Rommel Joson by Rommel Joson

CREDENTIALS • Rogue Magazine Top 16 Filipino Illustrators Feature • Philippine Representative Lingua Comica Project, London, United Kingdom • Grantee, Asia-Europe Foundation’s Lingua Comica Reloaded Project • Resident at La Maison des Auteurs, Angouleme, France • Two-time Honorable Mention, Alcala Illustrator’s Prize, PBBY • Awardee, Oil/Acrylic Category Shell National Painting Competition • Silver, Art Direction, TV Category Araw Awards • Silver, Adobo Design Competition • 3rd Place, Neil Gaiman/Fully Booked Graphic Fiction Competition

CONTACT INFO

ROMMEL E. JOSON 0922.8286394 rejoson@yahoo.com http://hello-oso.com

COMMERCIAL

WWF Recycling Poster â&#x20AC;˘ Silver 2009 Adobo Design Competition

Globe Broadband Spot the Sites Mural & Poster Design: Art Direction & Illustration

JanSport Print Ads: Copy, Art Direction, Illustration

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hour Strip Ads: Copy, Art Direction & Illustration

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hour Print Ad: Copy, Art Direction & Illustration

Dewberry Poster Campaign: Commissioned Design & Illustration

JanSport Kombi Van

JanSport 40th Anniversary Window Displays

JanSport Delivery Truck

JanSport 2009 Back to School Window Display â&#x20AC;˘ SM Makati

JanSport 2009 Back to School Window Displays

Product Design for the Limited Edition JanSport Pilipinas Bag

Bayer Philippines Banner: Commissioned Illustration

Leviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Posters

Metrobank Branch Posters: Commissioned Illustration

Inyorai Video Festival Posters: Concept, Copy, Art Direction & Illustration

Neozep Summer Colds Poster: Concept, Copy, Art Direction & Illustration

Skateboard Art Commissioned by DC Apparel

Goldenhills Wall Panel Designs

WEB GRAPHICS

Design and Illustration for dunkindonuts.com.ph

Concept, Design and Illustration for gloo.com.ph

Concept, Illustration and Design work for Glooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online referral program.

CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION

SEQUENTIAL ILLUSTRATIONS

“The Man Who Loved The Poor”, Bookmark Publishing, 2007

“Maharlika”, Self-initiated Project, 2009

“The Wordless Gift”, Self-initiated Project, 2007

“3rd World Snow”, published in Heights Literary Anthology Vol. 52, No. 2, 2010

“Dusk”, 3rd Place Neil Gaiman/Fully Booked Competition

EDITORIAL

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Asia and the Global Financial Turmoil

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EMAND FOR THE TRANSPORTATION industry is always derived from the activities of real economy, or of the “Main Street” as Mr. Obama calls it. The industry does act as a health detector, as it feels the pulse of the economy a few months before the numbers end up as statistics on economists’ desks.

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Since the beginning of this decade there has been a significant surge in Chinese exports to the US and Europe, rendering the country as the “factory of the world.” This surge came immediately after China joined the WTO in the end of 2001. Similarly, there has been a significant export and trade growth in Vietnam after it joined the WTO in the end of 2006. These are important observations. Globalization meant relocation of manufacturing (and its associated pollution) to countries like China and Vietnam. These were commercial decisions made in most cases by the multi-national companies (MNCs) driven by the sole objective of maximization of profits. The transportation industry and in particular, the container shipping industry, played a very important role as a facilitator of globalization. The industry did manage to provide a very cost efficient logistics solution. The transportation costs typically amounted to tiny fractions of the final retail price. Hence, how far away the production center is located from the consuming center did not really matter much as long as relocation of manufacturing resulted in an overall reduction of costs. The export-led economic growth has helped the Asian countries in many ways—in accumulating financial surpluses, in improving the standards of life, and in reducing poverty. It also boosted intra-regional trade as more Asians had more purchasing power.

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There are now suggestions from many quarters that the export-led growth of Asia is unsustainable, and that manufacturing must return to the US. Asian countries are advised to re-tool their economies by reducing dependence on exports and by boosting their domestic demand. While it is good to boost domestic demand, the fundamental question remains whether a return of manufacturing to the US will result in an overall reduction of costs. After all, it was the profit maximization motive that drove the relocation of manufacturing out of the US in the first place. The only way it would make sense for the MNCs to move their manufacturing back to the US is if the protectionist tariff structures make it more costly to import goods manufactured in Asia. This then leads to the policy issues. Would the US abandon its commitment to free market and unilaterally decide to build protectionist walls? The questions will soon be answered by the President-elect Obama. But

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considering the geo-political realities of an increasingly multi-polar world, it is an extremely unlikely scenario that the US will abandon its commitment to free market and globalization. 8j`XËj I\XZk`fe kf :lii\ek :i`j`j

During the Asian currency crisis a decade ago, the affected countries embarked on an export growth strategy as a path to recovery. This was successful for two reasons; first, lower exchange rates made the products cheaper for the buyers, and second, there was a strong demand elsewhere in the world since the contagion of currency crisis was in a way contained only within parts of Asia. Unfortunately, the previous solution of export-your-way-out-of-theproblem is not going to work this time around. At least, not yet. Simply because, there is not enough consumer demand in the developed worlds of the US and EU. So, does it mean all gloom and doom? Well, as a first step, there ought to be positive thinking which should lead to positive actions. We must consciously work towards improving sentiments, individually and collectively. The US$ 580 billion economic stimulus program swiftly announced by the Chinese government is indeed good news. Realizing that there is not enough demand at the moment for the export of Chinese manufactured goods, the government announced an inward-looking program, which among others aims to develop investments in productive infrastructures including low-cost housing as well as to give <L ^fm\ied\ek è`k`Xk`m\j è lecfZbè^ k_`j more cash in the hands of the citizens spurring dojg\e[è^ gfn\i Zflgc\[ n`k_ X [\c`Y\iXk\ Xkk\dgk mestic consumption. At first kf `dgifm\ j\ek`d\ekj n`cc this will lead to increase è[\\[ XZk Xj X ^cfYXc jXm`fi in construction activities, kf k_\ Zlii\ek Zi`j`j% which will have a positive impact to the steel industry. Through the trading of necessary raw materials and related products as well as the spin-off effects to other industries, the rest of Asia will have a lot to gain from this stimulus program of China. Chinese government will perhaps not hesitate to take more decisive steps if the above stimulus proves to be less than satisfactory. One thing that is now hampering the intra-regional trade is the lack of trade financing. The banks are simply not lending money even for trade related working capital. The letters of credits are not being opened because the banks have stopped trusting each other and are hesitant to take counterparty risks. Banks, most of which are publicly listed, are shying away from new lending in order to shore up their balance sheets prior to year-end closing date. It is widely believed that trade financing will resume once we step into the next financial year. “Asia and the Global Financial Turmoil” cont. on page 59 >>

Social media is not clean-cut. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s organic and alive, because the users obviously outnumber marketing people.

ILLUSTRATION: ROMMEL JOSON

On Industrialization, Asian Institute of Management Alumni Magazine

On Leadership, Asian Institute of Management Alumni Magazine

Cover for Tapat Journalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1st Issue Art Direction, Design & Illustration

Inside Illustration for Tapat Journal

MOTION

Direction, Art & Design Work for Unicef’s “Halimaw” Cinema 15s http://vimeo.com/13240638

Hand-drawn animation for RC Colaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 15s TVC teaser http://vimeo.com/14203231

Pretty In Ink Music Video â&#x20AC;˘ Top Prize Nokia You Make It Reel Video Competition http://vimeo.com/13240665

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