Neri, Jovi :: Larry Alcala

Mang Ambo (1968) by Larry Alcala

Artists: Larry Alcala (Penciller) , Larry Alcala (Inker)

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Mang Ambo (1968) by Larry Alcala Comic Art

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Slice Of Life Instant Bistros (1987) by Larry Alcala

Artwork Details

Title:	Mang Ambo (1968) by Larry Alcala
Artist:	Larry Alcala (Penciller)
Artist:	Larry Alcala (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	8,476
Likes on CAF:	0 1
Comments:	1
Added to Site:	12/20/2018
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Ever since Larry Alcala was named National Artist, it has been harder to find his works for sale in the open market - especially his "Slice Of Life" masterpieces. I'm already fortunate enough to have one but acquiring another is almost impossible. Enter this Mang Ambo piece.

Mang Ambo was first published in 1960 in a weekly magazine. It is the first strip of Mr. Alcala that was compiled into a book and two more were added. The foreword in the first book explained why. Although Alcala had many published works, Mang Ambo is the only one where the publisher returned the original art and which still remains in the family's possession to this day.

It was for that reason why I encountered some bumps in trying to get the authentication for this piece from Alcala's family because they believed all the Mang Ambo pieces to be with the family. However, upon checking on the provenance and the linework, it was deemed authentic. This piece was in most likelihood a gift by Alcala to either his close friend or his godson, who has since moved it to the hands of a couple of other collectors before finally coming here.

I also ended up buying the three books which were published in the 1980's and 1990's, and were reprinted many times. I was surprised to find out that the strip was in English. It was definitely a treat to me since Tagalog is not my first language. Mang Ambo is a great personification of the Filipino and the strips are funny and addicting to read! What I have is one of the few ones without dialogue, where the action just speaks for itself.

For the non-Filipinos who don't understand the humor here, Filipinos in the rural areas did not have service water and had to walk far to get them and store them in jars. In this cartoon, Mang Ambo finds his jar empty but he really needs a bath. So he grabs his guitar, and serenades his next door neighbor in an annoying broken tune, that forces the neighbors to douse him with water. Mission accomplished for Mang Ambo!

This is quite a nice piece and perhaps the only Mang Ambo piece out in the wild. It may not be Slice Of Life but the story behind this is quite interesting and makes this a definite keeper!

*** UPDATE 07/24/2022 ***

I found a copy of the printed page, so it turns out this piece was published in page 61 of a newspaper magazine dated May 6, 1968. I uploaded a copy of the said page.

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About the Owner

	Jovi Neri Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	April 2011
Last Login:	September 2025
Website:	http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=66134
Country:	PHILIPPINES
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kent mansley
Member Since 2015

Posted on 12/20/2018

Very nice! Love Alcala's work and this is a great representation of the strip. Congrats!

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