WebKom Co-Founder | A Trip down Memory Lane
by WebKom Admin"Magkaka-panic attack ako sayo eh", she jokingly said as we set-up for the interview.
"Co-founder lang ako. Ayaw ko kunin title ni bunso. In fact, di naman talaga ako nag-start ng WebKom. Siya talaga nag-invite sa akin. Kaming dalawa lang sa una.",
Jhamycka, author of Aniture.
WebKom Co-Founder | A Trip down Memory Lane
As we interview the co-founder of WebKom Alliance, we did not expect to get thrown in an epic trip of highs and lows. The burning passion it holds and the reality it entails, coexists simultaneously like the threads of destiny. The dream of a gamer, story writer, graphic artist, turned out to be common connections like each of us. We all had that burning passion, once. And some may still even do.
Jhamycka seemed very shy to be interviewed one on one. In fact she even denied a formal setting as planned.
"Baka magpa-parlor pa si Jam nyan.", pangungutya ni Webkom Site admin as we both took chances of asking her questions. As it turns out, ako lang pala magtatanong sa huli. Abangan na lang daw niya article na malilikha.
At the onset of the interview, I can already relate to Jhamycka's stories. We are both victims by the power of friendship (nakama powah). She was not even close to the founder of WebKom, she exclaimed.
"Sobrang nahatak lang talaga ako. Like, who you? muna, tapos nag-introduce siya sakin, tapos yung plano niya. Sabi ko na lang, sige game ako dyan. Soloista lng ako, minding my own business sa webtoon. Tapos eto si bunso, nakita gawa ko, sabi niya nagawa din siya webtoon. Tapos ayun, sabi niya gawa kami group for Filipino, para mgkakakila-kilala kami."
It was the exact same pattern for me. Patambay-tambay lang ako sa bahay while pretending to work from home. Then a friend of mine, (Jeipi a.k.a Oyams) decided to buy a website domain. And thus, nahatak ako sa pag-gawa ng website ni WebKom. Me and Jhamycka just laughed it off as we were caught both un-aware by the strings of fate.
Webkom Alliance started on July 15,2018. It was a group made and started by two female artists.
"Dati wala pang name ung webkom, echos echos lang talaga. Tapos sabi ni bunso, 'di pwede walang name yung group, dapat isip tayo maganda na malapit sa puso ng mga pinoy. So gumawa siya ng name na tagalog version ng webcomics. Sabi nya, dapat pinoy meron din. So sabi niya webkom. Galing, palakpak na lang ako. Idol ko talaga yung batang yun.
Meanwhile, our website admin had no idea that the interview had begun. "Wag mo naman ako isasama sa transcript lol, langya", he stated as Jhamycka answers how WebKom was founded. I was surprised as she answered the follow-up questions. I had no idea that we both came from the same college university, UPLB.
She was from Cabuyao Laguna, an avid gamer, BS Nutrition graduate. It brought back a nostalgic feeling inside me. Tambay sa freedom park. Pinagmamasdan mga mag-syotang nasa lilim ng puno. Sinasariwa ang amoy chlorox na sa ilog ay umaagos. Those were the good old days in UPLB.
"Gamer talaga ako XD. Before mag-focus sa comics wala ako ginawa kundi games games games XD. Yung baon ko napupunta sa renta sa comp shop. Tapos lunch ko isang pirasong turon lang. OMG. Ang salbahe ko. Tapos nakahanap ng asawa sa games. After kinasal, games games games pa din kami.
Jhamycka and her husband met on an MMO role playing game called RO. She and her husband have been happily married for six years. They are now in Japan due to her husband's occupation. Her husband is a US Military Personnel. They change locations across the globe every three years. They still have yet to have kids, animal lovers, both artists. While Jhamycka is a graphic artist, her husband focuses on music. Both are still enjoying the comforts of gaming. I asked her how she started becoming an artist.
"Well, ung hobby ko sa pag-ddrawing , nag-start pa yan nung elementary. Nagawa na ko ng sarili kong mga story. Tapos ung Aniture ko, grade six ko pa start ung kwentong yan. Kaya lagi ko sinasabi sa iba, my comics is almost my life's work. As in, I have 20+ notebooks here, nakasulat ung buong story ko, more like a novel. (spoiler alert) Natapos nga ng chapter 210 ung kwento. Imagine, chapter 12 pa lang naii-drawing ko sa comics ko. By the way, ung mga notebooks na gamit ko, mga libreng notebooks pa na pamigay ni mayor. Nung umalis ako ng pinas para mag-migrate, no.1 priority ko sa baggage ko ung story ko.
I threw my mind back in high school. First crush, first love. I was really fond of writing stories before, although not anymore. If only I could bring back my passion, I would. Kaso, habang natanda, nadame responsibilidad ko sa pagiging professional tambay. Kaya 'di ko na magawa pang makapag-sulat. Jhamycka and I had something in common. We both gave our ex a notebook filled with our passion. I had written many stories in a notebook too and gave it to someone whom I did not end up being with. Saklap. And she too also gave her series summary to her ex. P.S. If ever want nyo malaman yung buong story ng Aniture, hanapin yung ex ni Jhamycka.
"In fairness, pinagkahirapan kong ibuod sa ex ko yung story ko. Wish ko na lang sunugin niya, para wla na ko problema kasi bka may gumamit pa ng story ko.
Before our conversation ran out of topic, I urged myself to formally ask questions properly. I can't help but remember my past. Sorry na, tao lang. It was just so nostalgic. Imagine, parehas kame ng pinanggalingan na university tapos parehas din kami nagsulat ng akda na binigay sa ex tapos binalewala. Saklap ulet, anyways... moving on. I asked if her husband supports her passion.
"Well, he let mo do my comics, not a big deal for him. Pero ung tipong kahit ipapa-grammar check ko lang sa kanya, kahit wag na nya intindihin ung story, ayaw niya talaga. Nag-away pa nga kami kasi gamer kaming dalwa di ba. Tapos nasira ung computer ko, so wala na ko mapag-drawingan.... XD inagaw ko ung comp niya. So ngayon naglalaro siya sa laptop, ako sa gaming PC nya.
Note to self: Do not argue with a gamer wife.
"May maganda pa akong banat, kasi yung buong gaming PC nya, regalo ko sa kanya noong pasko. So tehcnically pera ko ung comp nya.
Also note to self: Marry a gamer wife to get a gaming rig PC on christmas.
I myself do play games too. But lately I haven't had chances to stay online longer because of issues on our ISP provider (tanginamoGlobe). I need to keep my side comments in check. Still have an interview to finish. Re-positioning myself back to the interview, I asked her.
Q: Do you see making webtoons as a job?
A: So nung lumipat kami sa Japan, 'di na ko naghanap ng work muna, dun ulit ako nag-start humawak ng pencil at paper. Dun na lang ulit ako nag-start mag-comics. Pure passion at hobby lang talaga ung comics making ko. I don't even look at it as my future source of income. Ang mahalaga lang sa akin is, ung mai-share ko ung story kong pinaghirapan kong buuin. Not just for the readers, but to inspire other aspiring writers.
Thinking about Jhamycka's motivation for her passion made me envious of her. It was not for the sake of income that she continues to create. It was really for her passion. It made me think of how I can possibly continue with my passion for writing even though I have so many responsibilities every time I wake up. I force myself to balance my lingering thoughts and accept reality as she continues to answer.
"Kasi, look at what I did. I made my story since elementary pa ako. Alam kong someday may magagawa ako kaya tinago ko talaga siya. Nag high school ako, college, nakapag ibang bansa, nag-asawa, nalimutan ko na mag-drawing. But then, nung nawalan ako ng work, doon ko na-realize, may naiwan pala akong passion. I opened my treasure box, and saw my old notebooks. Doon ulit nabuhay ung pagiging comic artist ko.
It was well said and I cannot stop thinking what I could have been. But making a living out of writing stories seemed impossible due to different circumstances. I tried writing again but was always forced to work. Mahirap sa pagiging isang artist is, tsambahan ang buhay. May mga mapapalad at merun din naman na kagaya ko na hindi pinagpala. Mahirap din gumawa nang mga latha kase minsan kapag may oras, wala naman yung inspirasyon. Mahirap pilitin ang hindi naman maaari. I search for insights on Jhamycka's response.
"Kasi feeling nila, they are running out of time to learn. Sabi ko it took my whole life para makagawa nang magandang story. Siguro di ko makikita ulit yung passion ko kung 'di pa ako nawalan ng trabaho at naging stay-home. So, I'm kinda thankful, nawalan ako ng work (lol). Malaking factor din kasi na wala pa kaming anak ng hubby ko. We can manage the bills kahit wala ako work.
I totally agree with her. I gave up on my lingering thoughts and came back to a reality check. Everything depends upon everyone’s situations. Jhamycka got lucky to continue her passion. She's blessed. We cannot tell what the future holds. Maybe someday I could write again kapag di na ko makabasa sa kalabuan ng mata. Maybe someday may mag-sponsor saken. Maybe someday tatama ako sa lotto. Oh kaya naman eh may mapangasawa na bilyonaryong susuportahan ako. Libreng mangarap ika nga. But at the end of it all, depende talaga yan sa sitwasyon.
"Pero tama din talaga yung sinabi ni kuya jeips, mahirap gawing source of income ung comics pag may bills na need ASAP bayaran. Same with him, we have a house and it's 30 years to pay.
So true.
Q: If ever you'll have kids, go to work, be busy, will you still continue creating series?
A: YES, I will definitely continue it. It could be slower than usual release of my episode, but I will defintely continue my comics para na rin sa future kids ko na meron ako ipapabasa sa kanila someday. Buti na lang kids friendly ung comics ko. Matuturuan ko din sila ng passion ko.
Q: When do you plan to have kids?
A: Maybe next year. Kasi hussle paalis na kami ng Japan eh. Balik na kami US ulit. So maybe if settled in na ulit kami. Isa pa, tumatanda na kami hahaha. We are almost 6 years married, still no kids.
Q: Any message you want to say for your readers and co-creators?
A: Simple lang, just continue their passion, ika nga sabi sa isang poem, if you love your work, you will work and work. Limot ko na ung poem eh, hahahahaha. Pero, what the moral story ni poem is, love what you want to do. Kasi mas masarap mag-work with passion , rather than work lang ng work.
She's correct on her statements. You will never work again if your work becomes your passion. Then again, what if it's the other way around? Pursue my passion in order to have work for a living? Probably not. Magiging masaya na lang ako sa work ko ngayon, professional tambay.
"Also, wag sila agad ma-overwhelm sa mga nakikita nilang ibang artist. Yung iba kasi feeling nila nalalampasan agad sila ng ibang artist in terms of their learning process. Always remember iba't iba ang mga tao. In fact, we have our own art style, so don't compare yourself to anyone. What's better is compare your new work sa old works mo, kasi dun mo nakikita ung improvements mo.
Jhamycka's interview was both inspiring and a reality check. It lits up the passion inside you and dries it out too. When all is said and done, it all depends on everyone’s situation in life. Whether they could continue living their passion, or focus on their jobs to make a living, it is very much dependent upon the circumstances. Anyone is free to make their own choices. Some may be lucky enough, some may not be.
And finally, as a footnote, Jhamycka ended our interview with a purpose.
"Kasi dati, unti lng nag-gguide sa akin. Since ako medyo malayo na ung narating ko, ginagawa ko ung best ko to guide newer generations. Wala ako pake kung mas gumaling sila sa akin. Mas masarap yung feelings na may natulungan kang ibang tao.
If ever you want to get advice from the co-founder of Webkom Alliance, feel free to message her. She’s always open to give out tips and help those who are in need of assistance creating their masterpiece.
