Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
XERX: I was born in Manila, Philippines. I grew up here.

Tell us about your schooling? Any art training?
XERX: I started drawing when I was in high school. I copied and studied a bunch of comics from the pencillers who dominated that time – Campbell’s Gen13, Charest’s Wild Cats. I stopped drawing comics in College where I studied engineering until I was working… After that, I just drew once in a while for pleasure

How long have you been working professionally in comics?
XERX: I just started drawing about 1 year professionally.

What things - both in art and otherwise - have you worked on, besides comics? Are comics a full time gig for you or part time?
XERX: A year ago, I was working as a programmer during the day and was doing some comics pages during the night… it has just been 10 months since I quit my day job and drew comics for a living. Everyday in my last 10 months was the best!.

SPOTLIGHT: Can you talk about how you broke into the business - was it easy? Any ups and downs?
XERX: I started my career going thru art and illustration jobs in the internet and working around independent publishers and studios along the way.
Working with independent publishers really helped me a lot in improving my skills, it’s like a training ground for both art skills and work ethics on how to deal with editors and those who critique your work.

Did you work as an assistant to any other artists?
XERX: not yet. I do hope to be able to assist some of the great artists one day… so that I can learn how they do stuff hehehehe.

How did your parents take to the idea of working in comics?
XERX: I was very young when I started submitting work with David, they weren’t even ghg back then, I guess their name was ‘comicsyndicate’, that’s why I wasn’t able to push thru my application, my parents wanted me to finish my studies first.
But after I graduated and worked, I continued to pursue my life long dream to draw for a living… They supported me once I had made the decision to switch careers

How would you describe your work space? Is it part of your home, or do you go "to the studio"?
XERX: I work in my home, in the middle of the sala and the dining room. I got the TV next to a computer and my drawing table.

Tell us about your family: Parents, siblings, home situation. What do they say about it? Do they read comics?
XERX: My Mom and Dad are living in California. My 2 sisters are studying. Nobody knows anything about comics here in my family.

What projects do you hope to work on in the future?
XERX: Anything dark and moody.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years or 10?
XERX: I hope I’m still drawing comics for a living. Hopefully with excellent titles.

Do friends and neighbors know you draw comics for a living? How do they react?
XERX: My friends and family are happy that I finally found the thing I wanted to do my whole life. My neighbors… well, no body really knows what I do, neither do I care.

What's 1 thing you'll always find in your refrigerator?
XERX: Coke!

What's your favorite food?
XERX: Suha.

What are your favorite interests - Movies? Music? TV? Any hobbies? Sports?
XERX: I love comedy sitcoms – Friends, Seinfeld, Joey, Family Guy, South park.

Have you ever thought of writing your own stories?
XERX: Yes, but I got no time to pursue it yet, I spend most of my time illustrating the stories of writers… I think it’s better that way
Ever been in a gang?
XERX: No.

What's an average day in your life like? Walk us through a typical day.
XERX: I wake up 9 am, turn on the TV, plug in my Seinfeld or Friends DVD then I start drawing till I can’t draw anymore… usually ends until midnight

Do you have any great, unsold projects in your files that nobody's gotten to see published?
XERX: I got 2.

If you weren't comic-book artist today, what would you be?
XERX: a programmer, 3d artist, flash artist of some sor

The single thing you'd most like to be remembered for in your life is?
XERX: He’s a good guy.