BEYOND

Because I already ran out of comic books for Manix to sign

It's not a secret that I'm a HUGE fan of Manix Abrera. Exhibit A: I lined up for six hours to get his autograph. Exhibit B: My boyfriend and I went to Baguio to attend his talk. To work on a project with him? That's the dream.

Well, as Paulo Coelho said in my favorite book The Alchemist, "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

I work in PR and Beyond the Box is one of our clients. To celebrate the amazing talent and creativity found in Filipino comic book artistry through the use of technology, the Apple Premium Reseller brought together some of the country’s most respected and known comic artists to create a one-of-a-kind comic book compilation made solely using the iPad Pro — the first of its kind in the Philippines.

Harvey Tolibao, Manix Abrera, and Mervin Malonzo have been challenged to write and illustrate under the theme “beyond” as an ode to Beyond the Box as a brand that encourages pushing limits and exploring possibilities.

Harvey Tolibao is a Filipino comic book artist who has gained recognition by pencilling and inking for Dark Horse, Marvel and DC Comics. He is currently a cover artist at Zenescope Entertainment, a comic book artist at IDW Publishing, an artist at Nautilus Comics, and a cover artist for DC Comics.

Manuel “Manix” Abrera is a Filipino comic artist best known for his daily comic strip Kikomachine for The Philippine Daily Inquirer and his webcomic News Hardcore! on GMA News Online. 

Mervin Malonzo is a Filipino freelance designer, artist, animator, illustrator and cartoonist for web, video animation, print, and comics. He is known for writing and drawing the National Book Award-winning comic Tabi Po and his work with writer Adam David for Ang Subersibo, a comic adaptation of Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

We launched Beyond at Hole in The Wall in Century City Mall last Tuesday (that's a couple of days before I had my hair cut, heh) and oh my, if only I could absorb even half of the creativity and awesomeness in the room!

Hi, Sab!

The project is a creative collaboration between the CEO of Digits Trading Inc. Charlie Paw and Graphic Designer Dan Matutina, who jump-started the idea.

Three variant covers by Harvey Tolibao, Mervin Malonzo, and Manix Abrera

With my friend Ed

With my blogger/ TV host friend Alvin who I haven't seen in so long

With Emile, Donna, and Natasha

With Manix and Mina!
Do I smell a collaboration?

That's what I loved about this day, actually: seeing great names from the art industry together in a non-comic convention (but still somewhat related) event. Too bad some of the comic book artists and writers I invited couldn't go because of other commitments (e.g. day jobs), but I'm hoping we could have one again in the near future.

A photo with my idol! Yay!

Through this collaboration, Beyond the Box hopes to empower Filipinos to do just that—to go beyond their limitations by exploring the possibilities of their creativity using power of modern technology. The three artists took turns showing a quick demo of their art using the iPad Pro and there wasn't a single soul in there who wasn't amazed by their expertise and the ease with which they used the gadget!

Beyond the Box launched this comic book compilation along with artist signings with Harvey Tolibao, Manix Abrera, and Mervin Malonzo at the AsiaPOP Comicon that started today at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. Each book costs P350 only. I will be there on Sunday to have my copy signed by Manix! Rakenrol!

For more information, you may visit Beyond the Box's official website or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.