Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
I was born in Manila, and I grew up and have been living here in Tondo ever since.

Schooling? Art training?
I studied in Philippine Cultural High School, the very first chinese school in Manila. It's a shame I never learned to speak Chinese well, though. After that I took up Fine Arts and majored in Advertising in the University of Santo Tomas, where I graduated in 2000.

How long have you been working professionally in comics?
I've been in the business for more than 3 years now.

What things -- both in art and otherwise -- have you worked on, besides comics?
Well, I used to do illustrations for textbooks part time, then I also helped out doing album covers for local bands.

Are comics a full-time gig for you or part-time?
It's basically a full-time gig, I work at home, so I try to spend as much time as possible on it.

Tell us how you broke into the business --was it easy? Hard? Any interesting anecdotes?
It wasn't easy as I thought it would be, I had to rethink and relearn almost everything for more a than a year before I landed my very first job. I didn't had a PC then, I had to commute back and forth from Tondo to the old office in San Juan(a 1 hour trip)everyday for checking and follow-ups.

When you held your first published work in your hands, how did you feel?
I was grinning from ear to ear, I proudly told the saleslady at the comic shop that I drew that. She didn't believe me, of course.

How did you settle on the style(s) you're currently using?
I was heavily into manga at first, but then I couldn't make any decent facial expressions so I tried out several styles and mixed in different elements until I came up with something that did the job, with all the facial expressions and body language.

Did you work as an assistant to any other artists?
No, but I was influenced by a whole lot of them.

How did your parents take to the idea of working in comics?
My parents were very supportive, but they thought it wasn't worth all the trouble. That changed when I got my first pay, though.^.^

Please describe your work space. Is it part of your home,or do you go "to the studio"?
I work at home, at the top of the house. Everything's laid out in a row for easy reach, with the drafting table at the center, two tables and a file cabinet. I also have my little stereo/cd/vcd/mp3 player close so I can listen to the radio or play cds while working.

What job are you the proudest of?
I think it would be working with Alex Ross on Battle of the Planets, it's a dream come true!

What's your most embarrassing?
That would be my first job, a backup story for Exposure:2nd Coming. I was so late in my deadline and I had rush it.

What project are you currently drawing?
I'm currently working as the regular artist for Top Cow's Tomb Raider starting with issue #38

Tell us about your family and home situation. Are you married with kids? Anecdotes about married life, how it relates to your busy schedule, etc. If you have kids do they understand your job? What do they say about it? Do they read comics?
Well, I'm single, so I don't have too much to think about, well, yet. My two brothers and sister is still in school, so I help out with their finances, and saving up so we can finally get our own house here in Manila.

What projects do you hope to work on in the future?
Wow, that's hard, but I would like to take a crack at the X-men, working on lots of characters in one book is quite a challenge.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I love drawing for comics, so I think I'll still be working in the business for the years to come.

Do friends and neighbors know you draw comics for a living? How do they react?
Well, they do, but they find it hard to believe I'm actually getting paid international rates just working at home. =)

What's 1 thing you'll always find in your refrigerator?
Instant noodles

What's your favorite food?
Noodles! They're the key to long life, you know.

What are your favorite interests --Movies? Music? TV? Any hobbies? Sports?
I love New Wave 80's music, I love anime and manga especially those 70's super robot revivals, and I love watching everything on the Cartoon Network and Discovery Channel.

Have you ever thought of writing your own stories?
I wish I could, but I think I'll stick to drawing for now.

What's an average day in your life like?
Well, I wake up at 6, check my mails, have breakfast and maybe walk around the neighborhood for an hour or so. After lunch I try to take a nap and start around 3, break for supper at 7 and work till 12- 12:30 am.

Any humorous or interesting anecdotes to tell about the comics business?
An artist friend of mine dressed up as Princess of Battle of the Planets at one of the big local comicons. It was the happiest day of my life ^.^

Do you have any great, unsold projects in your files that nobody's gotten to see published?
I may have some lying around here somewhere, if I can just find it....;>

Give us your complete list of published credits?

13-page backup story for Exposure:2nd Coming(Avatar)

Jade #2-4 4-issue miniseries(Chaos)

Jade: Redemption #1-4 4-issue miniseries(Chaos)

Co-artist for Banzai Girl #1-4(Sirius)

Battle of the Planets #1-12 maxiseries(Top Cow)

Upcoming regular artist for Tomb Raider (starting at#38)

If you weren't a comic-book artist today, what would you be?
I'd probably be a clerk at a comic shop, so I can still get my hands on comics. ;>

Any closing words?
Just keep on drawing

 

LIST OF CREDITS

• Exposure: Second Coming , a 13-page backup story ( Avatar Press )
• Jade #2-4, four issue miniseries ( Chaos! Comics )
• Jade: Redemption #1-4, four issue miniseries (Chaos)
• Co-artist for Banzai Girl #1-4 ( Sirius Entertainment )
• Battle of the Planets #1-12 maxiseries ( Top Cow Productions )
• Tomb Raider #38
• Chastity (covers)
• Mia99 (pinups)
• Black Rose
• Battle of the Planets: Princess #1-6 (Top Cow)
• Shadowcast #1-5 (Harcourt Achieve)
• LEGO Exo-Force webcomic