When Federico C. Javinal first applied for a job as comic book illustrator, he was rebuffed by the editor of Ace Publications, who told him to "go home and practice some more on his drawings." Later he tried again, with 'Bulaklak Komiks', and was accepted in 1955. A year later, he was approached by Francisco V. Coching, who asked him to be his assistant. Together they worked on many comic titles, such as 'Salabusab', 'Pedro Penduko' and 'El Vibora'. In 1972, Coching retired, and Javinal continued to do illustration work on novels by Amado Yasona.
For many years, he freelanced for the Liwayway Magazine, until he transferred to the Graphic Arts Service Inc., where he illustrated 'Alakdang Bato', a novel which was later made into a movie. Nestor Redondo, an old friend of Javinal, asked him to contribute to several comic books published under the Craft Publication banner. One of the greatest satisfactions in Federico C. Javinal's life must have been when Tony Velasquez, the artist/editor who had once turned him away, asked him to illustrate his 'Mga Kuento ni Kenkoy' for Love Story Komiks.
