Clodualdo del Mundo Sr.
Clodualdo del Mundo Sr. (11 September 1911 – 5 October 1977) was a Filipino novelist, playwright, essayist, short story writer, journalist, screenwriter, teacher, critic. Many comics fans know him as the prolific writer of komiks (Philippine comics) through Liwayway and Ace Publications. He was also one of the most ardent supporters of the Filipino language (Pilipino), the national language of the Philippines and worked tirelessly for its promotion as a literary language. Beginnings. Clodualdo del Mundo was born in Santa Cruz, Manila. His parents were Mariano del Mundo, a sculptor from Bocaue, Bulacan; and Remigia Legaspi of  Sampaloc, Manila. A graduate of Mapa High School, del Mundo obtained a degree in Associate in Arts from Far Eastern College (now Far Eastern University), and a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the National Teachers' College. Del Mundo spent a few years studying law at the Philippine Law School, and fine arts at the University of the Philippines. Literature. Del Mundo was at the forefront of literary organizations. In 1936, he co-founded and became president of "Panitikan", an avant-garde group of college writers in Tagalog. He also became president of "Ilaw ng Bayan" in 1937, and  a member of "Ilaw at Panitik" in 1938. He provided an active voice in the name of the national language when he became a member of "Taliba ng Inang Wika" (TANIW) in 1955, and its president from 1967 to 1972. His name was associated with various magazines as associate editor, managing editor or editor. Among these magazines were "Alitaptap", "Orient Digest", "Nautilus", "Halakhak", "Mabuhay", "Aliwan", "Paru-Paro", "Daigdig" and "Liwayway". Del Mundo continued to write literary pieces. During his later years at "Liwayway", he focused his work on the "tanaga", a form of Pilipino poem, with four verses and seven  syllables for each verse. A small space in "Liwayway" was reserved for del Mundo's "Makabagong Tanaga", and he produced a total of 283 of these short poems. He was editorial director of "Liwayway" when he died on October 5, 1977. His life as a writer was a constant struggle between literary writing and popular writing for the mass media, particularly radio and komiks. Radio. In radio, del Mundo is most remembered for his "Prinsipe Amante", which was aired from 1949 to 1953. Rooted in folklore and the comedy, it was made into a film by Lamberto Avellana becoming a  box-office success. It also inspired comics adaptations by Malang Santos and Alfredo Alcala. Del Mundo wrote countless other plays on radio, including biblical plays during Lenten seasons. Films. He works were also the basis of a great number of films particularly in the 1950s and the 1960s in which he was credited as writer and as screenwriter. He is well-respected figure in the Filipino film industry and has garnered amount of critical acclaim for his body of work. Komiks. In komiks, del Mundo is remembered as one of the prolific writers during the Golden Years of komiks in  the Philippines with the entry of Ace Publications in 1947 and the publication of "Pilipino Komiks". Through the 1950s, Ace Publications komiks – "Pilipino", "Hiwaga", "Espesyal" and "Tagalog Klasiks" enjoyed huge popularity. Clodualdo del Mundo was the most prolific (other notables being Mars Ravelo, Pablo S. Gomez, and Francisco V. Coching). Leading illustrators at that time were Francisco V. Coching, Nestor Redondo, Alfredo Alcala and Fred Carrillo. Most of the komiks stories by Clodualdo del Mundo were illustrated by Fred Carrillo. This long collaboration produced many memorable works – from social drama, like "Malvarosa" and "Kadenang Putik"; to costume drama, like "Kapitan  Bagwis" and "Pitong Sagisag"; to action stories like "Ripleng de Rapido", "Paltik", "Asintado"; and to science-fiction like "Tuko sa Madre Kakaw" and "Zarex". For about two decades, del Mundo provided a rich resource of stories for movie producers. Many of his stories were produced by LVN and Premiere Productions. In 1960, "Kadenang Putik", produced by Premiere, was awarded the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences FAMAS Awards trophy for best story. Also noteworthy among del Mundo's works in komiks medium was his adaptation of Jose Rizal's "Noli Me Tangere". During the height of the popularity of  komiks-magazines, del Mundo and his colleagues formed an organization to oversee the komiks industry and to underscore the responsibility of this mass medium. In 1956, the APEPCOM (Association of Publishers and Editors of Philippine Comics Magazines) was formed. In the 1960s, del Mundo served as its president. Also known as Clod del Mundo, he is the father of the Filipino university professor, film director, producer and screenwriter Clodualdo del Mundo Jr. and the father to actor/model Jesus 'Jet' del Mundo, who starred as "Israel" in the 1965 film "Ang Daigdig Ng Mga Api," which won the 1965 FAMAS  Awards trophy for Best Picture.