Callwork

2011: The Year of Learning

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:14:00 +0000

My 2011 was full of unexpected scenarios. It all began when I decided to make a come back to the workforce management. It was Jan. 3rd, exactly a year ago with Tech Mahindra. They were starting up a center here in the Philippines. I didn't know that this will open new horizons for me. This is where I also met my one and only mentor... Jasbir Kuhar. He came all the way from India to help me start up MIS here. Stayed for more than 5 months away from his family just to make sure I am well-equipped before he left. It was struggle and hardwork but then everything paid off. Now I came to realize how much power there is in knowledge. Thank you Jasbir. You've taught me what a true WFM is.

I also met Rohit Gupta, who has strong operational skills and also good in numbers. He is the transition manager that I would also emulate... I also met good friends in this company.. Cj, Jenn, Mike Yeoung, Nikz, Jay, Chris and Marlowe.

After 6 months, the company moved to Libis and I moved to paradise. Yes indeed, me and my friends used to call this company "Paradise" simply because of its good vibes and perfect bosses. I moved to C3connect just in time for wave zero.

And I can say that until now, it is indeed a paradise to work here...

Yes, we are this whacky!

I also thank God for my beautiful and talented girl who won once again in the oratorical contest!

In the art scene, I was not active but I was able to achieve some small nothings...like being in the summer komikon as guest:

And the SKP exhibit where I met Pnoy:

And Dra. Yap beling picked up and published internationally thru Flipside for Ipad/Ihones and Android devices:

And God continues to bless us... Two brand new cars for 2011!

I'm really excited to 2012.. for I am a monkey and monkeys are liked by dragons! SO much blessings to come with my capacity leveling up and I'm all arms and mind open!

Komikon 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:14:00 +0000

Hey guess what time of the year is it again? Yup that's right it's early Christmas when it's the Annual Komikon!

Though I won't be there to sell some comics, support your favorite artists! We also have the BOINK! graphic novel coming out for kids. Also, Kikomachine 7 is launching! Who can resist not to get a copy?!

Callwork in Eperformax

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:39:00 +0000

I did a comcis talk about Callwork behind the script last Sep. 23 2011 in EPerformax call center. Yup the one in Pacific Star. Thanks to Reia Vergara for conducting the event. Too bad Carlo Vergara of Zha Zha Zaturnnah couldn't wake up that eary (6am) so he instead had his talk around 11pm Friday night. Ako gow pa din kahit super hagard from shift!

On my left was the singer of Kala band. He has an upcoming tv show in tv5 just wait for it!

Thanks to all who supported. Thank you also for the gifts! Till next time!

Ninoy, Bida Namin Exhibit

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:09:00 +0000

Sorry for the long delayed post. This is exhibit was from our group, SKP and at the same time a tribute to Ninoy Aquino's death anniversary. Thanks to Sir Boboy once again for having projects that would uplift Filipino cartoonists. Below is a picture in Megamall Aug. 21 2011:

nanginginig kumuha ng picture si Romy e...

Greco M with his art:

Syeri Bate with her comic style art:

Ed padilla peeping...

From left: Romy, me, Omeng, Boboy, Aileen and Syeri:

The boys of SKP (Samahang kartoonista ng Pilipinas):

Bongga nakakagulat....

Thank you for all those who went to the successful event!

Fan Art by Chris Kaw

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:29:00 +0000

Thank you Christopher Kaw for the wonderful art! You may view his works here

Fun Bonding Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 01:09:00 +0000

Fun Filled day nga talaga... kahit sobrang pagod, keri lang basta masaya kami ng bulilit ko.. and also I felt like a child once again in a field trip!
First stop, Rizal Park:

Second Stop sa Museo Pambata:

At Siyempre may comics exhibit din sa Museo Pambata! Below is Private Iris:

One of my fave artwork:

Larry Alcala:

INK:

Paintings:

Mga dolls...astig!

Ayos tong simbahan... may mga santong maliliit talaga sa loob:

parang aparador ng mga horror movies:

Next stop: Lights and Sound Museum... Take note: not for kids... lahat sila natakot pano kasi mga manekin pala ito na nagsisigalawan sa dilim!!! (no pics allowed sorry) Tunay na Horror!

Next stop was NIDO science discovery center na enjoy naman kami talaga... 3D and planetarium! Again, no pics allowed sorry! Aside from the planetarium, may mga robot exhibit tulad nito:

Robot wars!

Last Stop was Ark Avilion...

o, tapang o!

tama na kaka posing ok?

wataday.

C3 Customer Contact Channels Job Openings!

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 05:07:00 +0000

Hi dear readers! A new call center in the Fort has opened! We need CSR, Trainers, QAR, Workforce Analysts and Workforce Supervisor. Email me your resume at hazelmanzano@yahoo.com

Thanks! See you!

A Happy Birthday to my Love :)

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 02:09:00 +0000

It's my daughters 5th birthday and we celebrated in Pixie Forest that Sunday and ended up in a roller coaster! Its was fun fun fun! Then another celebration the following day in her school:

My little Tara leading the prayer...

Book Signing of Local Writers

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:38:00 +0000

I was in Market Market last week when I spotted a small crowd gathered. Then I saw this group book signing of local writers:

Below are their products:

Then they have givaways to the first 25 people who will buy their books:

Nice gimmick huh? Love it!

The Quest by Hazel Manzano

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:11:00 +0000

Below is an autobiographical comics I made for Komikero Anthology back in 2010. Enjoy!

100 Araw ng Komiks: Callwork Comics

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 06:57:00 +0000

100 Araw ng Komiks (100 Days of Comics) is an online event organized for the purpose of spreading awareness of Philippine Komiks through Twitter, Facebook, DeviantArt, blogs and other online venues.

Today I will talk about Callwork and how I started with comics. I never really intended to be in the comic business ever since. Even when I was taking up Fine Arts in UP. I thought of working in something like marketing upon graduating.. but never in comics. I had this impression of comics of being overworked and underpaid.
When I was working with Sykes, I knew I wouldn't want to change careers anymore. But after four years in the call center, the ideas were just coming inside my head. I didn't know how to make comic strips then and I have no idea about the comic industry. So I started reading again my old Beerlenium book to check how letterings were done and also bought newspapers to see the comic strip size. Then I moved to buying both local and imported comic books. I still remember those first crappy comic strips I made which carries poor punchline and art. Yes, I realized how crappy they were after giving samples for feedback to Gerry Alanguilan . Below is the feedback I got: Dated June 6 2006
"And lastly, and it's something I have difficulty saying and it's why I haven't responded to your

earlier email right away. You are now presenting yourself to the world as a cartoonist. A

cartoonist is one who writes, draws, and letters their own comic strips and comics. Cartoonists

have a great tradition in this country. Larry Alcala, Nonoy Marcelo, Roni Santiago, Pol Medina are

only some who left indelible marks in the history of cartooning in the Philippines. You have a

very high standard to live up to. It's perfectly allright to want to draw simply. There's nothing

more simple than Roni Santiago's work. You can count the lines he makes per panel with the fingers

of your hand. But there is a line that separates professional looking work and amateurish looking

work. By amateurish I mean someone who still needs to learn more about storytelling, composition,

figure drawing, etc. Your work still leans towards the latter. There are already a lot of strips

being published (unfortunately) that suffer from lack of visual quality, and I'm sure you don't

want to be one of them. In the end, you are still making a COMIC STRIP. You can't emphasize

writing over the art or art over the writing. Because if writing is all you want to emphasize, why

not just write joke books? You are creating a unique piece of art where words and pictures work

together closely to tell the story. You need to make sure that you do both well."

GERRY

Since I have too much ideas, angst and humour about life in the call center, I am not ready to give up yet.
I need to think of another process in my comics. I started checking out how other comics were being drawn. I noticed that they give importance even to small details like the proper drawing of hands, proper folds of clothes, proper cinematography of each frame and lastly, proper script. I started revamping each comic strip and at that time, I just gave birth to a baby girl. So imagine all the pain I have to go through. I know the revamped strips were not as good but it's still better than the prior ones. This was also the time I was having conflicts with my ex husband so imagine how Callwork saved my situation. I realized I didn't need a person to make me happy and that comics made me whole once again. It flamed a passion in my heart that will never grow weary. By December 2006, I submitted Callwork to Manila Bulletin and started running in their pages Feb. 11 2007. Then I launched the Callwork book in November 2008 Komikon. Both the Callwork and Proud Callboy hit the best sellers in bookstores.
And the learning never stops. I still continue to learn by reading all the comics and books that I can read. I excert effort in drawing even if it's just a single panel. I choose the words I put in every frame. Below is the recent letter I got from the Great Master of Komiks, Gerry: dated Aug. 23 2010:

"Hello Hazel...

I really like your Dra Yap comics. Artwise, you've vastly improved. There's

still problems with perspective, composition and figure work though, but you

have the makings of some great cartooning when you work those out. Storywise,

what can I say? Natakot si Ilyn reading this and so was I. Dra Yap's story is so

fascinating, scary, fantastic, and so moving that I'm not surprised you did this

comic book. And you were able to translate her life into a comic book so

extremely well."

Magingat sa mga Sumbungero

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:03:00 +0000

Matagal tagal na rin akong hindi naguupload kaya naisipan kong mag upload. Teka itratranslate ko pala ito...
Translation:
Cathy: You're right, I realized that Oli is the favorite of boss!
Clover: Sister, you need to be careful with him! He's...
Oli: Hey guys!
Clover: Do not stun us!
Oli" Oops sorry but aren't you guys on overbreak?
Clover: ...Ouch my tummy hurts!
Cathy: Oh yeah, we're heading to the clinic...

This strip was made back in 2008 and at that time, madami akong agents na nahuhuling nagooverbreak. Madami din ang nagrarason na galing ng clinic kapag na-overbreak. Right now, di ko na kilala mga agents namin kaya hindi ko for sure alam kung nagooverbreak din sila. Naka CMYK ito dahil sa print requirements ng Manila Bulletin kaya iba ang color compared the old strips.

All the way from LA

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Sat, 28 May 2011 07:55:00 +0000

From my two bestfriends in California... April and Jen. Thank you! Miss you both! Mwah!

Framed!

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Sun, 22 May 2011 09:02:00 +0000

Ganyan talaga ang buhay... lahat nagsisimula sa pagkain. Bilis bilisan akong tumakas sa opisina ng mga bandang 5:30 pm para makapag SM Megamall last May 20...Kumakin muna kami ng dinner ng kapatid ko at yung pinsan ko na taga Zamboanga.

Pagkatapos ay tumuloy na kami sa Art Asia para sa Framed na exhibit ng mga kapwa komiks artists namin...ayan, kainan nanaman...Sa taas, the usual gang of MB artists.

Mga katabi kong mga kagwapuhan at mga kabaitang mga kaibigan. Si Jerri at Ron.

May wine din shempre kapag opening exhibit.

Mga kasama kong mga women painters... na invisible naman pagdating ng Komikon.

Si Estrella na character ni Jerri...

Mona Lisa spoof...

Si Estrella ulet na printed on Canvas version....

SI Ner with his paintings...

Tepai, ang galing mO!

Mga gawa ni Hannibal...

Itong sa itaas ang worth over Php200,000 painting...

AT finally si Seb Chua na kung saan painting at galleries talaga ang business... pati na rin mga sculptures. Congrats sa inyong lahat!

Kung Bakit hindi ako nakapag FCBD :(

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Sun, 08 May 2011 07:55:00 +0000

oo ayan... ayan ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ako nakahatak ng isang kahon ng free comics last May 7.... Comics God forgive me! Naimbitahan kasi ako ng officemate kong si Christine sa Punta Fuego. Jen mamatay ka na. Wala kang silbi! LOL

Tapos ang ending, dinner sa Bulaluhan ng Tagaytay.. da best pa din ang Taal lake view. Timing nga e, paguwi namin biglang bumuhos ang ulan.

huhuhu.... FCBD 2011!

OMG! Free Comic Book Day na sa Sabado!

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Sun, 01 May 2011 00:29:00 +0000

Yup, we're all once again excited this coming Saturday. Why? It's free comics! Not one, not two... but a bulk of free comics! This will be held May 7 in Robinsons Galleria, our fave hangout, in Comic Odyssey! be there at 10:30 am. Below are some of the samples to be given away. http://www.freecomicbookday.com/comics.asp click here for more comic titles!

The Call Center as a Career

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:36:00 +0000

They say working in a call center is a "dead end" job. This was my impression nine years ago (yr 2002). I entered the industry to 1. Save enough money and 2. Get my NASD/NYSE license for free. Of course, it's a different story now. I am still surprised with some youngsters having this impression till now. To those of you who are so confused why you are here in this industry, I will tell you why. Being a call center agent can get you to: Management (operations), Teaching (training), Quality Assurance, Human resources (Employee relations, recruitment, corporate), Corporate communications which includes writing, graphic arts, marketing, Project management (ttransition), actuarial and statistical analysis(workforce), Business Development and other specific functions of the industry. "But Ms. Hazel... I am an ARTIST! I don't belong here!" .Yup one of the agents told me long time ago. I used to have a friend who came from the advertising agency. He resigned after 3 years of work as art director and applied as a call center agent. Within a year, he was promoted as an assistant manager making inhouse advertisements and events for the company.
Once you become a call center agent, work on your strengths. Ask for additional responsibilities from your team leader. Take initiative. For sure, you won't get stuck as a call center agent for 10 years complaining that you entered a dead end job.

Komiks Review: Kanto Inc.

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 05:25:00 +0000

Ito ay isang mini comic series na gawa nila Joanah Tinio-Calingo at ng kanyang asawa na si taga-ilog. P50 ang isa nito. 20 pages black and white. Nasa issue 2 na ito noong Komikon 2011. Bagamat xerox ito, very professional naman ang pagkagawa pagdating sa illustration at writing. Masasabi kong dugo at pawis din ang pagkakagawa dito. Maganda ang takbo ng istorya. Tunkol ito sa isang babaeng newly grad na napadpad sa pagiging tech support agent tapos natigok din. Naghanap ito ng bagong trabaho bilang computer tutor sa isang mayamang matandang lalaki at dito na nagsimula ang kwento.
At bakit ko nasabing maganda ang takbo ng istorya? Bawat frame nito ay may silbi. May direksyon. Kung baga sa pelikula, I would rate it as "Suspense".

Very detailed din ang pagguhit nito. Mula sa facial expression hanggang sa background. Ito siguro ang nakagaganda kapag dalawa kayong artist and at the same time good writer. (Isang magandang teamwork ang ipinakikita nitong obra na ito). Pero teka, sino si Kilayman? Tatlo kasi silang gumawa nito. Malamang isang magaling na artist din si Kilayman. Isang comment lang sa art nito... sana detailed din yung mga nude scenes pero nga baka target market din nila mga bata kaya hindi pwede. Comparable siya sa Nurse macho ni Kriss Sison at Marco Dimaano na lumabas noong Komikon 2009 ata. Pero nga mas bastos ang Macho Nurse. Well, di ito mawawala lalo na kapag Manga style humor ang ginagawa mo. Isang halimbawa na ay ang Ranma 1/2 na pambata pero may pagka bastos siya. Same as Doraemon manga na pinapakita ring nakahubad si nobita. Teka napalayo na tayo sa usapan. Very promising itong Kanto Inc. I hope na magtuloy tuloy ito at lalong tumindi suspense with drama.

Komiks Review: Callous

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 13:29:00 +0000

Callous is a comic strip that started out as a web comic and eventually, a manually printed version that was released lasy 2010 Metrocon. This time, I was able to buy a professionally printed colored comics for P150 (Summer Komikon 2011).
Dr. Carlo's main innovation was to take our inner thoughts and had it materialize into this comic strip. But unlike Julius Villanueva's Life in Progress, Callous focuses on a doctor's working life day-to-day preoccupations. Even if you're not a doctor, one would easily relate to the character's viewpoint. dr. Nicah, the main character, a doctor ( I guess a GP) who loves coffee and cookies (that's why I always crave for some whenever I read this comics), is an intellectual girl who also have qualms about her work.
The strip isn't terribly funny. The metajoke is more original. The fact that a theological/moral discussion is breaking out in the middle of the duck and Dr.Nicah's discussion, I would say, makes it a fun read. And it is a pretty good discussion. Every comment is reasonable and well-informed. This may be one of the selling points of the comic strip. But for me, it's more of the light feel of the read that makes it a two thumbs up.

Happy Easter!

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 12:13:00 +0000

Nagmaneho ako papuntang Island Cove kanina. Naisipan namin pumunta dahil ang ganda nga ng panahon ngayon. Success naman at di rin naman traffik kaya madali ang pagpunta at pabalik namin. Itinuturing kong isa na rin 'tong achievement on my part :)

Nakakatuwang panoorin si Tara at nakahanap kagad ng instant friend, just like in Komikon, nagkaroon kagad ng friend. Nakakatuwa din palang pakinggan ang usapan nilang mga bata...

At dahil nagenjoy kami... nalimutan na namin mag-easter egg hunt. Meron din kasi silang event na ganun kanina.

Supergirls at the Summer Komikon (GMAnews)

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 04:43:00 +0000

Thank you Melai for the article!

"The women of comics and cartoons basked in the spotlight at this year's Summer Bayanihan Komikon, sharing stories about what it's like in a very male-dominated field..." Read more

New Review on Callwork

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 04:40:00 +0000

A new short review about Callwork:

"Callwork is already a running comic strip in one of the national dailies, and I bought one of the compilations of the strips. It relates the life and times of call center agents in the country (think Outsourced as a comic strip). It should tell you how big the customer-support industry in my country is, if something about it runs in the national paper.

The author works in the industry, and she knows the difficulties well. That she speaks from personal experience (and from the experience of friends) shows clearly in the strips. She gives the bad and the good (and the crazy) equally. The art style for the series is a bit rough but is serviceable to its needs. Characters are memorable and distinct, and ultimately they feel like your friends. "

Summer Komikon 2011! YEY!

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 05:45:00 +0000

Kakaiba ang venue this time ng Summer Komikon. Usually kasi, sa UP Diliman ito ginaganap... ngayon ay sa isang napakagandang lugar na pwede na pang wedding reception... sa Bayanihan Center. Ginanap ito noong ika-16 ng Abril 2011.
Malabo ang mga kuha kong litrato dahil sa nalimutan kong magcharge ng digicam... madidilim kaya pagpaumanhin ninyo ako kung di ko maipost ang mga ito. Yung mga ibang post ko dito ay galing lang sa mga taong nagtag sakin sa facebook...

Kulang kami sa panel kasi nowhere to be found si Aramida Francisco at si Elizabeth Chionglo...

Bata pa to... one of my youngest fan :)

Danny Acuna

Si Tara na nawiwili sa Cintiq

Si Doc Carlo na may Callous comics na napakaganda!

And point zero group

Ang nakakatuwang samahan... Komikero

Si Jed. Naglaunch sila ng book 5 nilang "Love is in the Bag"

Ako at ang aking partner in crime forevah!

Wan.. ang pogi mo..

Si Ariel na napakagaling mag caricature...

Si Syeri at si Sir Norman Isaac

Lyndon Gregorio signing my Dekada copy

Sino ba itong mamang ito?

Ang aking mga comic buys last Saturday! Parang may kulang.. alam ko meron pa akong naibili...at ang sa ibaba naman ay ang gift sakin from Komikon.. Thank you!

Hotdog eating contest na nakakatuwa... Sana magkaroon pa ng iba't ibang eating contest sa susunod :)

Salamat sa lahat ng sumoporta at bumili sakin, sa lahat ng dumalaw, nagpicture, naginterview etc. Truely, nakakaenjoy ang mga event na ganito kapag nandyan kayo! Sa mga hindi naman dumating, sa susunod na Komikon sana makapunta na kayo.

Summer Komikon Bayanihan itong Sabado na!

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 01:35:00 +0000

I can't help but get excited this coming Komikon... A lot of new titles from fellow creators such as Love is in the Bag vol.5, Komikero Anthology, Pocket Komiks, Boy Bakal 2&3, Birdie Kid, Kanto Inc 2, Callous printed version, WIP printed version, and a lot of local manga that I'm planning to buy.
Of course, female cartoonists will also be there! I am also excited to see them after our exhibit last year.
Our group will also be releasing Boink! issue 2! Which includes Superdog this time. Also, there will be art contests held and many more activities. Visit Komikon.org for more information.

Komikon 2011, Summer Bayanihan

noreply@blogger.com (Hazel Manzano) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:51:00 +0000

The theme for this summer komikon is Bayanihan and it will be held in the Bayanihan Center in Pioneer. Be there and be square!For more information, venue map and contests, go to http://komikon.net/