Clodualdo del Mundo Sr.


Clodualdo del Mundo Sr. was a Filipino novelist, playwright, essayist, short story writer, journalist, screenwriter, teacher, critic. Many comics fans know him as the prolific writer of komiks through Liwayway and Ace Publications.
He was also one of the most ardent supporters of the Filipino language, 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, 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" 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.
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 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.

Works

  • 1947: Ali Mudin
  • 1948: Prinsipe Paris
  • 1948-1949: Prinsipe Adonis
  • 1949: Mahiwagang Kastilyo
  • 1949: Ang Ulilang Anghel
  • 1949: Prinsesa Basahan
  • 1949: Prinsipe Binggo
  • 1950: Buhay ng mga Poon
  • 1950-1951: Prinsipe Amante
  • 1950-1951: Birtud
  • 1950-1951: Kapitan Bagwis
  • 1951: Kerubin
  • 1952: Texas
  • 1952: Munting Koronel
  • 1952: Babaing Mandirigma
  • 1952: Quo Vadis
  • 1952-1953: Diluvio
  • 1952-1953: Hercules
  • 1952-1953: Solitaryo
  • 1953: Paladin
  • 1953-1954: Binibining Pirata
  • 1953-1954: Damong Ligaw
  • 1954: Nagkita si Kerubin at si Tulisang Pugot
  • 1954-1955: Eskrimador
  • 1954-1955: Paltik
  • 1954-1955: Salamangkero
  • 1954-1956: Everlasting
  • 1955-1956: Senyorita de Kampanilya
  • 1956-1957: Conde de Amor
  • 1956-1957: Haring Espada
  • 1956-1957: Kamay ni Cain
  • 1956-1957: Kayumangging Krisantemo
  • 1957-1958: Zarex
  • 1957-1958: Malvarosa
  • 1958: Tuko sa Madre Kakaw
  • 1958-1959: Asintado
  • 1958-1959: Binhi ng Puso
  • 1959: Apat na Anino
  • 1959: Nakausap Ko ang Diyos
  • 1959-1960: Gitarang Ginto
  • 1959-1960: Kadenang Putik
  • 1960: Sandakot na Alabok
  • 1960: Dimasupil
  • 1960-1961: Karugtong ng Kahapon
  • 1960-1961: Pitong Sagisag
  • 1960-1961: Nawaglit na Langit
  • 1961-1962: Apat na Agimat
  • 1961-1962: Sindak!
  • 1962: Prinsesang Mandirigma
  • 1962-1963: Sutlang Maskara
  • 1962-1963: 29
  • 1962-1963: Asyang ng La Loma
  • 1962-1963: Ripleng de Rapido
  • 1963: Magnong Mandurukot
  • 1963: Riple.77
  • 1963-1964: Maskarang Itim
  • 1964: Apat na Espada
  • 1964: Takas sa Morge
  • 1964: Upeng Ulila
  • 1964-1965: Alyas Agimat
  • 1964-1965: Anak ni Prinsipe Amante
  • 1964-1965: Mary Martires
  • 1964-1965: Simbilis ng Ipo-Ipo
  • 1964-1965: Villa Venganza
  • 1964-1966: Boy King
  • 1965-1966: Joe Safari
  • 1965-1966: Kid Sister
  • 1965-1966: Kilabot ng Persia
  • 1966: Duke de Alba
  • 1966: Impakta Vengadora
  • 1966: Planet Man
  • 1966: Katawan at Kaluluwa
  • 1966: Mataas na Lupa
  • 1966: Sideshow Girl
  • 1966: Walang Bituin sa Langit
  • 1966-1967: Mga Taghoy sa Hatinggabi
  • 1966-1968: Brix Virgo
  • 1967-1968: Double Agent
  • 1968: Paglalakbay sa Silim
  • 1968: Black Treasure
  • 1968: Dragona
  • 1968: Dyenina
  • 1968: Nasa Balintataw
  • 1968: Noli Me Tangere
  • 1968-1969: Gorilla Man
  • 1968-1969: Katapat ng Langit
  • 1968-1969: Lex Laureado
  • 1969: Bruhilda
  • 1969: Fashion Model
  • 1969: Flash Dodo
  • 1969: Sphinx
  • 1969-1970: Captain Zing
  • 1969-1970: Erotik
  • 1970-1971: Hello, Mrs. Abril
  • 1970-1972: Hari ng Mga Stuntmen
  • 1972-1973: Gimbal ng Bayan
  • 1974: ''Lawin Vengador''

Filmography

;Screenwriter
  • 1949: Prinsipe Paris
  • 1950: Prinsipe Amante
  • 1952: Texas
  • 1953: Munting Koronel
  • 1953: Hercules
  • 1954: Nagkita si Kerubin at si Tulisang Pugot
  • 1954: Paladin
  • 1955: Eskrimador
  • 1956: Zarex
  • 1957: Kahariang bato
  • 1957: Conde de amor
  • 1958: Malvarosa
  • 1959: Tuko sa Madre Kakaw
  • 1960: Kadenang Putik
  • 1961: Luis Latigo
  • 1961: Pitong Sagisag
  • 1962: Apat na Agimat
  • 1962: Prinsesang Mandirigma
  • 1963: Ripleng de Rapido
  • 1963: ''Asyang ng La Loma''

Awards

  • 1961: FAMAS award for Best Screenplay for Kadenang Putik at the FAMAS Awards