Thus Spake The Fifty-Peso Ninja

Superhero Beatdown!

2007-12-01T02:34:00.000+08:00

Batman and Spider-Man: Live action cross-over! XD

Best line: "The police are on the way, Batman!"

Cooking with what!?

2007-12-01T02:22:00.000+08:00

I know Winnie the Pooh is a classical children's icon but the word "cooking" and the name "Pooh" don't go well together for a very good reason. ^^;

The Anime Otaku-ness Test

2007-11-30T10:27:00.000+08:00

I took the Anime-Otaku-ness Test and this is the result.

http://www.armory.com/tests/anime.html

You answered "yes" to 77 of 200 questions, making you 61.5% otaku pure (38.5% otaku corrupt).
Your Weirdness Factor (AKA Uniqueness Factor) is 15%, based on a comparison of your test results with 91823 other submissions for this test.
The average purity for this test is 66.4%.

I guess I'm not as otaku as I used to be.

Oh and here's something... unusual.

How to do just about anything

2007-11-29T10:11:00.001+08:00

A list of useful websites I frequently visit to learn something new.

http://www.ehow.com/ - I recently learned how to build a terrarium from this website. I also got tips and advice on running home-based businesses there. Other than articles, Ehow has free videos.

http://www.expertvillage.com/ - I learned some Spanish and some harmonica from this website. Expert Village has a wide variety of videos for each topic has different author/experts with their own takes.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Wikibooks_portal - In Wikibooks, I read an online book on playing the blues harp. As the name suggests, the content can be edited by anyone.

http://www.wikihow.com/Main-Page - Like any other Wiki-website, you can edit the how-to articles there.

http://www.howtodothings.com/ - I've just recently found this website. Although limited compared to the sites above, you might still find some use for it

OMFG!!!

2007-11-28T00:31:00.000+08:00

News: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=103854

I've just received word from RP about the curfew and the attack at Manila Penn. That was so messed up! I was so shocked because I thought it's Martial Law all over again! I hope everyone's fine.

Although, it's not Martial Law, I vehemently disagree with the curfew thing. I'm concerned about the possibility of abuses committed by corrupt authorities. However, when the time is right, we must stand up and stick it to the man!

SCREW YOU, CURFEW AND CORRUPTION!!!

Recovery and free games

2007-11-28T00:27:00.000+08:00

The reason why I uploaded this image: it just looks cute. :3

I think I'm 100% recovered. Depression is a big drag because it has been preventing me from drawing and playing the harmonica. The crappiest part was getting fatter due to my week-long halt to my work outs. GAH!!! Since I'm okay now, I can take up my favorite hobbies again. All I have to do is relax whenever I can.

Oh right, I've uploaded a new section in my blog that features free online games. Just look for "Lico's Arcade" above the tag-board. :)

Tenacious D's Classico

2007-11-27T05:39:00.000+08:00

This is a trailer for the movie "Pick of Destiny" starring the rocking duo Tenacious D! Song: Classico

Oh look, an animated Tenacious D gif! NICE!

Comixpedia entry for FPN!

2007-11-26T10:13:00.000+08:00

Finally, my Comixpedia entry for The Fifty-Peso Ninja is finally completed! If you're new to the world of FPN, I must warn you that the entry contains some spoilers behind the webcomic series.

http://www.comixpedia.org/index.php?title=The_Fifty-Peso_Ninja

Oh and here's a cool Bruce Lee gif. WA-TAH!!!

Gifs at Giftube.com

Famous Harmonica Players (plus an announcement)

2007-11-23T10:40:00.001+08:00

You'd be surprised at this list of famous musicians who play the harmonica.

- Billy Joe Armstrong (Green Day)
- Bono (U2)
- David Bowie
- Alice Cooper
- Mick Jagger
- Billy Joel
- John Lennon
- Alanis Morissette
- Ozzy Osbourne
- Bruce Springsteen
- Steve Tyler (Aerosmith)
- Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
- Stevie Wonder
- Neil Young
- Shakira
- Sheryl Crow
- Ringo Starr

Source: Wikipedia (Category: Rock harmonicists)

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The following is a message from stand-up comedian and fellow cartoonist Stanley Chi!

I'll be guesting at QTV Channel 11's Sobrang Gud Nite Show with Jojo A
this Thursday (Nov. 29, 2007) 11PM. I'll perform stand up comedy and promote Topak magazine, Please watch it! Thanks!!!

You heard the man! Watch Stanley Chi's TV performance and buy Topak magazine. Thank you!

Buddhist Music

2007-11-23T10:11:00.000+08:00

These are Buddhist music videos I've been watching to get inspired.

This one is a modern musical piece with Buddhist chanting. It was created by Alan Smallwood, a professional composer and Nichiren Buddhist.

This one is my favorite. It's very serene and the chanting is much slower and deeper hence amplifying the positive effects of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.

This one isn't exactly Buddhist but it's very spiritual and it has a reference to bodhisattvas (candidates for Buddhahood) and the mantra Om. It has a very oriental and modern feel.

Rock Therapy

2007-11-23T10:05:00.000+08:00

I'm listening and watching the following videos to get rid of my depression. All these videos remind me of who I am.

I picked this because of the humour and the age-old theme of good versus evil as seen in Tenacious D rocking against the Devil. It's a theme I've always liked. Plus, this song rocks.

I can really relate to this Black Sabbath classic (which is a tribute to the wizard Gandalf from Lord of The Rings) because the ass-kicking wizard is someone who comes along to a community, spreading his magic (cheering and encouraging everyone) and gets rid of evil forces (which can be an analogy for depression and everything that ruins life) . Among my friends, I'm usually the wizard. This song describes me the most.

Trivia: Take note of the harmonica. That was played by none other than Ozzy Osbourne!

Best song ever! This is the most inspirational song I've ever heard. I can see myself fighting for survival in the war with the darkest powerrrrrs! I feel immortal when I listen to this song.

Next: some Buddhist music

The spirit is gone

2007-11-23T00:11:00.000+08:00

Forgive me for the drama but I'm not sure if I'm going to live longer. I think my optimism has reached its limit. I have too many problems right now. Too many criticisms and too much pressure has dealt a heavy blow to me. Right now, I feel so depressed I don't enjoy any of my hobbies.

I did say that I've gotten over my absence at the Komikon. I wasn't exactly honest. Who am I kidding? Komikon was a lot of things to me. It's not just the Komikon, it's the numerous friends I miss. I was very lucky to have many friends in the past who helped me and cheered me up when my "nearly-invincible" spirit gets shut down.

Now, I don't feel so invincible. My optimism and passion are dead. I have no friends in the US. I'm surrounded by people who don't believe in me. No more Artists' Den Friday meets. No more DA Meats. I'm no longer the mighty Lico Reloj other people know. I'm just a shell of my former self. It'll take a miracle for me to get back on my feet. If not, well, death isn't that bad...

Thank you everyone... for the memories.

My Buddhist Name

2007-11-22T07:55:00.000+08:00

Okay, I've been to this website called My Buddhist Name. I entered the name "Lico Reloj" and then clicked on Divine my Buddhist name and then this appeared:

My Buddhist name is Queen Moon Freedom. What's yours?

That is so lame... -_-; This time I did it again but I entered "Angelico Reloj". This is the result:

My Buddhist name is Great Teacher One Name. What's yours?

Woohoo! Now that's much better. :D

On the other hand, I could've just call myself Moon Freedom but, eh! Whatever! :D

Qigong Demo with John Chang

2007-11-21T12:16:00.000+08:00

Here's a sort-of new video featuring the mysterious qigong master John Chang.

Before any of you go on debating whether this is real or not, let me tell you something: Those who believe in nothing are as foolish as those who believe in everything. It's too difficult to conclude based on just one video. I'm a practitioner of qigong but I really can't say anything because I only practice it to keep fit.

Losing Weight the Liconian Way!

2007-11-21T11:06:00.000+08:00

It seems I've been losing weight recently. My stomach's gone smaller, my face looks better and I feel calmer, more energetic and more flexible. Other than that, my blood-pressure has gotten lower too. It must've been the qigong and the exercises I learned from Sanford Bennett's The Man Who Grew Younger.

Here are some tips for losing weight.

- Eat or swallow at least 3 cloves of garlic every day. Garlic can flush out the fats and keep your heart healthy. If you can't stand raw garlic, cooked ones are fine. be sure to eat a mint or brush your teeth afterwards though!

- Eat more fruits (especially bananas because they have fiber and rich in potassium) and veggies. They're rich in nutrients and their fiber can help you feel fuller.

- Relaxing more often by resting on the bed or couch once in a while. Stress can cause health problems.

- Reading a good relaxing book while resting can increase your longevity.

- Praying and meditating every morning and evening lowers stress.

- Eat peanut butter. It's rich in protein, fiber and good fats good for the heart.

- Do crunches everyday to slim that belly down. DON'T DO FULL SIT-UPS! They can cause back problems.

- Weight training can replace your fats with muscles. If you don't have dumbells or barbells, do chores that involves crouching and lifting heavy stuff like gardening or moving furnitures.

So there you have it. Love and peace everybody!

Lord of The Reeds

2007-11-21T01:12:00.000+08:00

I've been studying some videos of expert harmonica players. First, here's the legendary James Cotton.

Engels Espiritos is a Brazilian musician. This guy is amazing! He can even play Celtic music on the blues harp!

And here's... Darth Vader!??

This may sound cheeky but I think I can play like these guys. Well, maybe not Darth Vader. ^^

Resume Updated

2007-11-09T00:42:00.000+08:00

Lico Reloj

Comic Book Creator

Published Works

THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN SCAM (2005-) Siklab
RUMI-NATION (2005-) Yehey.com
THE FIFTY-PESO NINJA (2007-) Topak! Magazine

Other Comic-related Experiences

-Member of the Filipino independent comic group Asong Makulit Productions.

-Core member of Artists’ Den, a supportive community of artists based in the Philippines.

-Took part in lecturing the creative writing aspect of comics (specifically in the area of idea generation, character development and creativity improvement) in ICA (Immaculate Conception Academy) in November in the year 2004.

-Lecturer in a workshop regarding comics' creative writing aspects in Antipolo in 2004.

-Took part in a Creative Writing Workshop as co-lecturer in the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde on March 9, 2005

-Completed Education Direct's Cartooning course on May 3, 2005

-Did a caricature-drawing gig for Fully Booked bookstore (Greenhills branch)

-Regularly takes part in Komikon, an annual comics convention based in the Philippines.

-Made a big break in mainstream comics by submitting a series of 2-paged comics of The Fifty-Peso Ninja to Topak! magazine under Psicom Publishing, a successful publishing company, starting in August 2007.

Breaking into Comics

I've been in the independent comic circuit for some time but I've never considered going pro til recently. Lawrence Mijares of Siklab magazine hired me to create The Adventures of Captain Scam, a gag strip about a superhero who has the superpower to con people with ridiculously extreme ease.

Influences in Comics

I had a lot of influences but the biggest ones were Pol Medina Jr. (a popular Filipino cartoonist who inspired me to draw comic strips when I was a child), Shotaro Ishinomori (for his trademark cartoony manga style), and Stan Sakai (for his clean, simple yet elegant lineart and cinematographic paneling in Usagi Yojimbo). As of now, I hardly use greytones but I make up for it by adding a lot of cross-hatchings as accents hence my comics in pure black and white.

Cartoons (especially Spongebob Squarepants, Samurai Jack, Fairly Odd Parents and Cow and Chicken), anime, fantasy stories, video games, kung fu comics and martial arts movies and even eastern philosophies play a big part in their influences on me.

Hobbies other than comics

cooking, playing the harmonica, playing dominoes, martial arts, qigong, meditation

URL/E-mail

fiftypesoninja.blogspot.com
fiftypesoninja.myspace.com
drunkduck.com/The_Fifty_Peso_Ninja
goh.deviantart.com
gohlico@gmail.com or gohlico@yahoo.com

Lico plays the harmonica!

2007-11-07T08:34:00.000+08:00

Lico plays the Blues (Boogie-Woogie)

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Rock n Roll Harmonica

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Lico plays When The Saints Go Marchin' In

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Halloween + Youmacon 2007

2007-11-05T23:24:00.001+08:00

Halloween 2007

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Youmacon 2007

YATTA!

Burma Protests (October 6)

2007-10-07T04:14:00.000+08:00

More reasons why Burma is a hot issue these days.

SAVE BURMA!!!

Burma (October 5)

2007-10-06T02:50:00.000+08:00

This is just in from Wikipedia:

The opposition rejected the junta's conditional offer of talks with Aung San Suu Kyi. Shari Villarosa, the United States top diplomat in Myanmar, has been invited to talk with the military leaders. The envoy will 'clearly convey Washington's condemnation of last week's bloody repression' a US spokesperson said. The invitation follows a state television broadcast stating nearly 2,100 people had been arrested over the last week and some 700 had now been freed.

Reuters report that protesters who applauded the demonstrations could face two to five years in jail, while the leaders could face 20 years. The Democratic Voice of Burma forwarded reports of some 50 students who demonstrated in Mandalay who had been sentenced to five years hard labor.

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If you ask me, it's the fascist military leaders of Burma who should be in jail. How could they let the brutal attack on the protesters happen last week? In the Art of War, the leaders are responsible for everything. Blood is in their hands and they should pay.

I pray for the freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma from their tyrants. Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo

FREE BURMA!!!

2007-10-04T23:15:00.000+08:00

The country of Burma has been under the rule of the military government for too long. Now, the Buddhist monks and the people of Burma are revolting. I sympathize with the Burmese people because long ago the Philippines was ruled by the infamous Marcos dictatorship. Please show your support for Burma by signing the petition in the homepage (click on the image above) and display graphics provided in the same site. You can also wear red clothes as a sign of support.

Even Jim Carrey has something to say on the Burma issue.

Even Jim Carrey has something to say on the Burma issue.

Free Burma now!

Lico at a Renaissance Festival (The Adventure of Liconan the Adventurer)

2007-10-01T21:03:00.000+08:00

We are the Knights who say Ni!

Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl

He's not a shrubber but he makes pretty pictures.

Mingling with villagers. Don't let the smiles fool you (they were amused by the magical device called a camera), the poor souls claimed that an evil dragon have been attacking their villages. This is a job for... Liconan The Adventurer! I decided to slay this dragon for honor, glory... and turkey legs! *plays theme music*

Here I am buying equipment for my newest adventure. The woman beside me is my sister, Pia the Warrior Queen of Sheeshmonia.

I formed a party of brave people. Other than my brother and sister, I recruited Randalf the Other White Wizard.

I also recruited a courageous knight for the quest. His name is Sir Grimace of McDonald.

Sir Grimace's fellow knights: Sir Big Mac, Sir Hamburglar and Sir Birdy.

Me and Raydo Boggins the overgrown hobbit. We were watching a jousting match.

During a perilous journey, our party got lost. Even the signpost didn't help much.

We were unable to photograph the dragon due to the sheer intensity of the battle. However, I can tell you that it was this big plus it had very low HP.

After the dragon was slain, much rejoicing was done and we claimed our reward for the heroic deed: roasted turkey legs!

And we all lived happily ever after.

THE END

Goh in the US of A! (Detroit Zoo 2007)

2007-08-12T05:00:00.000+08:00

As you can see, I'm in the US right now to attend my sister's wedding. Currently, I'm in Michigan and while I'm here, I'm going to some nifty tourist spots. One of these spots is the Detroit Zoo. I had great fun seeing all those animals.

Researching...

2007-01-11T12:33:00.000+08:00

Asset: a valuable or property that can help in earning money, an investment of sorts.

Liability: a valuable or property that increases expense for the owner.

I need your input on what is the biggest assets and biggest liabilities in an artist's life. It's for a research I'm doing that might benefit artists everywhere.