Tuesday, December 28, 2010

abracadabra

This charm was used throughout the Middle Ages. 'One only had to write it down in the triangular pattern shown below and wear it round one's neck as a sort of phylactery or charm to be protected from various diseases and to be cured of fever':

ABRACADABRA
ABRACADABR
ABRACADAB
ABRACADA
ABRACAD
ABRACA
ABRAC
ABRA
ABR
AB
A

The word derives from the Hebrew abreg ad habra meaning to 'strike dead with thy lightning.' In Hebrew it comprises nine letters. 'Placing aleph on the left side of the triangle - and its ninefold repetition - is the magical element.' By arranging the letters in a reverse triangle, the celestial energies which the charm claims to entrap are directed downwards. According, the figure should be seen three-dimensionally as a funnel. Like amulets, talismans and pentacles, this charm seeks to give the individual a sense of protection through communication with the higher powers and with the mysterious laws which govern the universe.


from THE PENGUIN DICTIONARY OF SYMBOLS

found via http://www.jonathancarroll.com/

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Underworld Creatures Gallery 5

Here's the last set of pictures from Ian Balba's thesis about creatures from Philippine mythology. All of these sculptures and pictures were made by Ian. (And how I wish this wasn't the last set!)



tahamaling

tiyanak

tikbalang

tikbalang

tikbalang

Underworld Creatures Gallery 1:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-1.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 2:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-2.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 3:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-3.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 4:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-4.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 5: 
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-5.html

See more of Ian Balba's work at:
http://iaaaaaaaaaan.deviantart.com/

Monday, December 20, 2010

Trese in Spot.ph TOP 10 PINOY BOOKS OF 2010

The 10 Best Pinoy Books of 2010 You Should Read—and Give Away
http://www.spot.ph/top-list/47219/top-10-books-by-pinoy-authors/1



As 2010 comes to a close, SPOT.ph asked Andrea Pasion-Flores, executive director of the National Book Development Board and herself an author and fictionist, to pick the most noteworthy Pinoy reads released this year that were penned by some of the most creative and controversial storytellers of our time. Check out the page-turners that deserve a place on your bookshelf--or under the Christmas tree.


CSI meets kapres, duwendes, tikbalangs and other mythical creatures of the Philippine underworld in Trese. Tan and Baldismo have created a series just as suspenseful and entertaining with strange murder suspects and a girl-sleuth named Alexandra Trese and her aswang sidekicks. Set in contemporary Metro Manila, the crimes are horrendous, with no violence, blood, or gore spared, and depicted in black-and-white illustration that show unearthly crime in all its gruesome glory. Would you believe this graphic lit series won a National Book Award? It’s that good.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Trese's Victory in the Inquirer

Two articles about Pinoy comic books came out in the Philippine Daily Inquirer today.





















The first one reprints our Trese interview by Paolo Chikiamco of RocketKapre.com

For fans of komiks, Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo need no introduction, and neither does “Trese”, their komiks collaboration, now published by Visprint, which is one of the most popular and most successful komik series’ in recent memory. While komiks still remains, at this point, a niche market, “Trese” continues to make inroads into mainstream consciousness, its most recent success being recognition in the National Book Awards in the category of Graphic Literature. In their first post-award interview Kajo and Budjette talk about the success of “Trese”, the importance of their fans, transmedia storytelling, and the future of Philippine komiks:

READ THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW AT:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/super/super/view/20101218-309565/Treses-victory





The second one is an interview by Oliver Pulumbarit, where he talks to me, Gerry Alanguilan, and Carlo Vergara about the potential and future of the Philippine comic book industry.

The local comic book industry has evolved dramatically in the last couple of years. The weekly newsprint “komiks” are gone, but the number of independent comic book creators who bring their vision to their own publications continues to grow.

Filipino-made comics are alive, kicking, and here to stay, according to three of indie movement Alamat’s most successful creators, Gerry Alanguilan (writer-artist of the acclaimed “Elmer”), Budjette Tan (author of 2009 National Book Award-winning “Trese”), and Carlo Vergara (creator of the multimedia sensation “Zsazsa Zaturnnah”).

READ THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW AT:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/super/super/view/20101218-309544/Pinoy-comics-pride-and-possibilities

Friday, December 17, 2010

THE FEAST in UNO magazine

It was December, when four friends went on a road trip in search of the best tasting dishes in the province.

Unfortunately, in their quest for the most delicious meal, they may have driven into a town where someone eagerly awaits to have them for dinner.


THE FEAST
Story by Budjette Tan
Script by Budjette Tan and Alex Arellano
Art by Kajo Baldisimo

Exclusively available in the December issue of UNO magazine. (Look for the one with the delectable Iza Calzado on the cover)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Underworld Creatures Gallery 4

And we're back! With more of Ian Balba's sculptures depicting creatures from Philippine mythology, some of which I've never heard of. Would be great if these were all compiled in a book with accompanying stories about each beast and being.



mahomanay


mameleu

manananggal

mangkukulam

marcupo

minokawa

minokawa

Underworld Creatures Gallery 1:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-1.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 2:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-2.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 3:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-3.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 4:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-4.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 5: 

http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-5.html
See more of Ian Balba's work at:
http://iaaaaaaaaaan.deviantart.com/

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Trese and Kambal Snowflakes

Some Trese-Christmas decor hand-made by Wella :-)




Friday, December 10, 2010

Underworld Creatures Gallery 2

Here are more of Ian Balba's sculptures, which are all part of his creatures of Philippine myth college thesis. This set of pictures have the sculptures in different settings. Again, very beautiful, very detailed, very freaky work! Reminds me of those dioramas in the Ayala Museum. How I'd love to wander a dimly-lit gallery and just get lost in this fantastic, dark underworld.


aswang

baconaua

balbal

batibat

BATIBAT: Typically described an obese woman. They are creatures who live in trees and when these trees are cut down and used as posts in house, they continue to stay in the wood. They forbid anyone to live near their domicile. They will sit on people who sleep near their post, causing them to have nightmares or a bangungot. To drive them away, you are supposed to bite your thumb or wiggle your big toe. 


bungisngis
bungisngis

cafir having a smoke

 cafir

calanget

Underworld Creatures Gallery 1:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-1.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 2:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-2.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 3:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-3.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 4:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-4.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 5: 

http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-5.html



See more of Ian Balba's work at:

http://iaaaaaaaaaan.deviantart.com/

Saturday, December 04, 2010

Underworld Creatures Gallery 1

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome to this spine-tingling collection of sculptures of creatures from Philippine lower-mythology. The creator of these gory works of art is Ian Balba. He made them for his college thesis.

I discovered Ian's work through Melvin Arciaga. Ian, Melvin, and David Hontiveros are working on a not-so-secret project and I can't wait for them to done with those pieces.

For the moment, come into the gallery and don't be afraid to get close to the exhibit. Just don't touch them. Please.

aswang

baconaua

balbal
bangungot

bungingis

mamaleu

mangkukulam

mantahungal

marcupo
nuno

pugot

segben

Underworld Creatures Gallery 1:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-1.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 2:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-2.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 3:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-3.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 4:
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-4.html

Underworld Creatures Gallery 5: 
http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/12/underworld-creatures-gallery-5.html

See more of Ian Balba's work at:
http://iaaaaaaaaaan.deviantart.com/