President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (third from left) led the unveiling of five new komiks by writer-director Carlo J. Caparas (rightmost) during a ceremony at the Bulwagang Leandro Locsin of the NCCA Building in Intramuros, Manila. Also in photo are Carlos's wife, Donna Villa, and Dr. Dante Guevarra, president of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Jocelyn Dimaculangan

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President GMA unveils five new komiks carrying initials of Carlo J. Caparas

Jocelyn Dimaculangan

Friday, August 3, 2007
09:17 PM

Larger-than-life komiks illustrations decorated the walls of the Leandro Locsin auditorium of the National Commission for Culture and Arts building for the launching and unveiling rites of the new batch of komiks that are expected to revive public interest in the literary works.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo graced the July 26 occasion, which was attended by komiks novelists, illustrators, dealers, and suppliers from all over the country. The special affair culminates the Komiks Congress launched by the golden couple Carlo J. Caparas and Donna Villa exactly 150 days ago at the same venue inside Intramuros.

Dubbed as the Komiks King, writer-director Carlo J. Caparas has written over 800 komiks novels, many of which have been made into hit TV series and movies. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit last February, the National Arts Month, for being one of five "legends of Philippine Komiks."

The four other Medals of Merit were awarded posthumously to Antonio Velasquez, author of the comic series Mga Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy; Francisco Coching, pioneer of Katha at Guhit sa Komiks and creator of Pedro Penduko; Mars Ravelo, creator of Darna, Dyesebel and Captain Barbell, and Larry Alcala, creator of Asiong Aksaya and Kalabog en Bosyo.

The famed director, wearing his usual sunglasses and baseball cap, recalled how the "kwentistas" [komiks creators] were allowed into Malacañang in their "rubber shoes, naka-maong, pinatuloy sa unang pagkakataon, sumayad ang paa ng mga taga-komiks sa Palasyo sa paanyaya ng isang Pangulo..."

"Dahil po sa isang medalya na isinabit sa aking dibdib, para po akong lumang makina na biglang umandar ang makina, nagkaroon ng hustong gasoline at kami ng aking mga kaibigan sa komiks ay nagising na maligaya at muling nagkaroon ng hininga."

Carlo J. then asked the audience to give the President a long and resounding round of applause "na mas malakas pa sa mga palakpak noong SONA [State of the Nation Address]."

"Ang Komiks Karavan nang ilibot namin sa halos buong bansa, maalab na maalab pa rin ang pagnanais nila na ang komiks ay mabalik sa masang Pilipino. At hindi sila mabibigo, sa pamamagitan ng inyong lingkod, ng aking maybahay [Donna Villa], ng lahat ng kasamahan kong dibuhista at kwentista, magiging bahagi kami ng inyong maghapon.

"Dudulutan namin kayo ng kakaibang putahe ng aming mga akda upang ipagkapuri ninyo na sa Pilipinas mayroong komiks na pantapat natin kay Superman, kay Batman, kay Spiderman at sa lahat ng karakters ng ibang komiks sa ibang bansa. Mahusay po ang mga Pilipino na gumawa ng komiks kaysa sa kanilang lahat."

Donna Villa was likewise overcome with joy: "I feel indebted to this industry because [as a movie producer] I've made a lot of hit movies based on komiks material [written by Carlo J]. Ito na siguro ang pinakamasayang araw ng asawa kong si Carlo J. Caparas-talo pa ang kasal namin dito. Pangarap ho talaga niyang ibalik ang komiks at ‘eto na, naibalik na, walang duda. Tingin ko nga, mas magaganda pa ngayon ang mga istorya."

KOMIK FARE. The five titles formally introduced to the public that morning were: CJC Tagalog Komiks Hiwaga ng Kadena de Amor; CJC Gwapo Komiks Ano Ang Lihim ng Beauty Queen?; CJC Super Funny Komix Gagambino; CJC OFW Super-Stories Andres de Saya; and CJC Pilipino Klasiks Kroko Takas sa Zoo.

These 5 new illustrated novels will be available nationwide starting September 4. The 32-page komiks will have glossy color covers and will be sold at P10 per issue.

Also gracing the affair were GMA-7 senior vice president for entertainment Wilma Galvante and program manager Redgie Acuña-Magno. Ms. Galvante told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) that the Kapuso Network is very proud of the writer-director's achievements.

"Malaki ang pasasalamat namin sa kanila [Carlo and Donna] kasi nu'ng binigay nila sa GMA ang paggawa ng Bakekang, nakita naman ng mga tao ngayon na ang istorya, ang mga katauhan na na-create niya para gumalaw sa loob ng Bakekang ay talagang nakakabigay ng kaligayahan sa lahat ng mga nanonood ng telebisyon.

"Ngayon, gagawa siya ng mga panibagong istorya, para sa mga new titles niya for the komiks. Mabuti ‘yon dahil kahit sa future, marami ka pang pwedeng kunin na istorya na para i-serialize for TV. So hindi lang iyan d'yan matatapos. Ngayon nga ang kinuha namin ulit sa kanya na istorya niya na ila-license for TV [ay] ‘yong Kamandag," kwento ni Ms. Wilma.

The komiks-turned-TV series will topbill Richard Gutierrez and will be aired during the last quarter of the year. The GMA-7 executive stopped short of naming the leading lady of Richard for this TV series although she assured that Carlo J. Caparas would still be part of the creative team behind Kamandag.

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