NATION IN MOURNING: "SMILE FOR MY DAD" - ERIC;
/VIDEO: TEARS FLOW AS ZSA ZSA SINGS
[PHOTO -
Relatives and friends of Dolphy pay tribute to the King of Comedy at the
Dolphy Theater inside the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City yesterday. A public
viewing of Dolphy's remains was also held at the theater last night. Jonjon Vicencio]
MANILA, JULY 12, 2012
(PHILSTAR) By Aie Balagtas See - Rodolfo
"Dolphy" Vera Quizon took center stage yesterday for the last time, but
Filipinos who lined the streets where his funeral cortege passed did not laugh
or smile the way they always did when they watched the King of Comedy perform.
Dolphy passed away at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, leaving behind a legacy that spanned
six decades and included around 200 movies and several acting awards. He was 83.
"In his honor, please smile at the person standing next to you," said
actor-director Eric Quizon on Tuesday night, as he announced the passing of his
father. "Heaven is a happier place with him there and for us whom he has left
behind, comedy is dead, but long live comedy."
With cameras rolling, the funeral convoy left Heritage Park in Taguig City,
passed his Marina Bay Town East home in Parañaque and proceeded to ABS-CBN's
Dolphy Theater in Quezon City where numerous personalities paid their last
respects and gave high tribute.
A sobbing Zsa Zsa Padilla, Dolphy's partner for 23 years, brought the actor's
coffin inside their house for a few minutes.
"He lived a full life, he is at peace. He knew as he was going how much the
country loved him, he knew how everyone was praying for him and if he could, he
would have stayed just so he could thank you personally. But while his spirit
was strong, his body had so weakened. He had to go," Quizon said.
"In behalf of my brothers and sisters, in behalf of everyone who loved him,
in behalf of Zsa Zsa, we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts," he added.
Dolphy goes home
Some of his fans – one of them had patronized his movies since jeepney fares
were only 10 centavos – flocked to the memorial park early Wednesday morning to
pay their last respects.
"Since I was child, I was already his fan. I think the fare was only 10
centavos then," said vegetable vendor Erlinda Avila.
Avila had waited at the park since 7 a.m. but went home after learning that
the public viewing – which will run from Thursday to Saturday – will only start
today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The remains of the comedy king left the park at 1:40 p.m. and were escorted
by mobile patrol cars and motorcycles of the Taguig City police.
Vehicles carrying Padilla, Dolphy's children, grandchildren, and close
friends joined the convoy that made the last wish of the comedy king come true:
To go home.
Emotions were high as ABS-CBN bosses, talents and employees gathered to pay
their last respects to one of the network's biggest stars for more than four
decades.
Network execs led by chairman Gabby Lopez were in full force as the funeral
cortege – accompanied by son, actor Epi Quizon and some family members – arrived
past 3 p.m. at the theater named in Dolphy's honor in 2007.
The gold casket was carried by his closest friends in the network, including
director Johnny Manahan, actor Vhong Navarro and other former co-stars in "Home
Along Da Riles," his last ABS-CBN sitcom, which ended in 2003.
Lopez was emotional as he paid tribute to Dolphy, whose first starring TV
role was in ABS-CBN's "Buhay Artista" in the 1960s and who would later on became
a close friend of his father, Eugenio "Geny" Lopez Jr.
"It is truly fitting that Mang Dolphy comes here to ABS-CBN before he goes to
his final resting place… The passing of Mang Dolphy is really the end of an era
of TV watching in the Philippines. He was more than a comedian; he exemplified
in many ways the best in the Filipino, with his humble demeanor, his generosity
and compassion, and his ability to roll with the punches and evolve through the
years. He will always live in the heart and soul of ABS-CBN. He is an
inspiration to all of us here. Mang Dolphy, you will always be a Kapamilya,"
Lopez said.
For comedian Navarro, the death of Dolphy was like losing a father. He said
that his Tatay Dolphy served as his mentor, who not only fought for him to
remain in "Home Along Da Riles" when he was about to be taken out of the show,
but who also taught him how to make audiences laugh even if they were going
through personal problems.
Apart from the arrival honors and open casket viewing, ABS-CBN also held a
necrological Mass and service for Dolphy yesterday.
It will be TV-5's turn to pay its respects today at the Heritage Park. Dolphy
signed up with the network in 2010 and did a weekly comedy series, "Pidol's
Wonderland."
National Artist award long overdue
Malacañang said President Aquino will visit the wake of the Comedy King but
there is no specific schedule yet.
"I did ask the President and he said that he intends to visit the wake of
Mang Dolphy. However, we have no schedule yet," deputy presidential spokesperson
Abigail Valte told a news briefing.
She could not categorically say, however, whether the government would accord
the late comedian the National Artist award, although Aquino "personally
believes in the contributions of Dolphy to his industry and to the numerous
people."
"We don't want to preempt the selection process," Valte said, noting that the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of
the Philippines (CCP) would be the ones to make the decision.
According to Palace Undersecretary Manolo Quezon, Quizon is "deemed
nominated" for the award.
Valte said the NCCA has gotten clearance from the Office of the Solicitor
General to proceed with the screening and the vetting of nominees for National
Artist for 2012.
"The President obviously has very great respect for Mang Dolphy," Valte
pointed out, citing the Order of the Golden Heart award that Aquino bestowed on
him in 2010.
The child welfare group Akap Bata criticized President Aquino for lacking
political will to give Dolphy the award, which he could have fast-tracked, but
never did.
"Even if President Aquino, the NCCA and the CCP will confer the National
Artist awards posthumously, it will not have the same weight if it were given to
him while he was still living and would be able to appreciate the recognition,"
the group said in a statement.
The Order of National Artist is a title given to a Filipino in highest
recognition for having made significant contributions to the development of
Philippine arts.
"Like most Filipinos, we believe that Dolphy deserves the award. But even if
it will not be given to him posthumously, what matters is that he is a National
Artist in the hearts of the people," Arlene Brosas, national secretary-general
of Akap Bata, said.
A nation in mourning
At the House of Representatives, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. led lawmakers
in expressing their condolences to the bereaved family and said the chamber
would honor the well-loved comedian.
"We condole with his family and likewise express our gratitude and respect
for his talent and gift of laughter to Filipinos of different generations and
from all walks of life," he said.
He said Dolphy's humor "is the type of humor that is an outgrowth of the
culture of the Filipino people, the Filipinos understand it."
Belmonte said the chamber would grant the highest honor fit for Dolphy.
Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also expressed
condolences and sent flowers to the wake.
Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto
III, Senators Manny Villar Jr., Ramon Revilla Jr., Loren Legarda, Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. and Francis Pangilinan were among the first batch of senators who
sent prayers and condolences to Dolphy's family.
"Dolphy has been called to perform for a greater audience. God bless his
soul," Sotto said.
Villar said his family will forever be indebted to the actor for his
friendship and for helping him in his failed presidential bid in 2010.
He also joined calls that Dolphy be declared National Artist.
Revilla and Estrada, both also actors, paid tribute to Dolphy's vast
contributions to the country's culture and arts.
Estrada said he was to file a resolution to support calls for Dolphy to be
conferred as National Artist once Congress resumes on July 23, but he was
overtaken by events. He vowed to still work on this in the next two weeks.
In his Twitter account, Pangilinan said he and his family "are deeply
saddened" by Dolphy's passing.
"It's not only the comedian that we will miss but the man. I have good
fortune to know him as a genuine, generous, humble and a true gentleman to
boot," Marcos said.
Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone filed House Bill 6392 declaring July 10 of
every year as "Dolphying Day" or "Filipino Fun Day" for families.
Several other lawmakers also extended their sympathies and condolences to the
Quizon family.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim ordered Philippine flags in all of the city's public
elementary and high schools as well as colleges flown at half-mast and wrote the
city council to pass a resolution expressing the city's deep sympathy and
condolences.
"His death is mourned not only by the city of Manila and its populace but
also by the entire country," he said in a letter to the council.
During the week-long celebration of Manila's 441st founding anniversary last
month, Lim conferred on Dolphy the highest award given to Manilans who have
shown excellence in the arts. - Delon Porcalla, Paolo Romero, Christina Mendez,
Sandy Araneta, Helen Flores, Evelyn Macairan, Rey Galupo, Cecille Suerte Felipe,
Jose Rodel Clapano, Non Alquitran, Nathalie Tomada
TRIBUTE TO DOLPHY: THE TEARS FLOW AS ZSA ZSA PADILLA SINGS
VIDEO: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/-depth/07/11/12/tears-flow-zsa-zsa-sings-through-years#ooid=xjd3RjNTqTwM-rKSelrJHAPSL0d5y5PH
SHORTENED URL: http://alturl.com/nivj7
Dolphy's long-time partner Zsa Zsa Padilla on Wednesday talked about the
comedian's resiliency and how his ordeal brought their whole family together.
Padilla also thanked those who were there for Dolphy while he was still
battling his illness. She also recalled how Dolphy was as a partner.
Ending her speech doing what she does best, Padilla brought the star-studded
audience to tears as she sang their theme song "Through the Years" a capella. --
ANC Live Events, July 11, 2012
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved
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