1st Metro Comic Convention...and then some

One of my earliest and most loved hobbies was reading and collecting comic books.

I have always liked cartoon and comic book characters as far back as I can remember but I think it was only sometime during my third grade that I bought my first comic book. My first comics featured some of my all time favorites which included the incredible Hulk, Captain America of Marvel Comics and Batman and the Legion of Superheroes from DC Comics. I remember buying them from the now gone Alemar’s bookstore at Quezon Ave. Those local reprints started my long and on/off love affair with comics.

As time passed by, my collection considerably grew as I tried to keep up with the growing comic multi-verse and industry. I would search high and low, near and far for the comic books I liked. My first trips to Cubao, Greenbelt, Makati (which seemed to take forever in EDSA despite the relative lack of traffic then) and even Rizal Avenue/Recto Ave. without my parents were all made in search of comics.

I would save my allowance, walk despite cheap jeepney ride fares all to save money for comics. Looking back, my discipline and frugality was astonishingly phenomenal!

However, during my college years and onwards, my political activism and high testosterone levels veered me towards other concerns. In the comics world, commercialism and entropy had forced the industry to implode and rebuild itself, in fact, several times over.

I had some sort of a comic book renaissance by the early 90’s picking up the hobby again to a limited extent. And I had to be reoriented by other comics aficionados to make sense of all the changes and makeovers my childhood comic heroes underwent. Some turned ‘dark’. Some got killed…then resurrected. Many got new origins and a new unverse to boot. Others simply faded into oblivion.

By the mid-90’s I just couldn’t keep up with the pace. With a growing family and other new responsibilities, I simply had more important priorities to take care of.

My love for comics may have wavered, but it never got extinguished.

Long time friend, godfather to my eldest son, grade school batch mate and equally passionate comic book enthusiast Omer Villanueva texted me last July 24 about a comic convention he was going to this coming August at the Megatrade Hall of SM Megamall. By a stroke of happenstance, it coincided with Sonny Boy’s examination for Yellow belt in his karate class at the main branch of AAK.

So last Aug. 9 with Sonny Boy and Junior, we went to SM Megamall for those two events. I was also looking forward to meeting my friend Omer - a ‘kumpare’ and one of Junior’s baptismal ninongs whom we haven’t seen in at least ten years. Yeah…ten years!

Since we arrived early for Sonny’s exam, we had enough time for him to take I.D. pictures which he later needed and some time to check out the comic convention.

The Metro Comic Convention featured a lot of ‘cosplayers’

If I knew my ‘Konami’ characters well I’d say many of them were from the popular game/movie ‘Mortal Kombat’

Dubbed as a local version of the hallowed San Diego Comic Convention in the US, comic enthusiasts of all ages were present during this momentous event.

But it wasn’t just about comic books from the United States. A considerable segment of the youth has also been fascinated with Japanese comic characters since the time of Gigantor, Astroboy, Voltes V and the Star Rangers. Many of today’s youth generation are into cosplaying where they really invest in the recreation of the costumes of their favorite Manga characters.

Though the decades, many Filipinos have excelled in many fields of the comic industry

A positive development I’ve noticed is the marked increase of local independent comic books in the market right now. Three decades ago, it was practically an industry of the US. Sure there were some Filipino artists hired and got recognized here and there but local talents were relatively unknown and not highly paid. In the local scene, there were some notable characters like Darna and Zuma. One of my personal favorites back then was the innovative “Funny Comics”. But Filipino comics generally remained formulaic with redundant romantic plots and sexual escapist undertones which of course worked well with the Marcos regime’s objective of maintaining subservience among the people during its years of dictatorial rule.

Slowly but surely, Filipino talents and other Asians have increasingly been recognized both here and abroad challenging the monopolistic hold the Americans once had in this lucrative industry.

Junior & Sonny Boy with ‘Samurai’ and ‘Japanese school girl’

Cool…a rock & roll muppet does the vocals of a performing band

Hanging out (on a broomstick!) with my magical fans from Hogwarts

Organizers of the convention were one with the nation in honoring one of its modern day heroes

With some of the action figures of popular characters from Marvel comics like Captain America, Black Bolt, Gambit and Thor while Superman comes from DC Comics

A lot of comic enthusiasts, Japanese Manga (comics) fans, toy collectors, artists, etc. showed up at the convention

Two of my most favorite Marvel Comic characters – The Incredible Hulk and various versions of Iron Man are displayed along with evil nemesis of the mutant X-men – the Juggernaut

A classic battle between the Hulk and X-men member Wolverine is recreated her in this display which also features fellow X-men Cyclops, the villain Sabertooth and the Japanese Manga character Naruto

The cosmic Silver Surfer in between two version of the the X-men Angel

With the brooding “Dark Knight” – Batman and futuristic “Terminator”

With the brooding “Dark Knight” – Batman and futuristic “Terminator”

Of course, there were comic books!

The main office of the Association for the Advancement of Karate-do (AAK)

Later in the afternoon, we headed back to the AAK main branch situated at the same floor of the Megatrade Hall for Sonny Boy’s examination for Yellow belt.

We weren’t able to meet Omer inside the convention hall but fortunately we met him later as he looked for us at the AAK gym which I mentioned to him we would also be today in an earlier text message.

I met Omer’s wife and the rest of his family during that brief meet. We definitely should have another get together as we have a lot of catching up to do.

With SMC grade schoolmate Omer Villanueva and members of his family

Sonny Boy and other examinees go through their limbering exercises

Sonny and another younger white belt karateka execute their forward punch and stance

My son passed the examinations but he has to further improve his stances which will give him better stability whether performing kata (forms) or during kumite (sparring).

Wolverine, Spawn (Image Comics) and the dark Phoenix (X-men’s Jean Grey when she’s in a good mood)

After Sonny’s exams, we headed back to the convention hall to have a longer look at its exhibits and merchandise.

One observation – There seemed to be more toys and action figures than comic books being sold during the convention. I’m not so sure what to make of it.

A bust of the maniacal sociopath Joker seemed unnervingly real

With the ‘Man of Steel’ and Spidey unmasked (I thought Superman would have been taller)

Creator/Artist/Writer of the popular Pugad Baboy comic strips was present to sign autographs

Samurai warrior looks menacingly ready to attack

The samurai above looked nasty but later I surmised that it must have been due to hunger as we later saw him eating at Kentucky’s Fried Chicken…hehe!

Until the next comics convention….hasta la vista, baby!

All’s well, ends well. The entrance fee of a hundred bucks was a bit pricey but in the end, worth it. Lowering the fees though might encourage a lot more ‘kids at heart’ to take interest and make collecting comics a serious hobby.

Me…I may never again be the zealous collector I was before but comics will always be a part of my life. ‘Nuff said! :]

MAKE AUGUST 1 – CORAZON AQUINO DAY !

The whole nation expresses grief for the passing away of former President Corazon C. Aquino last August 1.

Literally, thousands of Filipinos have gone to see her remains at La Salle Greenhills despite the horrendous traffic of EDSA and the heavy rains that have poured down for days now.

Her passing came at a time when the people were in search of heroes – laders who had the integrity and sincerity of heart, character traits that seem hard to find in our present crop of politicians and would be Presidents.

Her legacy should never be forgotten.

Quite ironic was the fact that her husband, Ninoy Aquino who was assassinated in 1983, died also during the month of August – August 21 to be exact.

August 21 has been for many years recognized as an official national holiday.

President Aquino’s invaluable contributions and sacrifices for the country warrant I believe the same respect and recognition a genuine stateswoman deserves.

For anyone reading this blog post, especially those in the Philippine government right now, together let us help make August 1 be declared –

CORAZON AQUINO DAY

That’s the least we could do for a woman who gave so much for a people her husband believed was “worth dying for”.

May her example be shared for all future generations to remember and learn from. May such learning help us grow and mature into a kinder, more just, morally upright and selfless people. So that the Filipino will not only be truly worthy of sacrificing one’s life for, but shall also be equally worth - serving and living for!