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Dec

31

My 2007. I Hated It.

Filed Under Dr. Rizal, Elmer, Filipino Artists, Humanis Rex!, My Comics, Online Comics, Philippine Comics, Timawa | 9 Comments

In my earlier post I mentioned that it would be my last update for 2007. It turns out I had something more to say with only one day to go before 2008. I want to get all this out of my system before a new year comes rolling along so I can talk about something else come Tuesday.

2007 has got to be one of the worst years I’ve had so far, both personally and professionally. The year started with much optimism, specially with regards to the komiks industry. I felt that 2007 would be a big year for komiks, and although it was indeed a significant year, I felt nothing but disillusionment. It is this year I discovered how dirty the local komiks industry is, and that there are people here who will stop at nothing, because of their greed and hunger for glory and recognition, to trample on ordinary hardworking people to get what they want. It’s more frustrating to see that there are other people who are blinding themselves to this for whatever reason. I don’t know if they’re just clueless or just don’t care because they’re getting something out of it. There are many other things I have learned, things I can never talk about on this blog that have simply horrified and disgusted me.

Those looking for someone to blame for the fate of Sterling’s komiks and are pointing fingers here and there, you simply have NO idea. You absolutely have NO idea. And if I can laugh at your ignorance I would, but I’m a little too bummed to do even that.

If you want to look for something to blame, all you have to do is look at the komiks themselves, and just let your brain function. That’s all it is. And if you can’t find anything wrong with them, it’s best that you are never placed in any kind of position to further efforts to revive this industry.

I was pretty demoralized because of that for much of the year, and I have to say it did affect the work I did. I also lost my dog, who I considered a part of my family, and that bummed me out even more. I was only able to finish one issue of Elmer, when I intended to finish the entire series. I was hoping to launch two regular series this year, but both have come to a grinding halt. It was probably a mistake to spend so much time with webcomics this year because it really ate into the time I needed for my paying print work. I probably won’t be back there again, except to serialize something I’ve already done, like Wasted.

I stopped the Komikero meetings for the latter half of the year because I was either too busy, or it just didn’t feel right. I felt that I would not have been good company. I started to answer email less and less. I haven’t checked my email in a while now.

Thank goodness for the good things that came my way this year because without them, I would have gone completely quackers.

In spite of my early hesitation, teaching one term at Benilde was one of the best things to happen to me this year. It was a great experience, and I came away every Saturday feeling really good.

Starting TIMAWA for Buzz Magasin was also a great thing, and it was something I really needed creatively. It felt really good finishing Elmer #3 for Komikon, but I hoped I could have finished it earlier. But coming out with it was really nice nevertheless.

Finishing Humanis Rex was bittersweet. I felt great satisfaction upon finishing the entire series, something I had worked since 2005. I hope I could have done it better, but at least the lessons I learned here would inform the work I would do on Timawa, as well as The Marvelous Adventures of the Amazing Dr. Rizal.

Helping Ilyn get to watch and meet Taylor Hicks was a high point of the year. She’s a huge fan, and it was great seeing how happy she was (and still is) for the past few weeks.

I want to end 2007 on this high note, and just put all that ugly stuff behind me. 2008 is a new year and I hope it’s a better one. Coincidentally, 1997 was also a bad year for me, and 1998 was a great year, a fantastic year for me actually. I wish 2008 would be a great and fantastic year as well. 8 after all, is a favorite number of mine.

Comments

9 Responses to “My 2007. I Hated It.”

  1. auggie on December 31st, 2007 7:47 am

    Gerry,

    Seems the Year of the Pig wasn’t so great after all, same for me. In fact, some horrifying event occurred during the last few days, but it’s better to be on top of the situation,rather than to mope about it.
    Let’s hope that the Year of the Rat, will turn out otherwise, after all number 8 is supposed to be my lucky number. Check out the stroke of the number, it goes upward.

    Anyway, Happy New Year to you and your wife !

  2. Ed on December 31st, 2007 9:46 am

    Well, Gerry. At least the last month of ’07 maraming magandang nangyari; nakikita mong masaya ang mahal mo. Hehe.

    Pare-pareho naman tayong medyo down nitong 2007 eh. Minsan di lang natin alam kung bakit, pero sana mas maganda nga ang 2008 kahit Year of the Rat (rat nga ba?). More work sana, kasi itumba mo ang “8″, infinite ang symbol. :D

    Happy New Year, p’re!

    -ed

  3. Jax on December 31st, 2007 10:55 am

    Gerry,

    I wish you and Ilyn all the joy & laughter you have brought into my life. Celebrate each other. How wonderful is it that a high point of your year was seeing your wife so happy.

    People like you brighten up our days .. I hope 2008 brings you many blessings & much joy.

  4. Sunny on December 31st, 2007 10:56 pm

    I sympathize with you Gerry regarding 2007, it wasn’t a very good year for me either. Born under the sign of the pig it was supposed to be, alas that was incorrect.

    Best wishes to you for a prosperous year in which positive event pass you and your family’s way.

  5. Henry8 on December 31st, 2007 11:12 pm

    Just minutes before I read this I had told my husband that at the stroke of midnight tonight, I was going out on our front porch , wave good-by to 2007, and tell it not to let the door hit it in the ass. I have high hopes for better next year. One highlight of this year was getting to meet you and your wife. Best wishes for better times ahead.

  6. John Beatty on January 2nd, 2008 4:30 am

    Gerry-

    I guess seeing ME two times in a year is enough to make anyone have a bad year! ;-)

    I always love the start of a “new year” a fresh start, a learning from the past…

    Here’s to 2008!

    Ingat!
    -JBeatty

  7. Gerry Alanguilan on January 2nd, 2008 8:35 am

    John… meeting you last year was one of the good moments! I really am very glad to have met you. I often have the experience of meeting people whose work I really like and I come away wishing I’d rather not have met them because they were such asses. Not in your case! Thanks very much for your friendship… and your brushes! They’re becoming very handy! I think my 2008 artwork will have much MUCH more brush work in them. :D

  8. John Beatty on January 2nd, 2008 9:38 am

    Salamat, Gerry! Meeting you, and everyone there, was my pleasure. I really enjoyed my visits and all the new friends I met. I miss everyone and the time we had together…I will never forget those times.

    And…when I see you again…we will sing some Neil Diamond! :)

  9. auggie on January 2nd, 2008 2:14 pm

    Neil Diamond ? I thought you were a LED ZEP fanboy ?