The komiks is alive but not too well

Before I turned to the heavyweights (best-selling novels, etc.), I had been nourished since grade school on Classics Illustrated (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Count of Monte Cristo, Mutiny on the Bounty and fairy tales in the CI’s junior edition) and, yes, Tagalog komiks which, in high school at Tabaco Pei Ching (Albay) dorm, we would hide under our pillows from the strict supervisor who "banned" such stuff on campus.

No, I haven’t stopped reading komiks (now only the Tagalog ones) since then, although not as religiously as I used to. Komiks remains one of the richest sources of movie material since the Sampaguita/ LVN-Premiere days. Most of Regal Films’ earlier productions were komiks-based. Viva Films was founded by the late Mina del Rosario (an avid komiks fan) on komiks stories transformed into glossy dramas, many of which are currently being remade as TV serials by ABS-CBN (with its Sineserye) and GMA 7 (Bakekang, etc.).

"My own outfit, Golden Lions Films, benefited from komiks novels," said Donna Villa. "Early on, I produced mostly komiks stories such as Paano Hahatiin ang Puso?, Tuklaw and Andres de Saya."

Not even the advent of the computer and some such modern, technological gadgets have eased the komiks out, although the komiks industry admittedly needs a good shot-in-the-arm.

That’s why komiks-loving people screamed "Hooray, right on!" to Carlo J. Caparas, the Komiks King himself, for spearheading a Komiks Congress last Feb. 27 at the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in Intramuros, Manila, calculated to pump more life and energy — and young blood — to the industry. Komiks writers, novelists and illustrators attended the whole-day congress which was highlighted by an open forum among veterans, aspiring writers and illustrators.

Carlo is putting up a total of P300,000 in cash prizes for the winners of Gantimpalang Carlo J. Caparas sa Sining ng Katha at Pagguhit sa Komiks, launched during the congress.

With more than 800 komiks novels and stories, 200 of which have been made into movies, and several awards (topped by the recent Gawad Komisyon sa Wika from the National Commission for the Filipino Language, the first komiks writer to be so honored with the award usually given to outstanding members of the academe), Carlo is the right person to lead this crusade.

"But I can’t do the task all by myself," said Carlo, with wife Donna Villa all out behind him. "I need all the help I can get. Writers, illustrators, editors and the general public must work together to prop up the industry which benefits millions of people, also including publishers and komiks dealers."

Fortunately, according to Carlo, "Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is supportive of this effort. Other supporters include Ricardo Nolasco, chairman of the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino; Cecille Guidote-Alvarez, presidential adviser on culture and the arts and NCCA executive director; and Joe Lad Santos, KWF commissioner and founding member of the Filipino Institute of Komiks Arts and Sciences."

Carlo and company have just kicked off a Komiks Karavan a few days ago in Bulacan, which conducts seminars on komiks writing and illustrating for students and school dropouts (Carlo himself is one). The year-long Karavan will go all over the country, with next stops in Davao, Cebu and Iloilo.

Broadway welcomes Lea back with a bang

After a few years of absence, Lea Salonga was welcomed back to Broadway with a bang when Les Miserables opened last March 6, casting her as Fantine.

Reports Funfare’s New York correspondent Edmund Silvestre (news editor of The Filipino Reporter),"The news about Lea’s comeback was all over the radio and print ads which heralded ‘The return of one of Broadway’s most favorite stars.’ The producers spent a lot to announce Lea’s return and they even put out a full-page color ad in The Reporter with Lea’s photo occupying almost the entire page."

Edmund sent the following story written by Yvette Ferreol for Bloomberg News, entitled Tony Winner Lea Salonga Returns to Les Miz Tonight:

March 6 (Bloomberg) — When Les Miserables was still new on Broadway, Lea Salonga played the love-addled street urchin Eponine, who dies on the barricades. Beginning tonight, Salonga, 36, is back in the show as Fantine, who dies after giving birth to Cosette, the story’s young heroine, in the musical’s well- received revival.

Sixteen years have passed since Salonga won a Tony Award for Best Actress, playing the title role in Miss Saigon. A scissors-wielding wardrobe manager slashed away at her dresses to give them the appropriately raggedy look, as we spoke at the Broadhurst Theater in Manhattan.

Ferreol: You played Eponine in the show in the ’90s, the daughter of the Thenardiers. How have you been preparing for the role of Fantine?

Salonga: The first thing I did was read the relevant Fantine passages from the original novel. I really wanted to pattern my performance after how Victor Hugo envisioned her. I found her to be a very complicated character to play and it’s a challenge to do bring all that out in 20 to 25 minutes, which is Fantine’s stage time.

Ferreol: How is Fantine different from Eponine?

Salonga: Fantine is far more animalistic, at the very end of the journey. She’s just frayed at the edges, like a cat that’s constantly attacking or retreating. I found her to be very schizophrenic at the end of her life.

Ferreol: You just had a daughter. How has being a mother contributed to your role?

Salonga: I’ve been getting more weepy than I ever was before. I never thought that I would be so sensitive when I was single. Then I had my child, and different feelings just surfaced.

At my first rehearsal, I couldn’t stop crying when I got to Fantine’s death. She was singing directly to her daughter and wanting her, and I was just a total, complete, utter mess.

Ferreol: You’re Asian playing the role of a French woman. Have opportunities changed since 1991?

Salonga: It’s a racially diverse company that makes me feel at home, and welcome. When I played Eponine, I was the only Asian. I’m not even the first Filipino in this company. Maybe this cast is a sign that the times are changing.

Ferreol: You were the toast of the town after Miss Saigon, the biggest star on Broadway. Since then, you haven’t originated a title role. Why?

Salonga: I don’t know. It’s very rare to be able to originate a role, and to be an actor who is Asian, I don’t necessarily expect another role. It doesn’t always happen, you know. I guess the opportunities just didn’t come up for me.

Ferreol: I see your mother’s still around. She was known for being a stage mother in your younger days. Is she still?

Salonga: No, oh no, now she’s caretaker of my daughter, playing yaya (nanny). I guess she being my Mom, she’ll always be protective to some degree. But I think there’s also that part of her that’s let go of me, which is quite nice.

Les Miserables is playing at the Broadhurst Theater, 235 W. 44th St. Information: +1-212-239-6200; http://www.telecharge.com.

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