Cal Sobrepeña
Encyclopedia
Felipe Sobrepeña Calusa (born May 1, 1940, in Pangasinan
, Philippines
) is the only child of Rufino Calusa and Teofila Sobrepeña. Orphaned early in life, his mother died in World War II
when he was just a year old and his father was always working in the woods because of the war. He was left in the care of aunts and relatives.
When the war was over, his father was able to land a job as a messenger at a post office in Manila
, and his father took him to live there. Sobrepeña spent most of his teenage life at the Quezon City High School in Kamuning, Quezon City
. After high school, he took up Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines
in Diliman. While in college, he was moonlighting as an illustrator
at a local bookstore, providing the drawings for textbooks used in elementary and high schools.
Then after earning his degree in college, he got a small job at a local publishing company, where he would draw all the characters of Francisco Balagtas
' novel Florante at Laura
. Then he applied as an illustrator at several comics publication including Graphic Arts Services, Inc. (GASI), Atlas Publication, Islas Filipinas Publishing Company and ACE Publication. He worked there for years, comics like Silangan, Aliwan, Wakasan, Lovelife, Funny Komiks and the like were very popular during those times. He had worked in comics for so many years and that was where he made a name for himself. Eventually, his talent and hard work paid off. He was given an award for "Best Komiks Illustrator" for his illustrations on the cover of Lovelife Komiks.
Among his works were Karpov, Darmo Kandado, Vertud and Children's Bible sa Wikang Filipino.
Pangasinan
Pangasinan is a province of the Republic of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Lingayen. Pangasinan is located on the west central and peripheral area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, with the total land area being 5,368.82 square kilometers . According to the latest census,...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
) is the only child of Rufino Calusa and Teofila Sobrepeña. Orphaned early in life, his mother died in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when he was just a year old and his father was always working in the woods because of the war. He was left in the care of aunts and relatives.
When the war was over, his father was able to land a job as a messenger at a post office in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, and his father took him to live there. Sobrepeña spent most of his teenage life at the Quezon City High School in Kamuning, Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
. After high school, he took up Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
in Diliman. While in college, he was moonlighting as an illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
at a local bookstore, providing the drawings for textbooks used in elementary and high schools.
Then after earning his degree in college, he got a small job at a local publishing company, where he would draw all the characters of Francisco Balagtas
Francisco Balagtas
Francisco Baltazar y dela Cruz , known much more widely through his nom-de-plume Francisco Balagtas, was a prominent Filipino poet, and is widely considered as the Tagalog equivalent of William Shakespeare for his impact on Filipino literature...
' novel Florante at Laura
Florante at Laura
Florante at Laura by Francisco Baltazar is considered as one of the masterpieces of Philippine literature. Balagtas wrote the epic during his imprisonment. The work itself is dedicated to María Asuncion Rivera, his sweetheart, whom he nicknamed "M. A...
. Then he applied as an illustrator at several comics publication including Graphic Arts Services, Inc. (GASI), Atlas Publication, Islas Filipinas Publishing Company and ACE Publication. He worked there for years, comics like Silangan, Aliwan, Wakasan, Lovelife, Funny Komiks and the like were very popular during those times. He had worked in comics for so many years and that was where he made a name for himself. Eventually, his talent and hard work paid off. He was given an award for "Best Komiks Illustrator" for his illustrations on the cover of Lovelife Komiks.
Among his works were Karpov, Darmo Kandado, Vertud and Children's Bible sa Wikang Filipino.