That was exactly what I was thinking as I was reading fellow John Becaro’s blog, a fellow Komikero.
Wow, pardon my disbelief, but how did Carlo J. Caparas manage to revive the Komiks Industry single-handedly?
If I had any doubts about the Komiks Congress having political undertones, this article in the People’s Journal just dispelled them.
“Alvares (presidential adviser on culture and the arts) likened Komiks King Caparas to a knight in shining armor who is set to give Komiks traders a new life.”
According to the article he’s going to accomplish this by “…putting up a total of Php 300,000.00 in cash prizes for winners of the ‘Gantimpalang Carlo J. Caparas sa Sining ng Katha at Pag-guhit’…” which aims to “…jumpstart the revival of the Komiks industry.
I can’t help but notice as well the glowing portrayal of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo: “As far as I can recall, ang administrasyon ni Mrs. Arroyo lamang ang nagkaroon ng puso na tulungan ang Komiks” Caparas said.
Since when!?
I can think of lots of other ways to kickstart things: tax holidays for Komiks Publishers to entice more investors and create more opportunities for everyone in the industry, creation of a body whose sole purpose is to research new profitable avenues for Komiks and market our collective work outside the country, laws to protect intellectual property rights, and royalty programs just to name a few.
But no…instead we get hype, political ego-stroking, and name dropping. Are we going to have to pledge our allegiance to a bunch of politicians in exchange for the promise of support in reviving our beloved Komiks Industry?
This is not the way to start the ball rolling, people!
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23 Responses to “What the F*ck!?”
As far as I’m concerned, the Komiks industry was never dead to begin with. And is Php 300,000 really enough to “revive” an industry?
Caroline: I agree. Smaller as compared to the industry’s Golden Age but not quite dead yet. As for the Php 300,000.00 reviving an industry…not by a long shot. Even with a big shot name like Carlo J. Caparas behind it.
Reviving the Komiks Industry will have to be a collective effort. No knights in shining armor needed.
WHATDAFAAAAAAAK?? WHATDAHEEEELL?? how many unsung heroes are there who deserve to have an award named after THEM? AWARDS ARE NOT BOUGHT!!!! GAH…i even have so much to say about him being in the movie industry pero let’s not get crass and vulgar. have to calm down…have to calm down. will someone just shoot the guy for this TRAVESTY?!
Laya: Calm down, calm down. Breaaaathe…
ay yay yay…
election nga naman…
Sinabi mo, Azrael.
!!!!!!! er…. !!!!!!!!!!!!
even me said, wadafak!
It only shows how ignorant the writer was and how he is connected in the palace.And he is super exagerated you know.
I guess Im right when I said, this may get your interest.
I’ll just have to observe more and check out the other positive long term effect of this Komiks Congress and focus on that instead.
Kung titingnan, we can still make it even with out the Komiks Congress.Abangan na lang natin.Pag medyo di ko na kaya, makaktikim sila uli sila sa akin ng sermon sa harap nila.
Gerry: Eh?
John: Well, like you said: let’s concentrate on the positive instead, for now.
yes.We have to. Who knows, this might help us even a little. If this means the chance for all us, then let it be.mahirap kausapin ang mga beterano sa totoo lang, kaya medyo isa rin ito sa isaisip natin.mahirap itulay ang dalawang henerasyon na ito dahil sa pagkakaiba ng panahon.Nauuwi madalas sa di pagkakaintindihan.And Komiks Congress might help it and if not, then worse thing will come.If by any chanc Komiks Congress will not be successful, at least it has done its part that might be benefecial to all of us in some way. And if in case it cannnot achieve its purpose, we are still here to find way, and there are so many ways to hold our passion for this medium.
Kitakits sa Martes. I wont be in our meeting tommorrow.:( to facilitate submissions. TC!
logging off.:)
See you then, John!
[…] This particular headline in a recent news tabloid certainly brings up this point quite succinctly. “Carlo J. Revives Komiks Industry!” It’s a statement that completely ignores what has been happening in Philippine comics for the past 15 years. It’s a statement that completely disregards the efforts of many talented writers and artists who have worked hard to keep comics going when the big publishers were closing one by one. It is poor journalism on one hand, and it is pure self aggrandizing grandstanding on the other. […]
[…] What the F*ck! by Jonas Diego What are Indie Comics? by Jonas Diego Komiks Congress by Jonas Diego Comics Art Exhibit by Jonas Diego Where’re the Kids? by Jonas Diego Thoughts on the Komiks Congress #1 by Gerry Alanguilan Thoughts on the Komiks Congress #2 by Gerry Alanguilan Thoughts on the Komiks Congress #3 by Gerry Alanguilan Filed: Comics « MOVIE: Bridge to Terabithia (No Spoilers!) […]
No wonder it got postponed, cancel na lang kaya??? naaah, not worth it if it is just for this one person. blah!
Yes, Jim. We must move forward.
[…] Video for the Komiks Congress by Jonas Diego What the F*ck! by Jonas Diego What are Indie Comics? by Jonas Diego Komiks Congress by Jonas Diego Comics Art Exhibit by Jonas Diego Where’re the Kids? by Jonas Diego Thoughts on the Komiks Congress #1 by Gerry Alanguilan Thoughts on the Komiks Congress #2 by Gerry Alanguilan Thoughts on the Komiks Congress #3 by Gerry Alanguilan Filed: Comics « Mangaholix Manga Mania […]
[…] Video for the Komiks Congress by Jonas Diego What the F*ck! by Jonas Diego What are Indie Comics? by Jonas Diego Komiks Congress by Jonas Diego Comics Art Exhibit by Jonas Diego Where’re the Kids? by Jonas Diego Thoughts on the Komiks Congress #1 by Gerry Alanguilan Thoughts on the Komiks Congress #2 by Gerry Alanguilan Thoughts on the Komiks Congress #3 by Gerry Alanguilan Filed: Comics « Headed to the Komiks Congress […]
Aarrgghhh!!! Just for that? Or are they going to say that “Oh he revived the komiks industry because he made alot of komiks into movies?”
Arrgghhh!!!
Kat: Believe me, I feel your pain.
before you judge the person, you might wanna look into his portfolio… meron ba sa inyong nakapag publish or nakasulat na sa comics? I mean, when i read this blog and comments, i searched for him in google. he made around 800 novels, 200 of which were made into movies… im not jumping for joy about his position now but i think yan ang reason kung bakit tayo may problema sa pnas. everybody thinks theyre better than others. all we do is criticize. pero may nagagawa ba tayo? eh di kayo magbigay ng 300k! buti nga nagbigay pa sya eh. we dont know how to appreciate things, all we want to do is find faults in others. kaya walang nangyayari satin…
It is with that background that I read with immense interest the story of Carlos J. Caparas which appeared in the Philippine Daily Inquirer today. The National Commission for Culture and Arts had given him the Gawad ng Komisyon sa Wika — for championing the Filipino language through his numerous komiks novels. The article stated that it was the very first such award given to someone outside of the academe.
Caparas is the creator of such stories as Panday, Bakekang, Zuma, etc. I have not read a single komiks made by him but have seen some of the stories/movies on TV. It was interesting for me to find out that Caparas started out dirt poor. He belonged to a poor family with nine children and dropped out of first year high school. He worked as a security guard at a publishing house and it was there that he stayed awake all night reading all the books that the company had printed. Reading on the job!
One time, during a violent strike at the publishing house, Caparas got hit with a stray bullet in his heel. He could not walk for a time and that’s when he wrote his first komiks novel, Citadel and the rest is history. Several komiks stories and years later, Caparas now is a millionaire, lives in Alabang, and rides a Porsche. He says that when he first started to earn money, he didn’t know what to do as he wasn’t used to having money. Today, he supports the schooling of thousands of children in Pasig and is looking forward to having his novels translated into English. A US publisher had already contacted him for the latter.
Unbelievable story right? Parang pang-komiks. It is truly inspiring though. Poverty really shouldn’t stop anyone from doing anything. If someone with hardly anything can accomplish such a feat, what more people who already start with something? Then again, adversity may have a way of bringing out the best in people more than a comfortable life where you seem to have everything.
So, think about it. We can’t all be like Carlo J. Caparas but we can all choose the way we write the novels of our lives. There may be a 101 ways to get rich or to reach your ultimate goal but Carlo Caparas shows us what made him succeed: Read, write, and make people dream.
Siguro dapat lahat tayo tignan yung positive side nito… Not all have the IT factor na pwde si caparas ang makatulong dahil kilala sya… he has a lot of supporters and fans… its going to be easier for him to spread the news about comics kesa satin na walang ginawa kundi mag criticize. maybe we should do what he did… he worked hard! then baka after nun, pwede na tayo magcomment kasi may ipagmamalaki na tayo… just a thought for those who can’t appreciate little things and help from others… i want the comics industry back. jan kami binuhay ng tatay ko.
i mean, ang tatay ko isa sa mga nabigyan ni caparas ng break sa pagillustrate sa comics. my dad was able to give us the opportunity to finish our studies because he was given a chance by this person who we criticize. i hope you guys wont be given the same treatment and welcome by other people pag kayo na ang nasa situation na katulad ni caparas. give the man a chance to prove what he’s got before you comment.
Hi, Shanti.
If you read what I wrote here (and I suggest you read it again) you’ll see that I was not questioning Caparas’ achievements. Merely the sweeping statements and the political undertones.
I call ‘em as I see ‘em. Nothing more and nothing less.
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