When Komiks Becomes Poetry – Launching of ‘Ipuipo sa Piging’ Anthology

Myself and Randy Valiente, culprits behind publications dealing with komiks (comic magazine Philippine-style) “Komiks sa Paningin ng mga Tagakomiks” and “Pinoy Komiks Rebyu” are now involved, together with poet Abet Umil, in coming up with an anthology called “Ipuipo sa Piging” (“Whirlwind to the Feast”) containing poems and 1 short story of 32 poets comprising 3 generations of writers in the country. The anthology is fronted by Iowa University alumnus Gelacio Guillermo and the multi-awarded Rogelio Ordonez of the landmark anthology “Agos sa Disyerto”.

Albeit identified as a “tagakomiks” I am also an alumnus of workshops of UP Creative Writing Center (now Institute), Galian sa Arte at Tula (GAT), LIRA, etc. and with poems that have been published in Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) literary journal “Ani”, Philippine Graphics, “Sa Kabila ng Ritmo” (“Beyond Rhymes”) among others. Randy, who started as a komiks illustrator and becoming a sought after writer-illustrator is the artistic director of the book. Komiks boys in a poetry book? Exactly, this is how “Ipuipo sa Piging” was formed with Abet Umil, who was game enough to collaborate with ‘komikeros’, completing the try…er…triumvirate.

People in the Philippine komiks circles are willing to support this undertaking which they will show by attending the book’s launching scheduled on August 23, 2010 (Monday), 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at 70s Bistro located in 46 Anonas Street Project 2, Quezon City, tel. (632) 434-4597. Entrance is free of charge. Signing of books by the writers in the anthology are even volunteered, to those who will buy copy of the book which will be sold on the spot.

The launching will have a formal program. Everyone is invited. No dress code required. But it will be a good idea to bring a bag with you as, by compulsion after browsing over the book and watching its companion video, you might buy extra copies for fear that it may become sold out faster than a serialized komiks novel.