“What kind of identity would you have as a Filipino if you draw like them?”

Sheesh. Get a grip. It’s just a style. Doesn’t mean shit if it’s drawn by a Filip, Mexican or American.

In fact, most Filipino artists got their influence from illustrators from the West. There was even one artist who said he sent a letter to the creator of Prince Valiant.

Proves my point.

No “I hate anime!” there.

http://web.archive.org/web/20010126114200/http://alanguilan.com/sanpablo/art1.html

I can even quote: “I must say that I have NO problem with manga as an art style per se. In fact, I’m a fan of Katsuhiro Otomo, and of Goseki Kojima, artist of Lone Wolf and Cub, who is drawing in another manga style that I wish were more popular than the one I am talking about here. I think it’s a fantastic style. Very alive, very energetic.”

But of course, there’s no point in arguing with me about what I said in that link, because I said, my opinions have since evolved and developed through the years through interaction and discussion. My current views on this can be found in the archive of my current blog.

If you’re interested in discussion, about this issue and a lot of other things, please do cool off a bit, take a happy pill, and then perhaps we can talk again.

It’s called LEARNING. No one stays the same all the time. They grow and they change. And over time, even opinions change. That’s normal. I don’t sit here saying my opinion is infallible and correct for everybody. It’s simply what I think. Through interaction and discussion, my opinions evolve and develop over time.

However, I never said I hated anime, or I hated manga. I may have been hot around the collar in the old days, but the worst I said was drawing manga is a waste of our talents, and that the use of it is destroying Filipino culture. Of course, that’s not how I feel about it now. I grow with interaction and discussion. However, I do stick to my opinion that I can never consider manga as Filipino comics art.

And yes, I think Atlas’ decision was a shit decision. If you don’t agree with it, then fine. You seem to keep forgetting the context of this discussion. You asked me what I would do if I were in their shoes. And in their shoes, this and that is what I’m going to do. And because my answer seemed to offend you, you turn around and now want me to build a comics company from scratch just to prove to you my opinion is correct. Can you get a grip please?

How is my answer such a problem for you? Why do care so much what I think? Am I imposing it on you? Am I forcing you to agree with me? Am I forcing ATLAS and the world to agree with me? I’m not. Is my opinion going to change Atlas mind, the course of Philippine comics history, and the course of human history? Of course it won’t.

There’s no reason why it should affect you, and there’s no reason why you’re being so rude and nasty to me because of what I think. Because really, you act like I killed your cat or something. Is this something personal to you, or something? Because it feels like it is.

This kind of discussion with you is something I don’t learn anything from to be honest. All I get is animosity and contempt. I strongly prescribe a happy pill. Take it easy. All right?

You’re saying Atlas did a shitty decision. That’s the nutshell of what you said. Then you go on with “if it would be me this ain’t gonna happen”. Man, you’ve been around for years! Most of what you did was self publish stuff for your own!

Atlas has people to feed. The reason is that you just can’t get that friggin fact in you head. It’s a publishing company, it can publish what it wants. No artist have a say in that or can control it. Move on!

Whatever you say, papasok lang sa isang tenga at lalabas lang sa kabila. Nothing you can do about it.

Like I said, you asked for my opinion, and I gave it to you. Apparently, you didn’t like my opinion so now you’re asking me to build a plane just to prove that man can fly.

Are you going to ask me to build things just to prove and validate every opinion I make? Do you want me to start asking YOU to build things just to prove and validate your opinion?

Do you seriously want this discussion to go in this direction?

Why can’t you just accept that it’s the opinion that I have? You don’t HAVE to agree with me. Why do you want me to jump through all these hoops in an attempt to prove my opinion wrong? I have a right to my opinion as you have a right to yours.

If you don’t agree with me, then you don’t agree with me. I don’t care. I never said anyone should agree with me. I’m just voicing my opinion, as is my right. I don’t have anything to prove to YOU. As I’m sure you have nothing to prove to me.

“Those things I would have never let happen in the first place.”

Prove me wrong. Why don’t you create a publishing company…and let’s see where that leads you. Buy an offset printer, hire some people, print only comics. Let’s see how you do in like…5 years.

“Lastly, reality check man, no one can survive with just dreams and hopes.”

It’s possible, but it’s not for everybody. I can, and I have. But I won’t elaborate. You just might think I’m speechfying. :) I’ve got my head bitten off enough already, answering your questions.

Reality check: The world can’t survive without dreamers. If we weren’t here, we’d still be lighting our fires with stones. But really, there’s no reason to bicker over this. The world needs both dreamers and practical thinkers. They help each other and keep each other in check. Whaddaya say eh?

Oh, don’t concern yourself with my ego. It’s fine where it is.

I just don’t understand how you can interpret it that way. I was simply answering your question. It was a valid question, and I was answering it as honestly, and as decently as I can. And you bit my head off for it. Why did you have to do that?

And just to put a surprising, unexpected element into this discussion, did you read my post about me doing an adult comic book? That will go a long way in explaining what my definition of porn is. When I can’t put it in words, I put it in comics. Check out a copy of it. “Where Bold Stars Go To Die” out in November at the Komikon.

Before any misunderstandings occur, I did make quite a vocal opposition to the pending Anti-Obscenity Bill, filed by Sen. Manny Villar last July. I even wrote him an email, which I’m sure his minions quickly put in the recycle bin.

And I’m looking for YOUR definition of porn. Not the general consensus. What is it? Simple nudity doesn’t mean it’s art?

Lastly, reality check man, no one can survive with just dreams and hopes. Without action there is no reaction. Atlas did what they think it’s best. Heck, even the Jim Henson Company are exploring adult entertainment, not with graphic human genitalia, but with puppets and mature dialogue…something like Avenue Q would do. So does that make Atlas any different?

Heh, yeah…probably I have better things to do, seeming that now I bruised your ego. :P

But it is art…well…art of the obscene anyway.

Also, I don’t know what movie they are showing in that movie house you’re talking about. If it’s an hardcore x-rated film during the 70s, I won’t blame anyone in that community for not watching it. They might too chicken to see it and get flak from their community and their church (who I think mostly control everything what we say, do or decide in this damn country.)

To me it’s just a simple business decision what Atlas did. The company is at the time when it’s going to sink or swim. Whatever the outcome, that depends on their decision. Smart decision? Well, I don’t judge them on that. Like you said, business has risks and it’s a gamble.

I hope we won’t start a “Define Porn” on this topic because this discussion will never end.