Dennis Gasgonia

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Carlos Trazo

ABS-CBN News

The Metropolitan Theater has opened its doors to a landmark exhibition celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of National Artist for Visual Arts Lauro “Larry” Alcala, widely regarded as the father of Philippine cartooning.The exhibit, titled “Return to the Popular: Drawing the Filipino Imagination,” showcases Alcala’s iconic works such as Slice of Life, Kalabog en Bosyo, and Siopawman, which captured the humor, quirks, and everyday realities of Filipino life.National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Deputy Executive Director for Operations Bernan Joseph R. Corpuz, who delivered the opening remarks, said the centennial celebration was more than a tribute to Alcala’s artistry.“This is about reaffirming the place of cartooning in our cultural life. Alcala’s work reminds us that even the ordinary can be transformed into something extraordinary,” Corpuz noted.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2026/8/25/larry-alcala-s-100th-birthday-celebrated-through-exhibit-workshops-1626">Larry Alcala&#x27;s 100th birthday celebrated through exhibit, workshops</a></div>Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Vice President and Artistic Director Dennis N. Marasigan echoed the sentiment, emphasizing Alcala’s influence on generations of artists.“Larry Alcala showed us that cartooning is not just entertainment—it is a mirror of society,” Marasigan said. Representatives from cultural groups and creative collectives, including Koleen Lopez of Tony&amp;, Franc Mangahas of Lennon Group, and Briggs Abrigo of World Wide Womb, joined the opening ceremony.Ana Alcala, speaking on behalf of the Alcala Estate, highlighted the personal dimension of the celebration.“We honor not only his art but his role as an educator and mentor. He helped shape the Visual Communication program at UP, ensuring that future artists would carry forward his vision,” she said.At the heart of the exhibition is an interactive installation titled “Drawing the Line: The Nation Draws Back.” Visitors are invited to respond to prompts such as “Draw Hope” and “Draw Justice,” turning spectators into participants and extending Alcala’s legacy into contemporary dialogue.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/05/15/21/filipino-cartoonist-marks-international-day-of-families-with-depictions-of-reunions">Filipino cartoonist marks International Day of Families with depictions of reunions </a> </div>Curator Jose Santos “Sir Chong” Ardivilla, PhD, explained that the exhibit was designed not as a retrospective but as a living argument for the relevance of cartooning today.“We wanted to situate Alcala’s work within a continuum—from print culture and popular entertainment to today’s graphic novels and digital media,” Ardivilla said.The centennial program, dubbed Larry Alcala 100 Years, will continue throughout the year with exhibitions, collaborations, publications, and community initiatives.The exhibition runs from August 19 to September 19, 2026 at the Metropolitan Theater Gallery 2.

The Metropolitan Theater has opened its doors to a landmark exhibition celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of National Artist for Visual Arts Lauro “Larry” Alcala, widely regarded as the father of Philippine cartooning.

The Metropolitan Theater has opened its doors to a landmark exhibition celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of National Artist for Visual Arts Lauro “Larry” Alcala, widely regarded as the father of Philippine cartooning.

Centennial tribute to Larry Alcala opens at Metropolitan Theater

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Centennial tribute to Larry Alcala opens at Metropolitan Theater

Carlos Trazo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 29, 2026 09:40 PM PHT

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Larry Alcala

centennial tribute

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