‘Pugad Baboy’ returns to print, moves to STAR

MANILA, Philippines — The critically acclaimed “Pugad Baboy (Pig’s Nest)” by cartoonist Pol Medina Jr. has found a new home in the comics section of The Philippine STAR.

“It feels good,” the 55-year-old Filipino cartoonist said about his irreverent characters being back on familiar ground nearly five years after the beloved comic strip digitally reappeared on online news website Rappler.

“Everybody loves the hard copy. As Stan Lee says, ‘Comics are like boobs. They look great in a computer, but I’d rather hold one in my hand,’” Medina said in jest.

Now that he is back in the broadsheet and tabloid platforms via The STAR and its sister publications Pilipino Star Ngayon and Pang Masa, the creator of the longest-running comic strip in the country said readers can expect the “same chop suey comedy that has made it a hit.”

Medina hopes to introduce Pugad Baboy to the younger generation, in addition to its loyal followers, by exploring the millennial culture.

“I also want it to trend to a younger demographic so I’ll have to think like a millennial when I write my material,” he shared.

Starting today, Medina’s popular comic strip will appear daily in The STAR alongside other well-loved strips in the broadsheet’s comic section, notably editorial cartoonist Rene Aranda’s “Prof” and Lyndon Gregorio’s “Beerkada.”

“It’s nice to be part of a page where other great artists are,” Medina said.

To which Aranda commented: “Pugad Baboy is definitely a great addition to The STAR’s comics section. Now, the mad cartoon strip artists of the Philippines are all in one place.”

“Pugad Baboy’s cast of characters is a microcosm of Filipino society. They make us laugh but they also make us think. Although comic strips are supposed to be funny, creators also want readers to reflect,” he added.

Since it is hard for a cartoonist to veer away from a punchline, Aranda could not help saying, “If we can’t have the government officials that we deserve, let’s at least laugh at the ones we have.”

Long-time Pugad Baboy fan Iñigo Irasusta, 34, has followed Medina’s creations since grade school. Even now that he is already based in Sydney, Australia, he continues collecting Pugad Baboy comics, asking relatives to send him the latest editions and copies.

“As a fan, I strongly believe he will continue to bring awareness with regards to current events in an entertaining way,” Irasusta said.

Meanwhile, Medina is currently working on his new “edgy” graphic novel and the 30th anniversary special of Pugad Baboy.

“I’ll try to be more prolific now that my kids are no longer high maintenance,” Medina said.

Pugad Baboy rose to fame in the late 1980s for its fat jokes, satirical humor and irreverent take on social commentary and politics as it mirrors the typical endeavors of the Filipino community.

In 2013, Medina ended his 25-year stint at the Philippine Daily Inquirer after a falling out with management following a controversial comic strip.

“Ad astra (To The Stars)!” Medina said on going back to print and making the move to The STAR.