Graphic Novel Biographies | José Rizal

09.05.2019 – There are biographies now as told through a graphic novel that are popular and good reads in other countries. It so happens, the Philippines never get much of that material. But sometime in July 2018 a Japanese author named Takahiro Matsui and illustrator Ryo Konno through publisher TORICO was able to produce ten chapters of what would be the life of Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ National Hero. It was the right timing for the creative team to announce that they have put together the story of the country’s National Hero. It was a first for Jose Rizal’s life to be told through Manga format and the first Graphic Biography from two artists from Japan. Takahiro Matsui is a teacher in Japan teaching Nihongo to Filipino children and it inspired him to write about the book to also teach his pupils living in his country about the roots of the Philippines. He was also inspired by Jose Rizal not only being a nationalist but wanting equality for his country and its people.

The Stories from Fruitcake Heights!

12.01.2013 – Rarely children books don’t appeal to adults, but when you talk about the Eraserheads few who have seen or heard the iconic Philippine band would differentiate them for having written their own book. This was at peak of the band’s career in the mid-1990s back when they were just about to release their first ever Christmas album. The title of their fourth album was “Fruitcake” released in 1996, and it was accompanied by a book separate release with the same title.

Trese Preview in Manila Noir Book Launch!

07.04.2013 – Manila Noir is a compiled of featured stories by Lourd de Veyra, Gina Apostol, F.H. Batacan, Jose Dalisay, Eric Gamalinda, Angelo R. Lacuesta, R. Zamora Linmark, Rosario Cruz-Lucero, Sabina Murray, Jonas Vitman, Marianne Villanueva, Lysley Tenorio, Budjette Tan & Kajo Baldisimo.



It’s part of Akashic Books an award winning series of original noir anthologies comprised of all-new stories set in the Philippine’s capital city. It is edited by Fil-American fictionist and the 2011 Asian American Writer’s Workshop Lifetime Achievement Awardee in Jessica Hagedorn.