Filemon barbasa profile design

The Filbar’s of our youth

by rick olivares

If you talk to any boy who grew up in Manila in the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, chances are they read comics books and they got their weekly fix from Filbar’s.

The shop, named from the first syllables of Filemon Barbasa III’s name, is arguably the first ever comic book specialty shop in the world. Filbar’s was way ahead of its time even before the concept of a comic book specialty shop gained traction in the United States.

Filemon barbasa profile design

Prior to that, comics were sold at bookstores, newsstands, drugstores, and thrift shops. The specialty shop allowed customers to gave fans a hub for their fantasy fix.

However, after more than three decades of selling comic books, Barbasa sold his shop to some of his former clients who opted to retain the name for brand recall.

I caught up with “Fil” as Barbasa is nicknamed to reflect on those time and how comic books helped fulfill a dream of his as a young man coming out of