Flag in Bulacan town flown at half-staff to honor Dolphy

A SANTA for all seasons INQUIRER PHOTO

BALAGTAS, Bulacan–The flag at the town hall here was flown at half-staff on Friday to honor King of Comedy Rodolfo “Dolphy” Vera Quizon Sr., who passed away Tuesday.

The clan of Dolphy’s mother, Salud, hails from Barangay Wawa. One of his sons, Rodolfo Jr., lives in the comedy icon’s rest house in Sitio Barmat in that village. Dolphy also has relatives residing in Malolos City and Pandi town.

On Thursday, local officials passed an ordinance that posthumously recognizes Dolphy as an adopted son of Bulacan in light of the late comedian’s family ties in the province.

Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando and other officials then went traveled to Taguig City to hand the plaque of recognition to Dolphy’s children.

Sponsored by Fernando, himself an erstwhile actor, the ordinance recognized Dolphy’s contributions to show business and to society.

Dolphy was a recipient of the Gawad Dangal ng Lipi given by the province on Sept. 15, 1995.

The award is the highest recognition that the local government grants to a native of Bulacan. Among the recipients of this award were the late President Corazon Aquino and National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario.

On Thursday evening, President Aquino signed Proclamation No. 433 declaring Friday, July 13, a National Day of Remembrance and “in recognition of how the nation deeply feels the passing of Dolphy.”

Dolphy died late Tuesday at Makati Medical Center after three weeks of battling complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He would have turned 84 on July 25.

His family earlier announced that public viewing of his remains at the Heritage Memorial Park in taguig City will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. until July 14. His burial is scheduled Sunday at 3 p.m.