Babbling Point

. Recent Keyword Activity (Babbling Point) Top five keywords that people either Googled or Yahooed (I'm surprised that people still use Yahoo to search for stuff): zsazsa zaturnnah how alamat started bakla diether ocampo filbar's budjette Awww... somebody searched for ME?! Me! You like me! You really like ME! And about that Diether thing, he's in a band called BLOW. `Nuff said.

"Kadi: vector-grrl version" Art by Argem Vinuya

"Kadi" art by Arvie Villena Click here for more new Batch72 pin-ups.

RP entry wins Silver Lion in Cannes ad festival FROM: The Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 26, 2005 Cannes, France -- The Consuelo Foundation and the United Nationsl childnre's Fund (Unicef), together with their advertising agency BBDO-Gurrero Ortega and film director Ditsi Carolino, won the country's first Cannes Lion for Film in the 52 years of the Cannes Advertising Festival. The Silver Lion was won for the television commercial entitled "Bunso". You can view the commercial at the other winners at the Cannes Lions web site: http://www.canneslions.com/winners/film/win.cfm?award=0

. Songs that make you go HMMM... On the way to work, I heard song remade by Kyla: I look into your eyes so far away there's trouble on your mind your losing faithhey now let me hold you it'll be okay 'cause i will love you til' they take my heart away Which made me wonder, who exactly are "they" and why do they want to take away her heart? Was she abducted by aliens before and now they want her heart? Or did she fall in love with a zombie and now the other zombies are after her body parts?

. My Not-so-Terrific Tuesday I'm beer buzzed on an empty stomach. So, forgive me if I rant. Found out that the competition is sponsoring the Neil Gaiman/Manila Tour. Bad trip! Found out that Disney's new movie SKY HIGH , has similiarities with Batch72 . One of the characters even has a super-villain for a father. (Just like Kadi! Well, in her case, she's got a super-villain for a granfather.) Bad trip! Of course, all my ranting was put to stop when I found this quote in my folders. "I'm only going to repeat this once more: It doesn't matter if you thought of it first, or if your idea is better. If you didn't do anything with it, if you didn't push it, then don't come complaining when someone else get noticed for it, or gets attention for it, and their effort succeeds." - Anil Dash I just wanted to rant. It' s my blog and I'll rant if I want to. Bad trip!

. Twentysomething Couple of weeks ago, I got a text from SUPER! writer Pepe Diokno (and I wonder if their IDs actually say they’re SUPER!writers). He asked if I knew anyone 20 years old and below who had already achieved something noteworthy. And suddenly, I was stumped. Launching into Global Frequency-action, I texted a couple of people and found out they were already 25 years old. I texted back, “You’re too old!” One of them replied, “hehehe that’s the first time anyone’s ever that!” A couple of more texts and Andrew Drilon finally replied. Aha! He fit the category. I later remembered that I had Angelo Suarez’s book at home and texted Pepe that they should include Angelo as well. I don’t personally know Angelo, but I’ve read about him, and got his book, and he’s only 20 and already won several Palanca Awards. Bummer. It was just interesting, and a bit shocking, to suddenly feel that generation gap, of not knowing a whole lot of people who are a decade younger than me. It also made me...

. something old... More stuff from the archives... Uploaded an article by David Hontiveros . His take on the secret origin of Alamat, as well as a "state of the comic book nation" report during 1996. Read it at: http://iguana5legs.blogspot.com/ something new... Filipino comic book artist Darrio Carrasco Jr. got interviewed at THE PULSE about his new comic book "Mask of the Gargoyle"

monkeying around Found another old article, which I re-typed to include in the Komix101 blog . On the Verge Karen Kunawicz Mirror Weekly, March 12, 1998 Budjette Tan is back. And the tables have turned a bit. As President-at-gunpoint for Alamat comics, Budj is used to being interviewed for write-ups in paper, magazines, and TV (I’m just proud to say “On the Verge” was one of the firsts to feature Alamat—that was over three years ago!) Now it’s Budjette who’s writing about a new local comic and graphic literature group called ZENITH GRAPHICS—and I must say he’s written such a fun piece. Mabuhay ang malikot na utak! I meant that in a positive, halfways wholesome sense, OK? Xeroxed Monkeys at the top By Budjette Tan Ever heard of the Hundredth Monkey Effect? No, it’s not some kinky bestiality thing! Supposedly, researches were studying the behavior of monkeys in the island of Koshima, near Japan. Sweet potato is part of the diet of those monkeys. The monkeys somehow learned that if they w...

. National (Comic) Book Store National Book Store, Greenbelt 1 now has a bin filled with P25 comic books and trade paperbacks that range from P150 to P200. I don’t know if they’re got the same type of comic book bin in the other National Book Stores, but if they do, it might just usher in a new batch of comic book writers and artists. Back in the 80s, National had a lot of badly reprinted Marvel and DC Comics. But the great thing was, they brought in a whole bunch of British and European comic magazines and graphic novels. They must have bought it from some wholesale bargain bin, because we ended up with issues of WARRIOR and TRIDENT , which contained the early works of Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, and Neil Gaiman. We were also able to get Mobius graphic novels and some odd numbered, water-damaged issues of AKIRA and THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. Now that I think about it, National Book Store didn’t offer a single issue of manga. I still have a theory that the reason the 80s kids didn’t get...

POLYSACCHARIDE: The Dollhouse Drama a solo black & white photography exhibit by WAWI NAVARROZA at BLACKSOUP PROJECT ARTSPACE June 11 to July 12 BlackSoup is at Shop 61, Shoe Expo, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City. Call them at 439-8838 for more info. See more of Wawi's photography at: http://darkelfmanila.com/Gallery4.htm

. Congratulations Harrison! EMAIL FROM: TEENY GONZALES, Executive Creative Director, Harrison Communications Last night, at the Creative Guild's Ad of the Year Awards, both McCann and Harrison made a fantastic showing. First, for craftsmanship, the BIOGESIC "GRADUATION" PRINT won BEST IN COPY. Then it was followed by McCann's SONY "REINFORCEMENTS" that got the BEST ART DIRECTION and BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARDS. That was just the appetizer. Later, Harrison's PDI CANNES LION PRINT SERIES won the SILVER FOR PRINT CAMPAIGN and for TV, McCann's COKE "BEAT GAME" got the GOLD for TV CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR. Then came the best part. SONY "REINFROCEMENTS" got the SILVER for TV then our very own BIOGESIC was announced PRINT AD OF THE YEAR 2004. Congratulations are in order for the the teams that made the award-winning ads: PDI CANNES LION SERIES RUSS MOLINA - CD SABEL GAMBOA - CD JULY MALANTIC - AD DAN MATUTINA - AD LOU BOGNOT - BUD SINTA ROSAL...

. It's Clobberin' Time! Last Sunday, after lunch, I went back to room and was planning to go to sleep when my cellphone rang. Caller ID told me it was: Moy&Dunds. I answered and Dundee said,"Hey! What you doing?" "Well, I was about to go to sleep and..." "Wait, Tim wants to talk to you." Tim? Their five year old son wanted to talk to me? Tim' s my godson, actually. On the other end, I could hear Moy and Dundee say, "Go ahead! Tell Tito Budj what you told us. Go on!" "Hello? Hi?" said Tim. But before I could say hello, Tim dropped the phone. Liam, their 10-year old son, picked it up. "Hi there!" he greeted me. "Do you have eleven ?" I didn't know how to answer his question. "Number eleven," Liam clarified. "Number eleven of Fantastic Four?" And I immediately realized what he was talking about. During Moy and Dundee's last wedding anniversary, I gave them the complete run of ...

***Press Release*** Neil Gaiman at the Music Museum The British Council is hosting a Writers Forum, PressSession and Autograph-signing with Neil Gaiman at the Music Museum on Monday, July 11 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. sharp. Registration begins at 1:00 p.m.

. Kick-ass advertising! Found this link from THE BEAT about a TV commercial for Kodansha manga . I don't think Marvel or DC Comics has ever done TVCs. I think the only American comic book company that has ever done a TVC was Malibu to promote their Ultraverse super hero line. Then again, DC has done a good job of getting the media to report and talk about so-called controversial storylines, as well as hype up the deaths and returns of their super heroes. There was also a time when DC placed print ads for "Starman" in magazines like Entertainment Weekly. I know someone, somewhere already wrote about this... but I still wonder why DC doesn't place ads for their comic books in teen magazines or shows like "Smallville" and "The O.C." and maybe, just maybe, reach out to a market that's never entered a comic book store. Anyway, you can watch the two TVCs for Kodansha at this site: http://www.kodansha.co.jp/comic/cm/

. Signal No.1 How do you introduce a new superteam? Start your issue with a burning building full of people that need rescuing or have a group of terrorists hold a building hostage. This allows the new superteam to flex their super-powered muscles and show-off how great they are without getting injured or getting their asses kicked by the main villain. The new LEGION recently did this schtick. The JUSTICE LEAGUE during the 80s did the hostage thing. THE YOUNG AVENGERS did the burning building and hostage situation all in one issue. And almost every Alamat book in the late 90s that featured a superteam did the whole hostage situation thing. (God bless us all!) Anyway, this is all a segue to “What is a good example of a first issue of a new super team?” Well, I’m glad you asked. Below is an article I wrote about Warren Ellis’ “Stormwatch”. In 40-pages, Ellis was able to set-up the world of Stormwatch, introduce the new characters, tell you what they’re all about, and well… he did put in ...

FROM: Neil's blog Hi Neil,I just thought you might want to mention to your fans in the Philippines that the bookstore chain that's holding your book signing in July has set up a mailing list where fans can get updates and news about the event. It's at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gaiman_fullybooked/ . Can't wait for you to get here! Cheers,Tania Manila, Philippines I'm looking forward to it as well. (Did you know that there were 1484 visitors to this site from the Philippines last month? Well, that or 2,557, depending on which counter you believe.) Consider it mentioned. Hmmm... so, it is possible that 1,500 to 2,500 will show up at the Gaiman book signing? Oh my!

Killer Interview Now Online James and Pepe, the two kids who thought I was the greatest Philippine animator who sold-out, have gone out on a limb to interview the deadly Kai. It's now online at INQ7. More interviews with comic book characters and comic book creators at: KOMIX101

Ilang Tulog na Lang... ***PRESS RELEASE*** Fully Booked is proud to bring you the award-winning "Sandman" author, Neil Gaiman in Manila from July 9-11! Members of this group will receive updates regarding his schedule of events, book signings, promotions, contests, trivia and other relevant information. Join the mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gaiman_fullybooked/

Man of Mystery This is Mr.Mysteryoso. He's our Dr.Strange/Dr.Fate-analog. He's another member of the Golden Age Justice Corps. Taps came up with the name and Arnold came up with the look. We didn't really know what the heck he did at first. Arvie was the one who came with the idea of the shapeshifting cape. (Art by HAI . See more if Hai's art here .)