From Darna to Cardo: The Filipino Hero Archetype And Where it Stands Today
Cardo Dalisay just didn’t die.
All throughout its seven-year run, Filipino fans eagerly lapped up FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (literally “FPJ’s The Provincial Man,” internationally promoted as “Brothers”). Audiences were anticipating what Cardo Dalisay, the show’s titular character, was up to.
Despite being bombed, beaten, and had his ass kicked by groups of goons, the guy simply refused to die. What’s more, the show continued to go on, literally, despite its home network’s shutdown during the series’ fourth year on TV.
Ang Probinsyano was solely focused on action and drama, but it has managed to outlast other titles with a love team–a tried and tested Filipino formula. What’s more, Cardo was an ordinary policeman with no superpowers or psychic abilities, yet he is regarded as a modern-day hero.
What’s behind the Filipino fascination for hero stories–and are they still making an impact today?
The resurgence of Darna
Thanks to American influence, we have had our fair share of superheroes: Captain Barbell, who gained super strength after picking up his, well, barbell; Lastikman, who bore similar abilities to Plastic Man and Mister Fantastic–but no other protagonist has captured the hearts of Filipino audiences like Darna. The heroine’s story has been adapted into 14 films and 4 TV shows, one of them being the recently-concluded Darna: The TV Series.
And no, Darna is not the Philippines’ version of Wonder Woman. In fact, concept sketches for the heroine were created as early as 1939–two years before the Wonder Woman comics were published.
Mars Ravelo, Darna’s creator, was a huge fan of Superman, and he saw the lack of female superheroes in popular culture. Several publishers and editors rejected the concept, with them stating that female superhero wouldn’t appeal to audiences. It wasn’t until Bulaklak Magazine gave Ravelo a chance with Darna’s initial inception, “Varga,” bringing Darna’s story to light.
Darna’s character was inspired by Ravelo’s mother who single-handedly raised him. He would later describe her as “his champion and hero.” But more than representing a single iconic figure, Darna is a reflection of the Filipino matriarchal society. In his essay The Concept of the Superhero in Filipino Films, Emil M. Flores, a professor from the University of the Philippines, wrote:
The Philippines has had two female presidents and in the typical family, the mother traditionally controls the budget. Thus, while patriarchy may actually rule over Philippine society, the Filipino seems to have no problem with a woman as a symbol of power.
In contrast to Wonder Woman and Ms. Marvel, who were “overt symbols of feminism,” Darna represents the strong yet gentle Filipino heroine who embodied empathy, compassion, and resilience–qualities that Filipinos resonated with then, and still do now.
The Filipino hero archetype
Shortly after Darna’s appearance in the press, more Pinoy superhero stories gained traction in the media, namely, the aforementioned Captain Barbell and Lastikman–also the brainchildren of Ravelo. Decades later, we’re introduced to Panday (“smith”), an ordinary blacksmith who possesses a magical dagger. And of course, who can forget Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah–LGBT+ icon and Carlo Vergara’s homage to Darna?
Why are heroes a recurring theme in Filipino popular culture–and what sets them apart from other characters in different cultures? Budjette Tan, the creator of the wildly popular Trese franchise, points out that “our (superhero) archetype is the underdog that survives.” It’s a common thread in our heroes’ normal, everyday forms: Darna’s alter ego, Narda, is a simple lass from the province, while Enteng, who transforms into Captain Barbell, is a skinny, wimpy boy who is frequently bullied because of his size. Even Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah follows the same formula: Ada is a gay beauty shop owner from a province. There is still that deep-seated notion that humble beginnings will bring you places, and that having a pure heart and good deeds will be rewarded.
Then and now
And while Darna et.al. fight for justice, truth, and the oppressed against monsters, aliens, and other life forms, Cardo Dalisay takes on a completely different slant: tackling crime, corruption, and the forces of malice within the police force and the national government.
Photo courtesy of Rappler
Darna and her other counterparts end up submitting to the rule of law, as Professor Flores points out. Otherwise, they’d end up as “fascists.” Ang Probinsyano, in contrast, finds ways to tackle current events in the Philippines and weave them into its storyline–enough to draw the ire of the Philippine National Police force.
Nonetheless, despite Cardo’s lack of superpowers or magical abilities, what makes Ang Probinsiyano so lovable to Filipino audiences is its value for family and relationships–qualities that Darna, Captain Barbell, and all other Filipino heroes have fought for and protected. It’s a timeless formula that will continue to resonate with Filipino audiences, no matter what shape, form, or SOGIE the protagonists identify with.
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