(MALAYA) Senate president pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada has filed a resolution expressing the Senate’s sympathy and condolences on the death of veteran film director Carlo J. Caparas, who passed away on May 25.
Estrada, who is an actor before entering politics, said Caparas’ passing “is a great loss” not only for the country’s comics and cinema industry, but for the entire nation, as well.
“Caparas undeniably contributed to the enrichment and growth of the local entertainment scene and promotion of Philippine arts and culture. His impressive body of published works reflecting the Filipino way of life and aspirations as well as the rich tradition of Philippine folklore belongs to the artistic and literary heritage of the country,” Estrada said in filing Senate Resolution No. 1045
Estrada said Caparas was a “towering figure” in the Filipino comic book industry and considered the “Pinoy Komiks King,” as the film director left an indelible legacy during the heyday of “komiks” and wrote over 800 novels and short stories, a considerable number of which had been made into blockbuster and critically acclaimed movies or popular television series, such as “Pieta,” “Tasya Pantasya,” “Joaquin Bordado,” “Dugong Buhay,” “Angela Markado,” “Kamandag,” and “Lumuhod Ka sa Lupa.”
In 2007, Caparas was conferred the Presidential Medal of Merit as one of the “Legends of Philippine Komiks” and was a recipient of “Gawad Komisyon sa Wika” by the National Commission for the Filipino Language in August 2006 for being a master storyteller, a champion, and hero in the Filipino language; and the prestigious Gusi International Peace Award for Cinema and Filipino Literature in 2006.
He also received numerous distinctions for his work in the silver screen, including the Filipino Academy of Movies Art and Sciences (FAMAS) Hall of Fame Award in 2012 and Ulirang Alagad ng Pelikula sa Likod ng Kamera Award from the PMPC Star Awards for Movies in 2010, among others.
“While some of his works were set against the backdrop of fantasy and the supernatural, Caparas’ gripping storylines depict the struggles, perseverance, resilience, and indomitable spirit of the Filipino masses and the less fortunate, and their triumph against hardships, injustice, and oppression,” Estrada added.