Francisco Coching
Encyclopedia
Francisco V. Coching was a Filipino comic books illustrator and writer. He is regarded as one of the “pillars of the Philippine Komiks
Industry”. He acted both as illustrator and writer for his comic book stories. He is referred to as the "King of Komiks", and as both "Father" and "Grandfather of Philippine comics".
.
Not finishing school in order to be an illustrator for Liwayway under the apprenticeship of Tony Velasquez
. In 1934, at the age of fifteen, Coching created Bing Bigotilyo (Silahis Magazine). Coching had been influenced by Francisco Reyes, another pioneer in the Filipino comic book industry. In 1935, he created Marabini (an amazon warrior in Bahaghari Magazine). World War II interrupted Coching’s career in comics. He became a guerrillero (guerilla) for the Kamagong Unit of the Hunters-ROTC resistance organization.
After the Second World War, Coching created Hagibis
, a Tarzan
-like and Kulafu
-like character in Liwayway Magazine). Other creations by Coching were Sabas, ang Barbaro
(Sabas, the Barbarian, wherein the storyline was set during the Filipino revolution against Spain), Pedro Penduko
, El Indio, Bertong Balutan, Don Cobarde, Ang Kaluluwa ni Dante (Dante's Soul), Pagano (Pagan), Haring Ulupong, Dumagit, Lapu-Lapu, Bulalakaw, Waldas, Talipandas, Palasig, Movie Fan, Anak ni Hagibis (a sequel to Hagibis), Gat Sibasib (another sequel to Hagibis), Satur, Dimasalang, Bella Bandida, El Vibora, Sa Ngalan ng Batas, and El Negro. El Negro (1974) was his last komiks novel.
After 39 years in the komiks industry, Coching retired in 1973 at the age of 54. Coching was able to produce 53 komiks novels overall. He died at age of 79 in 1998.
, Carlos Lemos, Celso Trinidad, Emil Quizon-Cruz, Nestor Redondo
, Alfredo Alcala
, and Emil Rodriguez.
. Coching received the nomination as Philippine National Artist for the Visual Arts in 1999 and in 2001.
Komiks
Comics in the Philippines were partially inspired by American mainstream comic strips and comic books during the early 20th century, particularly after World War II, the medium became widespread and popular throughout the country, though its popularity has subsided somewhat with the advent of...
Industry”. He acted both as illustrator and writer for his comic book stories. He is referred to as the "King of Komiks", and as both "Father" and "Grandfather of Philippine comics".
Biography
Coching was born in Buting, Pasig, Rizal Province in the Philippines. He was the son of Gregorio Coching, a Filipino novelist in the Tagalog-language magazine LiwaywayLiwayway
Liwayway is a leading Tagalog weekly magazine published in the Philippines since 1922. It contains Tagalog serialized novels, short stories, poetry, serialized comics, essays, news features, entertainment news and articles, and many others. In fact, it is the oldest Tagalog magazine in the...
.
Not finishing school in order to be an illustrator for Liwayway under the apprenticeship of Tony Velasquez
Tony Velasquez
Antonio "Tony" Velasquez is a Filipino illustrator regarded as the Father of Tagalog comics and as the pioneer and founding father of the Philippine comics industry. He was the creator of Kenkoy, an “iconic Philippine comic strip character”.-Family background:Velasquez was born in Ulilang...
. In 1934, at the age of fifteen, Coching created Bing Bigotilyo (Silahis Magazine). Coching had been influenced by Francisco Reyes, another pioneer in the Filipino comic book industry. In 1935, he created Marabini (an amazon warrior in Bahaghari Magazine). World War II interrupted Coching’s career in comics. He became a guerrillero (guerilla) for the Kamagong Unit of the Hunters-ROTC resistance organization.
After the Second World War, Coching created Hagibis
Hagibis
Hagibis is one of the first comic book heroes in the history of komiks in the Philippines. Hagibis was created in 1947 by Francisco V. Coching, a Filipino comic book artist and illustrator who is considered as the “father" or "grandfather” of Filipino komiks...
, a Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
-like and Kulafu
Kulafu
Kulafu was one of the earliest comic book heroes in the Philippines. Created on July 7, 1933 by Filipino illustrator Francisco Reyes and Filipino writer Pedrito Reyes, Kulafu appeared on the first colored adventure strip and the first two-page comic strip in the Philippines, under the same...
-like character in Liwayway Magazine). Other creations by Coching were Sabas, ang Barbaro
Sabas, ang barbaro
Sabas, ang barbaro is a 1952 Filipino drama film directed by Eddie Romero and Enrique Moreno and written by Francisco Coching....
(Sabas, the Barbarian, wherein the storyline was set during the Filipino revolution against Spain), Pedro Penduko
Pedro Penduko
Pedro Penduko is a Filipino comic book character styled as a folk hero or superhero, created by Francisco V. Coching and debuted on Liwayway Magazine....
, El Indio, Bertong Balutan, Don Cobarde, Ang Kaluluwa ni Dante (Dante's Soul), Pagano (Pagan), Haring Ulupong, Dumagit, Lapu-Lapu, Bulalakaw, Waldas, Talipandas, Palasig, Movie Fan, Anak ni Hagibis (a sequel to Hagibis), Gat Sibasib (another sequel to Hagibis), Satur, Dimasalang, Bella Bandida, El Vibora, Sa Ngalan ng Batas, and El Negro. El Negro (1974) was his last komiks novel.
After 39 years in the komiks industry, Coching retired in 1973 at the age of 54. Coching was able to produce 53 komiks novels overall. He died at age of 79 in 1998.
Influence
Coching influenced many other Filipino illustrators. Among them were Noly Panaligan, Federico C. JavinalFederico C. Javinal
Federico C. Javinal is considered as one of the “great achievers in Philippine Art”, particularly in the field of Philippine comics.-Biography:...
, Carlos Lemos, Celso Trinidad, Emil Quizon-Cruz, Nestor Redondo
Nestor Redondo
Nestor Redondo was a comic-book artist best known for his work for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and other American publishers in the 1970s and early 1980s.-Early life and career:...
, Alfredo Alcala
Alfredo Alcala
Alfredo P. Alcala was a Filipino comic book artist, born in Talisay, Negros Occidental in the Philippines. Alcala was an established illustrator whose works appeared in the Alcala Komix Magazine. His 1963 creation Voltar introduced him to an international audience, particularly in the United...
, and Emil Rodriguez.
Film adaptation
Almost all of Coching’s komiks novels were adapted into films, with the exception of three titles. Among those that were made into a movie was El Negro in 1974.Awards
In 1981, Coching obtained the Makasining na Komiks Award in the Tanging Parangal for Comics Art from the Manila Commission of Arts and Culture. In 1984, Coching received KOMOPEB Life Achievement Award. In 1998, he received the Award of Excellence from the government of Pasay CityPasay City
The City of Pasay is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.Pasay City was one of the original four...
. Coching received the nomination as Philippine National Artist for the Visual Arts in 1999 and in 2001.