I count myself to have been extremely lucky to be invited to the San Diego Convention, to have the opportunity to experience it and be involved in it as much as I have. All the while I was there, I was wishing I could take everyone I knew there to experience it as well, the Komikeros, my friends, the numerous comic book people creating indie comics here… I wish I had a TARDIS to bring them all there and experience it. I think that would have been great.

I am so looking forward to November 19, 2011, and the 7th annual Komikon. But I am sorry to say that due to numerous reasons, I will be unable to deliver “The Marvelous Adventures of the Amazing Doctor Rizal” at the event. I’ve had too many things going on physically, emotionally and psychologically, not to mention my regular “job”, to devote any meaningful time to create the book to the quality that made me happy. In the end, I’m primarily concerned with coming up with a book that I truly did my best on, and not fret about it later on. That said, I will no longer be able to tell when it’s going to be out. I guess the best answer I can give is “When it’s done.”

Whatever the case, updates will continue later this week, and see you all at Komikon in November!

It all really began in October of 2009 when projects that I had been working on for years finally came out. The ELMER collected edition, which I started working on in early 2006 finally came out. “Where Bold Stars Go To Die”, a story I wrote in 2000 which struggled to find the right artist came out at the same time. And the digital restoration, compilation and republication of Francisco V. Coching’s “EL INDIO”, which my studio had been working on since 2004 finally came out as well.

I immediately started sending ELMER out to editors, writers, artists, journalists, reviewers and publishers abroad. I felt that Elmer could have a life outside of the country. I had nothing to lose anyway except shipping expenses. Of course, I hadn’t realized that postal rates had quadrupled in the last few years. Sending one copy of the collected Elmer set me back around 500 pesos, which is worth more than twice the book costs. INSANE. I was used to losing money to the post office anyway, ever since I started sending submissions to Marvel on a regular basis starting 1986. Such expenses are part of the process, I guess. Most of the time you don’t get a return on it, but to get a return on it at least once, all of the trouble and expense becomes worthwhile.

Very soon I had TWO publishers who wanted to publish Elmer. One was SLG in the US, and the second was Editions çà et là in France. I almost didn’t get the latter one because of the freakish nature of the Internet. The email from the editor found itself in the spam folder of my email. If I deleted my spam unread, there would be no French edition of Elmer. But thankfully enough, it’s become a habit of mine to check the spam folder regularly. Thank goodness!

I spent the entire 2010 waiting in excitement for the release of Elmer abroad. Both of them eventually came out in November. Wait, rewind. Let me go back to January.

Philip Tan had a wedding on January 9! Superstar Marvel and DC penciller Philip Tan was in town and got married at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros.

I like weddings. Well, I like weddings now. I used to hate them back when I was Wasted. Nowadays, I love them. There’s something about new beginnings that hold so much potential and promise. In attendance was future president of the Philippines, Jiggy Cruz. Well, Jiggy will probably freak when he reads that, but I can see into the future. (Well actually I don’t.) I just like saying it.

February wasn’t very good. Actually it was pretty bad. It’s the only truly bad thing to happen in 2010, and it’s a big one.

My good friend Arlan Esmeña passed away on February 18 due to cancer. He passed away less than a year after he found out he was sick. Towards the end, he mounted an incredible effort and drew “Where Bold Stars Go To Die” from start to finish where he displayed an outstanding growth as an artist. We lost in incredibly good artist that day, and I lost what I realized was my best friend.

The night of February 18 I was on the air at NU107, on the program RockEd Radio to promote the Renaissance comics event. I was touched when they dedicated the show to Arlan, and I broke down when I spoke about him.

Photo by Anvil.

The Renaissance event was held a few days later on February 21. It was a special event to launch the Renaissance book, part of the proceeds of the sales would go to benefit Komikeros in need. Little did I know that the earnings of the sketching sessions would go to Arlan’s family, which touched me incredibly.

Early that month, on February 13, the first Comics Convention in Los Baños was held, the Komikstrip event, co-organized by good pal Jonas Diego. Sputnik! in Cubao X had a grand relaunch on February 6. I attended both events. Arlan almost attended the Sputnik! relaunch, but was too sick at St. Lukes Hospital a few kilometers away to make it. Instead, he signed 20 copies of Bold Star on his hospital bed. Looking at those autographs, you would never know Arlan was sick.

March was interesting. It was the month Lolcat came into our lives.

Lolcat is this stray tabby cat who wandered into our backyard while he was in heat. I distracted him with food, and he stayed.

I met and hugged Neil Gaiman.

And that wasn’t so easy. I’ve wanted to meet Neil Gaiman since he came to visit the Philippines in 2005. I stood in line for 9 hours just to get his autograph at Greenhills, but I never got a chance to talk to him. I’ve been sending him Elmer through the mail because I was genuinely curious as to what he thought about it. If he didn’t like it, I would gladly accept it. But I was ecstatic to learn that he did, through a post card that he sent. When he came back to do a series of signings in 2010, I racked my brain for ways to hand him the collected Elmer book, as well as talk to him. Not fleeting small talk, but really talk to him. When I was invited to judge the Neil Gaiman and Fully Booked’s Graphic Fiction awards, I accepted right away because I knew I would get to meet Neil properly. It was so awesome finally meeting one of your heroes. I didn’t wash for days after.

In March, the Province of Laguna gave me this thing.

“Gawad Pinakamaningning na Alagad ng Singing” para sa Sining Biswal.

Now I didn’t want to say what it was when it first happened back in March so people won’t have the opportunity to protest. ha!ha!ha! (Little inside joke there.)

Also, the dirt road outside was finally paved with concrete. FINALLY. It’s election period that’s why. However, they didn’t bother to finish it. There’s some five meters more of dirt road between this concrete road and the road outside. Magnificent.

In April I finally got my life long wish. Playboy Philippines visited me to yeah, take pictures of my naked body for the entire country to see. No they didn’t. They just came to talk to me about comics. They did take my photo, but they balked when I hinted I wanted to show some skin.

April 17 was Summer Komikon!

Photo by Roi Fernandez.

Much thanks to Oscar Gailan, Timawa superfan! Now I really don’t like using the word “fan”. I’ve never used it before to refer to anyone who likes my work. I don’t know. I just don’t like to. I only use it this time because Oscar really really likes Timawa. As in I’ve never met anyone else who likes Timawa as much as he does. At almost every event he brings along stacks of The Buzz Magasin for me to sign and I love doing it, not just for Timawa but for any other work of mine anyone else would bring. I never sell my original art (Timawa, Elmer, Humanis Rex, Johnny Balbona), but for Oscar I’ll gladly make an exception.

May was extraordinary. Easily one of the best months of the year for me because I got to act in a short film!

Photo by Jonas Diego.
Teenage Heartthrob, that’s me!

“Tin-tin, 15″ is a short drama film, directed by Lem Garcellano (Batibot) where I got to play a bad guy. A really bad corrupt cop type guy who likes em ladies! Oh yeah!

It was shot for 3 days here in San Pablo, and I was there on the location for 2 days. I probably would not have been able to participate had it been shot elsewhere. It was a long and exhausting two days. We were there from morning up until around 4 in the morning. I would go home, and return early afternoon, and be on hand to shoot, this time well into 5 in the morning.

I was there for only two days, but I was able to form friendships with a few people who I’m still good friends with today. There’s something about intense experiences like that that tend to leave an indelible mark that you carry with you for a long time.

Hot on the heels of Laguna, San Pablo City also gave me this thing on May 7:

As with the Laguna thing, what makes me happy about things like this that I was given the opportunity to do my parents proud. For many years I went around with a cloud over my head believing I had let my parents down for seriously pursuing a career in art. There were definitely moments in the past that I can consider low points in my relationship with my parents because of the decisions I’ve made. I’m old and mature enough now to know that they were only so passionate about what they wanted for me because they didn’t want me growing up destitute and regretful of my youthful and immature decisions.

I’m at least very glad that I had the chance to show them that I knew what I was doing and I knew what I wanted in life. Even if they were wary of my decisions, they nevertheless supported me in the end and it is really for them these recognitions are for rather than for me.

By this time I was back fully into inking comics with Ultimate Comics Avengers and later on Superior, both with Leinil Francis Yu. After being away from inking for years, I realized I had missed it a lot. I also realized how much more detailed Leinil’s pencils had become. While they looked spectacular, it took me longer to ink each page compared to say, a typical page of Superman: Birthright. But nevertheless, it’s a job I love having and love doing.

It was also around this time I realized that I was really getting old. I had hit 40 a couple of years ago, and like turning on a light switch, my eyesight suddenly became blurry. I can still see perfectly when I look around me. It’s just when I read or draw, anything really close to my eyes tend to become blurred. I was aghast. I thought I just need to rest my eyes, wash my face, take a nap or something like that. But no, my eyesight has indeed decreased. I went to an eye doctor and I was prescribed reading glasses. The results were stunning to say the least. Once I put those glasses on, my eyes can suddenly see clearly. I swear, I can see more clearly now with these glasses than I could see before. It’s like lines in front of my eyes become magnified somehow, and I’m actually inking better because of it.

Towards the end of May I decided find happiness in everything I do.

Nothing much happened in June. Well, I did waste time at an event in Manila and was kind of surly during my short stay. This is the second instance my time was wasted in this way and I’m no longer waiting for a third. However, I did get to hang out with a good friend who I don’t get to see all that often nowadays.

June also saw the first public showing of “Tin-Tin, 15″ at Mogwai, Cubao X.

July brought with it one of the biggest surprises of my life. I was invited to give a talk on comics at St. Paul University in Manila. I thought I’d just give a talk and go, but it turns out it was something so much more.

The students were actually cosplaying my characters! It was amazing! I actually got kind of teary eyed at some point.

August was Metro Comicon and I was stunned at the reception us artists got at our panel.

On January 2009, I uploaded this seemingly innocent video on You Tube:

For more than a year it sat at You Tube, content but almost forgotten with a couple of hundred views. I myself had forgotten all about it. By 2010 my interest in making videos on You Tube was kind of waning, specially since comics was making me a little too busy to make them as regularly as I once did.

Suddenly, for some weird reason, views for the video skyrocketed overnight. I didn’t notice it at first. Then someone downloaded it, reuploaded it at Facebook, and retitled it “Lakas Tama ni Manong”. Since Facebook doesn’t count views there’s no way to know how many times it was viewed, the comments nevertheless reached the thousands. I was flabbergasted. In the meantime, insanely enough, the video reached a million views on You Tube. Crazy! By the end of 2010, it’s gotten more than 2.5 million views at YouTube! Bizzarro world!

The thing pretty much evolved a life of its own. I’ve received emails from people telling me that it’s been shown on TV in the UK, Spain, France, Japan and so on. A Japanese TV station even sent a director here to the house to interview me for an entire day about the video and about my comics.

Here’s a video from Fox News:

It was getting so insane that people were recognizing me at SM when I wanted to hang out and relax with the wife. It’s died down a bit, and I’m just so relieved because I didn’t want it to start getting in the way of doing comics. I’ve had to decline another visit from another local station because those things just take too much time. And lately, I really don’t have that much time to spare. There’s really just so much work to be done.

September saw me and Ilyn taking a trip to Cebu! We went there for vacation, but at the same time we went there for the first Cebu Comics Convention!

Photo by Carlo Pagulayan.
With JOHN AMOR.

In October, my mom cooked her specialties for Ilyn’s birthday!

Kulawo. San Pablo specialty.

Ampalaya Salad. Always becomes everyone’s favorite!

The end of the year was just pretty much me burying myself in work. I didn’t even go to the 6th Annual Komikon in November because I had to stay home and ink. It’s the first time I ever missed a Komikon and I missed it. I monitored uploads and status updates from Facebook and Twitter all day from people who went just to be updated what was going on.

ELMER finally came out in the US and Europe during the second half of November. I was extremely nervous because I had no idea how it would be received. At the same time I was also paranoid because I didn’t want SLG and Editions çà et là to regret having published my book because it bombed. I believed in my comic book though. I worked hard for a couple of years to make it the best I could possibly make it. I had no regrets and there’s not a single page I simply hacked out. Of course, there are things I see now that I want to change, but it’s too late for that, and there comes a time I have to move on or else I’ll never get things done.

Thankfully enough, the reviews have been quite positive. Massive relief. Already, SLG and Editions çà et là are asking what other books I have that they can take a look at.

Christmas Day is family reunion time!

My nephew Robin (the one in black next to me) is such a huge comic book fan. I gave him a three-story volume of The Adventures of Tintin and he flipped. He’s a hardcore Tintin fan now. He’s about the same age I was when I was flipping out myself on Tintin.

December 28 was our 8th wedding anniversary.

We planned on a massive date which involved Tagaytay, Mushroom Burgers and Ferris Wheels at Enchanted Kingdom, but the van we were to rent broke down so we settled for a massive date right here in San Pablo.

First we went on a window shopping spree at SM San Pablo, then we had a long walk at Sampalok Lake, and then we spent early evening and had dinner at Ultimart.

In the end it didn’t matter where we were, as long as we were together.

I get less and less time for everything. Less time for videos. Less time for going out. Less time for meeting people. I wake up. Email. Blog maybe once or twice a week. Maybe even less lately. Work. Lunch. Quick nap. Work. Play with dogs and cat. Work. Dinner. Work. Read a book. Sleep.

Yes, read a book. I need to keep up some culture somehow. Right now I’m reading Russell T. Davies’ “A Writer’s Tale”, which chronicles the writing of Doctor Who. I love it. It’s terribly deeply inspiring. Brilliant. Reading it has been very educational. Illuminating. It’s caused me to think about rewriting bits, maybe large bits of The Amazing Doctor Rizal. How to inject more character into the characters. How to make them more believable. How to make readers care for the characters. Reading through my first draft made me realize how much more work it needs. That right now it’s kinda crap. It needs something MORE.

I have to work in a couple of pages of Rizal before the year is out at the very least. But with an early January deadline for the Marvel stuff, I don’t see how that’s possible. I might end up sacrificing a bit of sleep. Let’s see.

There have been many comic book events in the Philippines in 2010, but by far the biggest one of them all is the annual KOMIKON, now going strong on its 6th straight year! It’s being held TODAY, Saturday, November 13 at the Star Mall in Mandaluyong. Doors open at 10am.

Last year was a huge year for me in terms of releases. Komikero Publishing released two books at Komikon: The ELMER Trade Paperback book, and Where Bold Stars Go To Die. I was also part of two Francisco V. Coching books that came out at the same time. We held an auction to benefit Ondoy Flood Victims where I let go the very last ELMER hand bound hardcover w/slipcase. Bold Star artist Arlan Esmeña was on hand for the final time at that convention before going off on his last great adventure.

This year I’m stepping back and won’t be at Komikon. I know I had previously said my Amazing Doctor Rizal book will be released at this Komikon, but for the past year and a half I’ve decided to take on a day job (inking for Marvel comics) partly to fund a full color hard cover and oversized Rizal graphic novel.

Perhaps it’s fortuitous to postpone the release to 2011, which just happens to be Rizal’s 150th birthday. So hopefully, 2011 will once again be a big year for Komikero Publishing.

There will be lots of new releases from many other self publishers at this Komikon, only a handful of which I’ll be mentioning below:

Coming all the way from Cebu, Urban Animal is written and drawn by one of Cebu’s most promising new creators, John Amor. I’m not sure if John himself will be there, but this book will certainly be.

From Mel “Mukatman” Casipit comes “24 Hr Comics and Beyond!”, a 24 hour comic book he created for the 24 hour comic book challenge.

Oho yeah, that’s right! A Manny Pacquiao comic book! What could be more awesome?! From Jose Gamboa, creator of last year’s “Laban! A Love Story”.
http://www.facebook.com/ThePacquiaoComic

The Quarterly Bathroom Companion Comics Compendium is a 100 page anthology with 2 volumes and 2 covers, featuring the talents of Mervin Malonzo, Apol Sta. Maria, Ammathorn, Josel Nicolas, Adam David and DJ Legaspi.

From the husband and wife team of Joanah Tinio Calingo and Melvin Calingo, plus Kilayman comes Kanto Inc.

Actually, what I’m really waiting for from Joanah is the volume 3 of her Cresci Prophecies which will be released at this Komikon as well. I was impressed when I first saw Vol 1 many years ago, when she had compiled several photocopies issues of her series, had it hardbound complete with a dust jacket, plastic cover, a bookmark, plus a gallery if extra stuff including pinups. In lots of ways it tuned me into creating special hardbound editions of my work, which I began with my ELMER Box Sets and ELMER slipcase editions in 2008.

Seven Gifts of the Skygods by the Skyworld team of Mervin Ignacio and Ian Sta. Maria

Bayan Knights #5 by Gilbert Monsanto and the Bayan Knights team.

Dekada, 10 Years of Beerkada by Lyndon Gregorio

Work in Progress #1 by Hub Pacheco and Teddy Pavon

Westside #2 and #3 by Ariel Atienza

Bathala #2 by David Hontiveros and Ace Enriquez. This is the one book I can say I’m somewhat involved in. I had co-created this character in 1998 with David Hontiveros, but this story is all Dave’s.

FoodCourt by Andoyman

Cadre: Shuriken Duet #2 of 2
Cadre is created by Ian Magallona and Emil Flores, Written by Emil Flores and illustrated by Ron Escultura. Cover illustration by Taga-ilog.

Lots more NEW releases for Komikon 2010 at this site:

november komikon 2010 releases (constantly updated)
http://mcoy.blogspot.com/2010/11/november-komikon-2010-releases.html

If you are a creator of komiks and will be releasing something new at this Komikon, please email me the cover along with creator/publisher info and I’ll be adding it to this list until Saturday. Send it to gerryalanguilan at yahoo dot com, subject line: KOMIKON 2010.

Why You Need To Go To Komikon
http://komiksadvocate.blogspot.com/2010/11/why-you-need-to-go-to-komikon.html

Last July 10, 2010, I was invited to attend the freshmen initiation at the St. Paul University in Manila. The theme of their initiation was “Pinoy Komiks”, and I had been invited to give a talk on the history and the state of the Philippine comics industry.

I did not hesitate to agree because more and more I try and grab the opportunity to talk about Philippine comics to those who may not be completely aware of its history, its significance to Filipino culture, and the state of the industry now.

I was glad that the organizers of the freshman initiation at St. Paul this year decided on “Pinoy Komiks”. This speaks to me of how much komiks is still very much ingrained into our culture, whether komiks is around or not.

The theme was reflected through costumes the freshmen were be required to wear.

What I wasn’t prepared for was that the freshmen of the Nursing Department paraded in costumes based on characters that I had created. There was a group that dressed up as chickens, like on Elmer. There was a group that dressed like Apolaki Warriors in Timawa. There was a group that dressed like the characters in Humanis Rex! There were several Johnny Balbonas and an Eric (from Wasted). There were several Lastikmen (I wrote Lastikman for Mango in 2004). Even those comics that haven’t been published yet like The Marvelous Adventures of the Amazing Doctor Rizal, and the Adventures of Miko and Jec-jec were well represented.

For the first time perhaps in San Pablo City history, someone actually dressed up as the statue of the woman carrying a bilao located at Doña Leonila Park in San Pablo (as she is drawn in a Miko and Jec-jec illustration).

I was so surprised that for a long time I didn’t know how to react. I absolutely had no idea that they were going to do this, and I have to admit that it touched me deeply. I found myself shedding tears, no matter how hard I tried to fight it back. It had been so unexpected. I came in there with no expectations other than to give a talk on comics. What I saw was more than I could have imagined.

I wish to thank Michelle Sto. Tomas and all of those in the Nursing Department who gave life to my characters. I wish to thank all the students and teachers and administrators of St. Paul who organized the event as a love letter to Philippine comics.

Thanks to Jan Philippe Carpio for recommending me to the organizers in the first place. Hope to meet you soon, buddy!

For the rest of the photo gallery, click on the slideshow below:

And of course, here’s the inevitable video!

Once again, thanks to St. Paul University, Manila! That was truly a memorable day for me.

I come back to inking in a BIG way with Ultimate Comics Avengers 2, #1! The issue is already out, and Leinil Francis Yu and I will be launching the title tomorrow during Free Comic Book Day, at Comic Odyssey, Robinson’s Galleria. We’ll be signing, along with Edgar Tadeo, and possibly Jay Anacleto, from 1-3pm.

But if it’s the FREE COMICS you’re after, be at the store early, as early as the mall opens at 10am to claim first dibs on the awesome stuff, whatever it is!

After quitting (OK, “taking a break” is now my official line) inking comics in 2005 to concentrate on making my own comics, I feel I’ve accomplished enough to be comfortable to go back to inking again. This doesn’t mean I won’t be doing anymore of my own stuff. Amazing Doctor Rizal is still scheduled for Komikon this November, and as soon as I catch a break, I’ll continue to deal with Martians in a comic book project I’m drawing and coloring. I took a break from that for a while, but as soon as I catch a bit more time, I’ll continue working on it.

I have to say I really missed inking. When I used to visit Leinil’s place when he was doing Secret Invasion and Ultimate Hulk Vs. Wolverine, I would look at the pages on his table and imagine how I would ink them in my mind. I couldn’t admit it to Leinil at the time, but I really missed it. I had joked to Leinil that I’d only ink him again if he gets to work with Mark Millar.

Me coming back to work with Leinil on a Mark Millar project is quite honestly a coincidence. I was prepared to ink whatever Leinil was working on after he finished Secret Invasion. It just so happened to be Ultimate Comics Avengers with Mark Millar, and I couldn’t be more happier.

I’ve been impressed with Mark’s writing ever since I read his work in his old Saviour series published by Trident from the UK. I read a couple of installments and they were both frighteningly awesome. This was a long time ago. Back then I thought…. wow, this Millar fella is gonna go places. And he did, and he continues to do so.

See you tomorrow! Bring your Elmers and your Wasteds and all the other stuff you want signed. I’ll sign them all!

Humanis Rex!, Timawa, Elmer, Johnny Balbona… it’s not so bad I guess, for work I’ve managed to do after taking a break from inking. Yes, I can finally admit it was a break, and not a permanent retirement. I guess I just needed to convince myself that it was really over so I can concentrate more fully on the work I wanted to do. I wanted to extend myself more in comics. The 10 years I spent inking was fulfilling, but the years I spent creating my comics were even more so.

I will be inking again something soon. Clues of what is hidden in the last Timawa installment. You can take a guess, but correct guesses won’t be approved for posting (at least for now).

But even then, I will continue to do my own work. There is after all, “The Marvelous Adventures of the Amazing Doctor Rizal”. It’s just that it will become the sideline as opposed to the main job. The main job is the priority now and I will work on my own projects when I’m free. Even then, I’m confident I can come out with Rizal for the October Komikon. By then I can afford to publish it in the format I want it.

AND SPEAKING OF INKING!

The nominations are up, and you, yes YOU can vote for your favorite inker! This is the 2nd year of the Inkwell Awards, an award giving body that strives to give recognition to the oft maligned and oft misunderstood aspect of comic book creation. Here’s your chance to show how much you appreciate them inkers!
http://www.inkwellawards.com/
Direct link to the voting page:
https://inkwellawards.justsurvey.me/546882e6579

****************
There’s been quite an uproar for that Multiply post during the last week. I read it, and I can understand how it can cause people to go berserk. I can just laugh it off. I mean, I was young once myself (hey I still am!). All I can say is this… they won’t be young forever. Sooner than they even realize or care to admit, they’ll be as old school as the rest of us. *cackle*

****************
My friends at the Komikero group was over the house last Sunday. It wasn’t a Komikero meeting really. It was just old friends hanging out and doing… stuff. As to what that stuff is, well, here’s one of them…

I think the secret lies in not making it too fantastic and throw in a tinge of the truth.

Yes, I have been approached by MTV to audition for a pilot and I declined. Yes, 2008 has been difficult, but it’s difficult all around, and one just needs to find ways to laugh about it. And yes, my real name includes Gerardo.

But no, I am not quitting comics. Am I nuts? In fact, I have several comic book projects lined up, both local and abroad. Timawa may be ending, but I’m off working on something else. I’m currently drawing and coloring a War of the Worlds series for one of the big US independent companies, and yes, I will be inking something big in the coming months. I’ve also managed to find a writing gig for a superhero series abroad. I’m very excited about that since writing is something I want to pursue further. You won’t believe who is going to be drawing that one.

The Marvelous Adventures of the Amazing Doctor Rizal has not been set aside, as I will continue to work on that when I’m not working on those other things. It’s still on schedule for October’s Komikon.

There you go. But before I close this entry, I want to thank everyone who sent in comments, specially the emails. The concern that has been shown my way is deeply appreciated. This April Fool’s gag has unintentionally let me know how nice my friends are and would be ready in an instant to lend a helping hand. So don’t hate yourself for being so gullible, all right? For that, thank you very much.

And to all those who were NOT fooled. I promise to try harder next year. :D

The comments are not deleted (All 30 of them!). They’re still all there, along with the post, which has now been set to private.