VP Binay, senators want Dolphy named National Artist

By KIMBERLY JANE TAN, GMA News

Published June 21, 2012 1:38pm

(Updated 3:20 p.m.) Vice President Jejomar Binay and several senators on Thursday called for the conferment of the National Artist title to King of Comedy Dolphy (or Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr. in real life), who is currently in critical condition.

"Dolphy is an integral part of Philippine entertainment. He was instrumental in the transition of entertainment from the zarzuela through to the silver screen, and as such deserves to be conferred the highest accolade that our nation can give to artists of his caliber," Binay said in a statement.

In a separate statement, Villar said Dolphy deserves the award because he is "an artist who has helped build a sense of Filipino nationalism through motion picture" and is someone who is respected by his peers in the industry.

"He is one of the few gems of the entertainment industry. His feat as a comedian will be very hard to replicate," he said.

“But more than the trophies he collected, Dolphy is known as a compassionate man, donating substantial wealth and talent to assist health welfare programs and provide financial assistance to senior actors and those involved in filmmaking including extras, stuntmen, bit players, crews and technical staff," he added.

The Nacionalista Party president said that he will "forever be indebted" to Dolphy for his help during the 2010 presidential campaign. Dolphy had endorsed Villar's failed presidential bid in 2010.

In 2007, Villar said he had already written Cultural Center of the Philippines chair Emily Abrera about conferring the National Artist Award to Dolphy and that he has since been pushing for it ever since. Last May, he had also filed a resolution urging the CCP, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and President Benigno Aquino to do the same.

“In my heart and in the hearts of many Filipinos, he is a National Artist," he said. “I have great admiration for people who came from humble beginnings and worked their way to the top. They teach the youth the value of hard work."

Same advocacies

During a weekly forum at the Senate on Thursday, Cayetano explained that Dolphy and their then-presidential bet Villar shared the same advocacies because they both grew up in Tondo, Manila.

"Talagang galing sa hirap tas umasenso sila...dahil sa sipag at tiyaga," said Cayetano, also an NP member.

Cayetano said that it would be "nice" if the comedy king would be finally be formally named as such.

"I think everyone knows that he deserves it. Siyempre meron din nagsasabi na he’s already the national artist in the Filipinos heart and everything but of course its always nice to have an official recognition," she said.

Cayetano, whose father, former Senator Rene Cayetano, was good friends with Dolphy, said she also got to know Dolphy during the campaign trail.

For his part, Senator Gregorio Honasan also said that "any formal recognition of Dolphy would be appropriate now while he, his loved ones and our people, can better appreciate it."

"He has brought so much joy and hope to generations of Filipinos not only as an entertainment icon and comedian but as a human being," Honasan said, adding that he has already filed a resolution recognizing Dolphy's contributions to the Philippine entertainment industry.

For now, the senators said the Filipino people should extend their prayers for the comedy king. "We join our contrymen in wishing him a good fight and speedy recovery as we stand in vigil over his medical condition," Honasan said.

"It is really a difficult time..but let’s pray because mukhang he’s a fighter. Mabigyan pa sana [siya] ng ilang masaganang taon," added Cayetano.

New award for FPJ?

Meanwhile, Binay said he had asked Aquino to issue a new National Artist plaque for Fernando Poe Jr. to "correct a dishonor" to the late actor.

In a letter sent to the President, Binay said a new National Artist plaque signed by Aquino would be "a fitting gesture to the family of a man who embodied the hopes and aspirations of the masses, from a President who is determined to make those hopes and aspirations come true."

In 2006, the Arroyo administration had conferred a posthumous National Artist award on FPJ, who ran for president against Mrs. Arroyo during the 2004 polls. Binay served as Poe's campaign manager from March to May 2004.

But the late actor's family had declined to attend the ceremony, saying the award was meant to appease FPJ's supporters who believed Poe was cheated by the former president.

Binay said Poe's family also thought that the move bypassed the selection process and "undermined the true spirit of the National Artist as a symbol of Filipino excellence in the arts."

"While the final choice for National Artist rests upon the President, the selection process follows stringent rules that involve the NCCA, the circle of living National Artists, and the artist community itself, to ensure that only deserving artists are conferred the honor. A National Artist represents a Filipino ideal. Therefore, just like the installation of a public official, the selection of a National Artist should be beyond reproach," he said. — RSJ, GMA News

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