WILLIE ON DOLPHY: GAMOT SA
KALUNGKUTAN
[PHOTO - Willie Revillame and Comedy King Dolphy in a duet during
a birthday tribute to Dolphy, titled Talentadong Pidol, on the Kapatid Network
TV5 ]
MANILA, JULY 21, 2012 (PHILSTAR) FUNFARE UPDATE By Ricardo F. Lo
- Years ago when Willie Revillame was down (though not totally out even if his
then ABS-CBN show had just been cancelled), losing almost all his fair-weather
friends, it was Dolphy who consoled him and told him, "Hindi pa katapusan ng
mundo!"
Recalled Willie, "I was then going to the States, not knowing what to do with
my life. Dolphy gave me an envelope and he whispered to me, 'Baon mo!' I was
touched."
And Willie never forgot that.
"I call him Gamot sa Kalungkutan," said Willie in a phone interview with
Funfare Update, "and a lot of other titles such as Bayani ng Masa, Inspirasyon
ng Mahihirap. He was one of a kind."
So when Willie received the sad news last Tuesday night, he promptly
interrupted the Family Apir! segment of his TV5 show Wil Time Bigtime and,
holding back tears, aired a film clip of him doing a song-and-dance routine with
the Comedy King during a birthday tribute, titled Talentadong Pidol, on TV5.
Willie didn't stop there.
He rushed to the Makati Medical Center where Dolphy succumbed to
complications of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) after a month at
the ICU and asked Dolphy's family what they needed.
"They requested me to ask for a discount on the hospital bills (Which
amounted to several millions. — RFL) at binigyan sila ng 25 percent. It was
after midnight but I immediately texted our TV5 big boss, MVP (Manny V.
Pangilinan)."
At the TV5 tribute to Dolphy Thursday night at The Heritage Park where
Dolphy's remains are lying until tomorrow when he's buried also in the same
park, MVP handed the Quizon Family a certificate indicating that they didn't
have to pay a single cent.
"Si MVP ang sumagot sa lahat," Willie added, his voice cracking. "It was also
MVP who came to Dolphy's rescue by signing him up when Dolphy lost his show. He
was idle for almost two years. When Dolphy's contract with TV5 expired, MVP
renewed it and continued paying his talent fee even if he couldn't shoot or tape
anymore."
Willie didn't say it but according to Funfare Update sources, he returned
Dolphy's kindness during his (Willie's) own dark days by assuring Dolphy and his
beloved Zsa Zsa Padilla that they didn't have to worry about Dolphy's medical
needs.
"That was the least that I could do for him," said Willie who also revealed
that when he feels low, all he needs to perk up is to remember how jolly Dolphy
was and all's well with his world again.
"That's why I call him Gamot sa Kalungkutan," he qualified.
Zsa Zsa revealed during her tearful thank-you speech at the ABS-CBN tribute
to Dolphy Wednesday night that Dolphy's month-long confinement at the Makati Med
ICU united the family even if the 18 Quizon children have different mothers,
"even if we are not the conventional family."
Willie sadly noted that the entertainment industry has lost two pillars, both
kings — Dolphy The Comedy King and FPJ The Action King.
"Sana mag-kaisa at maging united na rin ang lahat para sa lalong ikauunlad ng
industriya lalo pa ngayong dalawang haligi ng industriya, dalawang hari, ang
nawala na. Dapat wala ng Kapatid, Kapuso at Kapamilya. We should start being one
big happy family; dapat gayahin ng mga taga-industriya ang ehemplo ng Quizon
Family."
True to form, Willie broke the seriousness of the phone interview when asked
what "legacy" he would want from Dolphy.
"Alam mo kung ano ang gusto kong pamana mula kay Dolphy?" asked Willie,
adding with a pained laughter, "ang kanyang bombilya!"
That would have made the Comedy King laugh inside his gold coffin.
And here are what other comedians have to say about Dolphy:
• Sen. Tito Sotto: Si Pidol is the epitome of a well-loved Filipino.
We should celebrate his life, and pray for the eternal repose of his soul as he
is now called to perform for a much greater audience.
(From Tito's wife Helen Gamboa (photo): Dolphy and I did quite a number of
movies together and I would say that he has a great sense of humor. It was
really fun to be with him. At the same time, I learned a lot from him. He would
always share his experiences in life, and I am amazed by his humility,
compassion and generosity. All this I will never forget. I am honored to have
worked with the one and only King of Comedy. A true National Artist. His legacy
will live forever in the hearts of all Filipino.)
• Vhong Navarro: Ang hirap po para sa akin dahil hindi ako makaiyak
at hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Tinuring ko kasing pangalawang ama si Tatay
Dolphy, siya din ang naging inspirasyon ko kaya ako nag-comedian.
Sobrang dami kong natutunan sa kanya mula nang makasama ako sa Home Along da
Riles at doon niya rin pinaramdam sa akin na para niya akong isang tunay na
anak.
Basta hinding-hindi ko malilimutan ang sinabi niya sa akin na TUMAWA KA AT
ITO'Y NAKAKAHAWA! Basta po nag-iisa lang ang Hari ng Komedya at walang papalit
sa kanya. Kung ano ang sinimulan niya ipagpapatuloy lang din naming mga bagong
comedians. Magiging isa siyang alamat para sa akin.
• German "Kuya Germs" Moreno: Dolphy was selfless. Matulungin lalo na
sa mga nagsisimula pa lang sa showbiz. Pareho kami ng pinagmulan. Siya
nagtitinda ng butong-pakwan sa sinehan at ako naman ay janitor. Siya ang
inspirasyon ko sa pagtatag ng Walk of Fame na katulad ng nasa Hollywood.
• Eugene Domingo: I will always be reminded of the good values I experienced
and I saw when I worked with him. When we shot Nobody Nobody But Juan, I
remember him sitting on a wheelchair to bring him around the set at times when
he seemed tired. He was very professional. There was a scene when he needed to
dance in diapers. It was the first time I saw him in a wheelchair with a nurse
and I was worried. He caught me looking at him and he winked at me saying, "Ayos
lang!" When his son Eric (the director) shouted, "Action!", Dolphy instantly
became his character. For me, that moment was magic!
• Pokwang: Sobrang malungkot talaga at mabigat. Ang unang-unang time
nakita ko si Tatay Dolphy ay sa Baclaran Church, talagang natulala ako nung
makita ko siya, at sabi ko, sana makatrabaho ko siya someday. At nakatrabaho ko
siya sa TV show na Quizon Ave.
During Quizon Ave. siya yung unang-una tumawag sa akin ng "Aru! Aru!" after
Aruray. Tapos minsan pagod kami lahat at nakatulala sa set ng Quizon Ave., may
mga one-liner siya na bibitawan na di mo akalain na bibitawan niya ng ganun, so
di ka nakahanda, buhakhak talaga ang tawa mo. Tapos lagi niya kaming sinasabihan
na pag may bagong komedyante na darating, suportahan n'yo, magtulungan kayo.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
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