Alma Moreno cherishes memories of Dolphy; ‘He was a good father’

MANILA – Alma Moreno, a former partner of the late Comedy King Dolphy, on Thursday broke her silence on his passing, calling him a “good father” to their son, Vandolph, and a beloved person in her life who left her with many memories to cherish.

Conferring the National Artist Award on Dolphy posthumously would be a useless exercise, Moreno, an actress and Paranaque councilor, said.

“It is useless. Mas masarap na buhay pa siya at mararamdaman niya ang award,” Moreno, a former partner of the late comedian, said in an interview during the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Philippine Councilors League, Junior Chamber International (JCI) for a P1 million grant from Senator Edgardo Angara.

Various sectors had clamored for conferring the National Artist Award on Dolphy in the weeks leading up to his death on Tuesday.

Moreno, the president of PCL, has a son, Vandolph, from her eight-year relationship with Dolphy. She had not yet visited Dolphy’s wake.

“I am not missing in action. I am just so busy. I am going around for the PCL. However, kaninang umaga dapat nagpunta kami ni Vandolph, but he texted me na huwag na muna. Kasi mas gusto kong pumunta nang walang tao,” Moreno explained.

“Mahaba pa naman ang panahon. Hanggang linggo pa naman. Saka gusto ko kasama ko ang apo ko sa pagdalaw sa kanya,” Moreno added.

She said she will cherish her memories of Dolphy, especially the time they met and fell in love while making the 1981 film “Titser’s Pet” and their visit with Vandolph to Disneyland in California.

“Naalala ko noon, di ba ang taba-taba ni Vandolph? Kinakarga niya, pero hindi niya makarga,” Moreno reminisced.

She said Dolphy was a good father to all his children, especially Vandolph.

“That’s one thing that I admired about Dolphy — he was a good father. He prepared himself. Gusto niya sa time na iyon, nandoon lahat ng kanyang mga anak.”

She also paid respect to Zsa Zsa Padilla, Dolphy’s companion for the last 23 years.

“Wala akong balak na ipadala sa aming bahay ang kanyang burol. But I really admire Zsa-Zsa. Bilib talaga ako kay Zsa Zsa dahil nandoon siya hanggang sa huli,” Moreno said.

source: interaksyon.com

Senators, VP Call For Conferment Of National Artist Recognition To Dolphy

MANILA, Philippines – It seems that the clamor for Comedy King Dolphy to be declared as National Artist has been revived, with Senators Manny Villar and Pia Cayetano, and Vice President Jejomar Binay expressing their opinions on the matter.

This comes in the midst of news about the Comedy King’s confinement at the Makati Medical Center and being in critical condition.

Villar, calling the veteran actor “one of the few gems of the entertainment industry,” said in a statement issued on June 21 that the recognition should be given to Dolphy because he is “an artist who has helped build a sense of Filipino nationalism through motion picture.”

He added, “But more than the trophies he collected, Dolphy is known as a compassionate man, donating substantial wealth and talent to assist health welfare programs and provide financial assistance to senior actors and those involved in filmmaking including extras, stuntmen, bit players, crews and technical staff.”

The senator believes that Dolphy’s “feat as a comedian will be very hard to replicate,” and that he is a National Artist “in my heart and in the hearts of many Filipinos.”

More, Villar stated that he will be “forever be indebted” to the comedian who campaigned for him during the 2010 presidential elections.

“We are one with the nation in praying for the speedy recovery of Dolphy,” he added.

Villar’s Nacionalista Party co-member Cayetano, meanwhile, told gmanetwork.com also on Thursday, “I think everyone knows that he deserves it. Siyempre meron din nagsasabi na he’s already the national artist in the Filipinos heart and everything but of course it’s always nice to have an official recognition.”

She then urged the public to continue praying for the ailing Comedy King, saying, “Mabigyan pa sana [siya] ng ilang masaganang taon.”

abs-cbnnews.com reported on the same day that Binay, in a statement, “asked concerned groups to act on the nomination of Dolphy immediately.”

“[Dolphy] has given the people so much happiness in his sterling career as an actor, and has spoken to and for the Filipino. For this, he deserves our fervent prayers,” he said.

Meanwhile, earlier the same day, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in another statement, “The President’s thoughts are with Mr. Quizon and his loved ones in these trying times.”

It also noted, “We enjoin the Filipino people to pray for the health of Mr. Rodolfo Quizon Sr., whom the entire nation fondly knows as ‘Dolphy.’ We are united in our intentions for our revered icon of the Philippine entertainment industry.”

source: mb.com.ph