Reminiscent of JC Leyendecker, this PAYASO cover was published with the artist uncredited. Alfredo Alcala was initially attributed as the artist, based on the influence that JC Leyendecker generally informs Alcala’s work. But Noly Panaligan’s son Hero has since gotten in touch with me to confirm that it was indeed his father who painted the piece. Hero recalls seeing studies of this painting in his grandmother’s house in Malibay.
Noly Panaligan created the Payaso character, and he wrote as well as drew the serialized story on the pages of Tagalog Klasiks in 1953.