STAR columnist Danny Dolor is Dr. Jose R. Perez Memorial awardee

MANILA, Philippines - Art patron and cultural worker Danny Dolor is this year’s recipient of a special award from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), the coveted Dr. Jose R. Perez Memorial Award. Dolor received the trophy at awards rites held last Dec. 10 at the Tanghalang Leandro Locsin, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) from Marichu Vera Perez-Maceda, daughter of the great producer and star builder after whom the FAMAS special award is named.

Dolor was cited for his contributions to Philippine cinema, including mounting an exhibit and publishing a book, both billed The Golden Years: Memorable Tagalog Movie ads, 1946-1956. His Sunday column in The Philippine STAR, Remember When?, is now on its 18th year. Next year, Dolor will publish the biography of movie queen Carmen Rosales, written by Manny Fernandez.

All these years, Dolor has been paying literary-musical tributes to great artists, some of whom have linked with Philippine movies: Sylvia La Torre, Tito Arevalo, Atang de la Rama, Constancio de Guzman, Nicanor Abelardo, Dely Magpayo, Santiago Suarez, Jose Corazon de Jesus and Carmen Rosales.

The Dr. Jose R. Perez Memorial Award occupies a special place in Danny Dolor’s library where his many trophies, medals, citations and plaques are displayed. They include Dangal ng Haraya (lifetime achievement award from NCCA for cultural promotion); Outstanding Manilan 2004; Surian ng Wikang Pambansa (Institute of National Language) citation for propagating Pilipino through musical/cultural presentations; Papal Award for his contributions to the Catholic Church.

Dolor treasures the FAMAS special award as he is close to the Vera-Perez family, especially Mrs. Maceda. As a teenager in the ’50s, he used to watch movies produced by Dr. Jose R. Perez for Sampaguita Pictures.