DOLPHY: PIDOL FOREVER
MANILA, DECEMBER 5, 2010 (STAR) CONVERSATIONS With Ricky Lo Dolphy himself is no doubt the best trophy he could have earned in his 66 years in showbiz, making millions laugh in his unchallenged reign as King of Comedy. He hasn't been declared a National Artist despite the clamor from all sectors but the public has long considered him a National Treasure.
At 82 (last July 25), Dolphy has not hidden anything about himself, not even the "dark" side. His life is an open book read by everybody, and there's hardly any need to retell any aspect of it here.
So what else is new about Dolphy?
He has just released an album titled Handog ni Pidol: A Lifetime of Music and Laughter (PolyEast Records) containing the following songs, all handpicked by Dolphy himself and Zsa Zsa Padilla, his beloved home companion for 20 years: Handog (the carrier single, a revival of Florante's composition), The Way You Look Tonight, What A Wonderful World, and Tequila (Sunrise) and Tequila (Sunset) which serve respectively as the intro and extro of the CD. Other tracks include You Make Me Feel So Young (a duet with Zsa Zsa), If (Zsa Zsa's solo, the couple's theme song), May Sakit Ang Tao sa Ilalim ng Kubo (a hilarious number with Mar Lopez), Sitsiritsit/Ang Pipit Medley (with son Vandolph), and You're Just In Love (I Wonder Why) with daughter Zia.
He has also just wrapped Father Jejemon for the 2010 Metro Filmfest, directed by Frank Grey, in which Dolphy plays a lovable if somewhat quirky priest whose full name is Jeremiah Jerome Montes, a.k.a. Fr. Jejemon. His co-stars are Cherie Gil, Maja Salvador, Ejay Falcon, Tony Mabesa, Roy Alvarez, Nash Aguas and Rhap Salazar.
Last Thursday afternoon when Conversations paid him a visit at his and Zsa Zsa's 27th-floor condo unit at the Washington Towers in a reclaimed area in Pasay City, Dolphy was his usual dapper self, dressed as usual in his favorite color…white pants and white long-sleeved shirt. He spoke very slowly, very softly, but the wit and humor were still there as he looked back and looked ahead, recalling past Christmases.
Earlier, while waiting for Dolphy to freshen up in his room, Zsa Zsa told us that they have been renting the condo unit since July while their house nearby ("Which is 19-years old," she said, "as old as our daughter Zia") is being renovated, with large portions of its steel reinforcement having corrugated and the insides of the floor eaten up by termites.
"See that grassy portion near the sea?" asked Zsa Zsa as we looked down through the glass window. "That's where Michael Jackson had a concert a few years ago. It used to be a concert venue. Now, it's covered by tall grass."
When Dolphy emerged from his room, he looked as if he had just taken a siesta.
It's Christmastime again. What thoughts come to your mind in a season like this?
"Nari-recall ko 'yung lumalabas ako noong araw sa abroad and I would be missing my family back home. Ngayon, hindi na. Naalala ko na 'yung dito ngayon. Before, I would visit their houses, apat lahat 'yon, every Christmas. The last house I would visit was that of my mother. Some members of my family are gone now. Ngayon, every Christmas sila na ang pumupunta dito sa bahay."
How will you spend Christmas this year?
"The same. They will come here. But we are not complete anymore. Marami nang wala rito. Seven of my children are living abroad. One of them came home from L.A. Sinalubong namin sa airport kanina."
[PHOTO - The Comedy King on the cover of his album Handog ni Pidol: A Lifetime of Music and Laughter, released by PolyEast Records]
What are some of your memorable Christmases?
"'Yung Christmas during the war. Malungkot 'yon! It became even more sad when we heard Christmas songs habang naghihirap kami. Naluluha kami kapag naririnig namin si Bing Crosby kumakanta ng Christmas songs. We were living in Tondo at that time. Habang tinutugtog ang Hark the Herald Angels Sing we would see dead people on the street after a raid. Hindi pinapansin, parang mga daga lang. The curfew was 5 o'clock."
What's your favorite Christmas song?
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." (Proceeds to sing, though weakly). "I love that song, especially the line 'Through the years we all will be together if the fates allow...' Malungkot ang kantang 'yan, di ba?"
At this stage of your life, what are you proud of as a father?
"Well, proud ako na hindi ko sila pinabayaan maski kung minsan ay wala ako sa piling nila. I provided for them. 'Yung pagkukulang ko kapag wala ako, pinupunuan ko naman."
Spoiler ka raw sa mga anak mo.
"Not really. Okay lang. Na-i-spoil ko lang sila siguro kapag buwanan na hindi ko sila nakikita."
Do you play favorites among your 17 children?
"Hmmmm, kung minsan but I don't show it."
As an actor, what are you proud of?
"I'm proud of what I have achieved. Palagay ko, maski mamatay ako at mabuhay uli, I will still love to be an actor. My life as an actor is full of happiness. Ang dami ko na ring awards."
I listened to the songs on your album. Ang gaganda! What's your favorite among the songs on it?
"Handog. Bagay sa aming mga artista."
What's your favorite line from it?
(Proceeds to sing again, though weakly) "…tatanda at lilipas din ako ngunit mayroong konting tawanang iiwanan sa inyong alaala…"
Aside from making people laugh, ano sa tingin mo ang pinakamagandang alaalang iiwanan mo?
"Well, uhm, I think that's it. Kapag naaalaala kong tumatawa ang tao. Masaya na ako."
I read your autobiography (written by Bibeth Orteza). Is it your complete life story?
(Laughs a bit) "Hmmmm, maraming kulang, sa haba ba naman ng buhay ko."
Such as what?
"'Yung mga chicks na hindi ko na binanggit d'un."
How many of them all in all ba?
"Marami. I don't want to mention their names na baka sabihin nagyayabang ako. Besides, all of them are happy naman sa buhay nila." You are forever a bachelor (not having married any of the women he has been involved with, not even to his beloved Zsa Zsa whom Dolphy described as the last woman in his life).
"Oo, binata habang buhay."
Are you frustrated that you and Zsa Zsa aren't able to get married up to now (due to legal technicalities)?
"It doesn't bother me anymore. I have given up on it. We've been together for 20 years at masaya naman kami. Okey na 'yon, tama na 'yon."
No regrets? Is there anything that you wanted to do but didn't have the chance to?
"Wala na. As an actor, I have played all kinds of roles. In Jejemon, I play a priest."
Is there any role that you haven't played?
"Well, kontrabida. A, I was a bad guy in a movie where I played a dual role --- isang mabait at isang hindi. But it was not really a kontrabida role."
Can you count how many movies have you done so far?
"Hindi ko na mabilang, eh."
I think almost 300. What are your three favorites?
"Jack & Jill. Facifica Falayfay. John en Marsha (with Nida Blanca, which started as a sitcom and then done into a movie)."
Recently, you were awarded The Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart by Pres. Noynoy Aquino.
"Ang haba ng title, ano!"
You should have been named a National Artist long ago.
"Ang dami pang requirements bago ka maging National Artist. I don't really know. If ever, palagay ko si Pres. Noynoy din ang magbibigay n'un. Napakabait na tao ni Pres. Noynoy. Everybody knows that I campaigned for (Sen. Manny) Villar noong eleksyon, pero binigyan pa rin ako ni Pres. Noynoy ng award. That's why I say na napakabait n'ya. Binato ko siya ng bato, binato n'ya ako ng tinapay."
Aside from the hardships you experienced during the war, what were some of the critical periods in your life?
"Lahat ng sakit nalampasan ko. Na-bypass na ako. I suffered from kidney ailment but instead of opening me up, pinasabog nila 'yung mga bato sa loob. 'Yung asthma ko naman, nandyan lang 'yan."
When you were hospitalized recently, a rumor spread that you were dead or dying, but you just shrugged it off.
"Sabi ko nga, 'Bakit n'yo ako inaapura? Darating din ako d'yan; huwag n'yo ako apurahin.' I've been rumored to have died several times. 'Yung isa ngang nagtsismis na namatay na ako, eh, nauna pa sa akin."
You have a strong faith in God.
"Oo naman." (Pointing to a small, old Sto. Niño medal that he wears as pendant anywhere he goes) "I pray to the Sto. Niño all the time. And also to the Nazareno."
What do you usually pray for?
"I don't pray for myself but for everybody around me. I pray na maging meaningful pa ang remaining years ko."
Kapag Christmas, do you still make a wish?
"Oo naman."
What's your wish this Christmas?
"Mayroon din, not for myself but for my loved ones."
If you were not an actor, what would you have been?
"I would have been dead a long time ago. I grew up in Tondo. Karamihan sa mga nakasama ko doon naging goons, eh. Some have been killed; some landed in jail. Hindi naman sa inaano ko ang Tondo dahil mahal ko ang Tondo, doon ako lumaki, pero blessing din na na-separate ako doon sa barkada nang pumasok ako sa showbiz."
If you were to live your life all over again, would you live it the same way — you know, still be an actor and love the same women you have loved?
"I won't change anything. Very colorful ang buhay ko. Ang dami kong narating na hindi ko akalaing mararating ko."
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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