Readers, creatives, students, professionals, and the curious and intrigued, can support over 200 Filipino comics creators at the Philippine International Comics Festival (PICOF) on July 5-6, 2025 at SM Megamall, Megatrade Hall 2, from 11am-8pm.
WHY KOMIKS?
With almost a hundred years of richly contributing to Philippine art and culture, Filipino comics, or komiks with a k, is currently riding the wave of its second renaissance.
FILIPINO KOMIKS IS TRAVELING THE WORLD
During the first golden age of Filipino comics, world-renowned illustrators such as Tony de Zuniga, Nestor Redondo, Alfredo Alcala, and Alex Niño invaded the US to offer their illustration services for the big comics publishers such as Marvel or DC Comics.
Now, it’s the storytellers with their original stories and characters, who are getting published around the world, with over 100 foreign editions of Filipino komiks, published in the US, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and in more countries around the world, making komiks the most translated literary genre of the Philippines.
All of this can be found in the documentary film, “Komiks With a K” directed and produced by National Book Award winning author Jay Ignacio. His 60-minute film will have four screenings and Q&A with the director on Friday 530pm-8pm, and Sunday 5PM-8PM at Megatrade Meeting Room B.
If the world is starting to read komiks, all the more Filipino readers of all ages should start reading komiks as well.
THE BOOKS KIDS (OF ALL AGES) LOVE TO READ
With the growing challenges in literacy, reading books that children or students love to read will definitely be a huge step in the right direction to solving this dilemma. Schools and libraries are more than welcome to start including komiks in their libraries through PICOF.
THE PICOF OFFICIAL SELECTION
What makes PICOF unique from all the comics festivals around the world, is it’s the only comics festival that selects an Official Selection of ten graphic novel pitches, that are developed in a Creator’s Lab, and published in time for the festival. Several of these books have won awards locally, and represent the Philippines globally with the support of the National Book Development Board.
This PICOF, two Official Selections will be launched—“Blight” by Yuri Pinzon is about a zombie outbreak in Baguio City, and “Cat Cafeteria” by Arli Pagaduan, about a mother-and-daughter and how they build a safe space for their community cats.
NEW RELEASES IN #PICOF2025?
“Blight” and “Cat Cafeteria,” are just two of the 100 new releases set to be launched in PICOF2025. Creating a full-length graphic novel takes a lot of time, talent, and energy, so here are more titles that will be releasing chapters of their work: “Doobiedoo Asks Whatcha Up 2″ by Bambi Amago, Jakob Amago and Roland Amago; “There’s A Daemon In My Head” Chapter 0 by Milo Galang; “Hiraya” Chapter 2 by Fred Cabredo; “Sibol” Chapter 2 by Patricia Ramos and Viel Vidal; “P.S.” Chapter 2 by Danyel Maxin; “The Dungeon” Chapter 1 by Kurt Arzaga; “Bodies On Rooftops” Chapter 1 by Aaron Gabao; “Strike the Spark!” Preview Chapter by Maria Maranan; “Kundiman” Chapter 1 by Yen Peters; and “The Last Wild Swan” Chapter 1 by Tintin Pantoja.
INTERNATIONAL GUESTS
Among the international guests present are: Fil-German creator Sheree Domingo (Long Distance Call,) Eisner Winner for Best Webcomics Erica Eng from Malaysia (Fried Rice,) and Singaporean Best Book winner, Kenfoo (Cockman) will all be launching the Philippine edition of their books under Vibal Publishing’s Agimat Comics imprint. There will also be comics creators and publishers from Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, China, Brasil, Slovenia, and Turkey.
COMICS MASTERCLASSES
From July 4, Friday to July 6 Sunday, 1030am to 8pm, fourteen Masterclasses will be taught from comics professionals around the world. Notable masterclasses are Randy Valiente’s Hagod workshop, teaching the lost art style of Filipino komiks, a Cartooning Workshop with the Samahang Kartunista ng Pilipinas, while Itaewon Class creator Gwang Jin will be speaking about Korean Webtoons and the Industry Landscape. Also teaching masterclasses is award-winning Fil-German creator Sheree Domingo, Thailand-based British creator Jonathan Scott, Eisner Winner Erica Eng from Malaysia, and many more.
COMICS EXHIBITS
PICOF will have three comics exhibits this year, the first featuring the PICOF Official Selection, the second is a tribute to Mars Ravelo’s Mahiwagang Makinilya, and the third is the country of highlight—Palestine through the Enter the Mulberry exhibit whose first public appearance was in the Lakes International Comic Art Festival last year.
SUPPORT PALESTINE
Readers can support Palestine by purchasing merchandise from the Enter the Mulberry exhibit, watch hourly live drawings of komiks creators doing “Panels For Palestine,” and buy a book of Palestinian creator Safaa Odah. All proceeds of the book, merch, and “Komiks With a K” film screenings will go to Medical Aid For Palestine and Safaa Odah herself.
There are so many delightful reasons to go to #PICOF2025. And if that isn’t enough, the first 1,000 attendees on both days can get a free copy of the TUWA Comics Anthology, featuring 100 independent creators from the komiks community! #SupportFilipinoKomiks at the Philippine International Comics Festival!
Tickets are 100php and may be purchased at the entrance or buy tickets online here:
https://www.ticket2me.net/Komiket
Started in 1927, the Philippines Graphic is the longest-running printed magazine of national circulation that provides relevant news and features and promotes Philippine literature.
