Darna, Dyesebel creators cited

Pioneers of Philippine comics took center stage at Malacañang yesterday as they were presented with the Presidential Medal of Merit.

Six medals of merit were handed out by President Arroyo, four of which were awarded posthumously.

Antonio Velasquez, creator of the popular comic strip character Kenkoy, was recognized as the father of the Philippine "komiks" industry.

Darna, Dyesebel, Captain Barbell and other "Pinoy superheroes" now icons in Filipino popular culture were created by Mars Ravelo.

Pioneer Filipino cartoonist Larry Alcala created Kalabog en Bosyo and Spice of Life, which became a staple for generations of Filipino newspaper comics readers, who tried to find Alcala’s face hidden within the artwork.

Francisco Coching created "Pedro Penduko" and 51 other komiks novels – now called graphic novels – and pioneered the "katha ng guhit sa komiks (art of drawing comics)."

Film director Carlo J. Caparas was the creator and author of more than 800 Pinoy komiks novels, including the Panday, Andres de Saya and Bakekang sagas.

Don Emilio Yap, publisher of the Manila Bulletin, was honored for carrying the Pinoy komiks themes in his Liwayway, Banawag, Ilokano, Bisaya and Hiligaynon magazines since 1924.

The names of the six were recommended by Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino Commissioner Jose Lad Santos, saying they paved the way for the propagation and proliferation of modern Filipino comics.

National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Executive Director Cecile Guidote Alvarez endorsed the recommendation to the President.

The awarding of the "Legends of Philippine Komiks" was done during simple ceremonies at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang.

In his "collective responseî to the honor bestowed upon them, Caparas thanked the President for being ìthe only sitting President who has recognized the invaluable contribution of Filipino cartoonists and novelists in shaping the consciousness of the Filipino people."

Also awarded Medals of Merit yesterday were last year’s winners of the Mr. and Ms. Universe Body Building Championships in Germany, Francisco Borlain and Crishiela Abantao.

Five-year-old Daniel Junio, who made the headlines by being the youngest swimmer to ever cross the Mactan channel in Cebu, was also presented to the President.

Meanwhile, the President witnessed the formal signing of the agreement for the Philippines to host the 2007 World Pool Championship.

The agreement was signed between Harvey Davis, director of ESPN Star Sports and Yen Makabenta, Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines chairman and Raya Sports president.

According to Makabenta, the decision to host the event for the second consecutive year was due to the insistent demand from Filipino cue fans who want to see more of world class players at the Philippine International Convention Center.