Francisco V. Coching: National Artist

Francisco V. Coching was named National Artist for Visual Arts this year, joining other brilliant names in literature, architecture, dance, cinema, among others. But it was not only as illustrator did Coching excel. He was also a novelist in the field of popular or komiks literature, which he combined with his illustrations.

Coching won fame as creator of Hagibis, Pedro Penduko, Barbaro, El Indio, Dumagit, Palasig, Ang Maton, Talipandas, Waldas, Taga sa Bato, El Vibora, Haring Ulupong, Bertong Balutan, Bulalakaw, Maldita, Don Cobarde, Marabini, Pistolero, Satur.

Most of his works, which came out in Liwayway and Pilipino Komiks in the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s, were made into movies.

He was married to Filomena Navales with whom he had five children, two of whom are portrait artists, Maridel and Lulu.

Coching apprenticed with Tony Velasquez and influenced Nestor Redondo, Larry Alcala, Emil Quizon Cruz and Emil Rodriguez.

His works, according to A.G. Guillermo and R. Javellana (CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art), ‘had strong narrative flow, brimming with drama, and punctuated by actions and suspense.’

It was noted that his male characters had ‘handsome mestizo or Malay looks, with curly and rippling muscles. The female leads are beautiful, graceful of build, and usually with long curly tresses. It is a style that gives life to the myths and legends of yore and to fantasies of love and adventure.’

While already proclaimed National Artists, Coching and fellow awardees (both posthumous and alive) have yet to receive formally their medallions and plaques from President Aquino.  They are Manuel Conde, Federico Alcuaz, Lazaro Francisco, Ramon Santos, Alice Reyes, Cirilo Bautista, Jose Maria Zaragoza and Francisco Feliciano. — RKC