And this is what everyone seems to want to do now. Just love the man. Especially after being so moved by Zsa Zsa Padilla’s loving song at the tail-end of her speech at the ABS-CBN tribute for the giant of a performer that was with the network for 40 years.
I had somehow sensed I was speaking to him for the last time, when my daughter-in-law Bibeth and I visited him last March 6, in the house he shared with loving partner Zsa Zsa who was unfortunately at work that evening we dropped by.
He was in a wheelchair and on oxygen, but nonetheless smiling, with his twinkling eyes at its trademark best. We talked about how movies were no longer movies, how I was doing as a widow, the impeachment trial still going on, with him noting, “Si JPE, ano? Matulis pa!” and his hearty appetite, with me going, “Buti ka pa malakas kumain, ako, madalas na walang gana!”
I shall sorely miss Dolphy.
Not, that I was particularly close to Zsa Zsa’s “Lovey,” for in truth my relationship with him developed in time, by osmosis.
Through his son Eric, who had appeared in two Reynafilms’ projects: Hihintayin Kita sa Langit, where he won as Famas Best Supporting Actor in 1991, and Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin; a GMA Network telemovie, where he was cast as Jose Rizal, in Adios, Dulce Estranjera; and in Aawitan Kita, where, believe it or not, he sang.
And of course, through Bibeth, now busy with resource person work in the many TV shows and mini-documentaries dealing with the life of the comedy icon, an assignment that fell on her lap after writing Dolphy: Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-isa, published in July of 2008, and by the way in stock again, in all National Book Stores.
The name on everyone’s lips, as I’d noted the first time he turned badly ill some four to five weeks ago, it’s more so now that he’s gone.
Eric Quizon, with three siblings standing companionably close, read this evening of July 10: “My father Dolphy left at 8:34 p.m. following a cardiac arrest. He lived a full life. He’s at rest. He’s 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 so just he could thank you personally. But where his spirit was strong, his body had so weakened. He had to go.
“On behalf of my brothers and sisters, on behalf of everyone who loved him, on behalf of Zsa Zsa, my brother, Ronnie, my sister Dona, my sister Kit, we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
“Pray for his eternal repose and in his honor, please smile at the person standing next to you.
“Heaven is a happier place with him there. And for us whom he’s left behind, comedy’s dead, but long live comedy.”
Eric was soon enough misquoted in Facebook, as having said “Comedy’s dead, but his comedy lives. Heaven is a better place.” Worlds apart from the original version, but the original poster still would not retract, no matter the request sent him to fix up his post.
And then the NCCA released the following statement:
“The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) joins the whole nation in mourning the passing of Rodolfo Vera Quizon, also known as Dolphy, actor, producer, and dubbed as the country’s one and only King of Comedy.
“We fully recognize and appreciate his artistic contributions in the country — encompassing several generations. He was able to lighten the burden of living for many Filipinos because of his sense of humor which appeal very much to the Filipinos, and alleviate national pain, especially during times of crisis.
“While the NCCA recognizes the clamor for the conferment of the National Artist award to him, the policy stands that any nominee should go through the process of selection, which we have earlier explained to the public.
“In this light, the NCCA is one with the whole nation in praying for the soul of Dolphy, a true gem of the film and television industry.”
I’m all for giving Dolphy the National Artist Award, but I agree the process of selection must be followed. There’s no doubt he’ll get it this time around, albeit posthumously, as already, P-Noy has declared his agreement to conferring the award, except that “there is a process.”
It’s this process that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s court brazenly disregarded to accommodate Cecile Guidote-Alvarez and Carlo Caparas that must be fully observed, for a process is a process is a process, and Dolphy himself would not want such to be overturned even if it meant him being the immediate beneficiary.
Meanwhile, Lotis Key is correct: “…they say he may not be eligible for coveted national recognition. I’m sure he would laugh at the thought.
“For over 60 years he’s possessed the biggest award his country has to offer, one that no politician, businessman, or preacher has yet been able to win: The unconditional love of the Filipino people.”
As is filmmaker Joey Reyes, in his chokingonmyadobe.blogspot.com: “Dolphy is more than a National Artist appointed by a committee and anointed by a Palace. The man who made us laugh is a national treasure. And no simple decision of men or laws can make some as priceless.”
Peque Gallaga, on stuartsantiago.com openly states Dolphy is deserving, going as he does “by the belief that an artist changes perceptions of the people around him… the way they look at the world, at their country and at themselves. Dolphy, as well as Fernando Poe did that… helped define us as a people.”
And as UP Sociology Professor and Philippine Daily Inquirer Randy David said, in his preface of the Dolphy book:  
“Narito ang kaniyang iskrip — makulay, masalimuot, buong-buo, bukas. Eto si Dolphy ng pelikula’t telebisyon, mapagbiro at masaya. Pero, sa likod ng komedyanteng singkit na nagpatawa sa halos tatlong henerasyon, narito rin ang isang taong matamang lumilingon sa kanyang pinagdaanan, inuulit-ulit sa sarili ang mga aral na kanyang natutunan. Walang kimkim na galit o sama ng loob, walang panghihinayang, walang paghuhusga, walang pagyayabang.   
“Isang tema ang namumukod sa salaysay ni Dolphy: ang buhay nating mga Pilipino, higit sa lahat, ay umiikot sa pamilya. Sa ating mga anak, kung ikaw ay isang magulang. Sa ating mga magulang at kapatid, kung ikaw ay isang anak. Ang pamilya ang mundo natin. Kasama na rito ang barkada — ang mga kaibigang hindi nagkait ng tulong sa panahon ng kagipitan, ang mga nakasama sa trabaho at nagturo sa atin, ang mga nakasalo sa pagdiriwang at hindi lumayo sa oras ng kabiguan.
“Ang buhay ni Dolphy ay salamin ng isang panahong halos naglaho na, at marahil hindi na makilala. Simple ang moralidad ng mundong kaniyang kinagisnan, tamang-tama sa isang buhay na maikli, mahirap, at kung minsa’y malupit. Eto ang mga batayang prinsipyo: paggalang sa kapwa, pagbibigayan, walang gulangan, pagsaklolo sa nangangailangan, pag-amin sa mga kamalian, paghingi ng tawad, at, higit sa lahat, pananalig sa Maykapal.”
(For comments, write to armida114@yahoo.com)