Noynoy Aquino on Dolphy’s death
President Benigno Aquino III has made the following statement regarding the death of Comedy King Dolphy, or Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr. in real life:
Dolphy was a good man who embodied the common Filipino: he loved deeply, knew the value of humor, respected his fellowmen, and was always ready to face any challenge life threw at him. He came from a generation that went through a lot of trials—and the struggle taught him to be humble, honest, and helpful. He never turned his back on his peers; he never turned his back on the people who had propelled him toward success.
Throughout his life, Dolphy showed that hope and happiness always lie at the other side of adversity; he knew that any problem can be overcome through a positive outlook. He did not only revolutionize the entertainment industry; he also changed our national consciousness for the better: through his art, he extended our worldviews, and gave us the ability to reflect on, value, and find joy in the daily realities of Filipino life.
I, along with my family and the rest of our administration, join the Quizon family in mourning. The passing of Rodolfo Quizon Sr.—our King of Comedy—is a truly sorrowful moment for a nation that, for so long, found happiness in his work.
(Originally posted in www.Gov.PH)
PS: President Aquino and Dolphy have had an interesting relationship the past two years. In 2010, Dolphy endorsed Senator Manny Villar, Aquino’s main rival for the presidency. The former even appeared in two television campaign ads for Villar. A few months after assuming office, Aquino bestowed on the Comedy King the Order of the Golden Heart.
As Dolphy’s condition worsened in recent weeks, many personalities publicly called on Aquino to give the former the National Artist Awards, but presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda emphasized that it cannot be done because of the pending TRO against the conferment of such awards (this will be discussed at length in a future post).