Imagining TRESE action figures

Yes, we can all dream that someday our comic book creations will have action figures and all sorts of merchandising. For now, we go back to writing and drawing more stories about them.

AMBUSH by Andrew Villar
http://ambush007.multiply.com/

a High Profile feature

The latest issue of HIGH PROFILE magazine just came off the press and if you can somehow stop staring the fantastic Georgina Wilson photo-spreads and the "Land of Legend" fantasy pictorial, you'll get read three geeks (i.e me, Mark Torres, and Paolo Fabregas) talk about comics and making comics.


Many thanks to the High Profile-crew, headed by Marco Venditti, Carmena Moura, and Chad Rialp.

Flip through the digital version of HIGH PROFILE magazine at:
http://www.vegamedia.com/pagcor/issue6/pageFlipper6.html

Or better yet, go to the bookstore and grab a copy!

Joey Agbayani's LOLA (animated movie)

Lola is an 'aswang'. In Philippine Folklore, an 'aswang' is a combination of vampire, witch, and shape-shifter. Lola is hired as an actress by a very ambitious director who exploits her supernatural abilities to save on special effects and production cost. The director is very hard to please so several takes are made until the witching hour has come to pass. After 12 midnight, Lola transforms into her most monstrous state and all hell breaks loose. The ambitious and relentless director, however, still insist on getting this award winning shot despite being haunted by 'Lola'.
Watch the trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSDGI2LvnIM

Screening Schedule: LOLA by Joey Agbayani, HARANG (BARRIERS) by Mikhail Red, HAY PINHOD OH YA SCOOTER (I WANT TO HAVE A BICYCLE) by Hubert Tibi,"P" by Rommel Tolentino & WAG KANG TITINGIN by Pam Miras

10 July/Sat 09:00 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
11 July/Sun 06:15 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
12 July/Mon 03:30 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
16 July/Fri 06:15 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
17 July/Sat 03:30 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
17 July/Sat 12:45 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
18 July/Sun 12:45 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute

6th Cinemalaya Film Festival screening sched:
http://www.spot.ph/event/45970/6th-cinemalaya-film-festival-2

6th Cinemalaya Film Festival kicks off with 24 films on July 9
Here's a list of all the films along with their synopsis:
http://www.spot.ph/entertainment/45873/6th-cinemalaya-film-festival-kicks-off-with-24-films-on-july-9/1/

Michael Tan talks about bangungot

THE SCIENCE COUNCIL OF ASIA, CONSISTING OF SCIENCE research councils from throughout the region, held its 10th conference last week here in the Philippines. I presented a paper on the need to look at cultural angles in relation to health and illness. I thought I’d share with Inquirer readers the case study I used in my paper. This is the case of bangungot, which I’ve written about in other columns, and which is also extensively described in my book “Revisiting Usog, Pasma, Kulam.” At the conference I gave an update on bangungot and similar ailments.


Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Deaths (SUND) is a term first used by the US Centers for Disease Control to refer to a number of folk illnesses. Folk illnesses are medical conditions which are given a name in a particular culture, for example usog and pasma. They do not have exact equivalents in Western biomedicine but are very real in the sense that they cause distress, suffering, pain and sometimes even death.


One of the folk illnesses covered by SUND is bangungot, which can mean both a nightmare as well as a pathological condition described as troubled sleep that can be fatal.


The folk explanation for bangungot is that the victim increases risks by going to bed right after a full meal, has nightmares and might even die if unable to regain control of his body. Victims are supposed to wiggle a toe or finger to regain that control. People who are susceptible are also advised not to sleep alone because if they have an attack, someone should be around to wake him up.


Note that the Ilokanos attribute bangungot to batibat, a supernatural creature described as an old woman. If the batibat’s dwelling is disturbed, she wreaks vengeance by sitting on the victim’s chest when he’s sleeping, eventually causing death.


The batibat explanation reminds us of a universal recognition of problems relating to sleep, with batibat-like characters reported in many other cultures. The English word nightmare itself is derived from “night” and “mare,” a female horse, referring to the feeling of heavy animal (the mare) or a spirit sitting on the chest.


What are the medical studies that have been conducted on bangungot?


An early report published in 1933 and involving autopsies of bangungot victims, found pancreatitis, which was attributed to our high salt and high carbohydrate (rice) diets. Other reports in American journals involved apparently deaths of healthy Filipinos who were in the US Navy. The reports repeated earlier theories about diet and pancreatic dysfunction.


In the 1970s, several unexplained deaths among apparently healthy men were reported among Hmong refugees who had migrated to the United States. US Centers for Disease Control coined the term SUND. The Lao term for this ailment is dab tsuam (pronounced da cho), which again involves the supernatural. The stress angle was explored here.


In 1990 and 1991, several deaths were reported in Singapore among Thai construction workers. The Thai term for the ailment was lai-tai (sleep death). Medical investigations speculated cardiac problems and potassium deficiency as causes.


In the reports on SUND, there are also frequent references to the Japanese pokkuri or sudden death. Japanese researchers, usually forensic experts, point to cardiac problems, with probable dietary

factors, as the cause of death.


READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE AT:
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20100622-277063/SUND
SUND: Pinoy Kasi By Michael Tan
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 06/22/2010


And you can read Trese's explaination of what the bangungot really is at The Diabolical:
http://diabolical13.blogspot.com/2010/02/trese-i-carry-your-heart.html

how to replace copies of TRESE with faulty binding

THE CASE OF THE FAULTY BINDING

We’ve been receiving feedback from readers that the copies of TRESE that they bought have faulty binding; that the pages fall off from the spine soon after they read it. We apologize that this has happened.

Here are two ways you can have your copies replaced:

1
Return the book to the bookstore where you bought it and have it exchanged for a new one. It would be best that you bring your receipt and that you get it exchanged within a week of purchase.

2
Go to the Visprint office and exchange your copy with a new one. Please bring your receipt as well. Email Visprint at book_inquiry @ visprint .net for more details.

(Obviously, if you’ve had that copy for several months and the pages have fallen off because it has been passed around to everyone in your household, your school or office, then we’d have to decline in giving you a new copy.)

Thank you very much! :-)

UPDATE: a message from Visprint

Our sincerest apologies to all our dear buyers who have received copies of "Trese 3: Mass Murders" and "12" (silent comics) with faulty binding. Rest assured we have already addressed this problem with our binding supplier.

You may have your copy replaced from the bookstore/comic shop you have purchased it from, just present your receipt. For those who have already lost their receipt or got the book as a gift, you may bring your faulty copy to the Visprint office during office hours (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) and look for Ms. Ella. Please call ahead (8452703) or email us (book_inquiry @ visprint.net) to inform us of your sched so we may have your new copy ready.

Again, our apologies for the trouble this may have caused you.

* applies to other titles as well
** faulty copy refers ONLY to damaged books with printing error or faulty binding, and NOT due to misuse or wear-and-tear.
*** please do NOT advise us of your replacement sched through the comments section of this site. We will accomodate replacement requests only through phone calls and emails.

Casting Call: TRESE short film

First of all, let me say how excited I am to make this announcement. Yes, we are in the process of producing a short film about a Trese mystery and we are in need of a few actors, actresses, and aswang.

Please read the casting requirements below.

If you would like to audition for any of these roles, please email your pictures (one headshot and one full body pic) along with your bio-data. Send them to: lucille_perez@yahoo.com with the SUBJECT: TRESE CASTING CALL

ALEXANDRA TRESE, female, in her late 20s

Physically fit, looks like the type that practices martial arts or is an accomplished dancer

Height: 5’5” – 5’6”

She commands authority even if she is just sitting quietly in one corner.

If you saw her alone in a bar, you’d be curious to meet her, but would hesitate to approach her.

KAMBAL, male, in their early 20s, Trese’s loyal bodyguards

(Real twins are encouraged to audition, but we’re willing to see actors who closely resemble one another)

Height: they should be taller than Trese, preferably 5’9 and above
Physically fit, looks like the type that practices martial arts

Basilio is the LONG HAIRED KAMBAL. His long hair runs past his shoulders – he sometimes wears it in a ponytail. He is the younger Kambal. Cocky. Loves to joke around. Loves to flirt with the girls.

Crispin is the SHORT HAIRED KAMBAL. He keeps his hair neat and trimmed. He is the eldest. Acts like the typical kuya. Very serious. Asserts his authority over Basilio. If Basilio goes out of line, he will pull him back and remind him to behave.

GUERRERO, male, late 40s

Medium to heavy built
Has a beer belly, has been sitting behind the desk for too long
Preferably balding or bald with moustache and/or beard

Guerrero is a captain in the PNP. He’s seen it all. And just when he thought he had seen it all, he ends up investigating all sorts of strange, unexplained crime that requires the help of Trese.

Guerrero’s known Alexandra ever since she was teen-ager, so he treats her like his niece

TAPIA, male, mid-20s

He’s the rookie cop and Guerrero’s right hand man.
Clean cut hair. Looks like he just got out of the police academy.

POGI, male, 30s

He’s Mr. Pretty Boy. He’s Mr. Male Model. He’s the guy that girls swoon over. He can sweet-talk anyone into bed. He’s very romantic when he talks, but the only person that he really loves is himself. He walks and talks like he’s a prince; head held up high.

REY, male, mid 30s - 40s.

Rey is a tired, old guy who’s just trying to do honest work after years of doing dirty and unspeakable work. Looks like the type who’s been in jail a lot. Now works at a construction site– which still requires a lot of physical labor. He doesn’t want any trouble, but if you push him, he’s more than ready to fight back.

IRMA, female, 20s

Impulsive. Hot headed. She an “amazona”. She takes matters into her own hands just to get the job done. She’s very protective over her family. She’s sure about herself, about her decisions, and will not listen to anyone else about what she should do.

NINO, male, 7 to 11 years old

Preferably lanky, thin body frame
Very talkative. Very expressive when he’s telling a story.

To audition for any of these roles, please email your pictures (one headshot and one full body pic) along with your bio-data. Send them to: lucille_perez@yahoo.com with the SUBJECT: TRESE CASTING CALL

Thank you!

Meet Alexandra Trenta and the Kambal Tuko

Story and art by Crazy Jhenny
http://crazyjhenny.blogspot.com/2010/06/crazy-jhenny-horror-story.html

Something twisted this way comes

What's scarier, global warming or zombies?
EMOTIONAL WEATHER REPORT By Jessica Zafra (The Philippine Star) June 11, 2010

Alexandra Trese, the graphic novel series written by Budjette Tan and illustrated by Kajo Baldisimo, is set in that other Manila, the one on the fringes of your consciousness, where the criminal underworld really is from the underworld. Aswang run kidnapping rings, kapre are crime kingpins, and tikbalang drink and drive. When crime takes a turn for the weird, the police call supernatural detective Alexandra Trese. When we ponder the undying popularity of the horror genre, we talk to our friend Budjette Tan.

YOUNG STAR: In Alexandra Trese you offer an alternative explanation for the crime rate: supernatural creatures. What’s scarier, ghosts and ghouls or corrupt politicians?

BUDJETTE TAN: I think corrupt politicians are scarier. At least with ghosts we can exorcise them and make them leave this plane of existence. With some politicians, there’s just no getting rid of them, no matter what kind of exorcism you perform.

READ THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW AT:
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=583176&publicationSubCategoryId=84