Wala na ang Hari ng Komedya.
Pumanaw na si Rodolfo Vera Quizon, Sr., o mas kilala sa screen name niyang Dolphy, sa edad na 83.
Naunang kumalat ang balita ng pagpanaw ng beteranong komedyante
sa pamamagitan ng Twitter ngayong gabi, July 10, nang magsimulang
mag-post ng tweets ng pagpapahayag ng pakikiramay ang mga artistang
tulad nina Ruffa Gutierrez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Vice Ganda, at Jim Paredes.
Bagamat nagkaroon ng kalituhan sa pagkumpirma kung talagang pumanaw
na nga si Dolphy, kinumpirma naman sa pamamagitan ng breaking news ng
ABS-CBN, bandang alas-nuebe ng gabi, na sumakabilang-buhay na nga ito.
Ang kumpirmasyon ay mula raw mismo sa long-time partner ng Comedy King na si Zsa Zsa Padilla.
Ayon naman sa inilabas na official statement ng Makati Medical
Center, pumanaw si Dolphy kaninang 8:34 p.m. "due to multiple organ
failure secondary to complications brought about by severe pneumonia,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and acute renal failure."
Kasama raw ni Mang Dolphy si Zsa Zsa at ilan sa mga anak nito nang bawian ito ng buhay.
Ang anak at nagsilbing spokesperson ng pamilya Quizon na si Eric
Quizon habang naka-confine si Mang Dolphy sa hospital ay kasalukuyang
nasa Bataan para sa taping ng idinidirek niyang fantaserye sa TV5, ang Enchanted Garden, nang matanggap niya ang malungkot na balita tungkol sa ama.
Dagli-dagling lumuwas pabalik ng Maynila ang actor-director para damayan ang kanyang mga kamag-anak.
Ipagdiriwang sana ni Dolphy ang kanyang ika-84 na kaarawan sa July 25.
Sa Heritage Memorial Park sa Taguig City ilalagak ang mga labi ng Comedy King.
DOLPHY'S HOSPITALIZATION. Matatandaang isinugod sa
Makati Medical Center nung June 9 ang veteran actor dahil sa sakit
nitong pneumonia. Kinabitan agad ito ng respirator dahil nahihirapan daw
itong huminga.
Ikinabahala ng pamilya ni Dolphy ang sakit nitong Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD), isang kundisyon na naglilimita ng
paglalabas-masok ng hangin sa baga dahil sa paninikip nito.
Noong June 19, ibinalita ni Eric ang bahagyang pagbuti ng kalagayan ni Dolphy.
Anim na oras daw na tinanggalan ng respirator ang komedyante bago ito
ikinabit muli kinagabihan. Sinusubukan daw kasi ng mga doktor ng Comedy
King na palakasin ang paghinga nito.
MANILA, Philippines (4th UPDATE) – Dolphy, dubbed the
country’s “King of Comedy,”whose body of work on stage, movies and
television mirrors the history of Philippine entertainment, died on
Tuesday night. He was 83.
With his lean physique and humble demeanor, Dolphy’s memorable
characters, notably as the down-on-his-luck family man John Puruntong in
the long-running sitcom “John and Marsha,” effectively captured the
travails of the common Filipino who is able to find humor even in the
direst situations.
Dolphy
died after a five-year battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), according to his long-time partner, actress and singer
Zsa Zsa Padilla.
"We would like to inform the public that Mr. Rodolfo 'Dolphy'
Quizon, passed away today, at 8:34 p.m. due to multiple organ failure,
secondary to complications brought about by severe pneumonia, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease and acute renal failure," the Makati
Medical Center said in a statement.
"We join the entire Filipino Community in praying for the soul of
Mr. Quizon and his dearly beloved family and friends. To the Quizon
Family, we extend our deepest condolences," the hospital said.
Caught by surprise
Dolphy's family was caught by surprise over his death on Tuesday night.
According to a medical bulletin issued Tuesday at 4 p.m., Dolphy was said to be responding well to treatment.
"Dolphy underwent dialysis and blood transfusion yesterday.
Platelet apheresis is also being performed. X-ray results show that he
is responding very well to the treatment and recovering from his
pneumonia," the bulletin said.
Doctors noticed, however, that compared to yesterday, Dolphy was asleep most of the time on Tuesday.
"He is not as lucid and active as yesterday, however, and is seldom
awake. Doctors are awaiting other results from the tests and the
treatments, and has advised to give him a rest day today," the bulletin
added.
Eric Quizon, spokesman of the Quizon family, rushed to the Makati
Medical Center after he received information that his father had passed
away.
Dolphy's remains were brought to the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City past midnight.
Colorful love life
Apart from his work as an actor, Dolphy was just as known for his colorful love life.
“Sinasabi ko, huwag pamarisan ang mga ginagawa ko doon. Well, doon
napunta ang buhay ko. Madali akong umibig, magdali akong magmahal kaya
ganoon,” he said in his biography “Dolphy: Hindi Ko Ito Narating
Mag-Isa,” which was released by ABS-CBN in time for the comedian’s 80th
birthday.
Dolphy had 18 children with six women: Manny, Salud, Rodolfo Jr.,
Freddie, Edgar and Raul with Engracia Dominguez; Mariquita, Carlos,
Geraldino and Edwin with Gloria Smith; Ronaldo, Enrico, Madonna and
Jeffrey with Baby Smith; Vandolph with actress Alma Moreno; and Zia and
adopted daughter Nicole with Padilla.
He also had a child, who’s now living in the United States, with Evangeline Tagulao.
Tondo boy
Born Rodolfo Vera Quizon, Sr. on July 25, 1928 to ship mechanic
Melencio Quizon and seamstress Salud Vera in Tondo, Manila, Dolphy was
probably fated to enter show business.
As a young boy, Dolphy sold peanuts and watermelon outside a nearby theater.
He took on other lowly jobs – as a porter and shoeshine boy – amid
the hardships of World War II before trying out as a dancer and chorus
boy at the Avenue and Lyric Theaters, where he took on the name “Golay.”
He reverted to his given name when he was discovered by Fernando Poe
Sr. This led to Dolphy’s first movie “Dugo ay Bayan,” which he made when
he was 19.
In 1952, he joined the stable of Sampaguita Pictures, where his star
slowly began to shine with films such as "Sa Isang Sulyap Mo, Tita" with
Tita Duran and Pancho Magalona,” “Jack ‘N Jill,” “Silveria,” “Tanzan,”
“The Big Broadcast” and many others.
In interviews, Dolphy had said his favorite and most memorable movie
was “Jack and Jill,” where he portrayed a gay character for the first
time. Dolphy also said this was the movie that made him a star.
The country's iconic comedy duo of Dolphy and Panchito was born in
1963, when the two comedians were cast on the ABS-CBN show “Buhay
Artista,” which was conceptualized by ABS-CBN patriarch Eugenio Lopez
Jr. and renowned TV director Ading Fernando.
Two years later, Dolphy founded his own film company, RVQ
Productions, which helped propel his status as the country’s comedy king
with movies such as “Dolfinger,” “Fefita Fofonggay,” ‘El Pinoy Matador”
and numerous others.
TV times
But for many followers of showbiz history, Dolphy’s biggest triumph
was the multi-awarded sitcom “John en Marsha,” with the late Nida Blanca
as his wife and a young Maricel Soriano as his daughter. The TV comedy
series about the struggles of a poor man working hard for his family
while enduring the contempt of his condescending mother-in-law (Dely
Atay-atayan) premiered in 1971 and ran for 15 successful years. It also
spawned eight movies.
It was also around this time when Dolphy was finally recognized for
his acting skills, after he bagged the FAMAS Best Actor prize for the
critically acclaimed “Omeng Satansya.” He also earned raves for his
dramatic turn as a transvestite raising a young boy in Lino Brocka’s
“Ang Tatay Kong Nanay.”
By the late 1980s, however, Dolphy’s career took a downturn after his
controversial breakup with Alma Moreno and news of his relationship
with Padilla.
But in 1991, the comedian staged a major comeback with the ABS-CBN sitcom “Home Along Da Riles.”
Using the same formula that made “John en Marsha” a hit, “Home Along
Da Riles” revolves around an extended Filipino family living alongside
the railroad tracks. Dolphy played the family breadwinner Kevin Kosme,
who works as a messenger and janitor but dreams of working overseas.
While the Kosmes are poor, they, like the Puruntongs, are happy,
maintaining a positive outlook on life.
The series, which ran for 11 years from 1991 to 2002, featured at one
time or another several actors who later on would become major stars in
show business, including Claudine Barretto, Rica Peralejo and Vhong
Navarro.
Later years
Dolphy would once again win an acting award for yet another gay role
when he starred in 2001’s “Markova: Comfort Gay,” about the real-life
story of a Filipino homosexual who was forced to have sex with Japanese
soldiers occupying Manila in World War II.
Dolphy shared the role with his real sons Eric and Epi Quizon, who
played Markova in various stages of the character’s life. All three
shared the Best Perfomer award at the Brussels International Film
Festival.
Amid public clamor to have him declared a National Artist, Dolphy,
who would have turned 84 this month, was awarded the Grand Order of the
Golden Heart by President Benigno Aquino III in November 2010 for his
contributions to art and culture.
It was also in 2010 that Dolphy released his last film "Father
Jejemon," an entry to the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival, for which he
won the Best Actor trophy. It was a double victory for him as he also
took the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in another
entry, “Rosario.”
He also managed to star in a one more television show, “Pidol’s Wonderland,” for TV5.
Sickness
According to the comedian’s son, Eric Quizon, his father was
diagnosed with COPD five years ago. The illness, which hinders the flow
of air to the lungs, is generally permanent and may be progressive over
time.
Likening COPD to cancer, Quizon said Dolphy's illness has developed
into a toxic metabolic encephalopathy, which could lead to sepsis or the
poisoning of the blood.
“It’s a progressive disease. Para siyang cancer pero hindi kasing
grabe ng cancer. 'Yung body niya, patuloy lang siyang manghihina. It’s
like emphysema. Ang ganitong klaseng sakit, five years ago sinabihan na
siya na parang stage 4 ang sakit na iyon. In cancer terms, very critical
na iyon,” Quizon explained.
Reports of Dolphy’s deteriorating health surfaced in late 2010,
triggering numerous rumors about his death. Since then, he had been in
and out of the hospital due to respiratory problems. Quizon said Dolphy
survived ten bouts with pneumonia before the disease hit him again last
June 9.
Yet despite his frail condition, Dolphy still managed to attend the
launch concert of his daughter Zia Quizon last year.“Kahit medyo tagilid
ako kailangan andito ako, bunso ko yan eh. I wish her all the luck,” he
said at the time.
Throughout his battle with his illness, Dolphy maintained his sense
of humor until the end, poking fun at the undying rumors about his
condition.
“Huwag niyong madaliin; darating din tayo dyan,” he once said.
But on Tuesday, the laughter had finally come to a stop.
