Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
I was born in Manila, Philippines. I grew up in Chinatown, Santa Cruz, Manila, Phils.

Schooling? Art training?
I received a Bachelor Degree in Science, Major in Advertising, at the University of Santo Tomas, Batch 1988.

How long have you been working professionally in comics?
I started accepting work in comics on August of 2008. But I already had 20 years experience working as a professional illustrator before getting into the comic industry.

What things -- both in art and otherwise -- have you worked on, besides comics?
I worked as an Executive Art Director / Illustrator both in the Advertising and Graphic Design industry. My work requires me to come up with concept and designs for total advertising campaigns, from print ad, point-of-purchase materials, TV commercial, annual report, corporate identity, packaging and etc.

Talk about how you broke into the business --was it easy? Hard? Ups? Downs ?
I saw Cris De Lara’s work on Imagine FX, got her website on Glass house Graphics, and have since then wanted to come up with a couple of comic sample works and send them together with my resume to GHG, but, I was so busy with my job, that I never had the opportunity to sit down and work on it. Until one day, my niece sent me an email regarding GHG’s CEO coming to Manila, recruiting comic artists, and that pushed me to finish the 2 pages pin-up and send it to GHG, After a few days I received an email from Mr. David Campiti, saying that, most of the work that I will encounter will be in Sequential pages, and asked me to send him some and he would be willing to meet with me for an interview, so I quickly worked on a couple of seq. pages and sent it to him, and I landed an interview with him. And the rest is history. Starting work in comics, same as in any other job, I think would be hard at first, but as soon as you get use to the work routine, that’s the time when your work gets easier, better and faster.

How did you settle on the style(s) you're currently using? If you have multiple styles how did you develop them?
I think after working on several pages, you would feel comfortable with a style, but, of course, most times the client would request you to copy a certain style. I don’t mind, because, like in advertising, I am use to adopting a certain style of illustration for different target markets, that’s why I am used to adjusting to different style. You don’t develop your skill on doing multiple styles, but, rather you observe and study the style and adjust to that style.

How did your spouse take to the idea of working in comics?
Well, my wife was always very supportive, regarding my decisions.

How would you describe your work space? Is it part of your home, or do you go "to the studio"?
I work in a twelve square meter area room at home.

What job are you the proudest of?
The work that I’m most proud of is my first comic project because it gave me the confidence to take on bigger and more challenging projects.

Comments on the project that you are currently working on?
The client wants a specific coloring style, different from the previous issue that we worked on, so I have to study and adapt to that particular style.

Talk about your family: Spouse, children, home situation.
My wife knew that I am very passionate with comics, that's why she was very supportive on my decision to accept projects in the comic book industry, because she knew that I will excel on this area. Both my children, Ryan and my younger son Allan, love art, and are very excited on my projects in comics.

What projects do you hope to work on in the future?
Nothing in particular, but I want to work on projects that demands more challenges in lighting and effects.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten?
In five years I would like to color comics as good as Chris Lichtner (Liquid), Brian Haberlin or Alex Sinclair. In ten years, I see myself still accepting projects in comics.

What is the interest in comics where you live? Do friends and neighbors know you draw comics for a living? How do they react?
Some of my neighbor knows that I accept projects in comics, their reaction is that it’s a fun job and are asking me where can they get a crash course, so that they can also work at home like me.

What's 1 thing you'll always find in your refrigerator?
You’ll always find ice water.

What's your favorite food?
My favorite food is a Filipino dish called pork adobo and hardboiled egg with steamed rice.

What are your favorite interests --Movies? Music? TV? Any hobbies? Sports?
Well, I love watching movies, specially Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Events, Action Adventure, Detective Stories and etc. On music, I like to listen to Classical, love songs and 60’s, 70’s and 80's songs. On TV, I liked E.R., Battle Star Galactica, Gundam Seed, Samurai X and etc. On Hobbies I collect Comics, assemble Gundam models, I have a complete set of Warhammer 40K miniature game, I have a lot of Magic the Gathering TCG cards, I enjoy playing real time strategy games on desktop and I play with our PS2 or Nintendo 64 on the weekends with my sons.

Have you ever thought of writing your own stories?
Yes, I have thought of writing my own stories a lot of times, bits and pieces of idea, but I never get around to actually sitting down and writing them.

If you weren't a comic-book artist today, what would you be?
A Print Graphic Designer/Illustrator.

The single thing you'd most like to be remembered for in your life is...?
I would like to be remembered for having devoted my life to my 2 sons, so that they would have the best education, and with their education attain success in life. That, I think is the best gift a parent can give their children.

Any other tidbits of info about you that you are like to share?
My mottos in life are “If someone can do it, I can do it better” and “Try and try until you succeed”.

CREDITS (colorist):

Battlestar Galactica #4
ARTthief (Graphic Novel)
Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs Zombies #2
Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs Zombies #3