UPCOMING: KOMIKS CONGRESS

Joe Lad Santos, our Commissioner on National Commission
for the Filipino Language (Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino)
had recently announced its plan to sponsor a
Komiks Congress in a gathering held last January 21, 2006
in Loren Banag's Place, Valenzuela City .

The said Congress will tentatively be set on February 16, 2006
and the venue is still on the process. This will showcase an
Art Exhibits featuring the masterpieces of the great Komiks
Illustrators of 1960's up to present. Various activities and
competitions are being lined up also. Its primary objective is to
promote an awareness in the past Glory of the Philippine
Komiks Industry and to create new actions to refresh it and be
able to campaign for public acceptance once again.

In the process, the Congress will also identify some
selected persons to carry out projects benefiting the
welfare of the Komiks Industry and its people.

The event will be a little bit of similar to Komikon that was
held in two consecutive years but with the focus on the
past Komiks Industry and with the attempt to merge it
in the the present generation of Komiks Industry.This time
the past generations are already bigger in numbers when
it comes ton public appearances participation.

The Commissioner has a great concern from the Komiks Industry
in which he came from. It was been remembered that he was also
a long time and active Editor of Various Philippine Publications
before he became a commissioner. However, he also expressed deep
concern about the present status of Komiks and was disappointed
because some of his colleagues has considered Komiks as a dead
medium in the Philippines already. He wanted to prove it wrong.
And good thing, he had said that the Commission listed Komiks as the
No. 1 medium that promotes Filipino Language. Radio Broadcast and
TV is only next to it. He also reiterated that it was high time
that Komiks be given an utmost attention.

The gathering was attended by several personalities in the
Komiks Industry. They were able to come up a simple discussion
and informal forum with the Commissioner. And the Commissioner
humbly answered some pressing issues including the political
motives on the said event since it will have a participation
from the government.

Carlo J. Caparas, one of the most successful and celebrated
person and creator of the Komiks Industry has also expressed
his full support and views on the said event. This was a
message relayed by the commissioner during the gathering.

Yours Truly, only wishes its success and hoping that the event
will not be used as a props for politicians for some of their
political agenda (remember that the campaign period is coming).
Komiks Congress needs our full support especially by the present
generation today. If this could help promote the industry, then
let us make our way in giving an attention to this event. Let us
remember, the people involved were considered already as our
pioneers in our Komiks History. It will only be a sad moment
to ignore them and do not recognized how Komiks came to be before us.

.

above images: Joe Lad Santos proposes
Komiks Congress among the attendees
and discuss the scope of it.

Above Images:Attendees busy listening during the
informal open forum.
















above image: Nestor Malgapo (in red shirt)
and Abe Ocampo (in pink shirt)
carefully listens.

above image: Randy Valiente (In blue collar shirt)
and Gener Pedrina (In black shirt) plots questions
for the informal open forum with the Commisioner.















above image: Lawrence Mijares (In violet polo shirt)
and Marboy (in white polo) also lend their
ears on the speakers in front.















above image: KC Cordero (the brain behind
Filipino Komiks and an Editor of the
Buzz Magazine) makes his wacky pose
on the camera for the first time!

KC:" We want you..Yes...You! Support the Industry!"




















above image: Yours truly talked
with the Commisioner about the
Upcoming KomiKs Congress.
image courtesy of : Marboy

related article: http://usapang-komiks.blogspot.com/