PHNO-HL: DOLPHY: A LEGACY OF LAUGHTER; HE WOULD HAVE TURNED 84 THIS JULY 25

DOLPHY: A LEGACY OF LAUGHTER; HE WOULD
HAVE TURNED 84 THIS JULY 25

[PHOTO - Dolphy, whose full name was Rodolfo Vera
Quizon Sr,. was born the second of 10 children in Tondo, Manila, on July 25,
1928, to Melencio Espinosa-Quizon, a ship mechanic, and Salud Vera Quizon, a
home-based tailor.]
MANILA, JULY 12, 2012
(PHILSTAR) By Ricky Lo - The Comedy King is
dead. Long live the Comedy King!
It was curtain call for Dolphy who died at 8:34 last night at the ICU of the
Makati Medical Center (MCC), where he was confined for more than three weeks for
pneumonia.
He would have turned 84 on July 25.
Dr. Jake Marte, assistant patient relations officer of MMC, said, "Mr.
Rodolfo 'Dolphy' Quizon passed away due to multiple organ failure brought about
by severe pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute renal
failure."
He died surrounded by members of his family, some of whom had just arrived
from abroad.
Dolphy is survived by 18 children and Zsa Zsa Padilla, whom he described as
"the last woman in my life." He had wanted very much to marry her but failed due
to legal impediments. He died a bachelor.
Even if he was not conferred the honor as National Artist, notwithstanding
his great contribution to the entertainment industry, Dolphy left behind a
legacy of laughter that has influenced generations of Filipinos during a
colorful career that spanned more than half a century and that covered the
stage, radio, television and film.
Since two years ago when news about his illness was first reported, Dolphy
had been in and out of the hospital due to recurrent pneumonia that struck him
for the 12th time while he was at the Makati Med ICU. Years ago, he underwent a
quadruple heart bypass.
Every now and then, rumors would spread that he had died, which he took with
his characteristic sense of humor, saying he should not be rushed: "Bakit n'yo
ako inaapura? Darating din ako d'yan. Huwag n'yo akong apurahin."
A sadness would appear across his face when, during interviews, names of his
contemporaries such as his teammate Panchito, Chiquito and other comedians were
mentioned. "Wala na silang lahat; ako na lang ang natirira (They're all gone;
I'm the only one left)."
He often repeated the line, "Mamatay man ako at mabuhay muli, mag-aartista pa
rin ako (Even if I die and live again, I will still be an actor.)"
His exposure to show biz began inside a theater where he sold peanuts and
watermelon seeds.
He was 13 when World War II broke out. He helped the family make ends meet by
doing odd jobs like shining shoes, attaching buttons at a pants factory,
stevedoring at the pier and driving a horse-drawn buggy. He passed his free time
watching his idols Pugo and Togo (for comedy) and Benny Mack and Bayani Casimiro
(for dance) in stage shows at the Life Theater and Avenue Theater, both of which
have been demolished.
He started as a stage performer during the Japanese occupation when Benny
Mack got him as a chorus dancer, alternating between Life and Avenue, using the
stage name Golay, later changed to Dolphy.
At 19, he did his first movie, "Dugo At Bayan (I Remember Bataan)," with
Fernando Poe Sr., who first gave Dolphy breaks as a character actor.
In the late 1940s, Dolphy ventured into radio with the help of Conde Ubaldo,
a popular radio writer, joining Pacho Magalona, Tessie Quintana and Baby Jane.
It was Pancho, father of the late Francis Magalona, who recommended Dolphy to
Starmaker Dr. Jose R. Perez of Sampaguita Pictures where Dolphy was groomed as a
comedian initially playing gay characters ("Jack en Jill," etc.) that he
continued to portray in movies that he produced under his own company RVQ
Productions, including such classics as "Facifica Falayfay," "Fefita Fofonggay"
and "Karioka Etchos de Amerika."
But he would bag as FAMAS Best Actor not for a gay character but for a dual
role depicting good and evil in "Omeng Satanasia."
He is best remembered for the long-running TV show "Buhay Artista" (with
Panchito) and "John en Marsha" with Nida Blanca as his with in an inspiring
story about a poor yet happy family. The TV show was made into movies, just like
"Home Along da Riles," the show that followed it.
Dolphy was the only actor who won both Best Actor and Best Actress awards at
the Brussels International Film Festival for playing a comfort gay in "Markova"
in which he appeared with his sons Eric and Epi. Two years ago, he won Best
Supporting Actor for a relatively brief role in "Rosario" at the Manila
Filmfest. His last movie was "Father Jejemon," also shown at a Manila Filmfest,
which stirred a minor controversy because of a communion scene that the church
found offensive.
"I'm a devout Catholic and I will never do anything that will displease the
church," said Dolphy who decided to remove that scene.
When he turned 80, Dolphy had his biography released, titled "Hindi Ko Ito
Narating Mag-isa," written by Bibeth Orteza, coinciding with the launch of the
Dolphy Aid Para sa Pinoy Foundation, Inc., a non-profit and non-stock
organization .
In one of his last long interviews with The STAR two years ago, done at his
home while he attached to an oxygen tank, Dolphy said when asked what he was
proud of as an actor, "I'm proud of what I have achieved. Palagay ko maski
mamatay ako at nabuhay uli, I will still love to be an actor. My life as an
actor is full of happiness. Ang dami ko na ring awards."
And aside from making people laugh, what did he think was the best legacy
that he would be leaving behind?
"Kapag naaalala ko kung tumatawa ang tao, masaya na ako," he smiled.
Thank you, Dolphy, for making us laugh!



Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved




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