Monday, December 05, 2005

The Answer


I had a weird dream today.
I can't tell the exact details.
It's something I dream of rarely nowadays.
It's a scene that's probably unavoidable.
Something that I should'nt care to know.
But if it happens, there's nothing I can do.

And the answer to that dream is...
momentary pain, hidden by desire for action figures.
Not in this lifetime, maybe the next.

Monday, October 24, 2005

Komikon Aftermath


Because of my hectic work schedule, I thought I would'nt make it to the first ever KOMIKON. Komikon 2005 was held yesterday, October 22 at the UP Bahay ng Alumni. I did not tell my wife about this, because uttering the word U.P. or anything related to it brings back memories of her mortal enemy who used to study in that famed university. She found out eventually because the wonderful Syeri Baet gave me a free Komikon T-shirt. Of course there was some explaining done to questions like: how did you meet Syeri? Who referred you? Why U.P.? What did you do there? Did you see my enemy?

I was invited to be a guest at the Komikon months before the event, and it's very unprofessional (acheche) of me if I could'nt attend. It's also the first Komikon - who would'nt want to be a part of history in the making? Anyways, I had a GREAT time, the people were friendly and accomodating, and if there was'nt work later that day, I would'nt leave the event and mingle with these creative and spirited people. Despite UP Bahay ng Alumni's distance, a lot of people showed up. There's a lot of comics for sale from graphic novels to xeroxed mini comics done by independent artists. Because this is KOMIKON, emphasis on the "K", I made sure I picked up work from the local talents.

Here's some stuff I picked up:
• 2 Komikon T-shirts
• Atomic Underground# 2
• Kubori Kikiam# 5
• KikoMachine by Manix Abrera
• Beerkada Kuwatro by Lyndon Gregorio
• Ka-Jo's NWA B-comics# 1 to 7
• Minsan sa Panaginip: Digmaang Salinlahi
• Psigns of the Season
• Komix (October 2005 issue)
• Satan High
• Break-Out Comics
• Komikon Stickers
• Sketches in my sketchbook from various artists at the Kon

Here's an interesting tidbit. I have an entry in Komix (big thanks to Orvy Jundis for giving me a free copy). It says:
- Reinard Santos: is one of the most original of the new generation of cartoonists
- Superboboy: is Reinard Santos' well known character
Neat eh? I never really considered myself as a comics cartoonist, I see myself more as a children's book illustrator. I really felt honored for the support people have shown for my creation: Super Boboy. A lot of the people are asking when will the next Super Boboy come out - and all I can say is - when I'm done... or hopefully, in the next KOMIKON!

• drawing above is by Manix Abrera
• photo from www.beerkada.tk site - ninakaw ko! Mwahahaha!

Monday, October 03, 2005

Soooooo Busy...


Wow! Lots of work for the past few weeks! I haven't posted anything for September! Nothing interesting happened to me that is worth posting. I bought a lot of toys though... I got a Hellboy Comic set and a Goon action figure. I made a list of toys to buy this year and posted it in my office desk - so far I have crossed out one (Hellboy series 1). The weird thing is, I still keep buying some stuff that isn't in my list. Think of it as a reward for a hectic work week or day. Instead of spending this money on women (mwahahaha), or gimik (I hate booze), or drugs (which I never tried) - I might as well spend it on toys. Sigh. Childish.


19 days to go before KOMIKON 2005 - and I still don't know what to do. I told Syeri B, I'd do a mini comic and I still haven't compiled the comic stuff I did. Talk about special guest! Budjette Tan (Alamatmeister) told me to just put word balloons on all the storyboards that I did for TV commercials and it could pass as comicbook material. Honesty, I still don't know why these guys invited me to this shindig - heck, these guys are more talented than me! Anyways, just pray that I finish something for the Komikon. I did some MIND SKETCHES on how my mini comic will appear and it looks promising. I was thinking of including excerpts from the 2 versions of the Super Boboy origin I made (yes, comics po yun)! I actually wrote and draw Super Boboy's origin - one was finished, and one was not, the latter being the better version.



Here's some more info on Komikon:
http://komikon.blogspot.com/
Syeri B's site (nice site):
http://www.syeri.tk/

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Blast from the Past: Rivermaya


Here's a little compre of the Gentxt PowerLink ad with Rivermaya. This print ad never came out, but got adapted as a billboard a few months backs. These guys are professionals and are a blast to work with. I wasn't in the print ad shoot but I did jam with the guys when we were doing the TV commercial. Honestly, I liked my drawing better than their actual photographs. I hope one day they'll ask me to do some drawings and designs for them (like Gorillaz) - I'll gladly do it for free.

Extra! Extra!


I've been the art director for the Intensity G ads for a long time now (about 1 year). Intensity G is Globe's effort to spread the word that they have a lot of cellsites nationwide. What they do is usually bring the Globe Caravan to the provinces, especially during fiestas. And one such fiesta is the Kagay-An festival, held in Cagayan de Oro . Kagay-an is CDO's version of Mardi Gras. Ah yes, due to some budget constraints - we can only use one talent for the ad. So the other 3 extra people in the ad are: Sonny (our make-up artist - extreme left), Ian (art director), and me (the guy in the extreme right).

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

My Little Heartbreaker


I haven't posted for a long time. So busy at work and home + I got sick last week (diarrhea). Last Saturday, August 6, was my brother-in-law's wedding. The highlight for me is my son in his first role as a ringbearer. He walked the aisle successfully and without any direct assistance from me or my wife. Such small feat from a two year old makes me proud. Rohan really looks great in his barong - too bad we did'nt buy him pants to go along with it, but it looks great on the little runt. The picture I posted is Rohan with this flower girl we were matching him with - the girl was really cute and their pose - innocently romantic. The following day August 7, we went to Megamall to celebrate me and my wife's 3rd year wedding anniversary (we were actually married August 3) - we ate at SuperBowl, where my son met this little girl who was trying to kiss him. Ah, my little heartbreaker - don't grow old yet - I'm still having the best time of my life.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

The Great Rush


What a week. I was rushing an interactive module for PTA (Philippine Tourism Authority) for the past couple of days and I haven't got a decent sleep (just 30 minute naps). My contact person (and ninong), Ahwel is going to present it at 2PM in the afternoon and I need to drop by the office quickly and add some more images that I forgot to take home. It is 5:30 am in the morning and I'm ready to transfer some files from my MAC to the PC (because my MAC does'nt have a USB port and my CDWriter isn't working) when the unthinkable happens... my zip drive went nuts and acted weird on the decent zip disks I put in it. You know that sound... kaklak-kaklak-kaklak, then you see a message that the files are corrupted or the mac can't read the zip disk. I was in a great panic - the sleepless nights and the effort have been put to waste by a non-cooperating zip drive. Luckily, one of the compressed files I did managed to make it through the zip disk (just one). I copied it to my PC, then copied it into a USB portable minidrive. All my hopes lie on one file - which I hope did not get corrupted or will work in my MAC in the office. I left my apartment in Antipolo around 6:30, hoping to evade the people rushing to the office. And when I got to the FX station - there were no FXs in site, the jeeps were jam packed, and there was a long queue of people. My God, the traffic is even against me! Luckily I just took a jeepney ride (managed to catch a not so packed one) - and dropped by Valley Golf, which unluckily has no FX available too. It took around 25 minutes before I caught an FX and reached the office at 9:10 am. I don't know how I did it, but I managed to churn out the project in a nick of time and into the hands of the PTA people. It really is weird - that whenever you rush things - it seems that all odds are against you.
The image I posted here is a result of last Friday's creative test. The challenge is to make an ad for the Singapore Zoo, it will be judged by this McCann honcho from Singapore. I really thought the ad was witty. He did'nt get it at first, but got the whole idea after I explained it. His input is: I should craft a better copy or sub-copy to explain the image. I just have to face it - I'm not a good copywiter :)

Thursday, July 14, 2005

View from 34


Ayala avenue in Makati was closed the whole day today. I go to work daily via the Tamaraw FXs that are stationed a few blocks from my apartment at Antipolo. The fare costs P45. Everyday I look at the people I travel with in this short ride (looking for a nice looking chic). Sometimes I sleep, very often I listen to their wonderful stories. I wish our politicians would commute with them even for a day, listen to their woes, and see our country in the eyes of the ordinary people. Our country is in crisis because of POLITICS. I wish that a vigilante would wipe them all off and their political families. And to make things worse, the PEOPLE go on rallies where they really don't know what they're fighting for. These rallies are the reason why Ayala is closed today and I have to walk the distance just to get to work. On the way to work, I passed by these rallyists, and there are merchandise for sale (mostly GMA resign t-shirt and stuff). It was like a little flea market - with people selling food, drinks and whatever items of worth. Funny... even in times of crisis, Filipino ingenuity still shines through. And now here I am in the 34th floor of LKG tower... at this distance, I don't see their faces, even if they shout or do something ridiculous. Perhaps this is how God views the world. We are all little fleas, we say our prayers, and there is a slim chance of it getting through. But sometimes, God comes down from the 34th floor and mingles with the crowd. Looking for someone worthy of his notice.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

No hope for this


I love drawing. Whenever I do a compre (how a print ad would look), I would rather draw it than rely on the web for pictures. But sometimes after I draw it, and we have to do a photo shoot - there's a 75% chance that the talents we're using for the ad can't pull the look and expression I want (our photographer Jeanne keeps mentioning that only my face is flexible enough to capture the right expression). This ad here is supposed to be a part of a bigger campaign. I would like to do a print ad utilizing a photo collage illustrated style and look... but alas... our ECD (Executive Creative Director) did'nt like it. Way too off for the look she was looking for. So I guess this would never see the light of newspapers or magazines, only in my BLOG.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Calm after the storm


Yesterday was very chaotic. Although we don't have office hours on Saturday and Sunday, I had to drop by for a freakin' print ad's publication deadline. I dropped by Greenhills earlier yesterday to buy a set of Trigun Maximum Story Image Figures and a set of Steamboy Gashapons... which was yesterdays highlight. On the picture is Rai-Dei the Blade, my favorite gashapon from the bunch. Which leads us to today... a very relaxing day. I'm not doing much, but I managed to create this BLOG. I wonder if people will be reading this. I live a boring life. I better wear that dino-suit tonight and spice things up.