Dolphy's sons, grandsons sport Dolphy tattoos

MANILA, Philippines - King of Philippine Comedy Rodolfo “Dolphy” Quizon will forever be etched not just in his children’s hearts – but on their skin as well.

His son, actor Epi Quizon, said some of his siblings and nephews had Dolphy’s portrait tattooed on their arms.

In the picture, Dolphy is praying with his hands clasped and eyes closed.

It is also the same portrait that the family hung in the intensive care unit of the Makati Medical Center where the actor battled pulmonary disease for weeks. He died on Tuesday at the age of 83.

“Most of us will don daddy’s mark,” said Epi during a television interview.

Aside from Epi, among the Quizon boys who wore their father’s tattoo are: Dino (Dolphy’s son with actress Gloria Smith), Valdolph (son with actress Alma Moreno), and nephews John Quizon and Boy2.

“Actually I wanted to do this a long time ago but I now have the courage because all of us are doing this,” said Vandolph, showing the tattoo in the same interview.

Epi said the thought that their father was dying gave them the courage to have the comedy idol’s visage marked permanently on their bodies.

Undying love

Zsa Zsa Padilla, Dolphy’s partner for 23 years, said the Comedy King sought to affirm his love for her until his last breath.

Padilla revealed Dolphy whispered “I love you” to her before he passed away.

“He said it to me, ‘I love you,’ because he had no voice since he had a tracheostomy tube,” the singer told members of the press at the Heritage Park in Taguig, where Dolphy’s wake is being held until Sunday.

Padilla said she was surprised at Dolphy’s expression, as she and the family members hardly knew when the film icon was conscious.

Even as he passed away due to multiple organ failure, the singer would not let Dolphy’s last words be the last of their exchange.

Students view the remains of Dolphy at the Heritage Park in Taguig City yesterday. JONJON VICENCIO

As the remains were being prepared for the wake, Padilla still spoke to the film icon, his grandson Ruel Quizon said.

“A while ago while Lolo was being prepared (for the funeral) she was talking to him… ‘Lovey ang pogi-pogi mo’, then she would cry,” Ruel said on Wednesday.

During the necrological service held at the theater named after him in the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City, Padilla said she would still bid him “good night.”

Through the years

Their presence in each other’s lives for the past 23 years may have been the subject of intrigues, but their closest friends attest to their enduring love even outside the limelight.

Sharon Cuneta, one of Padilla’s closest friends, said during her speech at the necrological service how the couple loved each other and how they endured all the intrigues that went with their relationship.

Actress-host Kris Aquino, who is known as Padilla’s best friend in the industry, also attested to the couple’s enduring love.

“Through The Years,” the song Padilla dedicated to Dolphy during his necrological service and tribute on Wednesday, reflected her strong, decades-long partnership with the film icon, Aquino said.

Walk of Fame

Meanwhile, Dolphy’s fans all over the country continue to pay their last respects even without traveling to the Heritage Park in Taguig City.

According to a TV report, Dolphy’s star in the Walk of Fame in Libis has practically turned into a shrine as fans leave flowers, letters, and candles for the late actor.

 The Quizon family, on the other hand, are thinking of extending the public viewing of Dolphy’s remains on Saturday to accommodate all his fans.

Son Eric Quizon said they might open the viewing earlier than the 8 a.m. schedule and close it later than 3 p.m.

However, he said nothing is final yet, including the schedule for Sunday’s burial.

Quizon said the family will close the public viewing a day before the actual burial because they want the event to be solemn.

As this developed, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista ordered that the Philippine flag at City Hall be raised at half-staff as tribute to the Comedy King.

He also issued a directive honoring Dolphy, one of the city’s awardees of the 2011 Outstanding Citizens.

Bautista, a godson of Dolphy, has joined the growing clamor for his declaration as a National Artist. – Rhodina Villanueva