Eulogy for Dolphy: Forever in Our Smiles

(Written July 11, 2012)

Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 8:30 pm, a cold,vastly night. I accidentally sighted my dad watching Wiltime Bigtime on TV5, yes, that one-of-a-hell show, which turns human beings into ants. When Willie Revillame, the host himself, during the ‘kantanong’ portion, took a short-but-long pause when someone beeped his phone, on cam. I only exclaimed, “he looks pretty serious then.” After a few minutes of chitchat, he claimed, 

”Patay na posi Tito Dolphy. Si Ms. ZsaZsa [Padilla] po yung tumawag sakin”, followed by DJ Coki cued their LCD Screen with so me scenes for “Talentadong Pidol”, a special birthday celebration held by TV5 for the birthday of the King of Comedy.

Yes, I’m clearing it to those who didn’t know any idea about the news. Dolphy, or Rodolfo Vera Quizon in real life, passed away due to multiple organ failure, and due to the severe pneumonia made him suffering months and months. To his fans, sorry, your prayers failed. But I truly believe it’s for the better, nobody wants to see him suffer over and over again. He’s hurt, he suffered that much, It’s enough.

I actually first saw him on the ABSCBN television sitcom Home Along Da Riles, around 2000’s, I’m not sure. Kevin Cosme, the man that sill freaks me out as of today. My elder sister exactly remembers how she is truly distracted by the way Nova Villa shrieks, “Kevinnnnnnn…!” 

Sadly, I haven’t reached the glory days of his movies since he entered the entertainment scene. Later knowing that he was first discovered as a tap dancer, and actually pioneered the “bakla-baklaan” routine—which comedians uses just the same as of today. Films such as Facifica Falayfay, Markova: The Comfort Gay, AngTatay Kong Nanay, Darna Kuno, are examples of this, proved that he really acts dramatically, and it’s better as he acts comic routines. These 4 movies inspired the gay community and their right to be respected and not to be discriminated. He also did the action- packed El Pinoy Matador; the fantasy-inspired Abrakadabra, and my favorite Family Planting and Aringkingking.  Dolphy also pushes himself over the limit, proving anyone that he can make people funny without reminding the misery of slum life, instead trying to work hard towards success. It’s such a brilliant collection and are still enjoyable to watch, rather than young ones trying hard to be real teens. Very disgusting.

The most influential work he did on television was John En Marsha, as puruntong shorts are appreciated in the trends of Filipino fashion. And the familiar Dely Atay-Atayan line, “kaya ikaw John, mag sumikap ka!” implementing that Misery can be defeated by trying, as laughter is the best medicine. That was the legacy I admires Dolphy the most, he make fun of himself, of others on a different style. No one can do what Dolphy did. He can crack up humor without harming the hearts of someone, (or what do you call that? Never mind.)—unlike what we see today in comedy bars or television sitcoms of this era, especially to those who are rich because of making fun of others vulnerability, failures, disabilities, weaknesses, discrepancies, etc. See them laughing over the primitiveness of their mouths. And even the ones cracking ‘green jokes’ over 19-year olds? Shame on you.

But sadly, they have no choice. It’s their way of making money. It’s their way to earn fame and fortune... but shame and hypocorism? Different issue.

Other thing to wonder, why are there so many things to open up after a well-known person passed away? Who started the fizz? The deceased person? The works? The issues?

It’s us.

225 movies, 8 TV sitcoms or shows, 15 nominations, 22 awards, millions of Filipino laughed. Isn’t that enough to analyze of a Dolphy to be hailed as a National Artist? National Commission for the Culture and the Arts stated that, “it’s a long process. A long debate to be discussed”. C’mon, what do you think of it, Impeachment? Hahaha, Impeachment? Okay.

Moving forward, whether you like it or hate it, you can’t deny how people loved him so much— frankly, after his death. The public viewing of his body, held as Manila Heritage Park, weeks ago, was slammed by thousands of fans and goers. Reminding me of the burial of the King of Philippine Cinema, Fernando Poe, Jr.

Of course, mediamen and journalists and usiserosare also there.
                                                                                                                                                                   So thanks for these unacknowledged writers and poets for informing this.

“Idol ko si Dolphy eh”, “Mamimiss ko yung mga palabas nya”, “Wala nang magpapasaya sa’tin kasi wala na sya.”, none of them shares, ”sya lang ang komedyanteng hindi nanginsulto ng sinuman”… (Maybe me, myself, or I.), but only referring to one, “patay na si Dolphy.”

Kind-hearted, optimistic, fan-friendly, humble, patient, calm, and of course, Tsikboy, he has 18 children, different mothers, different lovers, but in the end,ZsaZsa Padilla knocks them down.ZsaZsahasn’t got married to Dolphy before he died, so no one has the guts to call her “byuda” or “naiwananngasawa”, etc.

Back to the first topic, the only question remained is, if we love Dolphy, why Father Jejemon (entry of the 2010^th Metro Manila Film Festival) failed on the final poll? Si Agimat at Si Enteng Kabisote gained approximately P4.5M, while Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To) earned P3.4M, while Father Jejemon gained only P1.5M? Did it failed due to criticisms on some scenes of the film like the ‘ostya’ fell from a woman’s cleavage and the other stuck from and old woman’s gilagid? The Catholic Church intrigued and banned some of the scenes, due to ‘misconceptions’ of the Catholic’s way of living? Serious as they say? Listen, life is boring without sense of humor.

So is this telling that we love people like him… after their death? So what will happen to his some forgotten and untold works when he’s still alive?

I’ve had this weird encounter at an Odyssey branch somewhere in Fairview, people were goofing around to buy DVD’s and VCD’s of his movies, and also his album, launched last year, or if I’m not sure around 2010.

So what will happen to my dad’s VCD and DVD collections of Dolphyfimatography? Turn out into trash? Or sell them out at a lower price? Or maybe, put them in a special freezer and gave them a special medal or award, they had served them well.

But like Neil Young said, “it’s better to burn out than fade away”.

So to Tito Dolphy, farewell and thank you for the laughter.

And to those who rocks about him,  I salute you, but finding him a good place in this era would be a big challenge for you, so good luck.