THE FIFTIES # 174: CESAR RAMIREZ, NENA CARDENAS, VAN DE LEON, WITH TITA MUNOZ, BOY ALANO, TONY CAYADO, MYRNA DELGADOIN F.V. COCHING'S "EL INDIO" (1953): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

El Indio (1953)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date May 20, 1953/ Life Theater

 Direction Enrique Moreno

Cast Cesar Ramirez, Nena Cardenas, Van de Leon, Tita Munoz, Boy Alano, Tony Cayado and Myrna Delgado /with Bert Olivar, Martin Marfil, Totoy Torrente, Eddie Garcia, Olive dela Torre, Conrado Conde, Ely Nakpil

Francisco V. Coching’s El Indio, serialized in Pilipino Komiks in 1952-53, is an adventure komiks novel which tells the story of Fernando, a handsome and dashing colored Spanish mestizo who went back to the Philippines to exact revenge on his father whom he believed abandoned him and his mother Blanquita. There, he discovered the cruel and oppressive colonial government, and joined the rebels in the fight against the oppressors as El Indio. El Indio is the sequel to Coching’s earlier series entitled Barbaro, and is one of most popular series in Philippine komiks history. (Komiklopedia)

El Indio was adapted into the big screen in 1953. Sampaguita Pictures was able to secure the movie right of the novel and signed up Cesar Ramirez to play the role of Fernando or El Indio. The movie also starred Nena Cardenas, Van de Leon, Tita Munoz, Boy Alano under Enrique Moreno direction. The movie had its grand opening at Life theater, May 20, 1953.

El Indio covers courtesy of Gerry Alanguilan

Comic book artist and writer Gerry Alanguilan, creator of Wasted and Elmer and a big fan of Francisco V. Coching, is in the forefront of digitally restoring Coching’s classic 50s komiks serial novel El Indio. For the past several years, Gerry, in between deadlines, was able to scan the original comic book pages and meticulously restored each page. He hopefully to see this on print next year.
http://gerry.alanguilan.com/archives/724

Click images to enlarge

THE FIFTIES # 667: PANCHO MAGALONA, TITA DURAN, TESSIE MARTINEZ, WITH BERT OLIVAR, TONY CAYADO, JOSE DE VILLA, CHICHAY, PEDRO FAUSTINO, TOTOY TORRENTE, MARTIN MARFIL IN FRANCISCO V. COCHING'S "BARBARO" (1952)/ KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ UPDATED

  Barbaro is an adventure komiks novel about Sabas, a man who was driven by cruelty and oppression to become the sworn enemy of the colonial government. Barbaro was Coching’s first epic tackling the theme of Filipinos revolting against their Spanish colonial masters and it became one of his most popular works. The komiks serial spawned a sequel entitled El Indio featuring Sabas’ son. (Komiklopedia)

It was adapted into the movies in 1952 and emerged as one of the top ten box-office hits that year. Playing Barbaro was Pancho Magalona with reel-and-real partner Tita Duran as his love interest. The movie was directed by Enrique Moreno, later to be known as Eddie Romero.

"Barbaro" (1952)

Sampaguita Pictures

Release Date January 25- February 4, 1952/ Life

Serialized in Pilipino Komiks

Story Francisco V. Coching

Direction Enrique Moreno (or Eddie Romero)

Cast Pancho Magalona, Tita Duran, Tessie Martinez/ Also Starring Bert Olivar, Tony Cayado, Jose de Villa, Chichay, Pedro Faustino, Totoy Torrente, Martin Marfil/ Guest- Olive La Torre

"Ang Barbaro" 

Katha't Guhit ni Francisco V. Coching

Inilathala sa Pilipino Komiks/ 1951

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THE SIXTIES # 244: AMALIA FUENTES, SUSAN ROCES, TITO GALLA, GREG MARTIN, TONY MARZAN IN PABLO S. GOMEZ' "TULISAN" (1962): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ Re-updated

Tulisan (1962)

Sampaguita Pictures, Inc.

Release Date July 3- 12, 1962/ Life

Story Pablo S. Gomez

Serialized in Hiwaga Komiks

Screenplay Emmanuel Borlaza

Music Dick Zamora

Direction Jose de Villa

Cast Amalia Fuentes, Susan Roces, Tito Galla, Greg Martin, Tony Marzan/ Co-starring Zeny Zabala, Ely Roque, Pablo Guevarra, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia, Ray Marcos, Jaime Javier/ with Ven Medina, Aring Bautista, Isa Rino, Matimtiman Cruz

Susan Roces as Roberta, the other twin sister faces Amalia Fuentes as Fernanda in the final confrontation 

Susan Roces in a dual role, here as Senyang 

Susan Roces in a dual role, as Senyang (left) and Roberta (right)

Based from the story by prolific writer Pablo S. Gomez and serialized in Hiwaga Komiks, Tulisan was adapted into the silver screen by Sampaguita Pictures in 1961. Dubbed as "the nation's most explosive stars, breathlessly awaited by millions, in the most electrifying clash of the year." The studio's big guns Amalia Fuentes and Susan Roces in one of their earlier screen appearances together as major stars.

"Tulisan"

Nobela ni Pablo S. Gomez

Guhit ni Nestor Redondo

Inilathala sa Hiwaga Komiks

Ika-6-na labas

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---ika-8 na labas---

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THE SIXTIES # 114: FERNANDO POE, JR., AMADO CORTEZ, EDDIE RODRIGUEZ, CECILA LOPEZ, LYN D'AMOUR, GLORIA SEVILLA IN VIRGILIO REDONDO'S "TATLONG BARAHA" (1961)/ Re-posted

"Tatlong Baraha" (1961)

Hollywood- Far East Productions, Inc.

Release Date April 11, 1961/ Center

Story Virgilio Redondo

Serialized in Espesyal Komiks

Screenplay Artemio Marquez

Music Tito Arevalo

Direction Fely Crisostomo

Cast Fernando Poe, Jr., Amado Cortez, Eddie Rodriguez, Cecilia Lopez, Lyn D'Amour, Gloria Sevilla, Joe Sison, Fred Panopio, Flor Bien/ Guest artists: Mario Barri, Oscar Keesee

Tatlong Baraha tells of three friends known for their individual expertise in different kinds of weapons (gun, knife and bullwhip) who parted ways because of differences. Who will win in the end? Writer-illustrator Virgilio Redondo, creator of Palos and Gagamba, was able to keep his readers in suspense during its serial run in Espesyal Komiks in 1961. The komiks serial novel was eventually adapted into movies by Hollywood FarEast Production, the same outfit that made FPJ a box-office action star in Markado in 1960. FPJ played the role of Orlando, the knife wielder, Amado Cortez as Merlin Mendez, the fast drawing gunslinger and Eddie Rodriguez as bullwhip-lashing Roldan Mojica.

---to read, click images to enlarge---

"Tatlong Baraha"
Story by Virgilio Redondo
Serialized in Espesyal Komiks/ 1961

THE SIXTIES # 111: ZALDY ZSHORNACK, LAURO DELGADO, CAROL VARGA AND MINA ARAGON IN MARS RAVELO'S "I BELIEVE" (1961): KOMIKS SERIAL AND MOVIE ADAPTATION/ RE-UPDATED

"I Believe" (1961)

People's Pictures, Inc.

Release Date March 30, 1961/ Life

Story Mars Ravelo

Serialized in Hiwaga Komiks

Music Tony Maiquez

Direction Cesar Gallardo

Cast Zaldy Zshornack, Mina Aragon, Lauro Delgado, Carol Varga, Oscar Keesee, Teroy de Guzman, Renato Robles, Mary Walter, Benny Mack, Vic Andaya, Africa de la Rosa, Lucita Soriano

Literary Song-Movie Magazine

February 28, 1961

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Lead star Mina Aragon with Dad, Lou Salvador, Sr.

The angelic face of Viring was beautifully executed by talented artist and illustrator Elpidio Torres.

Himala (1980)- Stars Nora Aunor and a cast of thousands/ Directed by Ishmael Bernal

When I saw Ishmael Bernal's Himala the first time in 1980, I was reminded of the 1960 movie I Believe. Both movies focused on the issues of one's true faith and devotion, their beliefs, infidelity, faithfullness, unfaithfullness... It involved all kinds of people, different characters--- the saints and the sinners, the believers and non-believers... 

There's a strong similarity between the two main characters --- visionaries Elsa in Himala and Viring in I Believe--- both had visions of the Virgin Mary and subsequently their ability to cure and heal the sick.

I Believe was based from the popular 1961 komiks-serial novel by Mars Ravelo which was serialized in Hiwaga komiks. It was adapted into the movie that year with Zaldy Zshornack and newcomer Mina Aragon. Aragon (of the Salvador clan) was introduced in the movie portraying the challenging role of Viring.

I Believe- Serialized in Hiwaga Komiks/
Story by Mars Ravelo/ Artwork by Elpidio Torres/ 1961

click images to enlarge

click images to enlarge