2078 (Pugad Baboy story arc)
Encyclopedia
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
of the Philippine comic strip series Pugad Baboy
Pugad Baboy
Pugad Baboy is a comic strip created by Filipino cartoonist Apolonio "Pol" Medina, Jr. The strip is about a Manila community of mostly obese people - "fat as pigs", so to speak ....
, created by Pol Medina, Jr.
Pol Medina, Jr.
Apolonio "Pol" Medina, Jr. is a Filipino cartoonist best known for creating Pugad Baboy, a black-and-white comic strip first published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on May 18, 1988.-Biography:...
and originally published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer
Philippine Daily Inquirer
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, popularly known as the Inquirer, is the most widely read broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines, with a daily circulation of 260,000 copies. It is one of the Philippines' newspapers of record...
. This particular story arc lasts 45 strips long. In 1994, the story arc was reprinted in PB5, the fifth book compilation of the comic strip series.
Synopsis
The story begins with the Pugad Baboy gang waiting in line at an LRTManila Light Rail Transit System
The Manila Light Rail Transit System, popularly known as the LRT, is a metropolitan rail system serving the Metro Manila area in the Philippines. Although referred to as a light rail system because it originally used light rail vehicles, it has many characteristics of a rapid transit system, such...
station. No sooner had they boarded when the freak occurrence of a black hole
Black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime from which nothing, not even light, can escape. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass will deform spacetime to form a black hole. Around a black hole there is a mathematically defined surface called an event horizon that...
right in the train's path threw everyone across a time warp. The group would soon discover that they had been transported to the future - 2078 to be exact. They were however, in exactly the same place they had been before the black hole swallowed their boxcar.
The first person of the future they meet is Taxx Vader, a combined spoof of the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
character Darth Vader
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
and a more mundane personage, a tax evader
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
. It is Taxx Vader who enlightens them regarding their being in the year 2078 when they profess confusion regarding the state of abandonment and disrepair they see in the LRT station. A friend of Taxx Vader's, Chewbaboy, (another spoof, this time of the Star Wars character, Chewbacca
Chewbacca
Chewbacca, also known as Chewie, is a character in the Star Wars franchise, portrayed by Peter Mayhew. In the series' narrative chronology, he appears in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
) then offers to act as the group's tour guide in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
of 2078.
Among the developments and changes they discover are the following:
- The Ninoy Aquino International AirportNinoy Aquino International AirportThe Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA , also known as Manila International Airport , is the airport serving the general area of Manila and its surrounding metropolitan area...
had been renamed Tan Yu International Airport. - Bien-Bien Roxas became PresidentPresident of the PhilippinesThe President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
in 2028. - Mandarin has replaced FilipinoFilipino languageThis move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...
as the national language. - Arabs now use the Philippines as a rest and recreation base before returning to their jobs as contract workers in Japan.
- The Japanese had bought the entire United States and turned it into a gigantic golf course with the Americans as their caddiesCaddyIn golf, a caddy is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives insightful advice and moral support. A good caddy is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. This includes knowing overall yardage, pin...
. - The US President is an African-American woman.
- The heavyweight boxing champion of the world is only nine years old.
- QuiapoQuiapo, ManilaQuiapo is a district and city square of Manila. Referred as the "Old Downtown", Quiapo in known for where cheap buys or goods are being sold at rock-bottom prices and was the home of the Quiapo Church, where the feast for the Black Nazarene is held, with over millions of people attending...
is now known as the Gilbert-Willie Yu District. - The scarcity of water has caused the production of beer to stop.
- Medical science has advanced to the point where coin-operated CAT scan machines exist, animal organs can be transplanted into humans, and human cloningCloningCloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
can be arranged. - Inflation has driven the Philippine pesoPhilippine pesoThe peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
to such stratospheric levels that even a simple pair of shoes can cost millions each. - Flyovers dominates the main thoroughfares of Metro ManilaMetro ManilaMetropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
. - The Philippines' population is more than 800 millionMillionOne million or one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999,999 and preceding 1,000,001. The word is derived from the early Italian millione , from mille, "thousand", plus the augmentative suffix -one.In scientific notation, it is written as or just 106...
. - Philippine Daily Inquirer is now sold in microchip format.
Dobermaxx
All of a sudden, the sound of gunfire causes the group to scamper for cover. Chewbaboy identifies the culprit as a member of Black Eden, a gang of drug pushers operating in the city. The pusher happened to pass right in front of Polgas, who was in the process of assembling his OCB-issue Garapata Gun and he instinctively kicked the criminal's legs out from under him. The Black Eden gang member retaliated by attempting to shoot Polgas with his laser pistol, but was thwarted when a pistol shot hitting the pusher's gun hand caused the criminal to lose his aim. The laser shot from the pusher's weapon, however, immolated Polgas' own Garapata Gun. Polgas was surprised to observe that the shooter who saved his life had also used a Garapata Gun. Thus did Polgas meet Dobermaxx, the OCB's Director in 2078.Dobermaxx explains that the captured pusher is named Adam Carlo, and that the drug he was selling was known as "Blue Emerald", smuggled into the country by grinding the drug crystals into powder and applying it under the arms disguised as deodorant. Dobermaxx also remarks that Polgas looks familiar; he mentions Agent Polgas by name. Polgas decides to hide his true identity. The pair get into Dobermaxx's ride, presumably a Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
variant similar to Polgas' Thunderdog code-named the Bullfox II and proceeded to his office after incarcerating Adam Carlo. They began to discuss OCB personnel files, equipment and the drug pushers. Dobermaxx explains that the Black Eden gang's mastermind is a shadowy figure named Anton Damien who had three clones as his lieutenants - Adam Alfred, Adam Berto and the prisoner, Adam Carlo. Dobermaxx adds that Agent Polgas' grandson, another OCB agent, was missing and presumed dead when he intentionally crashed the heli-jet he was piloting in order to kill Adam Berto.
Just then, Dobermaxx receives a transmission that the cell block in which Adam Carlo is being kept is under attack - an escape attempt was being made. He attaches a jet pack to his Dingo Suit and rushes off, while Polgas takes the Jet Jackal, the OCB's heli-jet. On their flight towards cell block 32, a repulse laser beam shoots down Dobermaxx; his power suit is damaged and has become disabled. Polgas crashes the heli-jet on the platform on which Adam Carlo was shooting the laser weapon from, killing him. Polgas himself jumped clear off the vehicle before it hit and landed right into a furious Anton Damien, who was wearing a power suit, multiplying his strength twentyfold; he gave Polgas a beating. Polgas finally bit into the carotid cables in Anton Damien's power suit and stuck his earring into the exposed wires, short-circuiting
Short circuit
A short circuit in an electrical circuit that allows a current to travel along an unintended path, often where essentially no electrical impedance is encountered....
the power suit. With the power suit disabled, Polgas now returned the favor and gave Anton Damien a beating. He got the surprise of his life when, upon removing the mastermind's helmet, he saw who he thought was Atong Damuho, his mortal enemy back in the 20th Century, but who was in reality, Atong Damuho's great-grandson. Both Dobermaxx and Anton Damien wonder at this strange turn of events.
Return from 2078
Into this air of wonderment rushes Chewbaboy, shouting that the black hole had opened once again at the LRT station. Polgas could now go back to his own time. Polgas, however, was loath to leave before Anton Damien was safely in jail. Chewbaboy informs him that if doesn't go now, he would have to wait for twenty-three more years before the black hole opens again. Torn between duty and the desire to go home, Polgas hesitates. Anton Damien ridicules him by sticking out his tongue at Polgas. Polgas grabs Dobermaxx's Garapata Gun and at point blank range, sprays multiple shots at the criminal mastermind's face. The unbearable itch causes Anton Damien to vigorously scratch his face. Everyone rushes off to the LRT station and they arrive just as the black hole begins to close. Dobermaxx peels off the protective coating on a power cable on the train tracks and uses it to reactivate his Dingo Suit. He hefts Polgas over his head and before throwing Polgas into the closing black hole, promises him that he will find the missing grandson of Agent Polgas. The throw was good and Polgas made it into the black hole before it closed. Dobermaxx removes his helmet and reveals himself to be actually the missing grandson of Agent Polgas, calling him lolo (Filipino - grandfather).Epilogue
The time warp brought the Pugad Baboy group back to 1992, their then-present time. However, they retained no memory of their adventures in 2078. They were wondering why Polgas was outside the train, spread-eagled on the box-car's rear windshield. They also noticed that his Garapata Gun looked different and that it now shot farther than it was supposed to.Closer inspection by the OCB's Weapons and Armaments laboratory disclosed the high-tech nature of the weapon. They could not determine the exact kind of metal used in its construction. It also featured a built-in laser sight and a satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
transceiver
Transceiver
A transceiver is a device comprising both a transmitter and a receiver which are combined and share common circuitry or a single housing. When no circuitry is common between transmit and receive functions, the device is a transmitter-receiver. The term originated in the early 1920s...
aside from an etching engraved on the trigger housing - "Dobermaxx". Since his memory of the time spent in 2078 had been erased, Polgas could only speculate on where the new Garapata Gun came from. He decides to adopt "Dobermaxx" as his new OCB callsign.
Trivia
- One of Pol Medina, Jr.'s running gags involves the contention that Chinese businessmen would soon own everything in the country, hence the inclusion of Tan Yu and his family in this story arc.
- Tan YuTan YuTan Yu was a Chinese Filipino philanthropist and real estate entrepreneur who was once the richest man in the Philippines. In 1997, Forbes ranked him among the 20 wealthiest men on the planet where he had a net worth of about $7 Billion...
is a very successful if reclusive businessman born of Chinese immigrants from FujianFujian' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
. He made his first million at only eighteen years of age and is now considered to be one of Asia's richest men with properties in the Philippines, TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, China and the United States. - Tan Yu's daughter, Emilia "Bien-Bien" Roxas, runs Tan Yu's main company, Asia Internationale Group.
- Gilbert C. Yu and Willie C. Yu are the founders of G&W Architects, Engineers, Project Development Consultants, an architectural firm established in 1971 and responsible for the construction of over 1000 buildings.
- References to science-fiction films are abound in the 2078 story arc. Aside from the Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
Taxx Vader and Chewbaboy spoofs, an Imperial StormtrooperImperial stormtrooperThe Imperial Stormtroopers are fictional soldiers from George Lucas' Star Wars universe. Stormtroopers are the soldiers of the imperial army under the leadership of the evil Sith Lord and Emperor Palpatine and his commanders, most notably Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin.They are shown in...
could barely be seen in one of the panels. RoboCopRoboCopRoboCop is a 1987 American science fiction-action film directed by Paul Verhoeven. Set in a crime-ridden Detroit, Michigan in the near future, RoboCop centers on a police officer who is brutally murdered and subsequently re-created as a super-human cyborg known as "RoboCop"...
is also present in another panel. - The fact that 2078 Manila is swarming with flyovers is an apparent stab at the AquinoCorazon AquinoMaria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
administration's construction of the EDSA ShrineEDSA ShrineThe Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA, or more popularly, the EDSA Shrine is a small church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila located at the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Quezon City...
fly-over during the early 1990s. - Chewbaboy's revelation of Arabs working as contract employees is a "reversal" of Overseas Filipino Workers often going to jobs in the Middle East and Japan.
- In a strip immediately preceding 2078 in PB5, an author's note reveals that the Pugad Baboy gang went to 2078 on the day of the 1992 Philippine presidential elections and came back one week later in real time. Dagul claims to Doc Sebo that they were gone for several weeks.