For generations of Filipinos, Larry Alcala’s cartoons were more than illustrations on a page. They were snapshots of everyday life: crowded streets, family gatherings, neighborhood characters, familiar habits, and the small absurdities that made Filipino life instantly recognizable.

A century after his birth, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) brings audiences back into that world through “Return to the Popular: Drawing the Filipino Imagination,” a month-long exhibition marking the 100th birth anniversary of National Artist Lauro “Larry” Alcala.

The exhibition opened on August 19, 2026, at Gallery 2 of The Metropolitan Theater in Manila and runs until September 19, 2026. It brings together reproductions of Alcala’s Slice of Life illustrations, original works, memorabilia, and pieces by members of the Samahang Kartunista ng Pilipinas.

Curated by Dr. Jose Santos “Chong” Ardivilla, the exhibition explores how he turned ordinary Filipino experiences into humorous visual narratives.

Known affectionately as Mang Larry, Alcala became one of the most recognizable names in Philippine cartooning.

Among his best-known creations were Kalabog en Bosyo, Siopawman, and Mang Ambo, alongside his long-running weekly cartoon series Slice of Life. His cartoons documented the people and circumstances around him, eventually becoming part of Philippine popular culture itself. Kalabog en Bosyo would later be recognized as the longest-running comic strip created by a Filipino.

Return to the Popular does more than revisit the career of a celebrated cartoonist. It also offers younger audiences a visual record of Filipino life as seen through an artist who paid close attention to the ordinary.

As a professor at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, he taught and mentored aspiring artists and helped introduce the country’s first college degree course in commercial design. His contribution to both visual communication and arts education eventually earned him recognition as the “Dean of Filipino Cartoonists.”

Alongside the exhibition, a series of five free cartooning workshops will run from August to November 2026 in partnership with the UP Department of Visual Communication and the Samahang Kartunista ng Pilipinas.

At The Metropolitan Theater, Ardie Aquino, Giodesk Guiao, and Celso Quijano Jr. will lead a basic cartooning workshop for children aged 8 to 10 on August 29, focusing on character design and comic strips.

On September 5, comic artists Boboy Yonzon, Barry Jose, and Mike Yonzon will lead a session on expressing ideas through cartoons for high school students. Both workshops will be held at Gallery 3 of The Metropolitan Theater.

The workshop series continues at Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez at the CCP Complex, with Crown Dolot discussing line and form on September 22, Sebastian Cacho leading a session on cardboard characters on October 17, and Melvin Calingo exploring moving images on November 21.

All workshops are free of charge, with materials provided to participants. 

Registration for the CCP workshops is available through bit.ly/RTTP-Workshops, while registration announcements for the Metropolitan Theater workshops will be posted through the official NCCA Facebook page.

“Return to the Popular: Drawing the Filipino Imagination” runs until September 19, 2026, at Gallery 2 of The Metropolitan Theater in Manila. 

The centennial celebration and accompanying workshop series are presented through the collaborative efforts of the CCP, NCCA, Filipino Heritage Festival Inc., the Larry Alcala family and estate, UP Fine Arts, Lennon Group, and partner organizations.