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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/tony_velaquez_t.webp" alt="Tony Velasquez" />
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(Kenkoy, with creator Tony Velasquez)
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Starting as a photoengraver at the age of 16 at the Banaag Press in Manila, Tony gave life to the first serialized cartoon strip entitled "Album ng mga Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy," with the first issue published on January 11, 1929 in the Tagalog-language Liwayway Magazine.


Prior to that, his work at the photoengraving of the Banaag Press consisted of putting into print musical compositions of Filipino masters - Nicanor Abelardo, Francisco Santiago, Constancio de Guzman and others.


He grew and honed his drawing skills by accepting "sideline clients" such as pharmaceutical companies promoting their products.


He pioneered in cartoonized advertising, creating cartoon characters to personify consumer products such as “Isko” for Esco shoes, “Tikboy” for Tiki-Tiki Manuel Zamora, “Nars Cafi” for Cafiaspirina, “Captain Cortal” for Cortal, “Castor” for Botica Boie’s Castoria, “Aling Adina Comadrona” for United Drug products, “Charity” for Philippine Charity Sweepstakes, and many others.


All that while, "Kenkoy" continued to “blaze in the tradition of poking fun at contemporary events in a modernizing Philippines.” It continued during the Japanese time - recruited by the Japanese Information Bureau to mouth its health drive in the Philippines. Velasquez was also commissioned to do a daily strip for The Tribune. This was the Kalibapi Family, which depicted the new social order under the Japanese rule.

October 29, 1910: Antonio Velasquez was born in Paco, Manila