Kenkoy
Encyclopedia
Kenkoy is a Philippine comics character created by writer Romualdo Ramos and cartoonist
and illustrator Tony Velasquez
in 1929. Velazquez continued the strip for decades after Ramos' death in 1932. Kenkoy was seminal to Philippine comics and thus Velasquez is considered the founding father of the industry. The term kenkoy has entered the Filipino language
to mean a joker, jester, or a hilarious person.
Filipino illustrator and cartoonist Nonoy Marcelo
described Kenkoy as a “ludicrous portrait of the Filipino pathetically trying but barely succeeding in keeping up with his American
mentors” (see American Period in Philippine History) and as the “Philippine’s first true pop icon”.
Although with a funny personality, Kenkoy courted Rosing, the Manileña (a woman from Manila
) who represented the ideal
and romanticized
Filipino woman – a female who was timid, shy, kind, caring, prone to jealousy, and impeccable – garbed (like Philippine national hero José Rizal
’s Maria Clara
) in the traditional baro’t saya or the Sunday camisa
(shirt) combined with the panuelo
(kerchief), including the bakya
(a pair of wooden clogs
) footwear. Kenkoy’s competitor for Rosing’s love, affection, and attention was the handsome character named Tirso S. Upot (a wordplay meaning “Tirso the Uncircumcised”). Kenkoy eventually won the competition and married Rosing. Kenkoy and Rosing had eight children: their biological children Dayunyor Dyulie, Tsing, Doy, Dalisyosa, Etot, Nene, Piching, and adopted son Tsikiting Gubat, a mute but wily child.
on 11 January 1929. Kenkoy had always been portrayed in misadventures. Kenkoy was the lead character for the weekly comic strip Mga Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy (The Misadventures of Kenkoy or Kenkoy’s Antics). Mga Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy was translated into several regional languages in the Philippines.
In the 1960s, Velasquez went with the flow of the fashion trend, shedding Kenkoy’s outmoded clothes. He started wearing pairs of pants similar to those worn by The Beatles
, collared sport polo shirt, and Converse
brand rubber shoes (sneakers). However, Kenkoy’s trademark polished and flat hairstyle remained. On the other hand, Kenkoy’s wife Rosing maintained her traditional image
and demeanor.
languages” usage contemporarily known as "Carabao
English
", ("Kenkoy's English"), “Taglish
”, and “Spangalog” (see Englog
and Filipino language
).
er Mike Hanopol
wrote the song entitled Mr. Kenkoy.
, Eduardo Infante, and Lopito.
Filipino cartoon and animation
Filipino cartoon and animation, also known as Pinoy cartoon and animation, is a body of original cultural and artistic works and styles applied to conventional Filipino storytelling, combined with talent and the appropriate application of classic animation principles, methods, and techniques, which...
and illustrator Tony Velasquez
Tony Velasquez
Antonio "Tony" Velasquez is a Filipino illustrator regarded as the Father of Tagalog comics and as the pioneer and founding father of the Philippine comics industry. He was the creator of Kenkoy, an “iconic Philippine comic strip character”.-Family background:Velasquez was born in Ulilang...
in 1929. Velazquez continued the strip for decades after Ramos' death in 1932. Kenkoy was seminal to Philippine comics and thus Velasquez is considered the founding father of the industry. The term kenkoy has entered the Filipino language
Filipino language
This 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:...
to mean a joker, jester, or a hilarious person.
Description
Kenkoy was a comedic character who wore a baggy pair of pants, suspenders and charol shoes, and had “ironed” or flattened hair.Filipino illustrator and cartoonist Nonoy Marcelo
Nonoy Marcelo
Severino "Nonoy" Marcelo was a Filipino cartoonist born in Malabon, Metro Manila, Philippines, an alumnus of the Institute of Arts and Sciences from Far Eastern University, and a former cartoonist in the The Advocate , best known for creating the character Ikabod Bubwit Severino "Nonoy" Marcelo...
described Kenkoy as a “ludicrous portrait of the Filipino pathetically trying but barely succeeding in keeping up with his American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mentors” (see American Period in Philippine History) and as the “Philippine’s first true pop icon”.
Although with a funny personality, Kenkoy courted Rosing, the Manileña (a woman from 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,...
) who represented the ideal
Ideal womanhood
Ideal womanhood, perfect womanhood, perfect woman and ideal woman are terms or labels to apply to subjective statements or thoughts on idealised female traits.-The concept of the "ideal woman":...
and romanticized
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
Filipino woman – a female who was timid, shy, kind, caring, prone to jealousy, and impeccable – garbed (like Philippine national hero José Rizal
José Rizal
José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda , was a Filipino polymath, patriot and the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. He is regarded as the foremost Filipino patriot and is listed as one of the national heroes of the Philippines by...
’s Maria Clara
María Clara
María Clara, whose full name is María Clara de los Santos, Rizal also described her as Inang Pilipinas is the mestiza heroine in Noli Me Tangere, a novel by José Rizal, the national hero of the Republic of the Philippines...
) in the traditional baro’t saya or the Sunday camisa
Shirt
A shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body. Originally an undergarment worn exclusively by men, it has become, in American English, a catch-all term for almost any garment other than outerwear such as sweaters, coats, jackets, or undergarments such as bras, vests or base layers...
(shirt) combined with the panuelo
Kerchief
A kerchief is a triangular or square piece of cloth tied around the head or around the neck for protective or decorative purposes...
(kerchief), including the bakya
Bakya
The Bakyâ or wooden clogs were once the most commonly used footwear in the Philippines before the introduction of rubber sandals.This footwear is made from local light wood like santol and laniti. It is cut to the desired foot size before being shaven until smooth. The side of the bakyâ is thick...
(a pair of wooden clogs
Clog (shoe)
A clog is a type of footwear made in part or completely from wood.The Oxford English Dictionary defines a clog as a "thick piece of wood", and later as a "wooden soled overshoe" and a "shoe with a thick wooden sole"....
) footwear. Kenkoy’s competitor for Rosing’s love, affection, and attention was the handsome character named Tirso S. Upot (a wordplay meaning “Tirso the Uncircumcised”). Kenkoy eventually won the competition and married Rosing. Kenkoy and Rosing had eight children: their biological children Dayunyor Dyulie, Tsing, Doy, Dalisyosa, Etot, Nene, Piching, and adopted son Tsikiting Gubat, a mute but wily child.
History
The name Kenkoy was derived from common nicknames for the Francisco, namely Kiko, Iko, Kikoy. Kenkoy first appeared on the pages of the Tagalog-language literary magazine LiwaywayLiwayway
Liwayway is a leading Tagalog weekly magazine published in the Philippines since 1922. It contains Tagalog serialized novels, short stories, poetry, serialized comics, essays, news features, entertainment news and articles, and many others. In fact, it is the oldest Tagalog magazine in the...
on 11 January 1929. Kenkoy had always been portrayed in misadventures. Kenkoy was the lead character for the weekly comic strip Mga Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy (The Misadventures of Kenkoy or Kenkoy’s Antics). Mga Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy was translated into several regional languages in the Philippines.
In the 1960s, Velasquez went with the flow of the fashion trend, shedding Kenkoy’s outmoded clothes. He started wearing pairs of pants similar to those worn by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, collared sport polo shirt, and Converse
Converse
Converse is an American shoe company that has been making shoes, lifestyle fashion and athletic apparel since the early 20th century. Converse is one of the earliest pioneers in the sneaker and sporting good industry founded in 1908.- 1908–1941: Early days :...
brand rubber shoes (sneakers). However, Kenkoy’s trademark polished and flat hairstyle remained. On the other hand, Kenkoy’s wife Rosing maintained her traditional image
Maria Clara gown
The Maria Clara gown is a traditional gown worn by women in the Philippines. This Filipino dress takes its name from María Clara, the mestiza protagonist of the national epic Noli Me Tangere, penned in 1890 by Filipino national hero José Rizal. It has been connected to the Maria Clara character...
and demeanor.
Influence on language
Kenkoy, through his creators, was the origin of the “pidgin language” that was the mixture of grammatically-incorrect yet effectively comical “Tagalog, Spanish, and EnglishPhilippine English
Philippine English is the variety of English used in the Philippines by the media and the vast majority of educated Filipinos. English is taught in schools as one of the two official languages of the country, the other being Filipino, a standardized version of Tagalog.English is used in education,...
languages” usage contemporarily known as "Carabao
Carabao
The carabao or Bubalus bubalis carabanesis is a subspecies of the domesticated water buffalo found in the Philippines, Guam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and various parts of Southeast Asia...
English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
", ("Kenkoy's English"), “Taglish
Taglish
Taglish is a portmanteau of the words "Tagalog" and "English" which refers to the Philippine language Tagalog infused with American English terms. It is an example of code-switching....
”, and “Spangalog” (see Englog
Englog
Englog, sometimes Enggalog, is an informal sociolect in the Philippines. The term is a portmanteau of the words ‘English’ and ‘Tagalog’. It is formed by infusing Tagalog words and structures into English, an example of which is called Konyo English...
and Filipino language
Filipino language
This 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:...
).
Influence on music
Filipino musician and composer wrote a libretto about Kenkoy entitled Hay Naku Kenkoy ("Oh My Gosh Kenkoy"). Filipino folk rockFolk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
er Mike Hanopol
Mike Hanopol
Mike Hanopol is a Filipino rock music icon and legend, revolutionary singer, veteran musician, guitarist, pop artist, folk rock star, and recording artist. He was a former bass guitarist for the Juan Dela Cruz Band. He is a pioneer of rock music in the Philippines during the 1970s, along with...
wrote the song entitled Mr. Kenkoy.
Influence on film
A movie version of Kenkoy was created in 1951. The film version was directed by Ramon Estrella and written by Kenkoy co-creator Tony Velasquez. The film featured Filipino actors such as Dely Atay-atayanDely Atay-Atayan
Dely Atay-Atayan, also Adela, Fernando, , born Adelaida Fernando, was a Filipina comedian and singer. Her career in entertainment spanned seven decades, beginning in bodabil and ending in television.-Biography:...
, Eduardo Infante, and Lopito.