Thursday, September 8, 2011
Visprint WIT 2011
Come this Saturday (September 10) to Visprint's Annual Reader's Event - WIT! It'll be at the SMX Convention Center. I'll be talking about how advertising helped me create the FHL. Also giving talks - Budjette Tan, Kajo Baldisimo, Carlo Vergara, and Manix Abrera.
The event starts at 9am but my talk starts at 10am. After the talk, I'll be there to sign books and maybe some doodling until the event ends.
I hope to see you there.
Monday, August 15, 2011
ORDER YOUR OWN COPY OF FHL ONLINE
Can't find The Filipino Heroes League in your nearest bookstore? Then order it online! Just click on the links below:
National Bookstore Online
Fully Booked Online
National Bookstore Online
Fully Booked Online
Sunday, August 14, 2011
FHL NOW NO.8 IN THE NBS BESTSELLER LIST!
NBS setup at Trinoma |
That's right! That's the Filipino Heroes League with a bunch of other Filipino publications that made it National Bookstore's Top 10 Bestselling Philippine Publications List!
The FHL is number 8! Thanks so much guys for picking up the book! Wuhoo!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
FHL REVIEW ROUND-UP
Here's a list of links of all the reviews of FHL online. I hope to regularly update this.
From behold the Geek
From Gathering Books
From Quiet Tinkles
From Rocket Kapre
From Scans Daily
From Broken Record
From Planet Markus
From Taking a Break
From Lolidudes
From the Komikero
From Kwatro Khanto
From behold the Geek
From Gathering Books
From Quiet Tinkles
From Rocket Kapre
From Scans Daily
From Broken Record
From Planet Markus
From Taking a Break
From Lolidudes
From the Komikero
From Kwatro Khanto
Monday, August 8, 2011
REVIEW OF FHL IN ADOBO MAGAZINE
This is probably illegal but, sorry Adobo Mag, I just couldn't help myself! Click on the thumbnail to enlarge!
Monday, May 2, 2011
DIRECTIONS TO THE NEAREST FILIPINO GRAPHIC NOVEL
When I couldn't find Tan's and Baldisimo's Trese in the Graphic Novel section in Fully Booked and discovered it in the Filipiniana Section, I railed - I saw it as literary apartheid. Why couldn't Trese share some shelf space with Captain America? My main issue against this stemmed from the fact that fans of the Graphic Novel will never stray to the Filipiniana section thereby cutting off our books to our target market. In the current setup, one would have to be looking for a Filipino Graphic Novel to be able to find it; it denies the casual browser to discover something new and Filipino in his/her genre of interest.
Researching further into this, however, I discovered that the situation was not as black and white as I thought and that, at times, there were distinct advantages to being segregated in such a way.
The strengths and weaknesses of the Filipiniana Section are totally dependent on the brand of bookstore and even the particular branch of that bookstore. Generally, one would find that in Fully Booked (FB), it could be seen as a disadvantage while in National Bookstore (NB), it could be seen as quite a big plus.
The FB in Greenhills tucked the Filipiniana section in the back wall of the second floor - between the kids section and the special interest books; not the usual place you'd find comic book fans. It was this particular bookstore that initially got me all riled up about this subject.
However, even in FB, not all Filipiniana Sections are created equal. The former layout of the Rockwell FB allowed for a totally separate shelf for Filipino Graphic Novels in its Filipiniana Section - it looked like a holy shrine to the gods of the Filipino graphic novel. It was a thing of beauty.
Unfortunately, Rockwell FB has since changed layout and the Filipiniana section no longer figures as prominent a space compared to their Graphic Novel Section. However, the opposite is true for most National Bookstores.
In a lot NB's, the Graphic Novel Section is a disorganized blob of books thrown on a table, literally. It is not the ideal place for any graphic novel, much less a Filipino graphic novel! It's not even on a shelf!
However, NB's setup for their Filipiniana sections are vastly different. I know that in NB Shangri-La, it's the very first shelf you see as you enter. Again, as in FB, it's different everywhere and it changes from branch to branch. Nevertheless, one does get the impression that NB gives more importance to Filipino publications as they regularly put up encouraging signs like this in their stores:
Though NB and FB treat the Filipiniana section differently, at least in both cases, Filipino graphic novels are given shelf-space. The way they view graphic novels in general is vastly different, however and, in the end, I'd rather be on the shelf than in a pile on a table. Of course, the ideal would be a totally independent shelf-space in the Graphic Novel section in FB and another one in the Filpiniana section of NB but I may be shooting for the moon on that point.
So, because I'd rather be on a shelf, I am for the status quo.
However, the graphic novel fans will never meander into the Filipiniana Section on their own - they must be guided there. To do so, we need the help of the fans.
So if you're reading this and you are a fan, please, endorse the Filipino Graphic Novels you enjoy and make sure to give them specific directions on how find it. Tell them to go to Customer Service or say:
"Trese? It's a great graphic novel! It's available in National Book Store IN THE FILIPINIANA SECTION!"
I hope to see you there.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
FHL NOW AVAILABLE IN FULLY BOOKED AND PANDAYAN BOOKSTORES!!!!
Here is my book on the shelf in Fully Booked Highstreet! It's in the Filipiniana Section, I believe. Photo c/o of THE Budjette Tan.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
THE LAUNCH!!!!
Well that was a blast.
I started the day relatively slow. I was placed in a line up with the rest of the Visprint heavy-weights. To my right was Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, creators of Trese, and to my left was Mannix Abrerra, creator of Kiko Machine. Soon after, Carlo Vergar, creator of Zsa Zsa Zsaturnahhh, occupied the seat right next to me.
Needless to say, my poor little comic book was struggling to find air time in the steady stream of fans heading towards these giants of Philippine comic books.
I busted out my sales call: FILIPINO HEROES LEAGUE - WORLD-CLASS STORY TELLING AT THIRD-WORLD PRICES. I got strange looks so I stopped promptly.
In the end though, a lot of their fans picked up the book and bought and others actually sought me out!
A big thanks to everyone who picked up a copy! In a weeks time, it will be available in National Bookstore, I heard. I'll confirm.
For those who are abroad, I'm still trying to figure out a way I can deliver through an online store or something.
Again, thanks to those who bought! You made my day.
PS. EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO BUDJETTE, WELLA, CARVER, MANNIX AND KAJO FOR GUIDING ME THROUGH MY FIRST BOOK LAUNCH. Oh an extra-extra special thanks to Nida for giving me the opportunity.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
D-DAY! SEE YOU GUYS AT KON!!!!
See you guys later!!!!! It's going to be a fun day. The entire gang will be there!
Just click the link below to find out how to get there.
MAP TO KON!!!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
FHL PREVIEW PAGES (1-50)
You can read it here or you can read it with greater ease on FACEBOOK on the Comixtrips App! READ FHL ON COMIXTRIPS!
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