Comedians salute their king, Dolphy

Dolphy. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ROMY HOMILLADA

Even the country’s top comedians lost their smiles when Comedy King Dolphy succumbed to his lingering battle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) last week.

Many of them were seen at Dolphy’s wake to pay their last respects to their King.

Ironically, “Send in the Clowns” is one of Mang Dolphy’s favorite songs.

Stand-up comic Jon Santos told the Inquirer: “To me, he will always be a national artist and a personal hero.”

All-out performer

Santos recalled watching the King in action in his autumn years: “As a performer, he kept giving and giving until there was nothing more he could offer. I saw how he would give his all in front of the camera and then he would just sit down and get a massage between takes. After a few minutes, he would be energized once again.”

TV host John Lapus concurred: “Whenever I guested in his old (ABS-CBN show) ‘Home Along da Riles,’ I’d be amazed. He would sit quietly in a corner, but when it was time to work, his energy would shoot up. Grabe!”

Lapus recounted that he would sometimes bump into the iconic comic at the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran. “He would be the first to approach me. Wow! He was so humble and down-to-earth.”

He said he felt for Dolphy’s family—particularly for his partner, singer-actress Zsa Zsa Padilla. “She loved Tito Dolphy deeply.”

One of a kind

Lapus quipped: “Funny how someone who gave us so much joy is now making us sad with his passing. Until the very end, he made us smile. You are one of a kind, Comedy King.”

Roderick Paulate, who starred with Dolphy on the small and big screens, told the Inquirer: “Dad’s passing is a big loss to the industry. We lost the King of Comedy. It’s sad and painful for us who have worked with him. Whenever I talked to him on the set, I felt as if I was talking to my own father.”

Sensitive mentor

He remembered the King as a sensitive mentor. “We talked about everything—life, love, career, our families. When we did ‘Mga Anak ni Facifica Falayfay’ in 1987, he was the first one to call me up to see if I was okay after I had a problem with a close friend. He was there to make me feel good. We had deep conversations and we often ended up misty eyed after our serious talks.”

It’s heartbreaking, Paulate admitted, “but I don’t want to see him suffer. We will miss you, Dad Dolphy. You’re the only Comedy King in our hearts. Thank you for the inspiration, laughter and joy you have given us.”

Perfect comic timing

Box-office star Vic Sotto, who acted opposite Dolphy in “Dobol Trobol” in 2008, said: “He was the master. No one could beat him when it came to comic timing and delivering punch lines. There were times I would bungle a joke, but not him. He was funny even if he wasn’t doing anything. He will be sorely missed.”

Impersonator Willie Nepomuceno said simply: “The King is dead. Long live the King!”

An icon

Ai-Ai de las Alas said in Filipino: “Tito Dolphy is still the kindest person I have ever met. He was sincere. He was humble. He never deceived the public. His life was an open book.”

De las Alas considers him a true icon. “I will never forget the message he gave me when my movie ‘Ang Tanging Ina’ was launched in 2003. Before the opening, we saw each other at the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran. He told me that his prayer was that my movie would be a blockbuster. It’s an honor to be called Dolphy’s female version.”

Evelyn Vargas recalled: “I was in ‘John En Marsha.’ That was at a time when comedians were being laughed at because of their looks. Tito Dolphy whispered to me: ‘This is just a job; don’t take it personally.’ Tito Dolphy will forever be an inspiration. He was the epitome of humility and kindness.”

Vargas was with Dolphy in Lino Brocka’s “Ang Tatay Kong Nanay” and “Home Along da Riles.”

Sweet dreams

Eugene Domingo pointed out: “It’s the end of an era. But his legacy will remain forever in our hearts. Dolphy is our national actor. I will always remember him with the song ‘Smile’ … ‘Smile. Though your heart is aching.’ I guess, that’s what we should be singing now as well. Sweet dreams to the King of Comedy.”

Domingo considered herself fortunate that she was able to act with the King in the movie, “Nobody, Nobody But Juan” in 2009.

“During the shoot, I remember that he was in a wheelchair that brought him around the set when at times he seemed tired.”

Domingo explained that it was her first time to see Dolphy in that condition. “I got worried. He caught me looking at him and he winked as if saying ‘Ayos lang, I’m okay.’ Indeed, he was fine because the minute our director, his son Eric Quizon, called ‘Action,’ he was instantly transformed into the bright-eyed comic that he was—totally committed to make his audience laugh. For me that moment was pure magic. Dolphy was not only gifted, he was a natural charmer and truly dedicated to his craft.”

Giselle Sanchez had the chance to work with the King in his TV5 show “Pidol’s Wonderland” last year. She recounted: “We had a heart-to-heart conversation. He noticed my passion for work and comedy and he told me in Filipino: ‘You are doing the right thing. Love your work. Tell that to the others.’”

The King was generous in giving advice and sharing lessons from his own experiences, Sanchez added: “He told me: ‘I’ve experienced being jobless for a long time. After my contract with Sampaguita ended, my career went downhill. I saved money, produced films in the 1960s and my career went back on track.’”

Possible successor

Sanchez asked about the heir to his throne. “He told me that the next Kings of Comedy each had his own expertise: Vic Sotto in the movies, Willie Revillame in TV hosting. He also saw potential in Michael V. and Vhong Navarro.”

But she could never forget his answer to her question on why he chose not to retire. “He said: ‘I’ve long reached the retiring age. But for as long as you can still squeeze work out of me, I’d keep at it. I enjoy my work. I’d die of boredom if I stayed home. That’s torture.’”