HE WAS ALREADY working as a full-time architect in Manila for almost two years when he realized that it was not the life he wanted. But he was unsure of what exactly he wanted to be. Then it came to him like a vision: the answer to his dilemma was right under his very nose and scattered around his house all this time — comic books!
From architectural blueprints to his original comic book artworks, Gerry Alanguilan has taken the big, bold step to fulfill the thing he aspires for the most: to draw as no one has ever drawn before.
As a kid, he already had a thing for sketching. He had been absorbed in comics ever since he learned to read and draw his very own strips as soon as he could hold a pencil. And like most cases of untapped talent, it was all a mere pastime for him. But his little hobby eventually led him the University of Santo Tomas, to the then College of Architecture and Fine Arts.
In an e-mail interview, Gerry mentioned that UST had always been his school of choice and he did not want to be anywhere else. He first considered taking up Fine Arts, but due to “forces of intractable and parental nature,” he opted to pursue a degree in Architecture instead.
He didn’t join any organization or gained prominence in UST but he was still grateful at being a Thomasian because he knew the institution could teach him many things. “It was here that I became more responsible and where I learned that I can do so much more than what I could believe,” Gerry writes.
During his University days, he discovered his full potentials as an artist and at the same time, rediscovered his passion for the comic book. He became a bigger comic buff in college than he was ever before. After school, he would comb the sidewalks of Avenida or the Greenhills thrift shops in search of various local and foreign comic books.
In his third year, he tried his luck and submitted his artwork to Marvel Comics. He then received his very first rejection, but that didn’t discouraged him at all. “Instead of being depressed about it, I even got excited. I thought ‘wow’, there’s someone at Marvel who actually knows I exist.”
He began sending submissions regularly. He has a stack of rejection letters at home to prove his perseverance.
One for the (comic) books
It was only in 1992 when Gerry really delved into a more intense comics study. He quit his job, went back to his hometown in San Pablo, Laguna and drew and drew. Being a huge fan of the “Uncanny X-men” (Marvel Comics) series, Gerry was amazed to discover that one of its artists, Whilce Portacio, was Filipino.
Both met coincidentally later that year as Whilce was doing his rounds in a local comic shop. Gerry vividly recalls the encounter: “One look at my work and he asked me, ‘Architecture ka, ano?’ I was stunned. How did he know? He then said that he could see the stiffness in my lines. Ouch!”
But Gerry was grateful for that earnest opinion and Whilce was kind enough to give very useful pointers on this type of art. Years later, Whilce took under his wing the then budding comic book artists of the country, including Leinil Yu, Edgar Tadeo, and of course, Gerry.
Soon enough, Gerry was getting stints as an illustrator for local newspapers, magazines, and comic books. He was also inking for other US-based publications like Entity Comics, Marvel Comics, and recently, DC Comics, where he is currently working on Superman: Birthright with Yu. He has also done CD cover arts and was a part of graphic fiction compilation, Siglo: Freedom.
No Waste
The graphic novel Wasted is his most recognized work yet.
“It (Wasted) was something I wrote for myself, trying to satisfy no market, no audience, no statistics but my own. And for some reason, a lot of people found something in it that they can identify with,” Gerry said.
What started off as a self-published mini-comic book in eight installments, eventually became the popular graphic novel about a heart-broken guy who becomes insane and goes on a killing spree. It has received praises from other comic book creators and has gotten readers writing to Gerry about their love woes. Even the award-winning indie filmmaker Noel F. Lim has decided to adapt the story into a movie, casting the author himself as the trigger-happy, main character Eric.
Even though Gerry works for U.S. comics, he has never ceased to promote Filipino works. He takes his hat off to the great “komikeros”, Francisco V. Coching (Hagibis, 1945) and Nestor Redondo (Darna, 1950s) for their style that pioneered the Filipino comic book industry. He also admires other new artists who have shown innovation and impressive talent such as Arnold Arre (After Eden, 2002) and Carlo Vergara (Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, 2002).
Gerry has managed to create his own style and has become a prime mover in popularizing Filipino comic books through his online Philippines Comics Art Museum at http://www.komikero.com/museum.
But as his views on Filipino sometimes receives criticisms, he clarifies that he has nothing against other kinds of comic art, whether it be Japanese or American.
“What matters is the work you create. Is it your best? Is it good? And more importantly, is it original? You carry not only your name, but also the name of your country wherever you work. Show them that you are capable of creating something unique,” he writes in a web-published article.
Commitment
He has been a member of the United Architects of the Philippines, San Pablo Chapter for 10 years now. And although he stopped practicing architecture in 1995, he still takes pride in being a part of the organization of which his wife, Ilyn, is a member too. Right now, he stands as the webmaster of its site.
Although the transition was not as easy as he thought it would be, he is not regretful. “Being a komikero is hard work and not really that glorious at all. But when you see your name on the comic book, and the reader is loving it, there’s no greater satisfaction than that,” said Gerry.
Gerry Alanguilan may have taken a different career turn, but he is now taking the path he has always wanted. An architect by profession, Gerry is a true artist in a manner others have not been able to successfully achieve: he is one by nature and choice. Glaiza Marie A. Seguia
