Darna is a superhero who appears in Filipino comic books created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo. The character was introduced during the Golden Age of Comic Books, debuting in Pilipino Komiks #77 on May 13, 1950. Darna is a retooling of Ravelo's earlier character, Varga, which first appeared in Bulaklak Magazine, Volume 4, #17 on July 23, 1947. With her continued presence in literature and art, Darna has been described as a Filipino cultural icon. Throughout the years, she has been adapted to a number of media platforms, such as film, television, plays and video games.
Marcial "Mars" Custodio Ravelo was a Filipino comic book cartoonist and graphic novelist. Dubbed as the "King of Philippine Komiks", he is notable for creating Darna, Dyesebel, Captain Barbell, Lastikman, Bondying, Varga, Wanted: Perfect Mother, Hiwaga, Maruja, Mariposa, Roberta, Rita, Buhay Pilipino,Jack and Jill, Flash Bomba, Tiny Tony, and Dragonna among others.
Valentina is a supervillain created by Mars Ravelo and Nestor Redondo who first appeared in the second episode of the Darna series published in the Philippine comics Pilipino Komiks. One of the most recognizable supervillainess characters in the Philippines, she is the archenemy of Darna. She was originally a bitter, deformed woman born from ordinary human parents with venomous snakes on her head that appears to be like hair. When she grew up, she killed her parents and was subsequently taken in by a serpent creature named Kobra. Valentina was soon referred to as "goddess of the snakes".
Lastikman, originally spelled Lastik Man, is a fictional character and Filipino comics superhero created by Mars Ravelo and artist Mar T. Santana. Lastikman or the original spelling of Lastik Man debuted in comics format in Aliwan Komiks #56. Based on DC Comics' Plastic Man, and/or Marvel's Mister Fantastic from Fantastic Four, Lastikman can also stretch and transform into many imaginable forms and shapes he desires.
Comics have been popular throughout the Philippines from the 1920s to the present. Komiks were partially inspired by American mainstream comic strips and comic books during the early 20th century. The medium first became widely popular after World War II. Its mainstream appeal subsided somewhat during the latter part of the 20th century with the advent of other mass-media forms such as telenovelas, but experienced a renaissance in the mid-2010s with the increasing popularity of artists such as Gerry Alanguilan, Arnold Arre, Budjette Tan, Kajo Baldisimo, and the rise of fan communities through comic book conventions such as komikon. Webcomics produced by independent Filipino web-based artists have caught the attention of local and foreign readers.
Dominic Zapata, is a Filipino television and film director. He is a graduate of the De La Salle University and Don Bosco Technical Institute-Makati. He took up AB Communication Arts and BSC Marketing Management (CAM-MMG) at De La Salle University, where he entered the communication arts program in 1988. He is now one of the resident directors of GMA Network since 1997.
Dyesebel is a Filipino comic book character, conceived by Mars Ravelo and drawn by Elpidio Torres. Dyesebel is a mermaid, who eventually gains full human form through a deal with a sea-witch.
Herminio Jose Lualhati "Ogie" Alcasid Jr. is a Filipino singer, songwriter, actor, comedian, and television personality. He is best known for his songwriting and versatility across music, film, and television. He has appeared in films and television shows, notably as a cast member of Tropang Trumpo (1994–1995) and Bubble Gang (1995–2013), and a host and main performer of SOP (1997–2010) and ASAP (2017–present). He is currently married to Regine Velasquez, with whom he has one child.
Varga, a Filipino comic superheroine, was created by Marcial "Mars" Ravelo and first appeared in Bulaklak Magazine in 1947. The character, originally named Varga and later known as Darna, is an alien princess from Planet Vergon. She possesses superhero abilities like flight, super strength, and psionic skills. Varga, recognized as the first female superhero in the Philippines, has been featured in various media, including films,TV shows and comic books.
Party Pilipinas is a Philippine television variety show broadcast by GMA Network. Hosted by Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Jaya and Janno Gibbs, it premiered on March 28, 2010, replacing SOP. The show concluded on May 19, 2013, with a total of 160 episodes. It was replaced by Sunday All Stars in its timeslot.
The 23rd PMPC Star Awards for TV ceremony was held at the PAGCOR Grand Theater in Paranaque City on November 29, 2009 and broadcast over ABS-CBN Channel 2. The ceremony was hosted by Piolo Pascual, Carmina Villaroel and John Lloyd Cruz.
The 22nd PMPC Star Awards for TV ceremony was held at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay on November 30, 2008, and broadcast over TV5 on December 2, 2008. The ceremony was hosted by Paolo Bediones, Gabby Concepcion, Anne Curtis and Judy Ann Santos and directed by Al Quinn.
The 24th PMPC Star Awards for TV ceremony was held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila in Pasay on November 13, 2010 and broadcast over ABS-CBN Channel 2 on November 20, 2010. The ceremony was hosted by Angel Aquino, Ruffa Gutierrez and Miriam Quiambao.
Darna, Kuno? is a 1979 Filipino film directed by Luciano B. Carlos and co-written by Toto Belano. Produced under the action comedy and fantasy genres, it is a parody of Mars Ravelo's comic book character and female superhero Darna. The role of Darna Kuno is played by Filipino actor, Dolphy. The film was released on March 30, 1979. Darna was first published on May 13, 1950, written by Mars Ravelo and illustrated by Nestor Redondo, who illustrated for DC and Marvel Comics.
Dolphy Alay Tawa: A Musical Tribute to the King of Philippine Comedy is a 2012 Philippine concert paying tribute to comedian and actor, Dolphy, named as the Philippines' king of comedy, who died on July 10, 2012, due to multiple organ failure. The concert was held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on September 19, 2012, and was simultaneously aired as a television special on September 30, 2012, by the three major Philippine commercial television networks: ABS-CBN, GMA Network and TV5.
The 42nd Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation Box Office Entertainment Awards (GMMSF-BOEA) is a part of the annual awards in the Philippines held on May 10, 2011. The award-giving body honors Filipino actors, actresses and other performers' commercial success, regardless of artistic merit, in the Philippine entertainment industry.
Filipino entertainer Regine Velasquez has appeared in motion pictures and television programs. She made her screen debut with a minor role in the 1988 comedy film The Untouchable Family. She went on to appear in supporting roles in the comedies Pik Pak Boom (1988) and Elvis and James 2 (1990). Velasquez made her stage debut in 1992 with the Musical Theatre Philippines production of Romualdo Ramos and Tony Velasquez's Kenkoy Loves Rosing. Her breakthrough came when she played the title role in the film Wanted Perfect Mother (1996). The same year, she starred in the musical comedy Do Re Mi alongside Donna Cruz and Mikee Cojuangco. Among Velasquez's next releases were the fantasy comedy Honey Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako (1998) and Joyce Bernal's romantic comedy Dahil May Isang Ikaw (1999) opposite Aga Muhlach. Her first leading television role was in a 2000 episode of the IBC-13 anthology series Habang May Buhay.
Mars Ravelo's Captain Barbell, or simply Captain Barbell, is a 2003 Filipino superhero film directed by Mac C. Alejandre. Based on the Pinoy Komiks superhero of the same name, it stars Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr. in the title role. Produced by Premiere Entertainment Productions, the film was released by Viva Films as part of the 29th Metro Manila Film Festival on December 25, 2003, and was the highest-grossing film among the festival's nine entries.
