Philippine Daily Inquirer Cancels Pugad Baboy by Pol Medina Jr.
The Philippine Star just revealed that the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper is pulling out fan-favorite comic strip Pugad Baboy by Pol Medina Jr. after it’s June 4 publication in the Comic Relief section having a topic focusing on gay, lesbian, catholic issues and an all-girl school St. Scholastica’s College.
A lot of people got irked with the strip. Some were students and alumni of St. Scho, saying it was cheap and a low blow to them mainly because the strip is generalizing people from the school especially the ones who run it. And even in this modern age, hitting on religion like Christianity will spark a lot of issues especially in our country. Pugad Baboy was first published in 1988 and has long since talked about social issues like crime, corruption, media, politics, etc, but this strip really did reach out to a lot of people and were affected — and pinoys react quickly and viciously when it comes to something posted in their walls or tweet feed.
One issue that we see arising from this is the freedom of speech of our citizens, and in this case – our artists. Our arts industry especially our komiks industry which includes pinoy graphic novels and komiks strips are still not yet that great and cant sustain itself on it’s own and needs much support from everyone. Support from government, fellow artists, our media – I’m just wondering if PDI reviews their content before getting published. Surely this will be the ‘hot topic’ for artists. Even with the freedom of speech, to what extent and what is the limitation when creating one’s work or to express himself/herself? In this modern age, are we supposed to be open to a lot of topics involving sexuality and religion – even if it is found in comic strips? Have we lost our humor and have grown very sensitive on sensitive issues? Do media companies have to be more socially responsible when releasing content found in their comics section?
There are no news if PDI will resume Pugad Baboy some other time or if another newspaper will pick it up. What do you guys think of the recent events surrounding Pugad Baboy? Let us know!
I just lost respect with the editors of Inquirer for canceling this most beloved comic strip. For a newspaper who, in the past, has been very steadfast in protecting civil liberty and transparency in government, now they are just cowards. I think I won’t be the only one to complain about this, because for many people, Pol Medina Jr. is a pioneer as well as the epitome of a true national artist and probably will be held in that regard in the future. It is inevitable. They’ve lost their sense of humor as well as their backbone. A pitiful state in the world of literature and journalism.
the local comic strips in broadsheets are not only for entertainment purposes, it also injects social commentary about the latest issues. if the censorship and bigotry of religion diminishes the relevance of the present issues and creative expression of the artists, we are still living under the medieval stance of religion. while other countries are liberated in their stance in sexual orientation and religion, we are still under the strict conservative belt which will choke us in the future.
the creativity of presenting social issues and problems, injecting with humor in a comic strip form makes this format enduring.
another argument, Dan Brown’s description of gates of hell in manila, many are offended by it, either by joining the bandwagon of bashing and psuedo-criticizing the book. Looking at the other side, it is true and the reality that the authority must improve/change, not only manila but the whole system itself.
going to the subject of artistic expression. there is still censorship over profanity and sex, but in this format, where a 1 to 6 panel limitation, the text and image are balanced in this format. religion and sexual orientation are still under the issues artists seldom take in their comic strips. this strip represents the opinions of the artist around a particular issue. if there is no artistic expression and the artist’s opinion, then it will be just a mechanical reproduction and bland comic strip, just as art is also an expression, it will become bland without the issues in its context.
i’d hate to see people hating each other over their own interpretation
of what they aren’t smart enough to understand.
we may be over-sensitive about subjects about nationality, religion or sexual orientation but we must be enlightened that these things are happening today.
This happens. Why try to hide it?
It’s official: “Epal” is the new enlightenment.
“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”
And this is the reason why we will never move forward: people with primitive thinking in our society.
I love Pugad Baboy, and I believe in freedom of expression. What I don’t agree with is when that freedom is used to malign. Unfortunately for Mr. Pol Medina, he crossed that line when he singled out St. Scholasticas College. If he didn’t mention any names then perhaps he would have gotten away with it. He deliberately smudged the integrity, not only of the School, but of all the children who study there. He is liable for slander.
St. Scho, is not the only all-girls Catholic school with lesbians, nor is La Salle the only boys school with gays. ALL schools have them. The religious-in-charge do not condone these acts, but they do not condemn the individuals also. Just like Jesus who came to us to save ALL sinners, these Catholic schools accept the sinners as well, in the hopes of molding them for the better. For Pol Medina to brand them as HIPOKRITO is unfair and unjust. It is the individual who is hipokrito, much like everybody else I know.
Name me one person, who has not been a HIPOKRITO at any point in his life, and I will tell you he is a HIPOKRITO.
Got this from the Facebook wall of Gerry Alanguilan. Petition for Inquirer to not cancel PB is now in Change.org: https://www.change.org/petitions/philippine-daily-inquirer-do-not-fire-pol-medina-do-not-remove-pugad-baboy
Truth hurts, Father? Sister? It is an open book that some priests have families and children. Si Pader at si Mader, nawala sa parokya, nag-elope. Si Pader naanakan ang isang magandang church choir member, atbp. But what do the church did for these misfits? Ipapadala sa ibang diocese na malayo for a “personal retreat”, then after a few months balik uli sa Diocese and will be assigned sa ibang parokya. This is hypocrisy. Now, Pol Medina, Jr. have seen all these wrongdoings since time immemorial na. Only, he is a public figure being an artist. Kaya nasasaktan ang mga men & women in robe dahil national blitzkrieg ang pagka-lathala nang secrets nila? Aaaaah, secret pa ba yan? LoL. They, the Catholic Church must face that there are misfits in their ranks. Even, Christ’s 12, meron pa nga eh, na maliit lang. The Catholic church and schools must react proactively. Ikaw naman PDI, natakot ka na mawalan nang sales? Malaki nga ang customer share nyo sa Catholics. But if you stand on the truth of that komiks strip, kahit ma-bankrupt ka pa dahil sa issue na yan, you can still walk on the streets heads up. My 2-cents worth.
What do you mean “truth hurts”? Do you mean to say generalization and stereotyping = the truth? In that case, all Indian nationals in this country are all umbrella selling profiteers and should be ridiculed because it is the truth? All Filipino chinese are all greedy money loving intsik behos = the truth?
Oh great! people are talking about the Inquirer again! It’s been years!
I don’t get how it’s anti-lesbian. I thought it was about how hypocritical it is of the Christian community to call lesbians and gays sinners out in public and in the church, but then turn a blind eye in priest/nun run all boy/girl schools. While this might not be the case in all such schools, I think he’s right to call it out because if you can condone it in schools, then why not condone it in public?
Read before you jump on the public-outrage bandwagon and react like ‘oh my god, he’s anti-gay’ because there’s nothing anti-lesbian about it. It’s actually pro-lesbian.
totoo naman kalat ang tomboy sa st. scho eh..
I don’t see anything offensive with it. It’s just the truth. Right on.