'National Artist award for Dolphy least of his family's concerns'

MANILA, Philippines - A National Artist award being bestowed on veteran comedian Dolphy is the least of his family’s concerns, his son Eric Quizon said yesterday.

“If he (Dolphy) will be awarded, that’s good. We will be glad but nonetheless it’s the least of our worries. We are not thinking about it,” Quizon said.

The actor/director said the ailing comedian’s entire family is overwhelmed by the continuous show of love, prayers and support by fans and fellow members of the local showbiz community.

Dolphy, Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr. in real life, remains confined at the Makati Medical Center where he was rushed last June 9. The veteran comedian, 83, was diagnosed to be suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

“We are not the ones demanding for the award but it is the people around him, but right now we only want our father to get better,” Quizon said.

He said his father would be undergoing dialysis following the results of his blood test.

Quizon earlier said dialysis was not considered an option for his father.

However, the doctors approved of the procedure for as long as Dolphy can handle it, he said.

A hospital staffer said the veteran comedian tries to open his eyes when he hears his name called. Dolphy also tries to respond when someone talks to him, the source added.

“The doctors were saying, how can we give up if the patient is not giving up. My dad is really fighting,” Quizon said.

Quizon also expressed thanks to all the people who prayed for his father’s recovery since the day he was placed under critical condition.

“After I publicized that he (Dolphy) is in critical condition, overnight his condition improved,” he said.

Quizon said his father is also now becoming more responsive and has already opened his eyes. 

Becoming political  

Sen. Francis Escudero yesterday expressed support to calls to confer the National Artist award on Dolphy.

Escudero, however, said the initiative to nominate Dolphy should be left to those in the showbiz and arts industries. 

Escudero’s father, Sorsogon Rep. Sonny Escudero, is a member of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), which jointly administers the award.

“I am supporting it. But for now we should focus and pray for Dolphy who is in critical condition right now,” Escudero said over dwIZ radio.

Asked whether he would initiate the filing of a resolution to give Dolphy the National Artist award, Escudero said he hopes that the initiative will be made by the Comedy King’s colleagues.

“I am sure they already made the initiative. I already talked to many close friends of Dolphy, and they said to me that all efforts are being made on that award. I do not want to delve on those issues since it might become political,” Escudero said in Filipino.

“Let us leave it to the members of the showbiz industry,” he said.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said he will file a resolution to recommend Dolphy to be recognized as a National Artist.

Senators Manny Villar, Pia Cayetano, Gregorio Honasan, and Ramon Revilla Jr. also expressed their support.

Despite the strong clamor to declare Dolphy a National Artist, the NCCA said that they are bound to respect the process and the next set of National Artists would most likely be announced next year.

NCCA Planning Officer III Frances Alincastre said it is unlikely that they would be announcing the names of National Artists for this year since the process would usually take 18 months.

While they are aware of the strong clamor from the public and some government officials to recognize Dolphy, Alincastre said they would not be able to cut short the process.

Alincastre admitted that it was the first time for them to receive a clamor for an ailing person to be conferred the award since the NCCA was created in 1992.

She said the NCCA has already received several endorsements for Dolphy’s nomination as National Artist for the Film and Broadcast Arts category. 

Parañaque Rep. Edwin Olivares sent his endorsement last May 8, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim last May 3 and the Manila City Council last May 16, she said. – With Christina Mendez, Evelyn Macairan, Sandy Araneta