Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 11:24 am
Cebuana author Kristin Lim Co and illustrator Alreena Levy led a comic book workshop for children and adults on August 8, 2026, introducing participants to the basics of story development, paneling and visual storytelling.
Co guided attendees through story development, while Levy handled the technical side of comics-making. Participants joined drawing exercises and developed original storylines under the mentors’ guidance.
Co said she was struck by how quickly the participants put the lessons into practice, especially in framing scenes, using panels and adding speech bubbles.
“It was amazing how they immediately put into practice the tips we discussed — especially the different ways to frame a scene, the use of panels and speech bubbles,” Co told SunStar Lifestyle. “Beyond that, what really surprised me was the level of skill they already had. I could tell right away these kids have been drawing a lot.”
She added that the youngest participant, 6, finished her story quickly and confidently.
“They are already following the same path as me,” Co said. “I started writing and making my own comics when I was 7 years old. Being published is just a bonus. It felt like a full-circle moment seeing the young participants who reminded me of myself.”
Nurturing future ‘komikeros’
For Levy, the workshop carried special meaning. While art workshops are common in Cebu, she said this was a pioneering effort focused specifically on comics-making and on nurturing the next generation of Cebuano komikeros and komikeras.
Levy said she once taught herself by copying comics and wished something similar had existed when she was growing up. She also commended the parents who supported their children’s interests.
“Comics are something you do privately as a hobby, far less performative than other arts,” Levy said. “So seeing more than 10 participants show up was exciting. Hearing and reading their comics amazed me. It’s no shock that they’re imaginative, but witnessing how they whip up stories and draw traditionally amidst AI and digitalization warms my heart.”
One of the event’s highlights for Levy was hearing the children read their completed comics aloud during a lively show-and-tell session.
“For kids, they sure do know what they’re doing already,” Levy said, adding that one participant combined original poetry with comic panels.
During a drawing session with a participant named Miel, Levy said she looked forward to seeing the girl develop her own style. Miel responded that she already had one, a confidence that impressed both mentors.
