Pol Medina Jr., the creator of Pugad Baboy, collaborated with the brand Solo to launch merchandise such as shirts, bags, and even a mousepad, with the characters that people have come to know and love over the last 26 years.

In an interview with Rappler during his book signing at Glorietta 1, Saturday, September 13, Pol Medina Jr. said that he continues to chronicle the real life of the Filipino in his strips. 

“Tunay na buhay pa rin. Kino-chronicle ko talaga yung nangyayari sa buhay ko, saka nangyayari sa Pilipinas kaya nga Pinoy talaga yung humor.”

(It’s real life. I chronicle what is happening with my life and those that are happening in the Philippines that’s why it’s really Pinoy humor.)

According to Pol, he became politically aware of what is happening around him, which became the subject of his comic strips for the past years.

Although he has been doing Pugad Baboy for the last 26 years, Pol said he finally realize how the cartoon was a success during its 9th year.

“Kung tutuusin nung second year na lumalabas pa lang na naglalabas sila ng books, nasa best seller ako palagi. Pero naramdaman ko lang na totoo nung ako na nag-publish ng sarili kong book kasi nung time na nag-start ako pina-publish ako sa mga totoong publishers.”

(During the second year that they were come out with the books, I was always in the bestsellers list. But I only began to feel it was really happening when I started to publish myself the book, because at the time I was starting, it was real publishers who were publishing the book.)

Unknown to many, Polgas and the Pugad Baboy community came to life on television in the early ’90s in GMA 7. Does Pol have a plan to bring it back on television?

“Muntik na nga. Half a dozen times na gusto siya gawing animated series… dalawang beses ako nilapitan para gawin pero hindi natutuloy dahil sa sinisingil ko siguro dahil mataas,” Pol said.

(Almost. There were many times that we wanted to put it into an animated series…I was approached twice if they can do it but it never pushed through, I guess because I was asking for too much.)

Going Solo

According to Pol, Solo has approached him as early as 4 years ago to seek permission if they can use his strips for their merchandise.  But it was only now he said yes upon the persuasion of his daughter.

“Nilapitan ako ng Solo mga 4 years ago pero hindi din ako pumayag kasi sa masyadong mayabang ako sa price,” he laughed. “Pero ngayon sinabi sa akin nung anak ko nung nakita niya ang catalogue, ‘Dad umo-oo ka na kasi maganda yung mga produkto nila.’”

(Solo approached me around 4 years ago but I declined because I was arrogant with the price. But when my daughter saw the catalogue, she said ‘Dad, say yes because the products are beautiful.’)

“Nung may lumapit sa akin na taga-Ateneo sinabi na gawin natin eto, tapos hindi na ako tinawagan, nilaglag nila ako, biglang lumapit ang Solo and then okay kahit halos hindi eto katulad ng mga deals ko sa ibang companies. Pumayag lang ako dahil sa anak ko.”

(When someone approached me from Ateneo to do it and then it did not push through, Solo approached again, and then I said okay even if the deal was not like the ones at other companies. I primarily said yes because of my daughter.)

It also helped that Solo has featured various cartoonists in the past like Larry Alcala and Manix Abrera.

“Ang sinabi lang nila, ang pinangako lang nila na ang ilalabas namin ay hindi pang Divisoria. Naniwala naman ako kasi ni-research ko rin naman. Naisip ko din naman una nilang kinuha ay mga national artists… so I am in good company. Pumayag na rin ako.”

(What they said, what they promised that what they will be coming out with are not merchandises that are like Divisoria-made. I believed them because I researched it myself. I also thought they have come out with products from the national artists so I am in good company. I said yes.)

All photos in the gallery courtesy of Solo

With his books continuing to enjoy success in the market, his presence now online, and a merchandise to his name, is there anything that he wants for his characters to achieve? Pol said that he gave the team behind Solo creative license and lent them an art bank of his comic strips they can use. 

“Siyempre ultimate dream ko magkaroon ng theme park,” Pol laughed. “Siguro yung animated series yun ang  pinaka-ultimate. Yung una kasi live action… hindi niya na capture yung flavor ng strip. Kung 2D medyo nalalapit sa hardcopy.”

(Of course the ultimate dream is for a theme park. I guess the animated series would be the ultimate dream. The first was live action…it was not able to capture the flavor of the strip. If it were in 2D, it is close to the hardcopy.) – Rappler.com

Rappler is the home of #PugadBaboy.