National Artist award for Dolphy now useless, says Alma Moreno

Alma Moreno. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Conferring the National Artist for Cinema award to the late Comedy King, Rodolfo “Dolphy” Quizon, now is useless, his former partner, Parañaque Councilor Alma Moreno said Thursday.

“Karapatdapat lang na binigyan na si Dolphy noon pa. Dapat si Dolphy binigyan nila, noon, noon pa, wag ngayon (Dolphy should have been given the award a long time ago, not now),” Alma said in a chance interview.

“Kasi mas maganda nung nandiyan pa si Dolphy, ‘yung mararamdaman niya yung award (Because it’s better if he could feel the honor of having one),” she added.

The statement came following calls from supporters of the late entertainment icon that he be formally declared as a National Artist.

Dolphy was nominated in 2009 but didn’t pass the second deliberation in the joint panel of experts from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Moreno said she has not yet visited the wake of Dolphy who died Tuesday evening after more than a month of hospitalization.

Nevertheless, Moreno said she was able to visit Dolphy three weeks ago while he was in the intensive care unit of the Makati Medical Center and was able to talk to him while he was still awake and responsive.

“Nung dumalaw ako sabi ko, ‘Dolphy, huwag ka magalala kay Valdolf, andito lang ako, hindi ko siya pababayaan. Lagi akong nasa tabi niya (When I visited him, I told him not to worry about Vandolph, because I’ll always be here for him),’” Moreno said recalling her last conversation with Dolphy.

She added that as a mother, she is more worried for her and Dolphy’s son, Vandolph.

“Ang importante naka-monitor ako kay Van (dolp). Syempre, as Nanay, nininerbyos ako kay Van kasi nakita ko kung gaano ka-close si Vandolf sa papa niya, kay Dolphy. Syempre inaalalayan ko yung anak ko. Nung nasa ospital sinasabihan ko siya na tatagan niya loob niya, kasi nakita ko rin kasi si Dolphy, pini-pray ko na lang na humaba pa [ang buhay niya] (What’s important is I am monitoring Vandolph. Of course as a mother, I am guiding my son. When I was in the hospital, I told him to be strong because I saw how Dolphy was at the time and I prayed for his life to continue longer),” Alma said.

She added that she salutes Dolphy for ensuring that his last days were spent with his children.

“Bilib ako kay dolphy kasi hanggang huling sandali, yung mga anak niya talaga ang in-ano niya. Kumpleto lahat ng anak niya. Saka prinepare niya. Hinanda niya para hindi mabigla kasi very close si dolphy sa lahat ng anak niya. Nakita ko rin yun kahit na gaano ka busy si Dolphy noon, may lunch siya, may dinner siya tuwing Sunday sa mga anak niya (I am all hats off to Dolphy because up to the last minute, he thought of his children. They were all there for him. I also witnessed how busy Dolphy was. He had lunch, he had dinner every Sunday with his children),” Alma said.

Dolphy’s remains are at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City where his fans will be allowed to pay homage to the “Comedy King” from 8 am to 3 pm until Saturday.

Moreno was attending the signing of a memorandum of agreement of the Junior Chamber International Philippines and the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) for the P1-M grant each for the 10 awardees of The Outstanding Councilors of the Philippines, pledged by Senator Edgardo Angara.

Moreno is the president of the PCL.