Long time visitors to this blog would remember two bills that were submitted by former Presidential candidate Manny Villar to the Senate in 2007 that would be beneficial to the industry of komiks in the country.

Senate Bill 1929: PHILIPPINE KOMIKS REVIVAL ACT OF 2007
You can download the PDF version of the bill here.

Senate Bill 1934: KOMIKS INDUSTRY ACT OF 2007
You can download the PDF version of the bill here.

I don’t know if these are the same bills that are being revived, but as readers to this blog would recall, I had a mixed reaction to what the bills propose.

The positives of the bill include ensuring employment to many comic book creators by making a certain percentage of education material used in schools mandatory in comic book form. Publishers will also be given a chance to profit through certain tax breaks.

Now all this is good news. I would welcome it even more if the bills also addressed the consideration of komiks as an art form worthy of government support in the form of museums (archiving and preservation), festivals, awards, grants to promising creators. The government can provide new venues of distribution or crack down on the corruption strangling the systems already in place. This would help elevate komiks from the decades old reputation as nothing more than “cheap entertainment” to something more artistically worthy.

What I find ironic is that these bills were proposed by Manny Villar, the same man who proposed The Anti Obscenity Bill (Philippine Senate Bill 2464) which in its current form when it was submitted contained provisions that prevented the free expression of artists.

My feelings about these issues have never changed. If they are going to serve the same old eggs, then I can’t stand by and say nothing. I’m all for anything that would put more komiks on the shelves, give jobs to our creators, but I think it’s about time we thought of komiks more than just THAT.

Philippine comics can mean so much more.

And I sincerely hope that whatever action the government takes, that it would involve the younger generation of creators. Excluding them from previous attempts only ended up in disaster. If these people would only take their blinders off, they would see an already vibrant community of young comic book creators producing comics WITHOUT their help. The Philippine comics industry is alive and well, thank you very much. I think these young guys are now sick of being ignored and set aside. They are the future of this industry, not that tired old massacre hack with delusions of national artistry.

For more of my thoughts on this matter, click on the link below.

Twin Senate Bills for the Revival of Philippine Komiks
http://gerry.alanguilan.com/archives/1227

I Oppose the Anti-Obscenity Bill (Senate Bill 2464)
http://gerry.alanguilan.com/archives/866

This post is not a point by point rebuttal of that forwarded article. The truth is, this is not a reaction to that article at all. I am simply offering my own separate views on why I won’t be doing the same thing.

Here was my response:

Since I received a message of endorsement for Manny Villar in a bulk email, I cannot help but offer my own opinion in return. I notice that there are many in this list who belong to the comics industry, and perhaps the art industry as a whole.

As an artist who values my freedom to express myself in my chosen field of art, I am honestly, and desperately terrified of a Manny Villar presidency. And I believe all artists in the Philippines should be.

Some of you may now no longer remember that as a Senator, Manny Villar filed a bill with the Senate called the “Anti Obscenity Bill”, or the Senate Bill 2464 where there is a strongly worded provision that portrayal of “nudity” in art will be punishable by law REGARDLESS OF THE MOTIVE of the author.

We all know the evils of pornography, and it is something I myself do not condone. But I also celebrate the beauty of art, and my God given human right to enjoy it and to create it.

As an artist, it is a bill that gravely concerns me because it has the potential to seriously curtail not only my freedoms as an artist, but my the ability to make my own choices as a mature, intelligent and moral human being.

By punishing the portrayal of nudity regardless of the motive of the author, it means nudity can no longer be portrayed by painters, filmmakers, graphic novelists, illustrators, sculptors, etc. Books on anatomy will now have to be censored, as well as medical books, history books specially on images of nudity on religious structures such as the Sistine chapel. Artists can no longer use nudity to portray innate human beauty.

Rightly so, the bill did not get the proper support in the Senate, and was shelved. Even then, by his filing of this bill, we get a definite idea of who Manny Villar is in terms of his views on art. He wants to censor it. He is of the belief that an adult Filipino is not capable of being mature enough to choose for himself (or herself) and decide for himself what to read, see, and hear. In other words, he does not believe that we can think for ourselves. He wants himself, and other people in power to think for us, and to decide for us, what is good for us or not.

This a reflection of Manny Villar’s character, and I’m sure this is how he will approach other issues as well. This has repercussions well beyond the field of art.

Manny Villar attended a Blogger’s meet last year to discuss with the youth the issues that concern them. My friend Jonas Diego attended this meet, and several times during the meet, he tried to raise the issue of the Anti Obscenity Bill. Jonas was never even given the chance to properly finish asking his question before he was waved away, his question trivialized and de-emphasized.

Not only has Villar shown that he is perfectly willing to censor the artist, he is also perfectly willing to ignore us as well.

This issue is a legitimate concern and is NOT black propaganda. It’s still up to you if you still want to vote for this man or not. But I feel that I needed to raise this issue, at least one more time just to let people become aware of just what they’re getting into.

I myself am not endorsing anyone in this election. Who I vote for remains a personal issue. This is not a campaign to steer the vote in favor of another candidate. I just feel that come election day, everyone should be made aware just who it is they’re putting into power.

Because by God, we’ll be paying for it for the next six years. Election day is the one day when we have the power. I hope and pray people use that power responsibly.

Facebook:

Senate Bill 1929: PHILIPPINE KOMIKS REVIVAL ACT OF 2007
You can download the PDF version of the bill here.

Senate Bill 1934: KOMIKS INDUSTRY ACT OF 2007
You can download the PDF version of the bill here.

Senate Bill 1929 is “An Act to enhance genuine Filipino Culture and to encourage the growth of Philippine artistic tradition through the re-introduction and revival of the komiks (comics) as popular instructional materials in education and effective dissemination of government information.”

The bill seeks to make it government policy to “preserve, enrich, and evolve Philippine National Culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression.”

Senate Bill 1934 is “An Act promoting the revival of the Komiks Industry, providing Tax incentives therefor, and for other purposes.

It’s a rather lofty goal, and it’s one that I can completely go behind. It’s rather like a dream come true for someone like me seeking to do the same. The preservation, enrichment and evolution of Philippine comics are things that have defined my life for the past several years. And all the comics that I have done in this time are the result of my pursuit of free expression in my art.

I was curious how Senate Bill 1929 proposes to make something like this possible. The bill continues:

“To this end, the use, utilization and reading of komiks (comics), as a tool for instruction and information shall be promoted.”

“The Department of Education is hereby mandated that ten percent (10%) of all instructional materials being printed and utilized in all academic institutions, both public and private, shall be in komiks form.”

“As far as practicable, all departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the Philippine government shall take immediate steps to implement this Act and shall incorporate the use of komiks in all its printing and information dissemination campaign for the general public.”

“All equipment and materials that are reasonably necessary and are not manufactured or produced locally for the propagation and renewed popularization of komiks shall be tax or duty-free.”

“Five percent (5%) of the total travel tax collection for five (5) consecutive years beginning the year of effectivity of this Act shall be constituted as a fund to conduct valuable research on the re-introduction and revival of the komiks as a popular art. Substantial portions of it shall be constituted as a revolving fund for the printing of such komiks publications.”

“Within sixy (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the National Commissin on Culture and Arts, the Department of Education and the Philippine Information Agency shall jointly come up and promulgate necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.”

The immediate good that I can see in something like this is to give the many writers and artists of comics employment. Many disenfranchised creators of the old industry, many of whom are still alive and are still able to work, are left with very little to do and very little to earn a living with.

With this Act, they are assured employment for the foreseeable future.

However, there is nothing here that I can see which will fulfill the goal of enriching and evolving Philippine National Culture. What the Act does is to simply make 10% of textbooks and other educational reading material compulsory in komiks form. This assures that more comics are made and distributed (and jobs for comics creators), but this will not necessarily result in the enrichment and evolution of Philippine National Culture.

Indeed, it is worth noting that both of these Senate bills were filed by Senator Manny Villar, the same senator who filed the Anti Obscenity and Pornography Act of 2008. It is an act that I vehemently oppose in its present form.

Please don’t interpret my opposition to the Anti Obscenity and Pornography act to mean I am for obscenity and pornography. I am simply against the flawed policy found within it which would restrict my freedom to freely express myself as an artist. This kind of restriction I believe would stunt the enrichment and evolution of not only comics but all kinds of art in the country.

And doesn’t Senate Bill 1929 explicitly states “preserve, enrich, and evolve Philippine National Culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression.”?

How do these two bills work out this seeming inconsistency and opposing policy? One can’t be for free artistic and intellectual expression but at the same time restrict the portrayal of nudity in works of art “regardless of the author’s intent.”

Not all nudity is obscene and pornographic. There’s nudity on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. There is nudity in portraying the teaching of human anatomy. There is nudity in many critically acclaimed and important films such as Schindler’s List, The Godfather, etc. There is nudity in critically acclaimed comic books such as The Sandman and From Hell.

The best thing I can say can be found in Senate Bill 1934 which has provisions which include:

“Fiscal Incentives. To attract more investors in the komiks industry, publishers of komiks shall be exempt from the payment of their business tax. The imposition of EVAT for the purchase of materials needed for the publication and printing of the komiks shall likewise be suspended for the next five (5) years: Provided, however, that such expenses shall be exclusively used for the printing and publication of the same.”

Now this is more like it. I have written several times in the past that the one thing that the government can do to truly help revive the industry is to give komiks publishers a tax break. And apparently, this is something that the Act proposes. And the way it’s written, publishers are exempt from the payment of their business tax… for all time. If this is truly how this is interpreted (it depends on the Implementing Rules and Regulations at a later stage), then it’s fantastic.

The emphasis on komiks as a tool for education, information and entertainment is worthy of scrutiny.

That is all well and good, but where is the emphasis on the pursuit of comics as a true and vital art form? Not just popular art, but a serious art form akin to literature?

If there is something consistent about the government’s attitude toward Philippine komiks, then it is its INCONSISTENCY.

On one hand, the government supports komiks for its use in education and entertainment, and yet on the other hand, there is very little support to consider komiks as true art.

For example: The National Library, or at the very least members of it, refuse to provide comic books with ISBNs because they say comics “Do not have research value.”

Another example. For a country as the Philippines to have a rich history in comics extending way back to the 1800s, not a single comics creator has been awarded the National Artist Award, although candidates like Francisco V. Coching and Larry Alcala are completely worthy.

Another example. There are none, or very few archived and preserved material on vintage komiks or komiks original art. As far as I know there is hardly anything at both the National Historical Institute and the National Museum. The only museum I know that preserves komiks and respects komiks as an art is the Lopez Museum, which is a privately owned museum.

There is still something good that comes out of Senate Bills like this, if ever they were made into law. I wish it could be something more, but I am thankful nevertheless for what it proposes to provide.

http://vicissitude-decidido.blogspot.com/2008/12/world-is-fucked-up.html

Times like these I wish superheroes were real. If Timawa were real they’d be in a world of pain right now.

Don’t anyone even attempt to say, “That’s how it is in the Philippines”, “That’s just part of life.” or anything similar. Because if you do, you’re doing nothing but support atrocities like this by your fucking apathy.

January 12 Update

I am disappointed at how things have so far turned out. First of all, I don’t fully believe that Bambee would maliciously twist facts in her blog to their family’s advantage. Bear in mind these were written within a day of the incident and were written in a fit of emotion. While it won’t be an accurate account, I believe it is essentially a truthful account of what she experienced as she saw it.

However, I also believe that she could leave things out and so paint a not so accurate picture of the entire event. Like the reports that her father instigated it by poking an umbrella, and was responsible for escalating the tension that was already there.

I believe now that both parties are culpable to varying degrees. And they both have to pay.

But what really happened?

People keep bringing up the “facts” of this case as if their “facts” are absolute. One party brings up “facts” that contradict the other party’s “facts”. The truth of it is, one man’s fact is another man’s lie. The confusion that has ensued from this event is the result of colliding facts and people not knowing who is really telling the truth.

It’s Rashomon right here in the Philippines.

Who do you believe? Which facts do you accept as true and absolute?

To find that out, there is one important thing to consider. In all those photos and videos that we have seen in the news, who among them came out injured and wounded in the emergency room of a hospital?

That does not give us the full picture or what truly happened. And to be honest, we may never truly know for sure. It’s up to the individual whose “facts” they are going to accept.

But for all the protestations of the other side of “It was only self defense!” and “They started it!”, it is the De La Paz family who found themselves at the hospital beaten and wounded. We all saw it on TV. And those pictures do not lie. And you can bet that it’s a fact that they did not inflict those on themselves. Someone else had to do it. Who do you think?

Regardless of the instigation of the elder De La Paz, the poking of an umbrella and harsh words are not justification for the wounds and injuries that the De La Paz family have received. Specially not under the hands of a public servant.

Someone threw a stone, but the other one threw back a boulder.

And yet it seems the one who threw the stone is the one paying more harshly for it. Bambee herself is facing a lawsuit for simply telling her side of the story, and her blog facing possible closure. There is a frustrating feeling that justice has not been fully served. And that is why I think this is an issue that will never die, no matter how much people would want it to.

Click here for my previous post: The Anti Obscenity Bill: What Does It Mean for Artists?
http://gerry.alanguilan.com/archives/652

“REGARDLESS OF THE MOTIVE”
Armida Siguion-Reyna
No Holds Barred
The Daily Tribune
October 10, 2008

“Which brings me now to reminding all about the dangers of pending House Bill (HB) 3305, and known in the Senate as Senate Bill (SB) 2464: “An Act Prohibiting and Penalizing the Production, Printing, Publication, Importation, Sale, Distribution and Exhibition of Obscene and Pornographic Materials, and the Exhibition of Live Sexual Acts, Amending for the Purpose Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, as Amended.”

I saw Tarlac Rep. Nikki Prieto Teodoro and lawyer Eric Mallonga of the MTRCB on cable TV the other day, lauding the bill and supporting its passage into law, failing to see that while it purports to “protect women and children from the pernicious effects of pornography,” it more dangerously seeks to strangle all forms of creativity with the operative phrase “regardless of the motive.””

For Siguion-Reyna’s entire article, click below:
http://www.tribune.net.ph/commentary/20081014com5.html

Do you oppose the Anti Obscenity Bill (Senate Bill 2464)? Join the Facebook Group!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=37644764847&ref=ts

FREE EXPRESSION PHILIPPINES
http://freeexpression.multiply.com/

I met Cory Aquino today. Pardon me, Former Philippine President Cory Aquino. I guess I had gotten so used to refer to her simply as “Cory” that it’s hard to break the habit. It’s by no means a gesture of disrespect, but it’s testament to a Filipino icon, who in spite of her position, history, and accomplishments, seems very much like an ordinary, average Filipino. She exuded no aura of a politician (unlike many other politicians who were there), but a simple aunt who came over for a visit. Myself and Ilyn couldn’t believe that we were actually there talking to her like it was just an ordinary conversation with a neighbor. We talked about art, comics, and well, cellphones. She has a cellphone anecdote that’s just hysterical, but it’s a story for another day.

I was very thrilled to meet her, specially since I have a long long history of being Yellow. During the time of Marcos, being Yellow and living near Malacañang was a rather dangerous thing to do. I often forget I have yellow ribbons in my backpack when I go home that the PSG stops me and tell me to remove them before proceeding.

Most of those old enough to remember the Philippine revolution of 1986 would know what pride in being a Filipino at the time felt like. I felt it, and I remember it well. Cory played a huge part in making all that happen.

Although it is sad to know that Cory is battling a serious illness, it’s remarkable to see that it hasn’t affected her spirit and her humor. It is both encouraging and inspiring.

I met her because of my participation in a book put together by Ninoy And Cory’s grandson Jiggy Cruz. Myself along with a lot of other Filipino comics artists contributed illustrations of Ninoy Aquino for inclusion in the book. The book has just been published and will soon be available at bookstores.

The Artists: Brian, Leinil, me, Jason, Harvey, Carlo, Jiggy and Jed

Me and Leinil

With Kris

Fanboy moment.

More Photos Here.

You can download a copy of it here:
http://www.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=14&q=SBN-2464

Please read the bill linked there. It’s all right, it’s a short one.

I could quote select passages from it, but I’ll end up quoting ALL of it, because all of it is quite disturbing. I do want to point out this bit:

“Regardless of the motive of the author thereof.”

As an artist, this is a bill that gravely concerns me because it has the potential to seriously curtail not only my freedoms as an artist, but my the ability to make my own choices as a mature, intelligent and moral human being.

The initial reaction would be to react with fury and indignation, as a younger me might have done. I already see a fair bit of it online. But I’m concerned that people would only see the anger, and not the point we want to make. I believe the way to react realistically to this would be to work within the system for us to be heard and seriously considered.

To those who might know, what are the legal means by which a bill like this can be opposed? This is not yet LAW, so there is still enough opportunity to do something about it.

Who are the Congressmen and Senators we need to get in touch with that could oppose this bill on our behalf? Senator Chiz Escudero?

Times like this I’m kicking myself for not being fully aware about how this all works. The Senate, Congress, the entire law making process. I’ll be making inquiries shortly after posting this.

For now, all I could think to do was write Senator Manny Villar, the author of this bill, an email. I honestly don’t know if he will be able to read it, or an intern there reads it and throws it away, but I felt I just had to do something. This is not the exact email I sent him, as I’ve expounded a bit more here because other things came into my mind after sending it.

If you want to email Senator Villar yourself, please do so here. Now remember, people are more open to opposition and opposing views if they are articulately, intelligently, and calmly stated. It would not help our cause to bite his head off and call him names, although that’s exactly what my first impulse was.

**********************

Dear Sir,

This comes from a concerned citizen of the Philippines, namely, myself. Let me begin by saying that I do not condone pornography in any way, nor do I condone obscenity. I have very conservative religious views. I am in a legal and faithful bond with my wife, who I love very much, and I frown upon seeing publications like Playboy, Playhouse, FHM and similar sort of reading material in plain view of children in the malls.

I do sincerely believe that there is a need for a law like this to moderate such things.

However, I am also an artist, and I have grave concerns as to what it means to me and my work. As an artist, I believe that the nude body is not an object of obscenity, but an object of beauty. If and when I do a piece of art with nudity, be it a photograph, a drawing, or a painting, I don’t do it with any prurient intentions or intend to arouse the same in other people. I do it to celebrate an honest to goodness beautiful creation of God. For where else does our bodies come from but from God?

I believe there is a place for such appreciation in society in mature and intelligent adults, and I do believe such things be kept from children who are not old enough to appreciate such things. I am concerned that the choice to appreciate such material is being made for me, as if I am an immature child who cannot think for himself.

I do understand that there is concern that the proliferation of such material causes a decay in our morals.  But look at me. I’m faithful to my wife. I don’t indulge in any depraved sexual activity. I abhor corruption, and I always strive to do what I believe to be right, even if it means I lose money, friends or position. I’m a very moral man, and seeing nude images of women has never affected me in any detrimental way.

For instance, there’s me, and there’s another guy named Jeff. We both browse a copy of the same issue of Playboy. Afterwards, I go back to work. Jeff on the other hand, rapes a girl. Does that mean Jeff raped a girl because he read Playboy? If so, why didn’t I? It only means that there is a fundamental flaw in the character of Jeff, a fundamental flaw the origins of which are much deeper than we think.

The problem is much much deeper. A law like this is like a finger in a bleeding dike, a band aid solution to a problem that’s much bigger than many people realize. This problem is the root of not only the decay of morals, but of corruption, poverty, and many other problems in our society.

I’m talking about education.

I’m not talking about schools. I’m talking about the proper upbringing of children by their parents. There is so much emphasis and pressure from society and family for husband and wife to have children, regardless of whether they are responsible enough, or capable enough to support and teach them. In the end, we have a lot of children who are not properly housed, fed, and educated, by parents who had been raised the same way.

THIS is the root of most of our problems.

Couples should, first and foremost, seriously consider if they really want children, if it’s a choice that they are making, and not a decision that’s being forced on them by family, friends and society. Second, they should consider if they have the means to raise them, and raise them well. Because quite frankly, a lot of people are having children who shouldn’t.

If children are not properly educated, they grow up stupid and immoral. They turn to crime, to indecency, to corruption, and they turn to these things easily because they were never given that much needed structure and moral compass by people who should have: Their Parents.

I must take a moment now to thank my parents because they have raised me into the man I am now. They raised me well and I’m eternally grateful for that.

I remember a campaign poster of yours where you champion children. This is great! This is the point! And this is something that ought to be emphasized now, more than ever.

Thanks for your time.

Gerry Alanguilan
San Pablo City

Leinil Francis Yu, artist on Secret Invasion, posts this clarification on his site:

To clarify misconceptions about the double page spread in Issue 5 particularly the inclusion of GMA, the Philippine president:

to those who haven’t seen the issue yet, simply google: secret invasion gloria arroyo

From: http://leinilyu.deviantart.com/journal/19983623/