Exhibit of Mars Ravelo early works opens to public

MANILA — Before there was Mars Ravelo’s iconic Darna, there was Varga. Before there was Valentina,there was Prinsesa Negri. And long before protagonists like Captain Barbell, there was Ric Benson. 

These are just a few of the extraordinary characters from Ravelo’s early works inspired by ordinary Filipinos he crossed paths with while scavenging scraps on his route from Baclaran to Tagaytay. 

“Early works are mostly focused on Filipino culture, observations of society. Di lang comedy, it has the Filipino essence. During war magbobote siya, throughout his journey mga tao na encounter niya,” Ravelo’s granddaughter Maisha dela Cruz said in an interview. 

“Dyesebel for example was inspired from Baclaran, mga mangingisda nakilala niya doon sinasabi kasi may legend na may serena. Ipe is about labor workers. Rita has stories about child abuse. Gorio and Tekla, mag-asawa sa rural area, sometimes about domestic violence,” she added.

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According to Ravelo’s son Rex, his father’s legacy was built on his ability to pen works that echo the stories of each Filipino.

“Galing sa pusong Pilipino yung kanyang stories. Naiintindihan ng pusong Pilipino siyempre puso niya. They can relate sa halos lahat if not all. I cannot think of a story nagawa na hindi maganda ending. Gusto niya may lesson ka na pupulutin after the story,” he said. 

“He would be 110 now. Nagsimula siya magsulat he was 30 years old. Yung tagal na yun and yet naiisip pa din ng mga tao Mars Ravelo up to now. It is amazing na his influence still reverberates,” he added.

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This rare glimpse into the beginning of the career that changed  the Filipino Komiks industry can be seen at the Art Corridor in San Pablo, Laguna, where select panels from the works Ravelo drew before 1950s will be exhibited from Oct. 14 to Nov. 13.

“Para siyang time capsule… Ito yung hindi gaano nakikita ng public. Ito nagstart pa lang, nag-e-experiment pa lang siya, ng stories. Para sa akin, makita mo aside from great illustrator, magaling siya na writer,” Ravelo’s Gino Dela Cruz grandson said.

The exhibit showcasing Ravelo’s creative journey will also allow visitors to learn more about his character beyond being a famed artist. 

“Ric was actually based on himself parang [alter-ego niya]. He was kind if nerdy kasi kaya this is how he imagined he would be,” Maisha said. 

“In the picture you can see him when he was younger.  Tinali niya na lang panyo niya para maging tie kasi mahirap lang siya para makasama lang sa photo,” she said. 

Rex believes the Komiks his father inked also reflected his own journey — one that was filled with challenges and hope.

“He considered himself a street child… He was poor. But he performed well despite the odds. Inspiration siya na you can do it matter what. You have to realize he had a lot of struggles. Hindi siya yung maliit. Halos wala tayo industry noon. So that struggle, the struggle to get known, the struggle to feed his family since it was after the war, that struggle nakikita sa early works,” he said.

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Known as the “King of Philippine Komiks”, Ravelo produced over 300 titles that featured timeless characters including Darna, Captain Barbell, Lastikman, and Dyesebel, among others.