Filbar's at 25 Years!

I would like to invite everyone to the Filbars 25th
anniversary to be held at the Glorietta activity
center on Monday, May 31, 2004 from 1pm-7pm.

Original Comic Book Creation Contest
• Free registration for all Filbar's Power Club members
(Registration Form can be secured at filbars.com)
• Open to Amateurs only
• Upload entries to filbars.com of no more than 10mb
• Minimum of 24 pages and no more than 32 pages per entry
• Collaboration between writer/s and artist/s allowed
• filbar's reserves the right to screen entries
• cash prizes: 1st prize-$1,000 and plaque;
2nd prize - $700 and plaque;
3rd prize-$300 and plaque

Heroclix and Super Card Game Demo
Continuous demo of the latest card games
to be conducted by Neutral Grounds

Filbar's Power Club Launching
Launching of Filbar's Power Club which is
an enhanced version of the Filbar's Comics Club.
Register at the booth during the event and avail
of a 50% discount of your membership fee, and
receive the following benefits: 10% discount for
every purchase of current issues of comics, books,
magazines, toys and cards.Free access to filbars.com
website. More discount privileges to come from
forthcoming affiliate-establishment members.

note: To all existing FCC members, please bring
your Filbars membership cards.

Live Entertainment and Giveaways
For the early birds, there will be giveaways from
our sponsors such as wines, magazines, Mirinda
orange, bags and other surprise goodies.
• Live concert performance by Cody Moreno
and a hot band sponsored by Pulp Magazine

COSPLAY(Best in Superhero Costume Contest)
• Free registration for all Filbar's Power Club members
• Open to all ages
• 1st prize- P10,000.00 plus trophy;
2nd prize- P5,000.00 plus trophy
3rd prize- P1,000.00 plus trophy

Launching of filbars.com website
Features:
• Trading Site for comic collectibles and cards
• Original Comic Creation Contest entries open to all
Filbar's Power Club members to surf and to cast their votes
• Online registration to Filbar's Power Club
• Online reservation of comic orders
• Online subscription of U.S and Philippine
magazines

Children's Book Coloring Contest
• Registration will be on a first come-first served basis
• Open for children up to 10 years old
• Must be accompanied by parents during the contest
• Contest materials to be provided by Filbar's
• Prizes: 1st prize- P5,000 plus trophy;
2nd prize-P3,000 plus trophy;
3rd prize- P1,000 plus trophy

Comic Guest Artist Signing
Comic celebrity artists in attendance will sign autographs
for Filbar's Power Club members
during the event. Confirmed artists to date are:
• Gerry Alanguilan • Wilson Tortosa
• Leinel Yu • Eugene Perez

note: All Filbars products (comics, toys, magazines, cards, etc.)
will be available in this one day event.

Thanks in advance to the owner/moderators of this group for letting me
post this wholesome event. SEE YOU ALL THERE!!

-Richard Mojica
Filbars Co. & Inc.

******************
I've been buying from Filbar's for like...man! Since 1985? This was during the time that drawing comics professionally was something I haven't even considered yet. In a way, Filbar's helped me appreciate comics more and so helped me decide to take this comics thing more seriously. I have to say Fil Barbasa, Filbar's owner, has such a remarkable memory. I remember meeting him only once at that time and when I returned a month or so later to his Cubao branch, he knew my name, where I went to school, where I lived. Amazing!

I'll be at the anniversary. I'll be hanging out all day starting from 10am until the place closes, I think. If you're going, please feel free to come on over and jam!

:)

Quo Vadis

In 1953, MGM Pictures comissioned ACE Publications to create a comic book preview of their hit blockbuster movie "QUO VADIS" for the Philippine market starring Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, and Peter Ustinov. Starting with Tagalog Klasiks #91, Quo Vadis, as adapted by Clodualdo Del Mundo with art by Nestor Redondo began, ending in the next issue, for a total of 16 pages all in all.


(color tint mine)

Quo Vadis turned out to be one of the most stunning comics storytelling ever to be produced in Philippine komiks history. Many agree this to be Nestor Redondo's masterpiece, an accomplishment that he has never surpassed. MGM was so impressed by Redondo's work that he was immediately asked to fly to America to work for them exclusively as an artist. But Nestor refused, believing himself to be too young at the time.

Stay turned for a full gallery of artwork from this Nestor Redondo Masterpiece.

Thanks to Dennis Villegas and Hannibal.

Elpidio Torres



Elpidio E. Torres may not be as well known today as Nestor Redondo, Alex Niño, or Alfredo Alcala, but his talent and accomplishments were by no means inferior. In fact, he was one of the most popular komiks illustrators of his time. Incredibly prolific, Elpidio, in collaboration with legendary writer Mars Ravelo, created stores like Bondying, Mambo Jambo, Zorina, Dobol Trobol, Dyesebel, and Jack and Jill. Many of these were made into motion pictures which were made and then remade as time went on. Such is the universality and timelessness of their creations.

Some consider Elpidio as the Fernando Amorsolo of Philippine comics. He passed away in 1973.

For another sample of Elpidio's work, check out the cover he did for Tagalog Klasiks #97 in 1953 on the front page.

I have a PHLOG!

http://www.phlog.net/user/komikero

Thanks to Arnold and Cynthia for telling me that I don't need a mobile phone to have a phlog! Thanks guys!

:)

Komikero.com

If you load this blog and some of the images are not loading, specially the image pic on the left top, that means Komikero.com is down. But that's only for a moment so check back after an hour or so. This is still here because the blog itself is hosted at another domain, Alanguilan.com.

Fred Alcantara 2

Here's 2 more pages from Fred Alcantara, both from Tagalog Klasiks 94, February 7, 1953. Taken with the first image of Fred Alcantara's art I posted a few days ago, these pages comprise one complete story. Page 1 and Page 2 has some significant damage on the lower part of the pages. While the damage on page 1 is repairable, the one on page 2 is not. I hope to find a better condition of this sometime in the future.




If you wish to see HIGH RES scans of these drawings click below:

SA NGALAN NG PAG-IBIG
Illustrated by Fred Alcantara
Tagalog Klasiks, Feb. 7, 1953

PAGE 1
http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Komikero/fredalcantara1big.jpg

PAGE 2
http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Komikero/fredalcantara2big.jpg

PAGE 3
http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Komikero/fredalcantara3big.jpg

Wilson Tortosa is probably the nicest comic book professional I know. Scratch that. He's the nicest person that I've ever met. It always surprises me how happy he is to see me...how happy he is to see everyone. He's always willing to help out anyone asking for critiques on their work, and he offers such assistance with enthusiasm and expertise. Yes, Wilson is VERY good. He worked with Alex Ross as he drew Battle of the Planets, and he is currently working on Tomb Raider.

This year he was given the opportunity to attend a comics convention in Detroit, the Motor-City con. He was given a Visa by the US Embassy here in the Philippines and when I last met him he was both very nervous and very excited. He said he would be travelling alone. I told him not to worry. I was travelling alone when I first went to the US and it turned out great! It's very nice there this time of year and the people he will get to meet are generally friendly. Specially when they see how friendly Wilson is. I felt really happy for the guy. I mean, he's the kind of guy that never really leaves home. It was tough trying to convince him to go to the San Pablo Comics Festival. But when he did go and saw that it was great there, he was practically brimming with glee. And that's how I imagined he would be when he finally gets to the US and attends the convention.

He even texted me a message saying he was off to the airport right before he left. The other day I imagined how thrilled Wilson must be to be at the con, and how thrilled he would be at some of the sighseeing that will come after.

Well today, I got a text message from Wilson. I thought it wow, he can text from the US! But no, he was texting from the Philippines. Upon arriving at the US, he was denied entry and was sent back. To tell you the truth, I could feel his disappointment. I could really feel it with him. What must it have been like, making another excruciatingly long plane ride after you just finished one, and all you have is the time to think about what went wrong.

You know, America, I did and still do sympathize with you at what happened in 2001. And it was perfectly understandable that you would increase security. I would too if I ran the Philippines. But it's one thing to be cautious and another thing completely to be paranoid. So paranoid that you would bar this nice kid from entering your country who wants nothing but to attend a comics convention. A COMICS convention for God's sake. He'll be there two weeks. That's all, two weeks. Was it just too much to give?

Fred Alcantara

Fred Alcantara may well be the greatest unknown Filipino comics illustrator. Most people have never heard of him, but komiks illustrators who were working at the time Fred was around cannot forget him. And each and everyone of them easily admit to Fred's talent and are all unanimous in their praise.


FRED ALCANTARA
Sa Ngalan Ng Pag-Ibig, Page 1 of 3
Tagalog Klasiks 94, February 7, 1953

Very little is know about Fred aside from stories told about how Tony Velasquez saw Fred's work in an advertising ad and he invited Fred to work for comics. Fred worked on very few stories because Tony could not long afford his page rates. Fred's heart was more into advertising anyway so after illustrating a few stories in a span of a few years, he went back to advertising.

Fred has a well known brother named Ben Alcantara who was famous as the creator of the Gorio and His Jeepney cartoon strip.

Do you know something about Fred? Please let us know.

Vicatan Passes Away

Veteran Filipino Comics Illustrator Vic Catan Jr. (Vicatan) passed away today after suffering from a heart attack, his second in several years. He was brought to Maharlika Hospital in Taguig and confined in critical condition but he did not linger long.

Below are some of the things that he worked on.


TANI: Ang Anak ng Dagat
Superyor Komiks, circa 1960s


STARLAD
Robin Snyder's Revolver
Renegage Press, 1985

More of Vicatan's work on the Front Page.

Help Vicatan

Lan Medina just sent me a message telling me that comics veteran Vicatan has suffered a heart attack (his second) and is currently confined in critical condition at the Maharlika Hospital in Taguig.

Just posting this here in case anyone wants to help them out in this time of need.

Anyone know where his hospital is?