For a long time, komiks became the cheapest means of entertainment for people of all ages throughout the Philippines. From the time the first regular komiks – Halakhak – came off the press of the Carmelo & Bauermann Company on November 15, 1946 up to the last issue of Pilipino Illustrated Stories published by Atlas Publishing on 2011, its long history has been part of Pilipino literature.

It is difficult to ascertain as to how many stories and knowledge, drawings and illustrations, writers and artists that have been part of the pages of komiks. Let’s not include foreign comics; albeit if we put all the issues of the locally published komiks alone with its more than three thousand different tiles, it could fill an entire room of the National Library.

    To trivia aficionados, do you know who illustrated the first front cover of Halakhak Komiks? He is Isaac Tolentino. If you notice, almost all the komiks that were published from 1946 have the same title font for the word “komiks.” Do you know who created the font? He is the Kenkoy illustrator Antonio “Tony” Velasquez.

    Francisco V. Coching and Mars Ravelo have done many works for different magazines prior to the introduction of the first komiks. It is in the pages of Halakhak, however, where their first komiks stories which they themselves illustrated appeared. Do you know the titles? The answer: “Bulalakaw” for Coching and “Si Berta, ang Tomboy” for Ravelo.

FIRST OF ALL

    In the history of Philippines Komiks, Halakhak is the first mass-based publications that can be considered a “true” komiks. As a standard, it can be considered as a true komiks if it contained 70 percent illustrated stories or more. It is also in Halakhak where the title “komiks” was first used (derived from the English word “comics”).

    After World War II, the Pilipinos needed a source of entertainment that could cheer them up after the gloom and horror left by the war. Cartoonist-caricaturist Isaac Tolentino together with Attorney Jaime Lucas, the owner of Universal Bookstore, teamed up and they conceptualized the idea of an illustrated reading material that could make people laugh. They agreed to call it Halakhak. The word “Halakhak” means loud laughter cause by over the edge happiness, which was what the era needed.

    It was Atty. Lucas who made it possible to gather the necessary financing to start the publication. Tolentino, on the other hand, was responsible for bringing together writers and artists for Halakhak, and he himself served as editor up to the eighth issue (The last two issues was edited by Tony Velasquez).

    On the first issue, the publication only bared the title Halakhak, with the subtitle “Kasaysayan, Katatawanan, Hiwaga” (History, Comedy, Mystery). It was Velasquez who suggested that the word “Komiks” be added to the title of the succeeding issues.

    During that time, because of the shortage of printing paper, the first three issues of Halakhak were published smaller than the usual komiks we know later. It was just about half the size of a long-sized coupon bond. It has 42 pages and the first three issues was sold at 25 centavos a copy. The succeeding issue were printed in the size of the regular komiks – around 8”x11” – and was tagged as 40 centavos.

    Included in the first issue of Halakhak are the following illustrated stories and skits: “Mga Hindi Sukat Akalain” by Isaac Tolentino, “Bulalakaw” by Francisco V. Coching, “Enyong Bohemyo” by Cris Caguintuan, “Kidlat” by Damy Velasquez and Jesse Santos, “Talahib” by Francisco Reyes, “Si Pino” by Jose Zabala Santos, “Teryong Alat” by Hugo Yonson, “Binong Lambanog” by Nolasco "Noly" Panaligan, “Doon daw sa Langit” by Liborio “Gat” Gatbonton, “Indo” by Maning de Leon, “Kasikoy” by Antonio I. Roullo, and “Eto na si Tibo” by Gene Cabrera.

    In reality, Halakhak Komiks was a pioneering success. The first 10,000 printed copies were almost immediately sold out. So were the succeeding issues. The problem that did it harm was in the financing brought about by uncollected bills from sales agents. Atty. Lucas’ budget had a short thread and, because of the problem, after 10 issues it stopped circulation. The last issue was released on April 1, 1947.

    On June 14, 1947, the first issue of Pilipino Komiks came off the press and became the second regular komiks in the country. It was published by ACE Publication that Don Ramos Roces founded. The title was aptly given by Tony Velasquez which also served as its first editor. The first issue, 10,000 copies, sold at 25 centavos each were immediately sold out.

    Included in the first issue of Pilipino Komiks was the longest followed komiks novel in the Philippines, “DI-13,” which was written and scripted by Tony Velasquez’s brother Damy and drawn by Jesse Santos. Also in the pages of the first issue are “Prinsesa Urduja” by Vicente Manansala, “Makisig” by Amadeo Manalad, “Lagim” by Cris Caguintuan, “Daluyong” by Fred Carillo, “Kalabog en Bosyo” by Larry Alcala, “Lucas Malakas” by Jose Zabala Santos, “Ang Buhay ni Aldabes” by Hugo C. Yonzon Jr, and the two-page cartoon strip “Nanong Pandak” by Tony Velasquez. The first Pepsi Cola print ads also started in this issue.

    Cris Caguintuan’s “Lagim” was the first Pilipino superhero to appear in the pages of komiks. Although Larry Alcala’s Siopawman appeared in the pages of Halakhak Komiks half a year earlier, it was not included in the list of Pilipino superheroes. This is because to the viewpoint of readers and critics, Siopawman cannot be considered a superhero in the strictest sense owing to the character’s laughable persona and the insignificantly funny story contents. Now, if we are to name the first Pilipino superhero that appeared in illustrated form, it would be Ipo-Ipo by Oscar del Rosario and Lib Abrena that was published inside the pages of Magasin ng Pagsilang in 1946.

    The success of Pilipino Komiks led to the publication of more komiks by ACE Publication: Tagalog Klasiks (July 16, 1949), Hiwaga Komiks (October 11, 1950), Espesyal Komiks (October 20, 1952), and 20 more titles. ACE Publication became the largest publishing company of entertainment reading materials for the masses. The era from the time of the first successful komiks up to the early 1980s is known as “The Golden Age of Philippine Komiks.” For komiks was the main source of stories that were made into films which in turn made famous many of the leading names in Philippine cinema.

    In Philippine Komiks history, Pilipino komiks was the longest in circulation that lasted six decades with over 3,200 issues, although from 2004 to 2011 it was re-titled Pilipino Illustrated Stories.

UNIQUELY HILARIOUS NAMES

    It was komiks that started it all, notoriously unique characters with hilariously wacky names. We have already mentioned Kenkoy (See my article: “Mga Pamana at Ala-alang Iniwan sa Akin ng Komiks”. It would be too lengthy for this article to list them all and tell their stories. So I chose a few which I think truly ingrained themselves in the minds of the readers: Dr. Ispongklong, Dumb Dora, Kurdapya, Torkwata, Bondying, Barok, Bakekang, Nognog, together with some unique trivia of each of them.

    Two characters that I remembered that cause a riot of laughters among the reader were “Dr. Ispongklong” and “Dumb Dora” that started with the first issue of Pogi Magazine for Men on April 3, 1969. It was labeled “magazine” because Pogi also contained articles and news features about the showbiz world, and other entertainment fields which were largely about sex, which during those times was a controversial topic, and that only about 50 percent of the contents were illustrated komiks stories.

    The comedy series “Dr. Ispongklong,” created by Ted Tenorio and drawn by Bert Sarile, was full of humorous exploits of the title character. Although comical in its presentation, the komiks skits do have sexual puffs, which fits the intents of Pogi. Dr. Ispongklong is a “doctor” always with a double tube pipe each with a cigarette, light reflector on his forehead, and a stethoscope on his hand. He, of course, constantly ogles and craves for sexy women with big boobs.

    Do you komiks fans know what “ispongklong” literally means albeit the doctor’s surname? According to my research, the word was invented inside the editorial office of Pilipino Komiks Inc. Aside from conceptualizing Dr. Ispongklong, Ted Tenorio was also one of the editors of Pogi. At the start, he thought of giving the name “Dr. Mahilig,” but he felt it’s not the right name so he dropped it. He wants a name that is funny and will be remembered for its uniqueness. He asked the help of fellow editor Mars Ravelo. The illustrated comedy skits was ready for publication in the first issue of Pogi but he still had no name for the character. Ravelo put a coupon in the typewriter, close his eyes, and type. The letters that were printed on the coupon bond was I-s-p-t-o-n-g-k-r-l-o-n-g. Tenorio and Ravelo looked at it and laughed. Tenorio told Ravelo “wala na silang maisip na matino” (they are unable to think anything sane). Ravelo, however, noticed that if you remove the letters “t” and “r” it would read “Ispongklong.” As if it was a coincidence that their surnames start with “t” and “r.” They shook hands and “Dr. Ipongklong” was born. Thus “Ispongklong” came to mean “someone who is unable to think anything sane,” which fits the character. Later, after two decades, Sarile brought back the character in the pages of TSS Komiks. This time, Sarile himself wrote the scripts for the comedy skits, and he removed the letter “I” and it became “Dr. Spongklong.”

    According to the description of its writer-creator Deo C. Gonzales, “Dumb Dora” is a woman with the mixed personas of Cleopatra, Mata Hari and Marilyn Monroe combined with extreme dumbness. She is the sexy sidekick and girl-Friday of Singko Nire, Agent 7-11, a “secret agent” with a “tornado wind” in his brain and one who is a master of stupidity. This comedy skits also came with Pogi Magazine for Man’s first issue. Vir Aguirre drew the first issue. Other notable artists who also illustrated the comedy series were Ernie Chan, Elpidio E. Torres and Mar T. Santana.

    The title characters “Kurdapya” at “Torkwata” were conceptualized by Pablo S. Gomez. It was in “Kurdapya” (1953-1954), which appeared in the pages of Tagalog Klasiks, that Gomez first used his penname Carlos Gonda. Two legendary illustrators – Nestor Redondo at Alfredo Alcala – were tasked to draw this komiks novel about an ugly little girl that later transformed into a beautiful lady. It was made into a movie by Sampaguita Films in 1955, which starred Gloria Romero (in the title role of Kurdapya) together with Ric Rodrigo, Dolphy, Ramon Revilla, Eddie Garcia, Aruray, Etang Discher and Rebecca del Rio.. 

    The komiks novel “Torkwata,” on the other hand, also drawn by Redondo first appeared in Hiwaga Komiks 143 on June 13, 1956. It was also made into a movie by Sampaguita Films that starred Susan Roces under the direction of Rosa Mia, and was shown on theaters on May 14, 1957.

    One komiks character that once had been the word of mouth among Pilipinos is Mars Ravelo’s “Bondying.” It was drawn by Elpidio E. Torres and first appeared inside Pilipino Komiks 161 on August 1, 1963. Bondying, according to the novel introduction by Ravelo, all the characters of colorful adventures are “mere rubbles and nothing in comparison” to him. This is probably because Bondying, although already a big-bodied man, is still mentally like a toddler. This can be blamed to his lola (grandmother) who spoiled him to the point of preventing his growth in attitude and mentally in personality. That is why the term “Bondying” became a sort of adjective for an old person who thinks like a child. It was made into a film in 1954 starring Fred Galang as Bondying and Chichay as his lola. In the story, there will come a point when Bondying finally had a normal mind and fell in love with a woman. The komiks and the movie were both blockbusters, and a sequel followed – “Tatay na si Bondying” (1955). Here, Bondying became a father of twins – Bondyinging (also portrayed by Fred Galang) at Dolfo (portrayed by Dolphy). In 1973, a sort of remake film was shown – “Ato si Bondying” – starring Jay Ilagan. In the 1979 film, “Mars Ravelo’s Bondying: The Little Big Boy” and in the TV series na “Bondying: The Little Boy’ger,” Jimmy Santos played the role.

    Another komiks character that made many people laugh is “Barok” created by Polly Rallanka and illustrated by Bert Sarile. It was featured weekly in Hiwaga Komiks during the 1970s. The setting of the story was similar to the The Flinstones of William Hanna (1910-2001) and Joseph Barbera (1911-2001). The difference is that Fred Flinstones is a married man while Barok is a bachelor at the beginning of the story that has a love interest, a woman name Gundina. Due to the popularity of the character, two movies were made by Chiquito and two by Yoyoy Villame. The latter even made novelty songs that also became a hit. The word “barok” colloquially pertains to the way one speaks in that it seems different, stuttering, and lacks adverbs.

    Who would forget Carlo J. Caparas’ “Bakekang” drawn by Mar T. Santana and appeared in Bondying Komiks during the 1970s. For trivia collectors, it was the first komiks novel where Caparas had a woman as the lead character. This is a story about an ugly woman oppressed and scorned by people. She bore a very beautiful daughter after having sex with a foreigner, which she named Crystal. In the komiks, before Bakekang gave birth, many people were waging as to what would her child looked like. It was made into a movie in 1978 portrayed by Nora Aunor, the “Superstar” of Philippine cinema. Later, a similar TV series was made with Sunshine Dizon in the title role.

    In United Komiks, the hiarious character “Nognog” created by Leandro San Juan Martinez was serialized during the 1970s. Later, during the 1980s it was billed as “D’Adbenturs Op Nognog” in Pinoy Klasiks. The comedy skits was about a cute boy with an overly dark skin and curly hair, and his many antics and misadventures. The Philippines’ “Boy Wonder” Niño Muhlach played the role of Nognog in the movies in 1980. Ever since, it became a byword name not only for kids but also for adult males who have very dark skin. The character’s popularity even dipped into politics when ex-Senator Antonio Trillanes called former Vice-President Jejomar Binay as “Nognog” because of the latter’s dark skin. There’s one more coincidental trivia here – the word “United.” Binay is the leader of the United Nationalist Alliance (UN) while Nognog started appearing in United Komiks.

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