Playing with words and graphics—how Manix Abrera and Marne Kilates do it

“Is it okay if I speak in Filipino?”

 

Manix Abrera asked Tom Tolinson, the foreign moderator of the talk, “Graphic: Making Connections with Ekphrasis,” at the Read Lit District, the Philippine International Literary Festival held from Nov. 14 to 16. 

 

What might be perceived as a weakness by some is actually the strength of the so-called “komiks rock star.” Abrera knows how to play with Filipino words that would make readers, or in this instance, the audience crack up.

 

The komiks rock star

 

In “News Hardcore,” a tired female reporter gets a visit from “Ulo ng Mga Balita,” an actual floating head that knows all news, information and gossip. It can also set itself on fire to transform into “Nagbabagang Ulo ng mga Balita.”

 

If Abrera ever does use English words, he takes advantage of how some Filipinos would take the meanings of words literally.

 

For instance, Abrera wrote about a powerful Internet stick, which appeared in his strips as a barbecue stick as opposed to the USB dongle. His comic strip character “inserts” the “Internet stick” to his eyes to connect to the web.

 

The comics creator also makes fun of people who are slow to pick up in conversations. He created the “Portal of Non-Comprehension,” a black hole that sucks people who usually scratch their heads in intellectual discussions.

 

He also literally plays on the term “Ninja Profs” that refers to professors that seemingly disappear or hide from students whenever they needed a form to be signed by them. His “Ninja Profs” displayed actual ninja skills such as defying gravity on the ceiling to evade students submitting late projects.

 

Abrera also believes in the power of love. Whenever his characters say “Activate the Power of Love Shield,” they are protected from zombies and negative people.

 

The ekphrasis expert

 

Poet Marne Kilates, on the other hand, teams up with painters to write poems in a process called ekphrasis, a commentary on a visual work.

 

Kilates said there are three approaches in writing poems based from visual works:

 

1. Describe what you see on the painting.

2. Give voice. Make the characters seen on the painting speak.

3. Argue. You can disagree with what the painting is telling you.

 

Quoting French-Cuban author Anais Nin, Kilates said that he creates poems based on paintings because “we write to create life twice.”

 

In this case though, he said he recreates life thrice. “Ekphrasis is not just a manner of appreciating art but also a way of understanding life itself,” he said.

 

“It is the creative act itself.”

 

Kilates' works are featured in the books “Pitik-Bulag: Letra at Liwanag” and “Pictures as Poems.” —KG, GMA News