Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the Metro Manila convention scene and celebrate Filipino Komiks at the Seven Lakes Komiks Festival on May 11 in San Pablo, Laguna.
To be held at the cozy premises of Casa San Pablo, this event seeks to create a “komiks-centric” space for new books and to introduce new and old creators to one another in a relaxed community setting.
San Pablo is rich in komiks history, and partnering with the Komikero Komiks Museum started by the late Gerry Alanguilan, and with the full support of Casa San Pablo, the Seven Lakes Komiks Organizing Committee aims to provide a fun-filled day of reading and dialogue about komiks, connecting creators with readers, and hopefully create new fans along the way.
The Seven Lakes Komiks Festival will have a ratio of exhibitors favoring komiks creators and small press publishers. Delicious food and local delicacies will be offered during the event by Casa San Pablo. It will also feature performances by San Pablo’s resident electronic music hit makers Pet School, Benjiao, and Shape/Shift.
Some of the programs and activities featured in the event include:
- Creative contests such as the On-the-Spot Character Design Contest and Seven Page Komiks Making Challenge
- Talks from komiks veterans such as Julius Villanueva (creator of Ella Arcangel), Randy Valiente (creator of Edsa and Sining Killing) Gasi veteran and komiks stalwart
- Guided visit and tour of the Komikero Komiks Museum through a shuttle service,
- Live komiks reading from Ardie Aquino and Macoy Tang creators of School Run, and student creators from the Graphic Literature Guild,
- Komix making workshop with Adam David, Josel Nicolas, and Apol Sta Maria
- Kumusta Komiks? A Roundtable Forum featuring Danyel Maxin, Pilar Esber, Ched de Gala, Sherry Zamar, Hulyen, Bambi Amago, and moderated by Ezjae Zemana
New releases
As part of the organizers’ advocacy to promote Filipino Komiks and foster a reading culture in Southern Tagalog, the Komiks Festival will put a spotlight on komiks creators and their new works. Some brand new komiks that will be released at the event include a review of an untitled posthumous work by Gerry Alanguilan; Ang Ikatlong Hiwaga Komix by AGW Komix; Carnal: Cristobal by Bambi Amago and Olan Amago; Kaliskis Chapter 1, Lihim issue 3 and 4, Abi Agham: Lost in Hateg Island, Ella Arcangel: Ang Hukay by Julius Villanueva; and Zugbo by Adriel Perez (Kawangis Publishing).
Other komiks that will be released are Palarong Bakal by Jan Michael Valenzuela (Point Zero Comics); The Girl who Smiles at Parties by Ched De Gala (Middle Kinder); Crossing by Lyle Belsonda; Growing Pains 3 by Danyel Maxin; Girabo by Francis Xavier Cruz and Frannie Liza Cruz; Atomos: Modern – The Gunless Agent Book 1 by Kapumax Omega, translated by Julius Sempio and the Atomos Publications Team; and AEON: Cruel Caffe by Kannah Kisaragi.
The event organizers want to see komiks featured outside the usual conventions, while allowing komiks creators to reconnect with both the history and the possible future of the medium. The organizing committee is composed of Komikon, Komiket, BLTX, and Elbikon veterans.
For inquiries, contact the organizers on Facebook (facebook.com/sevenlakeskomiksfest) or Instagram (instagram.com/sevenlakeskomiksfestival).
