Panday (character)

the comic book character

The Panday (Filipino for smith) is a fictional Philippine comics character created by writer Carlo J. Caparas and artist Steve Gan. His stories were first serialized in the comic series Ang Panday ("The Smith") in Pilipino Komiks during the late 1970s. The character, whose real name is Flavio, became a Philippine pop culture icon since it was adapted to film (Ang Panday) in 1980 with Fernando Poe Jr. portraying Flavio and Max Alvarado as his archenemy Lizardo. The film spawned three direct sequels, as well as multiple other more loosely connected films and television series including an animated version.

In the 1970s, Carlo J. Caparas was thinking of a new comics adventure novel due to the wishes of his publisher Don Ramon Roces and then later he came up with a legendary folk hero named the Panday. He patterned the character to look like Fernando Poe Jr. as he instructed the artist and co creator Steve Gan to draw the Panday's face similar to Poe's. Upon making the character, Caparas already conceived in his mind that Poe would be the Panday even before the character was still yet to be portrayed by Poe in film. Their creation first appeared in Pilipino Komiks in 1979 as the comic serial Ang Panday. He has no superpowers and no supernatural weapons. The story of this comics was connected to the 2005 television series Panday aired at ABS CBN and was still penned by Caparas but was drawn by Rico Rival and colored by Richard Bonzon. and an old man named Tata Temyong, loosely "Grandpa Artemio" (played by Lito Anzures) that serves as the Panday's adviser.

Film Starring Produced by Directed by Written by Date released Ang Panday Fernando Poe Jr. as FlavioMax Alvarado as LizardoLito Anzures as Tata TemioBentot Jr. as Lando FPJ Productions Ronwaldo Reyes Carlo J. CaparasFred Navarro December 25, 1980 Pagbabalik ng Panday Fernando Poe Jr. as FlavioMax Alvarado as LizardoLito Anzures as Tata TemioBentot Jr. as Lando Carlo J. CaparasTommy C. David December 25, 1981 Ang Panday: Ikatlong Yugto Fernando Poe Jr. as FlavioMax Alvarado as LizardoLito Anzures as Tata TemioBentot Jr. as Lando Carlo J. CaparasFred Navarro December 25, 1982 Ang Panday IV: Ika apat na Aklat Fernando Poe Jr. as FlavioMax Alvarado as LizardoLito Anzures as Tata TemioBentot Jr. as Lando Carlo J. CaparasFred Navarro December 25, 1984 Dugo ng Panday Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr. as FlavioEdu Manzano as CondeMax Alvarado as Lizardo Regal Films Peque GallagaLore Reyes Peque GallagaLore ReyesDon Escudero January 4, 1993 Pandoy: Ang Alalay ng Panday Joey de Leon as Pandoy Moviestars Production Tony Y. Reyes Tony Y. ReyesVic SottoJoey de Leon June 24, 1993 Hiwaga ng Panday Jinggoy Estrada as Guiller Golden Lions Films Carlo J. Caparas Carlo J. Caparas December 25, 1998 Ang Panday Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr. as FlavioPhillip Salvador as Lizardo GMA FilmsImus Productions Mac Alejandre Carlo J. CaparasR. J. Nuevas December 25, 2009 Ang Panday 2 Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr. as FlavioPhillip Salvador as Lizardo December 25, 2011 Ang Panday Coco Martin as Flavio Batungbakal IIIJake Cuenca as Lizardo CCM Film ProductionsViva Films Rodel Nacianceno Rian HernandezJoel Mercado December 25, 2017

The Ang Panday original film series consisted of four films: Ang Panday ("The Smith", 1980), Pagbabalik ng Panday ("The Return of the Smith", 1981), Ang Panday: Ikatlong Yugto ("The Smith: The Third Act", 1982), and Ang Panday IV: Ika Apat Na Aklat ("The Smith IV: The Fourth Book", 1984). These films all starred Fernando Poe, Jr. as the title character, Flavio and Max Alvarado as Lizardo. After four films starring Poe, other Panday films were produced continuing or rebooting the story line of the original series. The original Ang Panday 1980 film is considered to be one of the most persisting and frequently rebooted film in the action fantasy genre in the Philippines.

In 1993, Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. headlined the film Dugo ng Panday ("Blood of the Smith") as a descendant and namesake of the original Flavio and Edu Manzano as the antagonist. The plot of the film takes place centuries after the first Flavio's death and then his descendant finds the sword because of his pure heart, and takes up his mantle as the Panday. In the film, the Panday is absent and a stable boy named Pandoy became the new blacksmith and he gets rid of the pirates and white slavers led by villainous Redentor (portrayed by Joel Torre) who is terrorizing his town. The story starts as Flavio, the original Panday, finds the meteorite. He is shown fighting the Japanese during World War II, using his sword to deflect bullets, and survives into old age. Mortally wounded after facing a criminal gang armed with automatic rifles, he was able to kill them nevertheless and plant his magic sword into the wall of a small chapel, and only one with a clean heart and noble intentions may pull it out. Lizardo is played by Phillip Salvador who also played Flavio in the 2005 Panday television series. In 2011, a sequel, Ang Panday 2, was also shown in theaters as an entry of 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival, with the stars reprising their roles.

In 2017, it was announced that another Panday film was in the works with Coco Martin set to direct and star as Flavio after Caparas approved the film. The film marked Martin's directorial debut. The film (entitled also as Ang Panday) was eventually shown during the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival. The theme song entitled "Ang Panday" is performed by Gloc 9 and Ebe Dancel. The evil Lizardo is played by Jake Cuenca in this film. As with the previous Panday iterations, Flavio in this film is a descendant of the original Panday. The animated series, the first television adaptation of the Panday character, was created by Geirry Garccia

In 2005, ABS CBN aired a live action Panday television series. It features a young new Panday named Tristan, played by Jericho Rosales, Heart Evangelista as Eden, his love interest, and Victor Neri as Lizardo. Philip Salvador plays a version of Poe's character who appears in the introductory episodes. In this version Flavio defeated Lizardo. However, Lizardo's brain is still alive, and Tristan, a man from the present time, becomes the Panday in Flavio's stead, as Flavio ascended to Heaven. According to Spot. PH, this series is one of best fantasy series in Philippine television.

In 2010, after the film Dugo ng Panday that starred Bong Revilla as Flavio was released, GMA Network aired its spin off, Panday Kids. The series is about the three young descendants prophesied to combat evil and preserve the Panday spirit by protecting the legendary sword. It stars Robert Villar, Sabrina Man and Julian Marcus Trono as the Panday kids. Marvin Agustin played the main nemesis of Flavio, Lizardo, The theme song of the series is performed by Parokya ni Edgar.

In 2016, TV5 aired its first TV series remake of the series, Ang Panday starring Richard Gutierrez as Flavio and his descendants Miguel and Juro. The series was co produced by Viva Television with TV5. Caparas was heavily involved in this project and he said that the series features three parts: a prequel, the story about Flavio and his journey to becoming the Panday, then moving to Miguel in the Spanish colonial period, and then Juro in the present day, as one then the other takes up his mantle as the Panday. In the final arc, Flavio and Miguel are transported to the present day to aid Juro. In this version, Flavio is a foundling and was raised by a priest. He also has a brother who was raised by bad elements. Chistopher de Leon portrayed the antagonist Lizardo.