EDITORIAL

PH Mourns Dolphy’s Passing

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III leads the nation in  mourning for the comedy king, Dolphy, who passed away Tuesday night, July 10 after a long bout with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

In a statement, Aquino extended his condolences. He acknowledged Dolphy was the embodiment of hope amid trials. 

“For a long time, Dolphy showed us that we can surpass trials. He was aware of hardships but taught all of us to always look at the brighter side,” Aquino said.

He also noted that Dolphy changed not only the movie industry.

“Binago niya hindi lamang ang kaniyang industriya, kundi maging ang pambansang kamalayan: sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang sining, pinalawak ni Dolphy ang ating pananaw, at binigyan tayo ng kakayahang suriin, pahalagahan, at hanapan ng ngiti ang mga pang-araw-araw na pangyayari sa buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” Aquino said.

The President added that the good-hearted Dolphy symbolized a typical Filipino: joyful, one who loves well, who knows how to respect others, and knows how to face trials.

“Nagmula siya sa isang henerasyong dumaan sa maraming pagsubok—at sa pakikipagsapalaran ay natutong maging mapag-pakumbaba, matapat, at matulungin. Hindi kailanman niya tinalikuran ang mga kaibigan, at ang sambayanang naging bukal ng kanyang mga tagumpay,” he added.

“Nakikiisa ako at ang aking pamilya, sampu ng ating mga kasamahan sa gobyerno, sa pagluluksa ng Pamilya Quizon ngayong gabi. Ang pagpanaw ni Rodolfo Quizon Sr.—ang nag-iisang Hari ng Komedya—ay tiyak na nagdudulot ng lumbay sa isang bansang matagal niyang pinasaya,” the President added.

Last June, Malacanang was urged by Vice President Jejomar Binay, among other groups, to name Dolphy a “National Artist” but the comedy king did not live to see the day. 

The National Artist Award is the “highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts,” according to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Apart from the prestige and a medal, a National Artist is entitled to material and physical benefits that include a monthly pension, hospitalization benefits, and arrangements and expenses for a state funeral. For posthumous awardees, legal heirs are entitled to P75,000.

Should Dolphy be officially nominated, his candidacy will still have to undergo several deliberations by the Commissioners of the NCCA and the Board of Trustees of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Original Crime Stopper

“If people today marvel at how time stands still when (Manny) Pacquiao has a fight, “Buhay Artista” was the original traffic crime stopper as the whole nation stopped and watched Dolphy and Panchito, and ever since that show, Mang Dolphy has been part of the public limelight,” Gabby Lopez said.

He added that the Comedy King was “an extraordinary person who became a symbol for the ordinary Filipino.”

“He is an inspiration to all of us in the broadcast business with his humility his talent and above all his ability to constantly reinvent himself to live and fight another day. Paalam Mang Dolphy, to all of us here at ABS-CBN, you will always be a kapamilya,” Lopez went on.

The Comedy King’s remains was transferred from Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig to Dolphy Theatre, where a necrological Mass was held at 6:30 pm on July 11.

Dolphy’s son Epi Quizon, Kapamilya stars Vhong Navarro, Ryan Bang, Jhong Hilario, Gio Alvarez and Isabel Granada and ABS-CBN executives Cory Vidanes, Deo Endrinal and Johnny Manahan were present at the tribute to the Comedy King.

Public viewing is set at 9:00 P.M.  /MP