Night Dog

Mervin Malonzo on how our Filipino roots go deep into the supernatural.

- Chise Alcantara

A little past midnight, after a long day of errands, meetings, and taking care of Elias, his newborn son, Mervin Malonzo, 32, full-time comic book artist, finally gets to do what he does best—sit down and draw. You might know Mervin from his extremely popular comic, Tabi Po, a story of a newborn aswang named, quite aptly, Elias. Now, before you think this is some sentimental, mushy comic you couldn’t be more wrong. The images in Tabi Po are gory, violent, and full of nudity, but also disturbingly beautiful and full of nuanced meaning in every switch of a panel.

What inspires you to make comics? 

Gusto ko kasing gumawa ng kwento na Pinoy na Pinoy talaga ang tatak at kahit na anong gawin ko, nauuwi talaga ako sa paggamit ng Philippine myth at folklore. Marami nang ibang mga manunulat at artist na gumawa ng sarili nilang take sa temang ito pero wala pa kasing nakakaisip nung nasa isip ko kaya kailangan ko siyang gawin. Sa simula pa naman din alam kong gusto kong gumawa ng sarili kong bali sa origin ng aswang kaya yun ang tinuloy ko.

What do you think makes your work distinctly Pinoy?