If you want to see samples of my comics work, head on over to CapsuleZone! If you want to see my graphic design portfolio, just go to Reno Maniquis Graphic Works! Thanks for dropping by!

Friday, August 28, 2009

DOMINO LADY #4 out in December


DOMINO LADY #4
Story: Nancy Holder
Art: Reno Maniquis
Covers: Michael J. Williams, Matt Larson

32pgs, color, mature $3.99, mature
Join Buffy novelist and four time Bram Stoker Award winner Nancy Holder, as she uncovers the sexy noir thriller secrets of “The Catalina Caper”!  Hollywood has come to the island, and the Domino Lady’s alter ego will make her big screen debut!  First, of course, there is a matter of blackmail under the lights to attend to. There is nothing the Domino lady won’t do for her adoring public.
(2 covers, ratio = 75% Michael J Williams, 25% Matt Larson cover)

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

PASIG POST OFFICE SUCKS!!!

Ever since we moved to Pasig, I have had 3 packages I was expecting from the US not reach me. I didn't have this kind of a problem when we lived in San Juan. One package getting lost in the mail, I can understand... But three consecutive packages not delivered one after the other? I don't even get a notice to pick up the packages at the post office. I don't think it's the fault of the people who mailed me, since these are three separate people. How can three separate people get one address wrong??!?!

Stuff being delivered by courier, or house bills, they get delivered, since these are all via messengers. But things sent through the mail? A definite NO. Does the Post Office not know where my street is located? Is the Pasig City Postal Service stealing my packages? Those are the only things I can think of. The former option, incompetence, the latter, a crime being committed. Either way is unacceptable behavior for people in public service. I can't even find a phone listing for them.

If anyone reading this can help out, or if any of you has any suggestion on how I can rectify this matter, please feel free to leave a note in the comments section. I'd really appreciate it.

PASIG POST OFFICE, PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG!!!! (Although I'm not holding my breath...)

Friday, August 21, 2009

The Adventures of Jade & Kermit: Magkaisa

Friday, August 14, 2009

A statement from the heirs of Mars Ravelo...


CJC: The Man That He Is Not


Revered

Right now, the late Cory Aquino is the most revered person in our nation. Opposite this, Carlo Caparas probably is the most ridiculed and reviled.

Even before this National Artist brouhaha, as children of the late Mars Ravelo, we’ve long been observing the moves of this man in silence. Until Manoling Morato, Caparas’ patron and staunch supporter, started wagging that notable tongue of his against our father. Now, we’re breaking that silence.


Komiks King

Thru dubious press releases, Carlo Caparas proclaimed himself the Komiks King. A title which, we know Caparas very well knows, belongs to Mars Ravelo. Mars Ravelo earned it thru the merits of his work. It’s a title that grew on him thru the years. It has become synonymous with his name. One day, Caparas, brazenly grabbed it for himself. Just like that. And it’s not even up for grabs.


Messiah

The Komiks Caravan of Caparas was aimed to discover new talents in komiks writing and illustrating. And more ambitiously, it aimed to resurrect the dying if not the already dead komiks industry. According to one of Caparas’ series of press releases in an afternoon tabloid, the vacuum he left in the komiks industry took a heavy toll on the industry. The absence of his greatness and highness in the komiks industry caused the industry its very life.

Later, after the announcement of his noble act of resurrecting the komiks industry, about four comics strips in the Philippine Daily Inquirer were cancelled to give way to his own diario novela.


Meritorious

Next came the various awards. Caparas becomes multi-awarded. He was even conferred a peace prize award (we hope not for his massacre movies), together with a pool of international dignitaries as co-awardees including a former Philippine president.

Morato is the president of the foundation which conferred the award.


Komiks Legend

One day, one of our siblings texted us: Dad to be given an award at Malacañang tomorrow at 11 am. Sino ang pupunta?

Huh? Did we read right? An award from the palace and we were just advised the night before? We were not even given enough time for the dry cleaner. Did they really want our presence there?

And then we learned that together with Mars Ravelo, Tony Velasquez, Larry Alcala, and Francisco Coching, Caparas is also to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit. Seeing the line-up, we can hear ourselves singing (again) with Ate Isay: Alin, alin, alin ang naiba. Isipin kung alin ang naiba...

We decided, without second thought, not to go to the palace to receive the award on our father’s behalf. Not only because it sucks of insincerity but seeing the dark side of it, our father, together with the other honorees who are all komiks legends, is being used to elevate Caparas into their league. Caparas may be legendary, but that’s another story.


National Artist

Another text from another sibling: Caparas declared a National Artist

Everything becomes crystal clear.

Director Par Excellence

“Sabi nila, dapat daw na si Mars Ravelo muna ang bigyan ng award. E, visual arts nga ito. Si Mars Ravelo ba, nagdirek ng pelikula? Si Carlo, direktor pa rin ng pelikula. Nagsusulat din siya ng script sa pelikula at sa TV. Nakakapag-drawing pa rin siya sa komiks. At nag-i-script sa komiks.

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 07/31/2009 11:09 AM, 'Manoling' defends Caparas’ Nat'l Artist Award


Mamang Manoling, iyon po bang award niya sa visual arts ay dahil sa pagiging director niya sa pelikula?


“Nanalo na bang Best Director si Mars Ravelo? Hindi pa kaya wala siyang karapatan. Mas malawak ang nagawa ni Carlo kaysa kanya.

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 07/31/2009 11:09 AM, 'Manoling' defends Caparas’ Nat'l Artist Award


Pwede po ba iyon Mamang Manoling na manalo ang ama namin ng Best Director kahit hindi siya director? Sabi nyo po kasi ay hindi pa siya nananalong Best Director. Kailan po kaya pwede?


The Most Prolific Komiks Novelist

“Si Mars Ravelo ba, nakapagsulat na ng script para sa pelikula at TV? Ilan lang ba ang nagawa ni Mars Ravelo na komiks? Baka sampu lang. Si Carlo, eight hundred komiks novels. Kaya ba nila ‘yan? Nagawa ba ‘yan ni Mars Ravelo? Hindi. Si Carlo lang talaga ang nakagawa n’yan kaya he deserves the award.

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 07/31/2009 11:09 AM, 'Manoling' defends Caparas’ Nat'l Artist Award


Mamang Manoling, dahil po ba sa eight hundred na komiks novels na isinulat ni Caparas kaya siya nanalo sa category ng visual arts? Sayang kung nakapagsulat pa pala ng limangdaang kuwento ang tatay namin ay pwede na rin siyang manalo ng NAA (National Artist Award) para sa visual arts tulad ni Caparas. Kung nagsulat pala ang tatay namin mula ng ipinanganak siya hanggang ngayon na patay na siya, idivide mo yong 800 sa 93, mga 8.6 na novels pala ang dapat niyang isulat sa bawat taon ng kanyang naging buhay hanggang sa ngayon na patay na siya para makagawa siya ng 800 nobela sa loob ng 93 years. Pwede pong mahiram yong listahan nyo ng 800 novels? Kung gusto nyo po padadalhan din po namin kayo ng listahan namin. Para fair.

Pero mali po kayo doon sa number na sampu. Mga pito lang po ang naisulat ni Mars Ravelo na nobelasa bawat taon ng 50 years niyang career sa komiks. At nasaksihan po namin kung paano tinrabaho ng ama namin ang mga nobelang iyon. Ika nga po, ang gabi ay ginawa niyang araw. Tulog lang po ang pahinga. Kasi po kahit nasa kubeta siya, at kahit habang kumakain siya, nag-iisip pa rin siya ng kuwento. Tapos si Mang Carlo ay nakuha pang makapag-direct ng mga pelikula. Wow!


The Father of The Komiks Industry’s Rebirth

“Kasi, si Carlo, hindi lang sa komiks nag-excel. Siya ang nag-revive ng komiks. Sino sa kanila ang nakapag-revive ng komiks industry. Patay na dapat ang komiks pero siya pa rin ang nag-revive nito. May caravan pa siya sa buong Pilipinas at his on expense. Sino ang nakagawa ng ganyan sa kanila?

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 07/31/2009 11:09 AM, 'Manoling' defends Caparas’ Nat'l Artist Award


Ay, nabuhay po pala? Naghahanap nga po kami ng mga CJC sa bangketa, parang wala kaming makita. Meron po DVD.


True Man

Caparas said he was aware of the criticism that his victory had bypassed such komiks legends as Mars Ravelo, Francisco V. Coching, Tony Velasquez and Larry Alcala.

“But they were my fellow recipients of the Presidential Medal of Merit in 2007. In any case, I am representing other komiks novelists and artists with this honor. I believe I was given this award because I was able to cross over from komiks to movies and TV.”

Palace choices of 4 nat’l artists protested by Kristine L. Alave, Bayani San Diego Jr.Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 09:44:00 08/01/2009


Carlo Caparas can never represent these artists. Tony Velasquez, Larry Alcala, Francisco Coching and our father are komiks legends not as a result of a grand design but because of hard work, extraordinary talent and true passion for komiks. Caparas represents something else.

The belief of Caparas that he was conferred the NAA title because he was able to cross over from komiks to film and television is evident that Caparas does not understand the real meaning of this award. Ilang beses na niyang hinuhulaan kung bakit siya nanalo, hindi pa rin niya mahula-hulaan. It also tells a lot about how oblivious he is to his fellow komiks artists’ achievements and plight. Or, he just simply doesn’t care.

When will Caparas realize that he is living in a dream? That he is not what he thinks he is? That he is not what the people around him tell him he is? That he is not the Komiks King? That he is undeserving of the National Artist title? That he is not a komiks legend? That he is not a messiah?

We can almost hear Caparas’ torment echoing within his being. The uproar that is torturing him now. Why are so many people up in arms against him? Why are his fellow artists, particularly from the komiks and film sector not with him in his darkest hour?

All Caparas’ camp’s efforts from collecting awards, to grabbing and inventing all titles imaginable for him, to all the press releases meant to extol his legendary image are supposed to culminate to the National Artist title. Caparas’ camp may have made certain that their contender will meet the list of criteria for the National Artist Award, at all cost. But the last criterion in the list was impossible to circumvent. It may be the last, but it is undoubtedly, not the leastrespect and esteem from peers.

Mr. Caparas, try to find the exit door from that pseudo world of yours. It’s the only way you can free yourself of all your misery and pain right now. Don’t allow the Christofs in your life to tell you what to think and say. It’s a matter of being able to come to terms with yourself. Truman Burbank found his exit door just in time.


To our father, you can stop turning in your grave now. Tell your friends Tony, Larry and Francisco, it went pffft.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

National Artist Hoopla!

A lot of people are protesting the awarding of the title of National Artist to Carlo J. Caparas and Cecile Guidote-Alvarez by President Arroyo. A lot of people are also coming to their defense. But I think a lot of these pro-CJC, CGA and GMA people have been missing the point... These two persons are simply INELIGIBLE to be given the title (in Caparas' case, at least one of the titles).

People coming to the defense of GMA's decision are saying she has the prerogative to appoint those she deems worthy, and there's an Executive Order supporting this. I can accept that. But... Caparas was awarded the title of NA for VISUAL ARTS. He is not a visual artist, he's a writer. It was very laughable when he trotted out drawings that he did to prove that he can draw. But that's beside the point. The works he is known for were simply not drawn by him, they were writen by him. If he is to be given an NA title, it could be in literature (NA for film... yes he's qualified, but come on... these pro-Caparas people should be made to sit through all his massacre films in one sitting, just like what Jim Paredes suggested GMA to do). The simple fact is, HE'S NOT QUALIFIED IN THIS CATEGORY.  I guess Gerry Alanguilan can articulate this better than I can.

In Alvarez' case, there's a conflict of interest since she is the NCCA Executive Director (the same body responsible for awarding the NA titles). Which form what I've read makes her ineligible. SHE IS INELIGIBLE.

These two have been singled out by most protesters. Architects are not really protesting the fact that Francisco Mañosa was given the title for Architecture. Pitoy Moreno being named NA for fashion design didn't create this much ire. So why the former two? BECAUSE THEY ARE EITHER UNQUALIFIED OR INELIGIBLE!!!!

Just imagine, if this is an honest mistake on the part of GMA, how many "honest mistakes" in the past have gone un-rectified?

Tuesday, August 04, 2009



METRO COMIC CON, August 8-9, 2009... That's this coming Saturday and Sunday at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall.

I was almost not going to be able to make it to the con, but schedules got shifted and it freed up my weekend. Yay!

I'll most likely be there Saturday afternoon, roaming around. I was also invited to join the Indie Comic Panel by Heubert Khan Michael, so I'll be joining him, Budjette Tan, Gilbert Monsanto, Ner Pedrina, Elbert Or and maybe a few others. That will be on Saturday, 5 to 6pm. So if you're going to attend, don't ask me any questions because I'm ill-equipped to answer them. Hahaha!

Saturday, August 01, 2009


Just wanted to take the time to say thank you to Tita Cory, President Corazon Aquino... You have been the best president I have ever had in my lifetime, and I'm sure a lot of Filipinos feel the same way. Rest In Peace, and I hope somewhere down the line we, the Filipinos, will make you and Ninoy proud.

Again, thank you from me and my family.