MANILA By bringing laughter to millions of Filipinos, Dolphy never let a day go to waste.

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1 Dolphy, whose full name was Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr,. was born the second of 10 children in Tondo, Manila, on July 25, 1928, to Melencio Espinosa-Quizon, a ship mechanic; and Salud Vera Quizon, a home-based tailor. MANILA By bringing laughter to millions of Filipinos, Dolphy never let a day go to waste. Quoting the American comic Charlie Chaplin who said a day without laughter is a day wasted, former President Joseph Estrada said Dolphy was an effective pill that eased the pain of 1 / 5

2 poverty-stricken Filipinos through his funnyman roles. That is why Dolphy s day has never been wasted because he lived in laughter, same with us. He had cured millions and millions of Filipino people who turned to forget their problems while watching his movies, Estrada said. Estrada, considered as the last man standing among the Three Kings of Philippine movies, said Dolphy, the late Fernando Poe Jr. and himself actually rose to stardom because of the punch lines they delivered in their respective movies. The three of us became popular because the people were entertained. Laughter is the best medicine indeed, he said. Estrada said Dolphy, FPJ and his own entry to the movie industry was a turning point for Philippine cinema. Before we entered the movies, the likes of Ric Rodrigo and Lolita Rodriguez were doing heavy drama movies. At that time, very few Filipinos were poor, the former actor said. But when we entered showbiz, many Filipinos were poverty-ridden. We injected punch lines to ease the pain felt by our fellow Filipinos who complained of hardships in life. They claimed that watching heavy drama movies made them more miserable, Estrada said. He said comedy movies, especially those done by Dolphy, and the action movies that were injected with punch lines and jokes, had greater appeal to the poor. Estrada said the late comedian was a cut above the rest, but his expertise was different from the former action star. 2 / 5

3 I have no comparison to Dolphy because I am not a comedian, he said. I made people happy through public service. I don t stop even if I became president. I m running for Manila mayor because I want to continue to make the people happy through public service. Service to the people has no boundary, Estrada said. Although retired from acting, Estrada said he would continue to entertain the Filipino people through public service. On the part of the movie industry, I am attending to the Mowelfund which is my own creation. This is an organization I created to help the poor people in the movie industry. I m the sole founder of the Mowelfund and it was my brainchild, he said. Estrada also said the National Artist award for Dolphy (Rodolfo Vera Quizon) was long overdue. He said the award should have been given to Dolphy when he was still alive. It is saddening that the award was not given to him while he is still alive. That award is long overdue. Dolphy has made millions of millions of Filipinos very happy through his movies, Estrada said. He said Dolphy should be recognized for the humor he shared with the Filipino people, especially the poor who lined up at theaters to see his movies. Although they are suffering hardship in life, you will see them happy while watching his movies, Estrada said. Even when he was still alive, I have said the award should be given to him. It saddened me 3 / 5

4 that the award will only be given to him when he already passed away. Dolphy really deserved that award, he added. Dolphy passed away Tuesday at the Makati Medical Center due to multiple organ failure. He was 83. For her part, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto described Dolphy as a simple person who always showed affection to others. He was such a simple person but he was so funny because of his one-liner punch lines that really sent you laughing. I still remember every time he greets another, he has the habit of sending a flying kiss before saying I love you, she said. Santos starred with Dolphy in the 1963 film King and Queen For A Day when she was just 11 years old. She again starred with the late Comedy King in the 1979 film Buhay Artista Ngayon. Fellow comedian Vic Sotto also recalled the good times he had with the late actor. Sotto starred with Dolphy in the flick Dobol Trobol in To Dolphy, the laughter you brought to every Filipino will remain in their memories. The legacy of your movies and programs will forever be cherished by the movie industry. Thank you very much. Bring with you our prayers, the fond memories and our love, Sotto said during a break at Wednesday s noontime show Eat Bulaga on GMA-7. 4 / 5

5 In Dolphy s biography Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-Isa, the King of Comedy mentioned Sotto as one of the country s top comedians. Close friends and family members pay their last respects to Comedy King Dolphy during a private viewing at the Dolphy Theater inside the ABS-CBN complex in Quezon City Wednesday. (Photo by Danny Pata) 5 / 5