Toki
Feb 19 2005 Sat
8:46 am PHT
Presenting the premiere issue of my comic strip entitled Toki. (The image above is a link to a larger version). If you’re from UP Diliman, you should instantly recognize the title and you should also be able to guess that my comic strip is about life in UP Diliman.
I already have a total of three strips (one is in the stages of completion) and my initial plan is to release one strip per week. Except that creating strips is so damn hard, so I’m not sure I can keep up with that optimistic schedule!
I really wonder how professional comic strippers (hehehe) like Lyndon Gregorio (of Beerkada) and Pol Medina, Jr. (of Pugad Baboy) are able to crank out strip after strip almost daily. I’ve found that it’s very hard trying to come up with witty and funny scenes and dialogues to depict.
So, I want all of you guys (especially those who have studied or are studying in UP Diliman) to share ideas for future strips. Of course, you will be credited.
As for the characters, my main character is Okiks, the dude with the shoulder bag and sleeveless shirt in the strip above. He’s your typical overstaying engineering student. Other regular characters will be introduced as soon as the opportunity permits.
The real inspiration for my strip-making is the Stanford Daily’s Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham (was once a graduate student, now a university professor). PHD depicts the lives of graduate students in Stanford University. Read it for some interesting laughs (and EEE students/alumni can relate since three of the main characters are electrical/electronics graduate students).
And lest you think that I’m doing this just for fun, my insidious plan is to make this strip so successful that I’ll earn huge royalties from syndication, the book compilation (The Best of Toki), and product merchandising, so that I’ll be able to retire at age 35! That’ll be the day.
UPDATE: Toki #2 is now up!
Comments
Comment times are in Philippine time (+0800).
1
On 1:49 a.m., 21 Feb 2005, joyce wrote:
ohmygod! that was so funny! instant laughter! im a big fan of beerkada (beerlenium to beerkwatro baby!!) and pugad baboy (kulang pa ng 2 books), kayang kaya ng strip mo yan, i believe in your extraordinary talent! as for ideas… marami na rin kasi na cover ni lyndon gregorio .. once nakatulog ako sa physics 71 (galing ano) tapos the prof (forgot his name) ginising ako bigla by saying super loud in front of the class, ms. kapauan are you here in UP to study or to sleep?! or may recruitment nung UP pep squad (yung magaling!) and they asked me kung marunong ako sumayaw and stuff. sabi ko of course hindi, sabi nila sa akin ’ok lang! tuturuan ka namin mag tumbling!’ and seryoso sila sa statement na yun
2
On 4:31 a.m., 24 Feb 2005, seav wrote:
hey joyce. glad you like it! mahirap talagang maghanap ng ideas. lalo na since may konting overlap kami ni lyndon. pero kakayanin. i want to do stuff other than just work, diba? it helps to keep the sanity. hehehe
abangan ang susunod na kabanata…
3
On 3:09 p.m., 23 Mar 2005, Jonas Diego wrote:
I find that it’s handy to keep a small notebook and a pen with me at all times to record ideas and gags. Inspiration can strike anytime and anywhere.
Keep stripping (that didn’t sound so good)!
4
On 11:16 a.m., 24 Mar 2005, seav wrote:
Hey Jonas, thanks for visiting! I actually use my cellphone as as my scratchpad for most things since it’s hard to bring a pen and a notebook.
Actually, hindi yung pag-record ng ideas ang problema ko. Mahirap ma-inspire for gags and ideas kasi wala na ako sa UP Diliman, e UP Diliman-centric ang gusto kong strip.
5
On 1:27 p.m., 24 Mar 2005, joyce wrote:
why dont do a strip on young urban professionals in the phils? kasi wala pa naman ganong strip. based in your personal experiences, madaming madaming idea ka na! just read through your blog
7
On 8:27 p.m., 25 Nov 2005, bea wrote:
omg. Now im having second thoughts of going to U.P. for college. If i pass UPCAT, that is.
8
On 2:33 p.m., 5 Jul 2006, Chompy wrote:
for joyce: book 1–4 lang? Book 6 has just been released! wink wink
for bea: don’t worry! Life in UP is fun! I’m sure you’ll learn lots.
seav: funny strip! very timely since org recruitment week nga sa UP around this time.
When inspiration strikes you, you’ll be able to make more than one strip in a week. Yung tipong in one seating, tuloy tuloy ang pag-drawing mo, one strip to another. If you can still recall most of your funny and unique experiences in UP, draw it by all means!
Pero sabi mo nga na wala ka na sa UP ngayon, baka makahanap ka rin ng ibang inspiration sa kung saan ka man ngayon. Like what Joyce suggested. 
Basta drawing lang ng drawing, kahit ano topic.. basta funny. 
Good luck on your strips and more power!
p.s. You might want to check out the links to Beerkada on my blog for more tips and ideas.
9
On 3:52 p.m., 12 Jun 2007, Riz wrote:
Yay! Parang may naaalala akong Toki comics sa Kule before? (Or Ikot ba yun?) Your strips are sorta familiar eh, or baka im hallucinating lang hehe. But this is great! I miss UP, and I’m definitely syndicating your comics hehe.
Comment notes
Your name and e-mail address are required. Your e-mail won't be displayed.