This blog brings back the nostalgic moment of Philippine’s Golden Age Comics. Looking back at the rich history of the Filipino comics tradition, this blog contains complete segment of “Unang Labas”.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Lahing Kayumanggi
Lahing Kayumanggi by Trinidad Alvarez Illustrated by Rody Arubang Aksiyon Komiks September 22 1962 No.1
The story has a very inspiring theme and it would have been ideal if it reflected the reality of what took place during the Second World War.
Unfortunately, we know that history was rather unkind to tell us what really happened.
In a documentary called The World At War (composed of several segments), the Philippine-American-Japanese conflict didn't end the way Trinidad Alvarez wished in his story (I'm sure she did it to show the readers how it would have been, if our compatriots have united during the war). Unfortunately, film clips from the actual war in the documentary, showed how the Filipinos beat up the Makapilis along Avenida Rizal after the war. It was horrific. I couldn't believe my eyes watching the mayhem. One Makapili was literally hit so violently with a HAMMER in the back of his head while he was crossing Avenida Rizal. Another was hit with a baseball bat, and another were kicked and beaten on the sidewalk. Apparently, many were killed this way by our kababayans who were so angry with the Japanese Imperial Army and the Filipinos who sided with them during the war. I still cringe every time I'd remember these horrific scenes.
We all wished that the lesson of the Second World War was enough for Filipinos to unite. Sad to say, many of our compatriots seem not to remember anymore how divisiveness have placed our country in chaos.
All we can do is imagine a wonderful ending, like what this komiks story by Ms. Alvarez did for us.
JM, Steve, Really. I just wish there were some semblance of research on both the storyteller and illustrator. It's pure action fiction of course, designed to fill up pages for an action komiks. Even the town doesn't sound real. The Thompson illustration is wrong too, where's the grip and trigger, in the cover illustration, the soldier is holding the gun on the magazine, he'll never be able to fire shots that way. And lastly, each frame has been copied from Coching.
Hi Steve:
ReplyDeleteThe story has a very inspiring theme and it would have been ideal if it reflected the reality of what took place during the Second World War.
Unfortunately, we know that history was rather unkind to tell us what really happened.
In a documentary called The World At War (composed of several segments), the Philippine-American-Japanese conflict didn't end the way Trinidad Alvarez wished in his story (I'm sure she did it to show the readers how it would have been, if our compatriots have united during the war). Unfortunately, film clips from the actual war in the documentary, showed how the Filipinos beat up the Makapilis along Avenida Rizal after the war. It was horrific. I couldn't believe my eyes watching the mayhem. One Makapili was literally hit so violently with a HAMMER in the back of his head while he was crossing Avenida Rizal. Another was hit with a baseball bat, and another were kicked and beaten on the sidewalk. Apparently, many were killed this way by our kababayans who were so angry with the Japanese Imperial Army and the Filipinos who sided with them during the war. I still cringe every time I'd remember these horrific scenes.
We all wished that the lesson of the Second World War was enough for Filipinos to unite. Sad to say, many of our compatriots seem not to remember anymore how divisiveness have placed our country in chaos.
All we can do is imagine a wonderful ending, like what this komiks story by Ms. Alvarez did for us.
Thank you for posting this inspiring piece.
JM, Steve,
ReplyDeleteReally. I just wish there were some semblance of research on both the storyteller and illustrator. It's pure action fiction of course, designed to fill up pages for an action komiks. Even the town doesn't sound real. The Thompson illustration is wrong too, where's the grip and trigger, in the cover illustration, the soldier is holding the gun on the magazine, he'll never be able to fire shots that way. And lastly, each frame has been copied from Coching.
Thank you
ReplyDelete