Manila: Comedian "Dolphy", screen name of Rodolfo Vera Quizon Jr., now ailing, actress Nora Aunor, and actress-turned governor Vilma Santos have been nominated for the prestigious national artist award.
Dolphy, called Philippines' "King of Comedy," deserves the title for his contribution to Philippine cinema, said Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
The government should give him recognition now, said Estrada, adding, "He is the (country's) only King of Comedy then and now. No one could dispute and no one could possibly take that title from him."
President Benigno Aquino III conferred Dolphy the Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart, the highest award given to a private citizen by the President of the Philippines last November 2010.
Congressman Anthony Rolando Golez Jr. filed last week a resolution which called for the granting of the national artist award to Aunor.
She has unparalleled achievement as an actress, said Golez.
But Senators Francis Escudero, Lito Lapid also said that Batangas Governor Santos should also be conferred the same title.
Sen. Ralph Recto is married to the governor.
"They are good actresses. They deserve to be declared national artists," said Senator Lapid, who mentioned other names, making the list of contenders include former President Joseph Estrada and actor Eddie Garcia.
"These three actors (Dolphy, Estrada, and Garcia) have been instrumental in the development of our local cinema," said Sen. Lapid.
In reaction, Sen. Chiz Escudero said, "I have no objections if they (fellow senators) file bills to declare Vilma and Dolphy as national artists."
"But do we have to legislate to declare someone as a national artist? I know this could be done through executive fiat," Escudero explained.
In 2010, the administration of former President Gloria Arroyo conferred a posthumous national artist award to action star Fernando Poe Jr.
Observers said it was meant to appease his family which claimed that he was cheated in the 2004 presidential polls.
His family, led by actress Susan Roces, rejected the offer.
In the past, the national artist award was chosen from a field of visual artists, musicians, creative writer, and film directors
