Finding Larry Alcala in the crowd: Exhibits celebrate the cartoonist and National Artist’s birth centenary

The nation marks the birth centenary of National Artist for Visual Arts Lauro “Larry” Alcala in 2026, celebrating one of the Philippines’ most prolific, recognizable and beloved cartoonists.

A glimpse into his life and body of work was offered through Slices of a Komikero’s Life, together with the companion exhibition Larry Alcala 100 Years × 100 Komikeros. Presented by the Philippine International Comics Festival (PICOF) 2026 and the Larry Alcala Estate, the exhibitions ran from 3 to 12 July at Ayala Malls The 30th in Pasig City.

The exhibitions were a special feature of PICOF, which was held at the same venue from 10 to 12 July, and formed part of the year-long centennial celebration guided by the theme “Creativity Is for Everyone.”

Born on 18 August 1926, in Daraga, Albay, Alcala grew up in Manila and began creating comics in his teenage years. While studying Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines, he debuted Islaw Palitaw in 1946, followed by Kalabog en Bosyo in 1947.

He went on to create iconic comic strips and characters such as Tipin, Mang Ambo, Congressman Kalog, Siopawman and Asiong Aksaya. Alcala was also a pioneer of Philippine animation and produced animated television commercials.

His most enduring creation, Slice of Life, humorously and affectionately chronicled everyday Filipino life and culture. Through crowded street scenes, family gatherings, fiestas, public transportation and other familiar settings, Alcala captured the rhythms, eccentricities and communal spirit of Filipino society with wit and extraordinary attention to detail.

During his lifetime, Alcala created more than 500 characters and 20 comic strips that became deeply embedded in Filipino popular culture, particularly during the second half of the 20th century. In 1997, the Philippine Board on Books for Young People honored him as the “Dean of Filipino Cartoonists.” In 2018, he was posthumously conferred the Order of National Artist, the country’s highest distinction for Filipino artists.

“Alcala did not merely create cartoons; he helped create the conditions through which Filipino cartooning could flourish. Events such as this one owe much to the generations of artists, editors, teachers and advocates who believed that comics and cartoons deserved serious attention as forms of cultural expression,” wrote cartoonist and professor Jose Santos “Chong” P. Ardivilla in his exhibition note, “The Continuing Relevance of Larry Alcala’s Art.”

Ardivilla further wrote: “At a time when the press and publication industries continue to face profound challenges, Alcala’s work offers an essential reminder of what first drew many of us to comics and cartooning: the love of drawing and storytelling. Yet love alone is not enough. Alcala’s career stands as a testament to the labor required to sustain a creative practice over decades — the commitment to observe carefully, think critically, draw relentlessly and continually improve one’s craft. These values remain as relevant today as they were when Alcala first put pen to paper.”

Slices of a Komikero’s Life displayed selected reproductions of Alcala’s works, providing visitors with an introduction to his artistic journey and lasting contribution to Philippine visual culture.

Meanwhile, Larry Alcala 100 Years × 100 Komikeros gathered 100 Filipino comics creators, each presenting an original interpretation of Alcala’s familiar self-portrait icon. Together, their works demonstrated how Alcala’s influence continues to resonate among succeeding generations of artists.

More than a commemoration of an individual artist, the exhibitions affirmed the enduring place of comics and cartoons in Philippine cultural life. A century after Alcala’s birth, his images remain instantly recognizable, his humor continues to delight, and his attentive portrayals of ordinary Filipinos still invite viewers to find themselves within the teeming scenes of everyday life.