I used to think comedians — Pinoy comedians — were overrated. That was before I realized how hard it is to make people laugh. Try it yourself, and if you are blessed like Dolphy, you could have anyone in stitches in just minutes.
Dolphy, crowned King of Philippine Comedy decades ago, remains the undisputed leader in this realm. Oh, there have been many others who have followed in his wake, including is own son Vandolph. But no one has dared challenge his title. It seems the best comedians are wont to claim glory when they can help it. And frankly, no one has quite come close to being like Pidol — as they say in movies, there can only be one.
Like many comedians in the Philippines, Dolphy made a name for himself in this popular genre, playing clownish leading man roles to clownish gay roles. Viewers in the past could rely on facial expressions, cartoonish sound effects and some harmless Pinoy profanity to get them giggling. To some, it may seem simple, but actors like Dolphy would beg to differ. It is not a simple matter to make people laugh, especially those who encounter so many challenges in their daily lives.
And because life has not gotten any better for millions of Pinoys, such comedic plots remain common fare on TV and film although one may have noted some development in the Pinoy sense of humor through the decades. From classic slapstick, we now enjoy stand-up comedy, as well as smarter plots and dialogs.
In any case, Dolphy has always excelled in his craft. He can simply say a line with a twinkle in his eye and it would be funny. Not many can boast of such prowess.
And that is why he remains almost godlike in the industry. Dolphy in his prime knew how to tickle the Pinoy funnybone. In spite of the dramas in his real life, Dolphy could always be counted on to entertain. Like his friends Erap and FPJ, Dolphy has always had the Pinoy masses at the palm of his hand, the difference is he had them mostly laughing, forgetting their sorrows or making them regard life with less heaviness.
For their part, Erap and FPJ were huge because they excelled in action movies, making their characters so believable, their millions of fans could actually believe they were as heroic and good as the roles they played. That is not to say that they were not — we had seen the sincerity and good intentions of men like former Philippine president Joseph Ejercito Estrada and would-have-been president Fernando Poe Jr.
The point is, men like Dolphy, Erap and FPJ are one of a kind. Few can claim such abiding hold on the masses’ affection through so many eventful decades — through thick and thin, through scandal and intrigue, through good times and terrible times.
Erap was deposed, jailed and rose again. FPJ was defeated in the political arena yet his believers never waned. Now Dolphy is suffering through an illness and the heavens are being stormed with prayers. One might ask — what is the fuss about this comedian, who has had his heyday, has lived life to the full (perhaps overfull, in some respects), and now lies ill?
The truth is, one may have never met the man, but in a way, he feels like part of one’s family. His movies made generations laugh and cry, his portrayals mirrored reality for so many, and his craft made people believe in hope and tomorrows in spite of seemingly insurmountable odds.
Dolphy, never considered matinee idol handsome, showed that one may not possess all the social advantages, but can walk away into the sunset with the best-looking women.
Dolphy, always taken for granted, perhaps, never taken as seriously as he should have been as an artist, is having the last laugh because he can count on the faceless masses to defend his right to honor and acclaim.
Dolphy, for all his private sorrows and physical agonies, always keeps a grin on his face, showering assurances, spreading positivity.
This, perhaps, is one of the best gifts he has given this long-suffering nation.
Keep smiling, Mang Pidol!