The man considered by many in the Philippines to be the King of Comedy is dead. Dolphy, Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr in real life, died on Tuesday ages of 83. He had suffered a cardiac arrest.
“He lived a full life,” said Eric Quizon, an actor himself and one of Doplhy’s many children, in an official statement released by the family after rumours of his father’s death broke out in social media.
The younger Quizon, speaking on behalf of the rest of the family, later told the media that “heaven is a happier place now” alluding to his father’s reputation as a great comic, the best in local showbusiness.
For those he left behind, however, the sadness is palpable. The outpouring of emotions from all sectors of society is proof that he was well-loved by the nation, many of whom he entertained with his signature comic acts through hundreds of movies and TV shows, spanning seven decades of a colourful career.
President Benigno Aquino led the nation in paying tribute to Dolphy, calling him the embodiment of the “humble, honest, and helpful” Filipino, who made life easier for his friends and followers in the face of daunting challenges.
“He changed not just his industry, but also the national consciousness,” Aquino said in a statement.
“Through his art, he widened our outlook, he gave us the power to find and cherish happiness in our daily lives.”
Former president Joseph Estrada, an ex-movie action star and a long-time friend of Dolphy, said he joined millions in mourning for a “national artist.”
“His memory will live forever. He was the kindest, funniest, most helpful man I know,” Estrada told AFP.
“He made life bearable for the masses, and his roles sympathised with the plight of the millions of poor Filipinos.”
Born Rodolfo Vera Quizon, many will remember him as his character as John Puruntong, a poor, yet hardworking and honest husband and father of three; here, he was poked fun at by his wealthy mother-in-law and their verbal tussle would often result in hilarious exchanges that endeared John to many Filipinos in the 70s and 80s, a dark period in Philippine history.
The show was such a big hit that eight movies based on it, spanning two decades were also box office successes, introducing Dolphy’s humour and artistry to another generation of Filipinos.
Mang Kevin Cosme, another character he popularised in Home Alond da Riles, also resonated loudly with Filipino audiences with Dolphy capably portraying the struggles of a poor widower trying to raise his children from the slums.
Making fun of hard times is a well-known Filipino mechanism for coping with years of economic distress. In Dolphy, Filipinos found not just a character but a beacon of hope – laughter, as they say, is a great medicine. Dolphy was a pill that made life a bit more tolerable.
In the end, it was Dolphy who had to take some bitter pills to fight severe pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His battle ended on Tuesday at 8.34pm. He is survived by common law wife and actress-singer Zsa Zsa Padilla and 18 children.
Because of his flair for comedy, Dolphy was branded the Bob Hope of Philippines. But his work was not his only legacy; he also made a mark as a true philanthropist, helping poor people and unemployed actors throughout his career.
With inputs from AFP
