Dubai: Veteran Filipino artist Romulo 'Romy' Miclat, the creator of Modhesh, one of Dubai’s most well-loved icons, has died at 69 in the Philippines.
Miclat died on Tuesday following a bout with pneumonia, family and friends confirmed to Gulf News.
The multi-talented Filipino architect, illustrator, painter and cartoonist created the character after he was commissioned by a Dubai ad agency. He then ran his own agency in Dubai, Qanatar Advertising and Design, which he founded in 1990.
Miclat was known for his unansuming and self-effacing manner. He loved to play the guitar and was respected by his peers for his great artistic talent.
Romulo Miclat's 2017 self portrait. Facebook
He worked as a illustrator on significant campaigns for regional and local brands.
In a 2007 interview with XPRESS, a Dubai newsweekly and a sister publication of Gulf News, Miclat said Modhesh was the brainchild of a collective design effort, though he said the final input on the character was his.
Modhesh is Dubai’s popular figure symbolising the Dubai Summer Surprises. The character began as a jack-in-the-box mascot was launched in 1997.
In 2001, during a relaunch, Modhesh broke out of the box and became a standalone character, retaining the concertina-style body of his original design – no, it’s not a caterpillar.
The bright yellow colour represents the summer sun, and the seven spikes of hair represent the different emirates, he explained.
“I heard that some people have taken a dislike to Modhesh," he told Gulf News at that time. "But I am very happy that it has become such a huge success.”
Miclat has lived in Dubai since 1982, has been involved in various artistic projects here and in other countries.
Miclat told Dubai-based Filipino magazine Illustrado that he gets fulfillment from seeing how children are so enchanted with his humble creation.
“Maybe the lives of children change a little every time Modhesh comes around to spread summer fun. If that’s the case, then that is enough for me,” he told the magazine.
