RIP: Corazon Aquino 1933 - 2009

I've made it a point not to discuss politics in this blog but today is an exception. In 1986 my brothers and I were part of the popular uprising in Manila which brought about the ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and help install a revolutionary government headed by Corazon Aquino.

Millions of filipinos crowded the streets and formed human barricades where a breakaway faction of the military had holed up in defiance of Marcos, who had just won a systematically rigged election. The people had had enough of twenty six years of dictatorship and did something about it behind Mrs. Aquino who united the opposition and was carrying the fight after her husband, Senator Benigno Aquino was assasinated presumably by Marcos as he returned from exile in the U.S.

We were there as history unfolded before our eyes. In the ultimate act of defiance, she was inaugurated as president in a non-descript conference hall while Marcos could only watch as his grip on power slowly slipped away.

Mrs. Aquino had a tumultous presidency yet her legacy was secure. She had symbolized hope for many and that was enough to get the Philippines out of the dark. She showed courage and strength when the masses felt low and downtrodden. From housewife to President, she showed the world that change can come without violence. She showed even more when she fought hard battling colon cancer.

I join filipinos everywhere in mourning her passing. May she truly rest in peace.

Corazon Aquino and The Philippine Revolution of 1986 on Wikipedia.

Living the Dream

.... America or Bust!!

On July 23, 1989 my brothers and I took what we probably consider as the most meaningful airplane flight of our lives: The flight that took us from the Philippines to the United States of America.

It was the culmination of a long and complicated immigration process which started ten years previously and spearheaded by my parents and my older sister. For my father it was quite special because we had not seen him in ten years. (My mother and sister had been back several times to visit) So the reunion was happy to say the least. We had lots of catching up to do and that we did.

For me America only existed in pictures. Growing up I could only imagine what it would be like living in such a wondrous place where everything seemed just right. The anticipation during the long flight over the Pacific grew as I thought silently about what Los Angeles would be like. It's ridiculous of course but things like what the air would smell like where tantalizing. During a short layover in Honolulu, Hawaii I turned on my Walkman and got my first taste of American radio. Hawaii being a state meant I was technically in America. But the tropical climate was throwing us off. This place just looks like where we came from....

As the 747 gently glided over Southern California I looked outside the window just as the plane emerged from the clouds. What I was seeing down there might as well be a different planet. This must be what the Apollo astronauts felt like. It was like a dream. Now I didn't have to imagine it. It was real and my new life had just begun.

Twenty years gives you a tremendous perspective. As a twenty-one year old immigrant I naively fumbled and stumbled my way trying to find my place in this new world. I remember worrying about the novelty wearing off. I didn't want to lose the reverence I had for America now that I was living there. But of course like all places on this planet, it is not Utopia. It has it's share of challenges and social disfunction. But despite the harsh realities one thing was evident: The American dream is there for the taking. It was up to us to snatch it up and grab it.

I became an American citizen in 1996. But somehow I've felt I was always one. Twenty years later my admiration and fascination for this country has not changed. The fruits of our labor and the success and achievement that resulted is less likely elsewhere. It is my home and I would gladly give my life defending it. And as far as the novelty wearing off is concerned? Twenty years later I still pinch myself and wonder if i'm really here.

(These stills are from the original video of our momentous journey to the U.S. It was shot on a humungously clunky, shoulder mounted Panasonic video camera at the Manila International Airport. I should have shot more but the scattered three minutes of footage is enough to save the event for posterity. That's Ronnie on the right of course, and that's my other brother Rick who continues to help generate all sorts of wacky perversion on FOX's Family Guy and American Dad)

No Pilgrimage

The string has been broken. No nerd mecca for me this year but so many of our good friends are debuting new stuff at this year's COMIC-CON in San Diego, California including my good friend, the talented Octavio Rodriguez who will be flying solo, manning our precious little piece of real estate.

Check out his new short story "New Beginnings" at exhibitor table G4 in Hall C at the San Diego Convention Center starting Wednesday evening July 22nd (Preview Night) to Sunday, July 26th.

While you're at it, stop by and show these guys some love:

Stuart Ng Books (Booth 5012)
50 feet of graphic smorgasbord! Bring lots of money.

Loter Incorporated (Booth 4012)
Toys, Shirts, books and all sorts of really cool stuff from the talented duo of
John and Shelley Loter

Ted Mathot (Booth 1215)
The Rose & Isabel creator is premiering his CORA issue #2.
Check out Derek Thompson's Book of Monsters while you're at it....

FLIGHT / Gallery Nucleus (Booth 2329)

Flight #6 debuts!! Keep your collection going!

Scott Morse, Jeff Pidgeon,
Ronnie del Carmen, Enrico Casarosa (Booth 4800)
Hocking their books, toys and other interesting paraphernalia...

Bobby Chiu, Kei Acedera / Imaginism Studios (Table G6-G7)

Stephen Silver (H6)
David Colman (H5)
Javier Guzman (F4)
Mark McDonnell (Booth 5362)
Donnachada Daly (Table C6)
Doug Tennaple (Booth 1714)
Hot Mexican Love Comics (Small Press N8)

Anson Jew (Artist's Alley EE-01)
Benton Jew (Artist's Alley EE-02)
Robot Publishing (Small Press M8)
Justin Ridge / Hye-Jun Kim (Table E8)

Kevin Dart / Fleet Street Scandal (Booth 1316)

Sam Hiti (Booth 1831)
Jose Lopez (Table H9)
Jeremy Bernstein / J.J. Villard (Table C05)
Lava Punch (Table G8)
Ghostbot (Booth 4303)
Giant Robot (Booth 1729)

Super 7 (Booth 4729)
Pascal Campion / Michael Daley (Table G3)
Patrick Morgan (Table H10)
Paul Briggs (Booth 4039)
Sho Murase (Artist's Alley GG-01)

.....Have a swell time everyone!!!

Maui Sketches

Pencil and watercolor, Handbook Journal Landscape 3.5 x 5.5 inch sketchbook

Watercolor, Handbook Journal Landscape 3.5 x 5.5 inch sketchbook

Pencil and watercolor, Handbook Journal Landscape 3.5 x 5.5 inch sketchbook

Pencil and watercolor, Moleskin Watercolor Pad Landscape 5 x 8.25 inch.

Watercolor, Moleskin Watercolor Pad Landscape 5 x 8.25 inch.

Piece of Paradise

I'm back from a little R & R and feeling mighty good. It's a really amazing what a little sun and some good island vibes can do to the soul. Maui, Hawaii is one of my favorite places to go on vacation either literally or mentally. So if you catch me gazing off into the distance, that's probably where I am....

Of course I did my fair share of sketching so i'll post some drawings soon.