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Posted February 24, 2022 by Norby Ela in Comics
 
 

Rest In Peace Kuya Boyet, A Tribute from a Comic Fanboy

This is to reminiscence the living memories of  a comic fanboy with the great Ricky Arnaez of Philippine-based local comic book shop Comic Odyssey, whose recent passing shocked the Filipino comic community. Me, I fondly called him “Master.” As what the majority calls him as “Kuya Boyet”, he is neither an artist nor a comics creator, but nevertheless considered as an important contributor to the continuity of the comic book community and industry in the Philippines.

Ricky Arnaez

In the ups and downs of the Filipino komiks in the late 1990s up to the pandemic scourge, he witnessed the development, progress, and the cycles of the nation’s vibrant, if not volatile and niche pop culture phenomenon. He’s part of Comic Odyssey, serving as one of the most important cogs/pillars under the shop owner and also his relatives, Sandy Sansolis and Rowena Sansolis. I mentioned he witnessed many of the important events in our comics history. Not only that, but he also firsthand participated these significant moments for Comic Odyssey either hosted and/or took part on these festivities, events, and other significant moments. He assisted the crew whenever deliveries and shipments took place. He’s helpful in customer service – assisting inquiries, requests, and demands.

 

Ricky Arnaez 3

For those who are in his inner circle, he loved to tell his stories, the adventures of the seas before “malagay sa tahimik” and be part of the community. These “adventures” were similar of listening to a battle-scarred veteran with a calm, reassuring and jovial voice that even a sceptic like yours truly would dare not to ignore nor scuff off. It’s akin to Transformers’ Grimlock enjoying stories told by the old-timer Kupp. His experiences in Russia, Japan, The Netherlands, Brazil, and others were worth the time staying in Comic Odyssey, particularly when there were no customers around, and especially when he’s sipping or slurping his favorite McDonald’s coffee. The most important moral lesson I learned so much from his maritime adventures was, maybe it’s either corny or cliché to you but significant and life-changing for yours truly, not to antagonize/make fun/mock/insult the fellow(s) who cooks. With some real-life anecdotes from former kitchen crew members, fellow acquaintance in the Hotel and Restaurant (or Hospitality) Department and one of the music videos of Slim Shady/Eminem, his words still speak volumes, resonating relevance up to this day. Also, at the wake alone before this tribute, many people who have been part of the Comic Odyssey community paid their last respects to the person made their lives, directly or indirectly, meaningful, if not a fun moment.

Ricky Arnaez 1

Kuya Boyet may be part of the comic community but then again, he did his shares of contribution to make our community continuing to exist, to move forward, and cherish on the things we hold on so dearly. Of course, he’s no “great men” of comics history in the Philippines. That reserves to the likes of Sandy Sansolis, the greats Gerry Alanguilan, Pol Medina, Lan Medina, Whilce Portacio, Alfredo Alcala among others. Instead, Master Boyet reminds this grieving believer of the Jason Aaron-Charles Soule-Rick Remender’s takes on the Wolverine-resourceful, optimist, sage, team-player, the exemplar, and the loving partner. If the iconic Canadian phrase “I am the BEST at what I do…” speaks for itself, for Kuya/Master Boyet, whatever and whenever the events, obstacles, and challenges the community faced/confronted, his immortal words cancel these out with the smile (and puffs off his vape), “NO PROBLEM.”

Sayonara, adios, adieu, farewell, paalam, daghang salamat, KUYA BOYET!!!


This tribute was written by Paul Ramos

 


Norby Ela

 
Now residing in San Diego, CA, I strive to work in art and further grow FlipGeeks around the world.