NONOY SANTOS MARCELO

A cartoonist of political satire, NONOY SANTOS MARCELO's works evoke the funny and oftentimes harsh social realities that make up the nation and its search for a cohesive identity. His cartoon series Ikabod provided d a social commentary on the Marcos dictatorship at a time when the media was under the dictatorship's control.

Marcelo's sketches provide a glimpse into Philippine life. Endowed with great sensitivity, intelligence, and humor, his highly popular works draw on the everyday realities of political and social life, reflecting the unsaid national sentiment of the time. His most popular works are the comic strips Plain Folks (Daily Mirror), Tisoy (Manila Times), and Ikabod (Bulletin Today). Marcelo's works merge political issues with popular forms in drawing a commentary on Filipino society, especially during a period of heightened state oppression.

Because his cartoons represent the temper of the times, chronicling the national experience especially under the dictatorship, the Parangal Sentenyal sa Sining at Kultura is hereby conferred on this 2nd day of February 1999 on Nonoy Santos Marcelo.