I started this blog exactly one year ago from today.
Actually, this was not my first attempt. I started a blog using Blogger a number of weeks before that. That one ended up with me going all over the place, totally misdirected with no clear idea of what to do with it, so I scrapped it. Days later, I decided to try WordPress.
I got the idea to start a blog from a college classmate of mine who happens to be an awesome comic book artist and writer himself, Gerry Alanguilan. He has a fabulous blog at Komikero.com.
Back in college, Gerry was always the go-to-guy outside my small circle of friends when it comes to comic books. He was one of the few I knew in college who was really a serious collector. I was not that deep into comic books, but I was very familiar with that fictional universe courtesy of copies borrowed from friends who have these kind of literature and would heartily read them anytime I can get my hands on some. I might have probably pestered Gerry at least once to borrow some of his comics in the past, though I can’t recall being able to. I just had to say that for security in case I did and was not able to return said copy.
Though I thought of Gerry as a comic book collector, I never thought he would eventually end up as an artist for Marvel! It was years later that I learned from a fellow classmate about Gerry’s exploit as an inker for some of the most famous comic book characters like Superman and the X-Men! Wow, talk about living your dream.
That led me to Google search his name out of curiosity, which led me to his online journal that he has been keeping since 1997! After lurking around it for a number of months, I eventually learned how to send a message through his contact page to say hi. He still remembers me, which was fortunate because I was one of those who fly below the radar in college.
Gerry now writes, draws and publishes his own comic books, a testament to his dedication to his art, and for that I admire him. It is not everyday that somebody was able to chase down a dream.
By the way, I have to confess that I have not read any of Gerry’s work except those that he publishes online, such as Elmer, which he made available for download on his blog. See for yourself by checking it out and you might agree with me on how awesome he is.
I just had to say that Gerry’s blog had been at times a loud voice for the semi-dormant (or failing to fully erupt back from dormancy) comics industry in my home country, the Philippines. I am frequently amazed at how many comments Gerry’s posts gets, especially when it comes to the state of the comics industry in the Philippines, to which I am completely clueless about!
This guy has been maintaining an online journal for more than ten years now. It amazed me. I am no stranger to keeping a journal, having been writing on a diary for some time myself back in high school. But to have it online, where strangers can read about your thoughts? Hmmmm, why not?
So that is how I got to blogging. What better way to celebrate it than tell about the man and his insightful blog that made me think about starting and having one of my own.
Mabuhay ka, Gerry Alanguilan!
Oh, and a happy birthday to you, my blog!














