The Cultural Center of the Philippines marks the 100th birthday of National Artist Lauro “Larry” Alcala. The agency launches a month-long exhibit on August 19, 2026.
The event takes place at Gallery 2 of the Metropolitan Theater in Manila City. It is titled “Return to the Popular: Drawing the Filipino Imagination.”
Co-organizers include the Larry Alcala Estate and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. The Filipino Heritage Festival Inc. and the Metropolitan Museum of Manila also helped organize the event.
The exhibit features reproductions of his Slice of Life comic illustrations. It also displays original works and memorabilia. Works from members of the Samahang Kartunista ng Pilipinas are part of the display.
Dr. Jose Santos “Chong” Ardivilla curated the exhibit. The display elaborates on how National Artist Alcala captured familiar moments in Filipino life. He transformed those moments into humorous stories where people could see themselves.
The exhibit showcases the late cartoonist’s timeless creativity. It provides an opportunity to share his socio-political observations with a new generation. This group includes Filipino artists, comic readers, and enthusiasts.
The showcase invites the audience to delve into a specific spirit. It highlights imagination and a poignant appreciation for the mundane that ignited Alcala’s legacy.
People knew him as Mang Larry. The National Artist became a household name in Philippine cartooning. He documented people, their habits, and the surrounding experiences.
His notable works include the comic strips Kalabog en Bosyo, Siopawman, and Mang Ambo. He also created the weekly cartoon series Slice of Life.
These works established his legacy in Philippine popular culture. Kalabog en Bosyo later earned the title of the longest-running comic strip made by a Filipino.
Mang Larry also contributed to education and visual communication. He served as a professor at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts. He shared his knowledge and experience with aspiring young artists.
He introduced the country’s first college degree course in commercial design. Through teaching, mentoring, and his own practice, he encouraged younger artists. He promoted cartooning as both a profession and a way of communicating ideas.
Peers recognized him as the “Dean of Filipino Cartoonists.”
The exhibit honors Mang Larry’s lifelong pursuit of knowledge. Organizers scheduled a series of workshops for the public. The University of the Philippines Department of Visual Communication and Samahang Kartunista ng Pilipinas partnered for this project.
Five cartooning workshops will run from August to November 2026. The sessions are open to children aged eight to 10 years old.
Illustrators Ardie Aquino, Giodesk Guiao, and Amiel A. Rufo will lead a session on August 29. They will expound on character design, comic strips, and basic cartooning.
Comic artists Boboy Yonzon, Barry Jose, and Mike Yonzon will lead the next session on September 5. They will discuss the complexity of expressing thoughts through cartoons.
Both workshops are slated at Gallery 3 of the Metropolitan Theater.
More sessions will happen at the Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez. Comic artist Crown Dolot will elaborate on the essence of life and form on September 22. Illustrator Sebastian Cacho will explain cardboard characters on October 17. Artist Melvin Calingo will spotlight moving images on November 21.
Interested individuals can sign up for the Larry Alcala Workshop Series at CCP via an online link. All workshops are free of charge. Organizers will provide materials to the participants.
Registration for the Larry Alcala Workshop Series at the Met will be available on the official NCCA Facebook page.
Many groups collaborated for this centennial celebration. Partners include the CCP, NCCA, FHFI, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, and the Larry Alcala Family. UP Fine Arts, Lennon Group, Worldwide Womb, Tony &, and Hala! Media also joined.
The partners present Alcala’s centennial celebration this year. The event commemorates his depiction of Filipinos’ collective experience.
For more information, the public can follow official social media pages. These include accounts for the CCP, NCCA, Official Larry Alcala, and Lennon Group.