While the printer is happily, busily, churning out ream after ream of paper (yes, I am a printing press today ... have been for the past two weeks or so), here are some rambling thoughts that lazily criss-cross my mind ...
Fully Booked Batman-David Finch Events
Fully Booked is celebrating the arrival of popular Batman: The Dark Knight writer-artist David Finch with events a-plenty including a bloggers challenge which I signed up for but unfortunately will not be able to join. They also had a Batman art contest, the winner of which would be judged, I believe, by the Finch himself. From the FB site, here's a run-down of the stuff they'll be having when Finch hits Manila from March 11 to 13:
March 11 (Sunday) - 3:00PM: Book Signing at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street
March 12 (Monday) - 1 - 4PM: Talk, Q&A, and Book Signing at DLSU-CSB, SDA Theater, 5F SDA Campus
March 13 (Tuesday) - 1 - 3:30PM: Talk, Q&A, and Book Signing at the UP College of Fine Arts Auditorium
March 14 (Tuesday) - 4:00PM: Book Signing at Fully Booked Katipunan
... and Our Own Family Event
A more important event, one closer to my heart, is happening tomorrow afternoon.
Ikai is playing Snow White.
Yes, my little daughter will be the lead in what would be the culminating activity of the Nursery-Kinder-Prep (NKP) afternoon classes in St. Paul College of Makati for SY 2011-2012. Of course, this is another exciting and exhilirating moment for Ikai and for us. Even her Lolo Ely and Lola Lydia will be coming over to lend their support to their apo.
For Ikai to play the lead is a bit of a surprise actually. During my talk with her teacher during the first semester, Ikai's teacher said that back then my daughter was the shy type and hated to be the focus of attention. While she excelled in academics and enjoyed the extra-curricular activities they did, Ikai balked at being the "leader". As her teacher told me then, they had to persuade her to sing in front of the NKP classes during practices and Ikai did so only after much prodding. Apparently, she didn't like being on stage, most especially if she was the center of everybody's attention.
So, for her to star in their activity tomorrow is something special indeed. I'm guessing Ikai's teacher had finally succeeded in bringing out the "star" in my little one :)
My role tomorrow aside from the beaming-proud-father-of-the-little-girl-who-played-Snow-White? Photographer and videographer :P
Meanwhile, back in Comicsville ...
Before Finch arrives on Sunday, the biggest books and school supplies retailer in the planet ... oh well, in the Philippines at least -- National Book Store -- is holding it's own comics event. As posted by well-respected local komikero Gerry Alanguilan, he'll be at Powerbooks Greenbelt this Saturday, March 10, along with well-known international penciller Leinil Francis Yu for the signing of the recently-compiled Superior which was penned by Mark Millar, pencilled by Leinil, and 90% inked by Gerry (Why only 90%? Read why over at Gerry's blog).
Superior will retail at National Bookstore for Php 1,175.00. Now, that's a hefty price for impoverished comics aficionados like myself but nevertheless, will need to save up for it. Will probably skip tomorrow's event though because I won't have the necessary cash to cough up for the book for Gerry and Leinil to sign.
Will probably have it by May because Gerry also mentioned that Millar will actually be coming over this May for a signing of his soon-to-be-released comics series Supercrooks (now this one I'm quite excited about). Why would world-famous Mark Millar find his way to the P.I., you ask? Well, as narrated by Gerry. It seems that awhiles ago, Millar announced a contest for comic book retailers wherein whoever ordered the most number of copies of Supercrooks #1 will get visited by Mark for a signing no matter where that retailer was located in the world. Guess who won? Yep, NBS ordered the most copies of the first issue of Supercrooks so Mark will be flying over to the Philippines a couple of months from now to do a signing with conspirants on the book Leinil (pencils) and Gerry (inks).
... and Good News for Would-Be Comic Book Artists
And one more news from Sir Gerry ...
National Book Store, this time in cooperation with Marvel Comics (yes, Marvel itself -- the one that owns Spider-man, Thor, Hulk, and Captain America) is flying over their Vice-President for Creator and Content Development C.B. Ceblulski to scout out the local talent here in the P.I.
Read more about it over at Gerry's where he has also posted the official announcement (plus a preview of the covers of Superior and Supercrooks).
Sad News for Terra Nova Fans (ehems)
Just learned this morning that FOX has decided not to renew the sci-fi family-oriented series Terra Nova.
There's still some hope though because the show's network are reportedly going around Tinseltown trying to find a taker for the series. Cross your fingers, folks! Also rumors are ripe that Netflix has shown interest in TN.
Personally, I do hope TN finds a new home and gets to at least three seasons. It would be great to see how the show and the characters develop and it would be quite helpful to see how the past versus future plot runs through. Three seasons would be enough to flesh out the entire story, I think and then TN can probably find other media where it can continue to develop and not languish in limbo (like 4400 or Firefly).
Not Really Hooked on Idol this Time Around ...
Unlike last season when I was really hooked with American Idol, this time around I still try to find time to watch the show but after the prelims and the top 40, the remaining Top 13 didn't excite me as much as last season's Top 13 (or was that 12?).
There's no country crooner like Scotty McCreery or a rocker like James Durbin or a diva like Pia Toscano or a true-musician like Casey Abrams or a jazz-blues combo like Haley Reinhart or a simply smoldering eye-candy Karen Rodriguez.
Maybe I'm just looking for some variety in the genre and too bad Reed Grimm didn't make it to the finalists' round to make it more interesting. But hopefully, as the season progresses we'll see exciting things happening in AI. Among the current crop, my vote (for all the good it does not do) goes to Phillip Phillips (alternative rocker) and Erika Van Pelt (great timbre in the voice). And oh, hopefully comedic singer (who actually has a great voice, mind you) Heejun Han makes it all the way to the top four finalist. That would be a surprise :)
