Dolphy on ‘wartime Christmases’ and ‘peacetime Christmases’ - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

Because it‘s Christmastime and his starrer for the Metro Filmfest 2000, his very own company RVQ Productions’ Markova: Comfort Gay, is partly set during the war years (Japanese Occupation), it’s inevitable for Dolphy to be asked about Christmases then and Christmases now. He turns misty-eyed at the recollection.

"Those were hard times," says Dolphy who was then already performing on stage under the name Golay (taken from the name of a Chinese hardware store in front of the Orient Theater in Sta. Cruz, Manila, where he was doing comedy skits with the likes of Fernando Poe, Sr.). "Although there was simbang gabi, because the Japanese respected the way we celebrated the holiday season, you could hardly feel the Christmas spirit. Those were hungry years. For dinner, we had lugaw na may tulya. If you had tinapay na may matamis na bao, big time ka na."

Off-stage, Dolphy had to moonlight as a kutsero and hawker of oil (for night lamps which were then in vogue because the city and other places hardly had any electricity) to help make ends meet. Every now and then, their shows would be rudely interrupted by air raids, but the show, once everything was clear, would go on as if nothing happened.
"One time," recalls Dolphy, "We were performing at the Avenue Theater when there was an air raid. In an instant, we dived into foxholes at the orchestra section, pati na mga tao sa audience. When the siren sounded twice sometime later, signalling the end of the air raid, we would return to the stage and the show would continue."

Christmases now are, of course, like heaven which Dolphy usually spends with his family (the present one, with Zsa Zsa Padilla and their daughters Zia and Nicole) abroad (either in Hong Kong or the USA). But Dolphy will be homebound this year because of his Metro Filmfest entry. Who knows, come Gabi ng Parangal night, he might go up the stage to accept a Best Actor trophy (against his predicted closest rival, Eddie Garcia for GMA Films’ Deathrow). In the afternoon of Dec. 24, Dolphy will join the Markova cast for the Parade of Stars, dressed a la mujer, complete with feathered gown and thick make-up.

As usual, he’ll have gifts (always in cash because he has no time to shop for gifts) for his 17 children (18 including an adopted one) and his 30-plus grandchildren. Even if he wants to, Dolphy can’t gather all his families for the traditional family reunion because some of his children have migrated abroad.

His most memorable Christmas happened in the 50s when he landed in jail right on Christmas Eve, right through Christmas Day.

"I just came out of Orient Theater after a show and I threw some firecrackers," says Dolphy. "Unfortunately, doon bumagsak sa loob ng jeep ng police. The cops were armed with Thompsons, having just come from a raid, kaya mga Thompson ang nakatutok sa akin."

Does he expect any gifts from his children and grandchildren in return?
"Not anymore. What they usually send me are cards with touching dedications. Nagpapaligsahan sila sa pagandahan ng dedications, like what they did recently when I guested on Kris (Aquino’s) show. (Some of) my children sent me cards and I was so moved by their dedications that I almost cried."

His wish is for the "gulo sa bansa natin" to disappear with the old year/millennium and for the country to be peaceful and everybody to have a better life next year – and beyond. For himself, he’s wishing only for good health and more years.

As soon as Zsa Zsa’s annulment case (against estranged husband Dr. Modesto Tatlonghari) is resolved by the court, Dolphy will push through with his and Zsa Zsa’s long-delayed plan to get marreied – in Year 2001 hopefully.

"We’ve been together for more than 12 years and it‘s about time we formalized (and legalized) our union," he says.

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Here‘s a rejoinder from Digna Santiago, vice-president of Premiere Entertainment Productions, Inc., to a recent item on Denise Joaquin:

Dear Ricky,

Just a little correction on your feature on Denise Joaquin.

Premiere has not folded up. We just haven’t made films in the past year and a half and we are waitin g for better times to do films using our many have talent contracts like those of Cesar Montano and Rosanna Roces.

Vital Parts, starring Joyce Jimenez and Richard Grieco and which is a Viva-New Horizon-Premiere movie for international release, will hopefully be released next year. Two films of Premiere, Vulcan and the fully -animated Aladdin are also making the rounds of the world market. Moreover, we are actively pursuing our other related business interests.

we would appreciate it if you can print this correction.

Thank you. Merry Christmas and more power to you...and good luck to Denise in her new movie.’ We knew she had great promise when she came to us four years ago.