Clodualdo del Mundo Sr.
Clodualdo del Mundo Sr. (September 11, 1911 – October 5, 1977) was a Filipino novelist, playwright, essayist, short story writer, journalist, screenwriter, teacher, critic. Many comics fans know him as the prolific writer of komiks (Philippine comics) through Liwayway and Ace Publications. He was also one of the most ardent supporters of the Filipino language (Pilipino), 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 (now Far Eastern University), 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" (TANIW) 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