The Baguio Connection
Encyclopedia
The Baguio Connection is an adventure story arc
of the Philippine comic strip series Pugad Baboy
, created by Pol Medina Jr. and originally published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer
. This particular story arc lasts 51 strips long. In 1992, the story arc was reprinted in Pugad Baboy 3, the third book compilation of the comic strip series.
, takes Bab, Tomas, Ka Noli, Joboy, Pao and Polgas on a trip to Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines. They take in the sights at Camp John Hay, Mines View, and Trinidad Valley. They also visit an Igorot
village, where Polgas purchases a shrunken head
as a souvenir.
The action begins when the gang stop by an ube
jam store on the Hilltop Market. The proprietor slams the store window close to their faces, and pickpockets steal their wallets and Tomas and Ka Noli's guns. Polgas, in the guise of Wisedog later returns to the scene of the crime and begins an investigation. He takes two jars of the R.D. Ube Jam as evidence.
Back in their pad, Bab sees Wisedog putting the jars in the cupboard. He samples it and gets an unexpected "high." Wisedog takes the jam to the Thunderdog and has its on-board computer analyze the concoction's chemical content. It turns out the jam is spiked with cannabis sativa. The makers of R.D. Ube Jam are actually pushing marijuana. To gain some intel or flush out the suspects, Wisedog decides to push the two bottles of jam. An elderly gentleman recognizes the jars and the gang takes him in for interrogation. Tomas makes the poor guy watch video-taped episodes of daytime drama soaps, The 700 Club
and That's Entertainment
until he couldn't bear it anymore and became a stool pigeon
. He reveals that a lab is hidden behind the ube jam store, that the marijuana plantation is located in Mt. Pulog and that Igorot tribesmen are protecting the plantation.
Wisedog goes undercover as an "asong-Baguio", a native Baguio dog, knowing that the Igorots' favorite dish is dog meat. A fake Igorot tranquilizes him using a blow gun dart laced with Trankaso, a super-potent liquid comparable in effect to the sweat under the arms of an Iraqi soldier, but before he loses consciousness, he manages to signal the Thunderdog, which is bark-activated. The Porsche 959 discreetly follows Wisedog to the pushers' hideout and marked down the coordinates of the plantation. It then races back to Baguio in order to alert the Pugad Baboy gang.
Interviewing his fellow captive dogs, Wisedog confirms that this indeed was the marijuana plantation and that the plants grown there were not ordinary strains of maryjane but a cross-breed of the marijuana plant and the sweet-potato vine, called the "Kamote-Jane" (kamote is Filipino
for sweet potato). Besides disguising the plant as a harmless-looking sweet potato vine, the cannabis yield is more potent; a single Kamote-Jane flower is equal in potency to five grams of hashish
. Wisedog decides to move immediately and neutralize the enemy. He escapes from his cage and releases the other captured dogs. They take on the fake Igorots and just as Wisedog's "garapata gun" runs out of ammo, the Thunderdog arrives with the Pugad Baboy gang.
Tomas brings cadets of the Philippine Military Academy
, the campus of which is in Baguio; Ka Noli brings his New People's Army
pals from the Cordillera Administrative Region
and Pao brings his gay friends from St. Louis University
. Seeing the gays, the Igorots surrender, in terror of what they call the "loincloth
collectors". Unmasking the mastermind, they again discover that it's no other than Renate Domingo, alias Atong Damuho - former dognap king. (See Wisedog
.) Exploring the plantation, Wisedog discovers a gallon of PSSI (Pawis sa Singit ng Sundalong Iraqi - Filipino for Sweat from the Underarm of an Iraqi Soldier) from which the Trankaso blow gun poison of the fake Igorots is made. He loads the smelly liquid into the Garapeater Cannon mounted on the Thunderdog and shot up the entire plantation. All the Kamote-Jane plants dissolve.
In gratitude, the Mayor of Baguio rewarded Wisedog with the construction of a secret lair under his master Dagul's residence in Pugad Baboy. This came to be known as the Dog Cave (a spoof of the Bat Cave), official residence of OCB agent Polgas, alias Wisedog.
Kules, Bab, Tomas, Ka Noli, Joboy and Pao regret the fact that they do not tag along with Polgas in returning to Manila. Worse, because they have their wallets picked, they have no money for gasoline since Kules' car is already out of fuel. Tomas has an idea of one of them dressing up as an Igorot tribesman so tourists will pay them just to take his picture. Everybody's eyes turn on Bab, whose skin color and vest make him a perfect choice to be a tribesman (his hair only needs a trim). Bab doesn't like to go with the plan, but the boys do not let him get off easily. They restrain him and Ka Noli calls in Edward Scissorhands
to cut Bab's hair. As a result, Bab (forcibly) dons the Igorot get-up and the Pugad Bad Boys earn money from tourists who want to have a picture with Bab.
The money the Pugad Bad Boys earn is only enough to buy eight liters of gasoline, which may or may not be enough to drive them home to Manila. So to save on gas, Kules decides to freewheel his car downhill all the way to Pangasinan, to the horror of Pao, who has to hang on the top of the car because he obviously won't fit inside.
As for Bab, he keeps the hairstyle for some time (two strips in the next book feature him sporting the same hairstyle), eventually letting his hair grow back to its original length.
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
of the Philippine comic strip series Pugad Baboy
Pugad Baboy
Pugad Baboy is a comic strip created by Filipino cartoonist Apolonio "Pol" Medina, Jr. The strip is about a Manila community of mostly obese people - "fat as pigs", so to speak ....
, created by Pol Medina Jr. and originally published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer
Philippine Daily Inquirer
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, popularly known as the Inquirer, is the most widely read broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines, with a daily circulation of 260,000 copies. It is one of the Philippines' newspapers of record...
. This particular story arc lasts 51 strips long. In 1992, the story arc was reprinted in Pugad Baboy 3, the third book compilation of the comic strip series.
Synopsis
Kules, home on vacation from his job in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, takes Bab, Tomas, Ka Noli, Joboy, Pao and Polgas on a trip to Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines. They take in the sights at Camp John Hay, Mines View, and Trinidad Valley. They also visit an Igorot
Igorot
Cordillerans are the people of the Cordillera region, in the Philippines island of Luzon. The word, Igorot is a misnomer term invented by the Spaniards in mockery against the Nortnern Luzon tribes. The word ‘Igorot’ also as coined and applied by the Spaniards means a savage, head-hunting and...
village, where Polgas purchases a shrunken head
Shrunken head
A shrunken head is a severed and specially prepared human head that is used for trophy, ritual, or trade purposes.Headhunting occurred in many regions of the world. But the practice of headshrinking has only ever been recorded in the northwestern region of the Amazon rain forest...
as a souvenir.
The action begins when the gang stop by an ube
Ube
Dioscorea alata, known as purple yam and many other names, is a species of yam, a tuberous root vegetable, that is bright lavender in color. It is sometimes confused with taro and the Okinawa sweet potato . With its origins in the Asian tropics, D...
jam store on the Hilltop Market. The proprietor slams the store window close to their faces, and pickpockets steal their wallets and Tomas and Ka Noli's guns. Polgas, in the guise of Wisedog later returns to the scene of the crime and begins an investigation. He takes two jars of the R.D. Ube Jam as evidence.
Back in their pad, Bab sees Wisedog putting the jars in the cupboard. He samples it and gets an unexpected "high." Wisedog takes the jam to the Thunderdog and has its on-board computer analyze the concoction's chemical content. It turns out the jam is spiked with cannabis sativa. The makers of R.D. Ube Jam are actually pushing marijuana. To gain some intel or flush out the suspects, Wisedog decides to push the two bottles of jam. An elderly gentleman recognizes the jars and the gang takes him in for interrogation. Tomas makes the poor guy watch video-taped episodes of daytime drama soaps, The 700 Club
The 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
and That's Entertainment
That's Entertainment (TV series)
That's Entertainment is a defunct Filipino youth-oriented talent and variety show aired by GMA Network.-History:The show was launched on January 6, 1986 by GMA Network and gained popularity almost overnight among young audiences who were on the lookout for idols of their own. Hosted by German...
until he couldn't bear it anymore and became a stool pigeon
Informant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
. He reveals that a lab is hidden behind the ube jam store, that the marijuana plantation is located in Mt. Pulog and that Igorot tribesmen are protecting the plantation.
Wisedog goes undercover as an "asong-Baguio", a native Baguio dog, knowing that the Igorots' favorite dish is dog meat. A fake Igorot tranquilizes him using a blow gun dart laced with Trankaso, a super-potent liquid comparable in effect to the sweat under the arms of an Iraqi soldier, but before he loses consciousness, he manages to signal the Thunderdog, which is bark-activated. The Porsche 959 discreetly follows Wisedog to the pushers' hideout and marked down the coordinates of the plantation. It then races back to Baguio in order to alert the Pugad Baboy gang.
Interviewing his fellow captive dogs, Wisedog confirms that this indeed was the marijuana plantation and that the plants grown there were not ordinary strains of maryjane but a cross-breed of the marijuana plant and the sweet-potato vine, called the "Kamote-Jane" (kamote is Filipino
Filipino language
This move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...
for sweet potato). Besides disguising the plant as a harmless-looking sweet potato vine, the cannabis yield is more potent; a single Kamote-Jane flower is equal in potency to five grams of hashish
Hashish
Hashish is a cannabis preparation composed of compressed stalked resin glands, called trichomes, collected from the unfertilized buds of the cannabis plant. It contains the same active ingredients but in higher concentrations than unsifted buds or leaves...
. Wisedog decides to move immediately and neutralize the enemy. He escapes from his cage and releases the other captured dogs. They take on the fake Igorots and just as Wisedog's "garapata gun" runs out of ammo, the Thunderdog arrives with the Pugad Baboy gang.
Tomas brings cadets of the Philippine Military Academy
Philippine Military Academy
The Philippine Military Academy or PMA, is the Philippine military school for the Armed Forces of the Philippines . PMA was established on December 21, 1936 by the virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 1 . PMA is located in Baguio, Benguet province...
, the campus of which is in Baguio; Ka Noli brings his New People's Army
New People's Army
The New People's Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. It was formed on March 29, 1969. The Maoist NPA conducts its armed guerrilla struggle based on the strategical line of 'protracted people's war'.The NPA exacts so called "revolutionary taxes" from business owners...
pals from the Cordillera Administrative Region
Cordillera Administrative Region
The Cordillera Administrative Region is a region in the Philippines composed of the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province, as well as Baguio City, the regional center. The Cordillera Administrative Region encompasses most of the areas within the Cordillera...
and Pao brings his gay friends from St. Louis University
Saint Louis University, Baguio City
Saint Louis University is a private educational institution in Baguio City, approximately two hundred fifty kilometers north of Manila. The school was established in 1911 by the Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae missionaries, to further Christianize the northern Philippines...
. Seeing the gays, the Igorots surrender, in terror of what they call the "loincloth
Loincloth
A loincloth is a one-piece male garment, sometimes kept in place by a belt, which covers the genitals and, at least partially, the buttocks.-History and types:Loincloths are being and have been worn:*in societies where no other clothing is needed or wanted...
collectors". Unmasking the mastermind, they again discover that it's no other than Renate Domingo, alias Atong Damuho - former dognap king. (See Wisedog
Wisedog
Wisedog is an adventure story arc of the Philippine comic strip series Pugad Baboy, created by Pol Medina Jr. and originally published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. This particular story arc lasts 17 strips long...
.) Exploring the plantation, Wisedog discovers a gallon of PSSI (Pawis sa Singit ng Sundalong Iraqi - Filipino for Sweat from the Underarm of an Iraqi Soldier) from which the Trankaso blow gun poison of the fake Igorots is made. He loads the smelly liquid into the Garapeater Cannon mounted on the Thunderdog and shot up the entire plantation. All the Kamote-Jane plants dissolve.
In gratitude, the Mayor of Baguio rewarded Wisedog with the construction of a secret lair under his master Dagul's residence in Pugad Baboy. This came to be known as the Dog Cave (a spoof of the Bat Cave), official residence of OCB agent Polgas, alias Wisedog.
Epilogue
Technically, the story arc ends with Wisedog's arrival in Pugad Baboy. However, there are three extra strips which detail what happened to the Pugad Bad Boys.Kules, Bab, Tomas, Ka Noli, Joboy and Pao regret the fact that they do not tag along with Polgas in returning to Manila. Worse, because they have their wallets picked, they have no money for gasoline since Kules' car is already out of fuel. Tomas has an idea of one of them dressing up as an Igorot tribesman so tourists will pay them just to take his picture. Everybody's eyes turn on Bab, whose skin color and vest make him a perfect choice to be a tribesman (his hair only needs a trim). Bab doesn't like to go with the plan, but the boys do not let him get off easily. They restrain him and Ka Noli calls in Edward Scissorhands
Edward Scissorhands
Edward Scissorhands is a 1990 romantic fantasy film directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp. The film shows the story of an artificial man named Edward, an unfinished creation, who has scissors for hands. Edward is taken in by a suburban family and falls in love with their teenage daughter...
to cut Bab's hair. As a result, Bab (forcibly) dons the Igorot get-up and the Pugad Bad Boys earn money from tourists who want to have a picture with Bab.
The money the Pugad Bad Boys earn is only enough to buy eight liters of gasoline, which may or may not be enough to drive them home to Manila. So to save on gas, Kules decides to freewheel his car downhill all the way to Pangasinan, to the horror of Pao, who has to hang on the top of the car because he obviously won't fit inside.
As for Bab, he keeps the hairstyle for some time (two strips in the next book feature him sporting the same hairstyle), eventually letting his hair grow back to its original length.