. They're fun to look at. They're a lot more actually but I only got to have these photographed because the area is so crowded with people (mostly kids). The black one on the lower left part of the bunch is a bit scarry. All black and it stares at you and tries to poke you if it only could. The ostrich is huge in body and in appetite. They're all pretty.

Here ares some of the land animals that I did not forget to took pictures. The Llama is shy. And look at the Hippo, it looks like longanisa or a balloon full of water that when poked with needles will instatnly pop. Then there are the zebra, the deers, and the goats. The tigers are too far so I was not able to have them photographed, they're kinda lazy. Just sitting and yawning. Lovely.

The scarriest part of my visit are the reptiles. They're ok actually, except for a snake. I even happen to see one eating (devouring) a rat. Yuck! Gross. Well, that's what they are. I got nothong more to say but it took me a while to leave their area.

Then, there are some of them. The strange looking cats, the monkeys (there are a lot of them there and a lot of diffirent species too), and the bats.

Lastly, the cute guinea pigs and rabbits. When I was little, I kept bugging my parents to buy me a rabbit. They've got hundreds of reasons as to why I should not have one and none of those reasons I understand. Well, that's what they think and they're parents afterall. Recently, I tried to ask my mom why (again), she told me that I just can't have one.

I enjoyed every moment I spent at the zoo. Even it was humid, all is worth it. The fee is cheap (the food within the vicinity is expensive, most especially the drinks and bottled water) and there are a lot of animals there. More than what I actually expected. I still want to visit the zoo some other time and that time I going to bring my own baon.

TOEI Animation Philippines, Inc. 20th Anniversary

TOEInty Animé!

TOEI Animation Philippines, Inc. 20th Anniversary

November 18, 2006

Eastwood City Plaza, Libis, Quezon City

in coordination with the ANIMATION COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC.

The Komikon 2006 Report Part 02

After the Komikon 2006 had been officially opened, few people were already buying our indies and it's very overwhelming for us. They've asked for our autographs and we gladly signed them. We really enjoyed it a lot especially for Ruel because this was his 1st time to sell his indie comics.

Josel, Ruel and Elmer

An hour or so had passed when Ruel received as SMS from Mylene informing him that they are already outside the venue and they are very excited to join us in our indie booth. Mylene is with Shobee (who came all the way from Germany) and a couple of her friends. They greeted us and we barely talked because Ruel and I were very busy attending people who bought and browsed our indies.

Ruel and Mylene

I've told Ruel and Mye to eat lunch early because I'll be leaving by 2 pm. My parents and my brother Spikey came all the way from Kidapawan City so I have to see them. It's rare opportunity for me to see them here in Manila so I really have to use all the time they're here to be with them. I only got to see them once or twice a year.

Mye and Shobee

After Ruel and Mye finished their lunch I instructed them what to do. I tried to roam around the venue for a while just to visit booths and people. Looking at some of their works and saying "hi" and "hello" to peole I seldom meet. Then I left the event and headed straight to the hotel were my parents and my brother stayed.

I really enjoyed Komikon 2006. More people, more booths and lots of indies and artists. Though I haven't got any photo of myself during the event, the memories that I've had will surely be remembered.

Onward Filipino artist!!!

The Komikon 2006 Photos 01

Gerry and Jonas

Gilbert

Rene

Ariel

Jofel, Ruel and Taga-Ilog

The Komikon 2006 Report Part 01

I arrived at the venue (Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman Campus) 30 minutes past 7 with my officemate Elmer (who is one of the marshalls). The Komikon '06 staffs were already there. Hi's and hello's then we started preparing the area for the event.


I had a chat with Ariel Atienza regarding his future projects and my own projects and where I am it leading to. I talk about Paper Clip Komics and my peers who'll be taking the indie journey with me. This and that.


Jonas Diego greeted me while I'm preparing our indie booth for the Indie Tiangge. We chatted for quite a moment. He'd changed a lot. Wow! His company seemed to be doing very well. They (IAS) were one of the event's sponsors and they'll be having a contest: Lead Slinger Challenge. And oh, with his people around, I hardly see him joking around. Well it's been a while and those were the days.


Then Ruel Sarmiento (Third World Project) came and he was escourted by Elmer. He seemed to be so excited as this was his debut in indie scene. I am sure he will be doing just fine. He'd evolved a lot as a storyteller and as an artist. Keep it up!


Then Gerry Alanguilan came with Ilyn and komikero Zara a few moments before the start of the event. Then followed by many more exhibitors, guests and sponsors.


Ruel let me borrowed his camera so I starter shooting photos to people like Jonas, Ilyn, Zara, Gerry, Wilson, David, Gilbert, Ariel, Reno and ang dami pang iba, while he had our Paper Clip Komics banner printed out.


Then the Komikon 2006 officially started by Syeri (organizer of thr event) and the people went wild (crazy kind of wildness - therefore we are!).


2nd part of the report coming soon (with photos)...

Komikon 2006

See you there!!!

I'll Always be a Comic Fan

Yesterday I went to the opening of Comic Odessey at Robinsons Galleria. I went there with my officemate Elmer and my pals Ruel and Mylene. I went there a bit earlier and tried to browse for some great finds. And I found a lot (but can't buy because of I don't have enough cash - alright I don't have extra money to spend for my hobbies). I enjoyed browsing and looking at the covers.

A few minutes later, the guests arrived. There were Gerry and Ilyn, Wilson, Carlo, Ed, Huet and Lienil came later. Just seeing them lights up my mood. I'm so proud of what they've achieved. So proud of what they still have to offer. I have my comic book signed and asked fo sketches. It's was all fun.

Among the artists, I find Gerry and Wilson easy to converse with. In Gerry's case maybe because ever since I joined Komikero he's been very accomodating and very welcoming. He doesn't put any barriers or some kind. It makes me feel more proud of him. Proud that he' a friend even. Though I've known him for quite a while, I still put high regard on him and what he does. He's just awesome and I'll always be his fan. Thanks for the sketch!!!

Wilson, on the other hand, is very down to earth. He's so humble. He likes to converse. Everytime he signs a book, he always find time to discuss how the book came to be. It makes you feel how the artist created it. Learn how passionate he is with his craft (he even shows you how he draws). He's funny and easygoing. He's one of the person that we should look up in an artist. Outgoing, talented and both feet firmly rooted to the ground.

I can't say much for the others though. I just can say they were good. Really good. But Gerry and Wilson are much easier to talk to. Thanks too for the sketch!!!

I also got sketches from the great Lienil and the awesome Carlo. Aren't you proud of them?!

Lead Slinger Challenge

Here's an add from Jonas Diego, please take a moment to check this one out.

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

The contest is now officially open.

We're accepting submissions for the LEAD SLINGER CHALLENGE happening at the KOMIKON this October 21, 2006 at the U.P. Bahay ng Alumni in U.P. Diliman. Following are the rules for the contest.

Spread the word around. Feel free to use the images and post them in your respective sites and blogs. For those of you who prefer something a bit more petit...


LEAD SLINGER CHALLENGE Button Black Background


LEAD SLINGER CHALLENGE Button White Background


LEAD SLINGER CHALLENGE Button Transparent Background

5th Toycon

My fellow Komikeros (L-R: Gerry, Mico, Ilyn, Rod. Sitting: Gerald and Raipo).

Gerry and the gang were busy selling "Elmer" which was all sold out.

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My officemate Cyrus is on a Hellboy costume for the Cosplay.

Hellboy (life-size).

From Hero booth.

Another one from Hero boot.

Voltes 5 gang.

My officemate Julius Gopez have his artwork reviewed.

Scarry Dolls.

More scarry dolls. Waaah.

Dingdong and Karylle.

Coca-cola collectibles.