Filipino Cartoonist Larry Alcala Continues To Draw Us In

Icon of the Philippine cartooning, Larry Alcala’s 100th birthday is celebrated through a month-long exhibit honoring his enduring legacy. His works continue to capture the humor, observations, and everyday experiences of Filipino life.

Words Niña Marrize Olaso
Photos courtesy of The Metropolitan Theater
September 9, 2026

For generations of Filipinos, Lauro “Larry” Alcala’s cartoons have been more than drawings on a page. Encapsulating familiar situations and humor rooted in Filipino life, he has become an icon of Philippine cartooning by making ordinary experiences extraordinary. 

A century after his birth, the late national artist’s 100th birthday is celebrated with a month-long exhibit, “Return to the Popular: Drawing the Filipino Imagination,” curated by Dr. Jose Santos “Chong” Ardivillia, at Gallery 2 of The Metropolitan Theater in Manila City.

Known as the “Dean of Filipino Cartoonists,” Alcala has expanded his knowledge with aspiring artists through education and visual communication as a professor at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, where the degree in commercial design was first introduced in the country.

Among his notable works were comic strips Kalabog en Bosyo, which is recognized as the longest-running comic strip by a Filipino, Siopawman, and Mang Ambo, alongside his weekly series Slice of Life, which Samahang Kartunista ng Pilipinas members will feature reproductions of its illustrations, original works, and memorabilia. 

More than a retrospective, the exhibit brings attention to the late cartoonist’s socio-political observations, which aim to spark inspiration in the new generation of Filipino artists and comic enthusiasts. 

His influence extends to a series of 5 cartooning workshops in partnership with the University of the Philippines’ Department of Visual Communication and Samahang Kartunista ng Pilipinas from August to November 2026 at Gallery 3 of The Metropolitan Theater. 

The session explores a wide range of approaches to visual storytelling, beginning on August 29 with character design, comic strips, and basic cartooning, and welcomes children aged 8 to 10 years old. 

The series continues on September 5 with a discussion on navigating the complexity of expressing thoughts through cartoons. Participants can also explore the essence of life and form on September 22, cardboard characters on October 17, and delve into moving images on November 21. 

A century after his birth, Alcala’s legacy lives not only in the cartoons he made, but also by those who lived, laughed, and continued to find themselves through his art.