Vicatan

Vicente Doria Catan Jr. was born on August 25,1948.The eldest of two children of Vicente Catan Sr. and Paulita Doria.Vic,known by his friends has shown his interests in drawing eversince he was a kid.He was often been scolded by his teachers because of drawing the caricature of them instead of listening to the discussion.Her mother Paulita will always remind him to pay attention to what the teachers is teaching,but he will always answer with a philosophical reasoning"I'm smarter than them why should I listen?"
   At the age 14 Vic was forced to carry the burden of his family.Because of his father illness,he was forced to do the job as bread maker of the family.That time he finally decided to reside in Manila with his family, to look for a better living.They've ended up living in a slum called "Tondo".Vic,loved reading comics ever since he was young.And would love to draw imitating the artworks of popular artists.But he had no idea that time that he would be a great comic artist someday.
    On that same year,Vic encountered a problem with gangs on Tondo.He ran away from the gangsters and accidentally saw a man illustrating at his house, named Joe Saldo(an artist for Aksyon Komiks).He was amazed about the way Joe draws on the paper using a brush.Totally entranced by the way Joe draw,he forgot about the gangster that are chasing him.And when he got home,he made a brush for himself made from chicken feathers.He then begun drawing using his own improvised brush.When Joe saw his chicken brush,he gave him his first chinese brush.
     Later on,an editor from TIKTIK(publisher of Aksyon)was impressed by his drawings and was able to illustrates some short stories for them..Two years later,a certain Mr.Tud(manager of Bookman Publishing)liked his works and ask him to work for them.There he met famous  comic illustrators like  Hal Santiago,(later on become his kumpare) and  Tanchi Mendoza.When he worked for G.Miranda and Sons publishing,he met Francisco V.Coching while working on a nobela"Ebat Adan" of Clodualdo Del MUndo.After a few years,Romy Cloma Asked him if he wants to be an assistant by a very famous illustrator of that time,Nestor Redondo.He accepted the offer and together with Noly Zamora,Arturo Geroche and Edgar Bercasio they became Redondo's artists.
  For the next four years he lived with Redondo,doing everything from household chores to being an assistant artist.There was a time when Redondo made him practice penciling for six months asking him to imitate the style of Jose Luis Salinas a Mexican artist of the Cisco Kid.His practice eventually paid off he had carry detailed style until his death.His idol was Frank Frazetta,Roy Krenkel and Joe Kubert.
  Vicatan made famous illustrations written also by him, during the 80's and 90's while working on GASI.His famous works are: Tabak ni Bulalakaw(shogun komiks),Galaxus(speed),Judoka Warriors(shogun komiks),Kumander Uzi(commander komiks).And some illustrations written by other scriptwriters such as:Jippen,Kamakura,Kung Tawagin Sya'y Matrona,Veronika,Inca Treasure,Katana,Kiwi.He also work on U.S. based comic company.D.C. comiks,THE JAGUAR,MERCENARIES ETC.He also made famous works on newspapers Andromeda(Malaya),Manila 2014(abante).
       On later years of his life,he devoted his time to animation.he even went abroad in Jordan to work at an animation company as a layout artist..When he returned,he worked for FILCARTOONS and sometimes illustrates for comics like Gospel comics and Abante newspaper.His latest and unfinshed work was the LEGEND OF THE DURIAN.
     Vicatan died at the age of 56 May 13,2004 due to cardiac arrest.He was a father of three families,a great mentor to his students,and a intelligent man often misunderstood by others.The man that will always be remembered,..will not be forgotten for his contributions on  filipino comics and to art as well.