At The Komikon 2009

Oh joy!

At the recently-concluded Komikon 2009, Jamie Bautista and I received Komikon Awards. Jamie won for Best Comic Series (Cast), Best Comic Scene (Cast 10), and Best Cover (Cast 11 — beautiful work, Arnold!), while I snagged the Comic Aid Award. Here’s their write-up on me:

Elbert Or is currently finishing his thesis as a final requirement for his MA in Education while teaching in Ateneo de Manila University. There he regularly incorporate comics and graphic novels in his freshman English Literature classes, and teaches comics production classes for their Fine Arts Program. He’s been conducting workshops and seminars across the country for Nautilus Comics, where he served as editor-in-chief for a couple of years.

All quite flattering, and while it’s far from the reason why I do what I do, it does encourage me to continue my work. I really feel this award is also Lorra’s though, wonderful lovely Lorra, who played the role of de facto campaign manager, getting everyone she knows (and even some she didn’t!) to vote for me. I love you, Lorra!

For the curious, here’s a list of all the winners.

I should add though that the real reward at Komikon was the discovery of wonderful new comics. This year may be seeing the most new comic book projects released in such a long time, from independently-published gems like Elmer Damaso’s Cat’s Trail, Gerry Alanguilan’s Where Bold Stars Go To Die, Apol Sta. Maria’s Ang Alamat Ng Pangit, and Kevin Ang’s Zombies in Manila to mainstream publications like Summit’s debut horror graphic novel Underpass, The First One Hundred Years of Philippine Komiks and Cartoons by John Lent, and new issues of Mango Jam, Private Iris and Mangaholix Magazine. It’s a truly, truly exciting time for comics, one that I’m really glad I’m part of!