20 September 2013 - Filipino talents are gaining from the country’s comics and animation industries’ increased attention due to their high-quality output. Steps must be taken to overcome certain challenges and limitations and move these industries forward so that they could make an important contribution as well to the economic and cultural growth of the country.     

These were the issues raised at a lecture event entitled, "Current Issues on Philippine Comics and Animation Industries” held at the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA’s) Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini on September 12.

The lecture event, organized by the DFA’s Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations (UNIO), was attended by members of the Philippine Komiks Convention (KOMIKON), the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI), Filipino comic book / graphic novel writers, game developers, animators, and bloggers. UNIO Director Ariz Convalecer chaired the proceedings.

Ms. Domini Fangon of the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Policy presented her study on the current issues on Philippine animation industry, while Professor Carljoe Javier of the University of the Philippines shared his views on the current issues on Philippine comics industry. Atty. Mark Andrew Herrin of the Intellectual Property Office (IPOPHL) lectured on intellectual property rights for creative industries. To conclude the lecture, UNIO Assistant Secretary Jesus R.S. Domingo and the DFA’s Cultural Diplomacy Unit (CDU) Head Jose Maria Carino discussed how the Department of Foreign Affairs can assist in promoting the Philippine comics and animation industries here and abroad.

The lecture event was a pre-event to the forthcoming week-long exhibit and lecture series entitled, “Pinoy Komiks - Transcending Cultures through Creative Fusion” to be held in October 2013 at the Department of Foreign Affairs. END