Larry Alcala has produced an enormous number of cartoons almost daily for about 50 years. To exercise one’s creativity and imagination daily in order for people look at their faults and virtues, their customs and traditions, their foibles and woes, and still laugh at themselves is no easy task. But Larry Alcala did his cartoons non-stop until his heart ceased to beat.
His cartoons are read from one end of the Philippines to the other, by people from all walks of life. And we all have fun looking for his hidden image in his cartoons. Nowhere does an artist show the beauty and essence of our culture more than in his cartoons of our simbang gabi, ritual processions, the antics of our politicians, some of our wasteful ways, our shady deals, our shallow views of beauty contests, our courtesy or discourtesy to our elders, and so forth. He mirrors us before ourselves.
Larry has taught and mentored hundreds of art students at the UP College of Fine Arts for about 30 years. Some of his students have become outstanding artists. Larry Alcala is an Artist for all Seasons.
We must mention here that the UP College of Fine Arts has had six National Artists: Fernando Amorsolo, Guillermo Tolentino, Vicente Manansala, Carlos V. Francisco, Cesar Legaspi and Napoleon Abueva. We, the UP College of Fine Arts alumni, feel that Larry Alcala rightly deserves the honor of standing with them.