Dolphy nomination as National Artist pushed by Manila solon

A lawmaker has filed a resolution seeking to nominate the late actor, Rodolfo "Dolphy" Quizon, Sr., as a National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts.

Manila Rep. Joel Chua made the proposal under his House Resolution 41, saying that Dolphy, renowned as the Philippines’ “King of Comedy”, has collected “multitudes of achievements, awards, and legacy” tha is fitting for a National Artist award.

Chua noted that Dolphy’s recognition as National Artist is in accordance with the Honors Code of the Philippines which provides that “the Order of National Artists is the highest national recognition conferred upon Filipinos who have made distinct contributions to arts and letters, upon the recommendation of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).”

Further, Chua cited Dolphy’s prestigious body of work that that earned him the following awards:

• Best Actor for the 1977 film, Omeng Satanasia
• Lifetime Achievement Award, 1995 PMPC Star Awards for TV
• Lifetime Achievement Award, 1998 Gawad Urian Awards
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Cinemanila International Film Festival
• 2002 Lou Salvador Sr. Memorial Award, Bituin ng FAMAS Mula Noon Hanggang Ngayon Award
• 2005 FAMAS Huwarang Bituin, among others.

Likewise, Dolphy played the role of Walterina Markova, a male sex slave during the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines during World War II in the movie “Markova: Comfort Gay”, together with his sons Eric and Jeffrey Quizon. All three actors played the titular character at three different stages in life, in 2001. Their collective performance earned the Quizons a Prix de la Meilleure Interpretation award in Brussels, Belgium.

“Dolphy deserves to be National Artist because of his magnificent body of work and championing of Filipino values for all generations of Filipinos,” Chua said in a statement.

In addition, Chua also cited that Dolphy was conferred the Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart in accordance with the Honors Code of the Philippines by then President Benigno Aquino III, because "his comedy has brought joy to millions but just as importantly, his well-known philanthropy and encouragement of charitable and good causes as well."

“Now therefore, be it resolved as it is resolved, that the House of Representatives nominate Rodolfo Vera Quizon, Sr. for the Order of National Artist when the Order of National Artist Secretariat, through the NCCA, issues its next call for nominations,” the Resolution read.

The same resolution tasked the House Committee on Creative Industries and Committee on Basic Education and Culture to conduct the necessary meetings, hearings, research, and other activities for the documentation, completion and submission of the Order of National Artist Nomination Form and its accompanying requirements.

Further, Chua’s resolution provides that the Quizon Family, singer-actress Lea Salonga, and officials of the NCCA, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Order of National Artist Secretariat, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), and the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (MOWELFUND) will be be among those invited to provide inputs to the Committees in their work to nominate Dolphy for the Order of National Artist.

Dolphy died in July 2012, just two weeks short of what would have been his 84th birthday, after several bouts with pneumonia and other related diseases. — RF, GMA Integrated News