Confer National Artist title on Dolphy, urge Joseph Estrada, Isko Moreno

Former president Joseph Estrada

MANILA, Philippines—Former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno pushed for the conferment of the National Artist award on ailing King of Comedy Dolphy Saturday night.

“That’s long overdue. He deserves more than that,” Estrada said in an interview with reporters after he and Moreno paid a visit to Dolphy. Both Estrada and Moreno are former actors.

Estrada said he was depressed when he saw Dolphy and that Dolphy was conscious “pero di nakapagsalita eh.”

Estrada recalled how he, Dolphy, and Fernando Poe Jr.  (FPJ) made movies together.

“Kaming tatlo nina FPJ ang magkakasama noong araw eh. Si FPJ ang King of Action si Dolphy naman ang Comedy King,” Estrada said.

Estrada also lauded Zsa Zsa Padilla for taking care of Dolphy, saying “talaga namang di niya iniwan si Pareng Pidol at mahal na mahal niya si Pareng Pidol.”

Estrada said he was going to offer a mass for the speedy recovery of Dolphy Sunday at the St. John the Baptist Church in San Juan, Batangas.

Moreno, for his part, called on the government to readily decide on the conferment of the National Artist award on Dolphy, saying Dolphy contributed much to the entertainment industry.

“Marami siyang pinasaya. Marami siyang nilibang. Nakarelate ang buhay ng mga Pilipino sa pelikula niya. Hindi ko alam anong basehan para tumagal ‘yan,” Moreno said.

Manila vice-Mayor ISKO Moreno

Moreno also said Dolphy had difficulty opening his eyes and that Dolphy could not speak but that he was trying to respond to Estrada’s voice by raising his eyebrows.

“If you see him before na palatawa, palabiro, kita mo ngayon malayong-malayo. What Mang Pidol needs right now is a prayer,” Moreno said.

The actor-comedian Dolphy has been confined in the intensive care unit of Makati Medical Center since June 9. He resumed dialysis Saturday morning.