Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr.GCGH (July 25, 1928 – July 10, 2012), known professionally as Dolphy, was a Filipino comedian and actor. He is widely regarded as the country's "King of Comedy" for his comedic talent embodied by his long roster of works on stage, radio, television and movies.[2][3]
Early life and education
Rodolfo Vera Quizon was born at Calle Padre Herrera (now P. Herrera St.) in Tondo, Manila, on July 25, 1928.[4]
His parents were married on July 14, 1925, in Malate, Manila.[5] His father, Melencio Espinosa Quizon (December 1, 1899 – May 14, 1971),[6] was a ship engine worker from Bulacan stationed in the Atlantic Gulf. His mother, Salud de la Rosa Vera[5] (February 6, 1901 – September 12, 1986),[7] was a seamstress and a school teacher.[5] He had four brothers and five sisters.[8]
Quizon began studying at the age of six, and was enrolled in public schools.[9] He attended the Magat Salamat Elementary School and Isabelo de Los Reyes Elementary School until the seventh grade. For his secondary education, he studied at the Florentino Torres High School until his sophomore year. He was an average student, although his grades fluctuated.[10]
Quizon sold peanuts and watermelon seeds at movie theaters as a boy, which enabled him to watch movies for free. He was about thirteen when World War II started. He did odd jobs including shining shoes, attaching buttons at a pants factory, sorting bottles by size, working as a stevedore at the pier, trading, and driving the calesa. In his free time, he regularly watched stage shows at the Life Theater and the Avenue Theater. His favorite performers included the comedy duoPugo and Togo and the dancers Benny Mack and Bayani Casimiro.[11]
Quizon started performing onstage during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. When he turned 17, Benny Mack got him a job as a chorus dancer for a month at the Avenue Theater and subsequently on the Lyric Theater. He also appeared in shows at the Orient Theater. "Golay" was his first stage name. During air raids, they would interrupt the show and run for the air-raid shelter in the orchestra section together with the audience. If no bombs fell and exploded, the show would then resume.[citation needed]
Career
Early career
He starred in his first movie when he was 19 with Fernando Poe Sr. in Dugo at Bayan (I Remember Bataan), billed as Rodolfo Quizon. It was the father of his future friend actor Fernando Poe Jr. who first gave him a break in films playing minor roles as a character actor.[12] On a DZMM radio interview, he revealed his first talent fee was 5 pesos.[citation needed]
In the late 1940s, Dolphy began to work in radio through Conde Ubaldo, a radio writer, director, and producer. He joined the program Wag Naman, which starred Pancho Magalona, Tessie Quintana, and Baby Jane. His comedy duo with Panchito also started on radio on Conde Ubaldo shows.[citation needed]
Pancho Magalona recommended Dolphy to José Roxas Perez, the owner of Sampaguita Pictures, in 1952. His first movie with Sampaguita was Sa Isang Sulyap Mo, Tita, with Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran. It was also in Sampaguita in which the comedy duo of Dolphy and Panchito became popular.[citation needed]
Dolphy acted in the comic book adaptation Jack en Jill with Rogelio de la Rosa and Lolita Rodriguez in 1954. He was not the first choice for the role, for which Batotoy and Bayani Casimiro had been considered.[additional citation(s) needed] Dolphy said the movie established him as an actor, because he played a gay character, when they were not recognized.[13]
After his contract with Sampaguita expired, he left the company. When he joined the production studio, his talent fee was P1,000 per movie. By the time he left, he was earning P7,000 per picture.[citation needed]
Television, film parodies, and RVQ Productions
Dolphy acted in Tansan The Mighty (1962),[14] and its sequel Tansan vs Tarzan (1963).[14]
From 1964 to 1972, he starred in Buhay Artista, a big success of the 1960s.[15] Eugenio "Geny" Lopez Jr. got him into television on Channel 2. The show aired on ABS-CBN. It is a concept by Geny Lopez and Ading Fernando. While doing radio, his talent fee was P250-P300 per program; when he did TV, he was at P500 per show. He left ABS-CBN due to martial law. However, also moved to GMA Network since Buhay Artista moved to RBS-7 (former branding name of GMA) from December 1972 to early 1974.
While on television, he began appearing in films for independent studios like LEA Productions, Balatbat Productions, Filipinas Productions, Zultana Productions and Fernando Poe Jr.'s D'Lanor Productions.
In 1964, he played the lead in Captain Barbell[14] and in Daigdig ng Fantasia (Fantasy World) with Nova Villa. Both films were directed by Herminio "Butch" Bautista.
From 1965 to 1966, Dolphy made a minimum of 15 spy film parodies.[16] Also in 1966, Dolphy starred in another 19 parody films.[16]
For the 1966 film Pepe en Pilar, Dolphy introduced Ronaldo Valdez to Susan Roces, as a new face was needed as a partner for Roces. Dolphy first met Valdez in a basketball court and brought him to the press conference so Roces could see him. Roces' initial response was "He is too young". Dolphy brought Ronaldo to a barber shop, bought him a pair of boots at Glenmore and lent him his suit. When Dolphy presented him to Roces again, she said, "I prefer him now", not realizing that he was the same person he had introduced earlier. Dolphy later gave him the stage name Ronaldo Valdez (from Ronald James Gibbs).
By 1967, Dolphy's production house RVQ Productions was established. Dolphy explained that when Sampaguita closed he thought he should produce his own films. He started with a film adaptation of the sitcom Buhay Artista (Actor's Life), a box office success.[13]
In 1969, one of his biggest hits was Facifica Falayfay, where he starred as the gay lead character. It was directed by Luciano "Chaning" Carlos, with whom he worked in 23 of his movies.[citation needed] Also in that year, he starred in Adolphong Hitler.[14]
John en Marsha started in 1971, a year before Martial Law, on RPN Channel 9. It was written, and directed by Ading Fernando. Boots Anson-Roa and Helen Gamboa were considered for the role of Marsha, his wife in the show before Nida Blanca, who was doing Wala Kang Paki with Nestor de Villa, eventually got the part. Before Dely Atay-Atayan, Chichay was also considered for the role of Doña Delilah, his wealthy and condescending mother-in-law. His real son Rolly Quizon and then-child actress Maricel Soriano played their children. John en Marsha was such a hit that movie versions of the show were made eight times.
In 1973, Fefita Fofongay viuda de Falayfay was released, a sequel to Facifica Falayfay.[citation needed] That same year Dolphy acted in Captain Barbell's sequel Captain Barbell Boom![14]
In 1974, a third instalment of Facifica Falayfay was released called Sarhento Fofongay: A ... ewan!
In 1978, he returned to gay roles in the movie Ang Tatay Kong Nanay (My Father that is also a Mother), directed by respected Lino Brocka. With him in the movie was Niño Muhlach, dubbed as the "child wonder of the Philippines", as the son of his boyfriend, played by Phillip Salvador.
In 1979, Dolphy starred in Dancing Master[17] and Darna... Kuno?[14]
The spy-spoof film The Quick Brown Fox, was released on November 6, 1980.[18] In it Dolphy plays the lead and it is his first collaboration with Weng Weng.[19] That year, Dolphy acted in the Dancing Master follow-up Superhand: Shadow of the Dancing Master and Dolphy's Angels.[17]
In 1981, Dolphy starred in Stariray,[20]Da Best In Da West,[21] and Dancing Masters 2.[17] That year Dolphy acted in Agent 00, starring Weng Weng.[22]
1992–2012: Later works, honors and death
The Home Along Da Riles was one of the Philippines' longest running shows of all time.
His next successful TV venture after John en Marsha was Home Along Da Riles in 1992 with Nova Villa, as his wife and real son Vandolph, as one of his children.
In 2003, the sitcom Home Along Da Riles returned as Home Along Da Airport.
On July 25, 2008, Quizon celebrated his 80th birthday with the launching of a biographical book, Dolphy, Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-isa(Dolphy, I Didn't Get Here All By Myself). ABS-CBN President Charo Santos-Concio stated, Nagbigay siya ng mga ngiti at halakhak sa gitna ng mga problema (He gave us joy and laughter in times of trouble). Bibeth Orteza was commissioned to complete the book, amid the creation of "Dolphy Aid Para sa Pinoy Foundation, Inc.", a non-profit and non-stock organization.[11][23] Also that year, Dolphy made a movie with Comedy Box Office King Vic Sotto in a comedy movie, Dobol Trobol, a movie where Dolphy played a chef and Vic a hotel resident manager. This was the first time a film was produced through joint ventures of RVQ Productions (Dolphy's Film Outfit) & M-Zet Films (Vic Sotto's Film Outfit) and APT Entertainment. The film also featured stars Carmi Martin, Riza Santos, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Ricky Davao and more.
In 2009, Dolphy was cast as a retired senior citizen in Chicago who wanted to watch Wowowee in Manila entitled Nobody Nobody But... Juan, and co-starred with Eddie "Manoy" Garcia, Gloria Romero, Joe Aldeguer, Pokwang, Giselle "G" Toengi, Heart Evangelista, Ya Chang, real life sons Eric Quizon, Jeffrey "Epi" Quizon & Vandolph Quizon. Also in 2009, Dolphy was nominated to receive the Order of National Artists, "the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts".[24][25] However, he did not pass the second deliberation of the screening committee. In 2012, Dolphy was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.[26] As a result, his public appearances were reduced, and he was frequently admitted to the intensive care unit.
In 2010, Dolphy played a priest in his last movie in Father Jejemon, with his co-stars Cherrie Gil, Roy Alvarez, Maja Salvador, EJ Falcon, singer Ralph Salazar & YouTube singing duo Moymoy Palaboy. That same year, President Benigno Aquino III said he believes the late Comedy King deserves to be conferred the National Artist award, but stressed he cannot shortcut the process for legal reasons. Since there is a temporary restraining order on the granting of National Artist awards issued during the past administration, the Aquino administration gave Dolphy the Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart.[27] Also that year, Dolphy was recognized as Outstanding Manilan.
In 2012, he was given the Diwa ng Lahi award in 2012, given by City Hall in celebration of the city's founding anniversary. He died later that year.
After his death, on July 13, 2012, President Aquino declared a "National Day of Remembrance" in honor of Dolphy's contributions to the Philippine showbiz industry.[28]
During his wake at the Heritage Park in Taguig, fellow actor and former Philippine President Joseph Estrada bestowed the 2012 People's Artist Award on him to recognize Quizon's many contributions to the movie industry.[29] On November 23, 2013, Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) released a limited edition "Dolphy Stamp", and first day cover. A mobile app entitled Dolphy's Cleanup was released in honor of Quizon in December 2013 for the iOS platform,[30] with a port for Android devices released in 2014. The edutainment game, developed by iGen Technologies, puts players in the role of Dolphy as he helps clean up the neighborhood, with part of the revenue from the game's sales to be donated to charity.[30][31] Also that year, the documentary film The Search for Weng Weng was released.[32] In it, Quizon is interviewed about his former colleague.[33]
Araneta also noted that Dolphy grew up in Manila, where he began his showbiz career as a dancer at the Avenue, Lyric and Orient theaters.[35]
ABS-CBN Studio 1, one of the oldest studio of ABS-CBN was transformed into a proscenium theater and was named in honor of Dolphy on his 80th birthday in 2008. A necrological service was held in the namesake theatre for Dolphy at the time of his death.[36]
Personal life
Dolphy in 2008.
Relationships
Quizon never married and was public with his relationships and family. He has 18 children from six relationships. In his autobiography, he mentioned that he had five relationships before Zsa Zsa Padilla that bore children, the last being Alma Moreno. Some of his children followed their father's footsteps in showbiz.[11][37]
Engracita Dominguez (actress). They met during a stage show and had six children: Manuel (b. 1951), Salud (b. 1954), Rodolfo Jr. (b. 1955), Wilfredo (1956–2005), Edgar (1957–2020), and Raul (1958–2018). They separated in 1963.
Gloria Smith (actress). They met in 1956 and had four children: Mariquita (b. 1962), Carlos (b. 1965), Geraldino (1972–2018), and Edwin (b. 1975).
Alice Smith (actress with screen name Pamela Ponti). They had four children: Ronaldo (b. 1965), Enrico (b. 1967), Madonna (b. 1971), and Jeffrey (b. 1973).
Evangeline Tagulao (nurse). They met in the late 1960s while filming in a hospital and had one son, Rommel (born 1968).
Alma Moreno (actress). They met in 1981 and had one son, Vandolph (born 1984).
Zsa Zsa Padilla (actress and singer). For more than 20 years, he was in a domestic partnership with Padilla, having two daughters, Nicole (legally adopted 1990) and Zia (born 1991). Nicole is the only legitimate child of Dolphy as the rest were born out of wedlock.[38]
Quizon was quite involved into politics throughout his acting career, but had tried to distance himself from it. He had said that he would likely start a blog if only he were literate in browsing the Internet.[39] He had high regards with the presidency of Corazon Aquino, referring to her as an "asset" for the Filipinos.[41] He declined to enter politics despite repeated entreaties to do so.[42]
He supported Fernando Poe Jr. (1939–2004), whose father, Fernando Poe Sr. (d. 1951), was a close friend of his, during his presidential campaign in 2004.[43][44] After Poe had suffered a stroke (which would later claim his life), Quizon visited him during his confinement and assured him and his wife, Susan Roces, that he indeed had won the presidential race, despite losing it to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.[45]
Dolphy's family is buried at Cuizon Loyola Memorial Park Family mausoleum (Salud de la Rosa Vera Quizon and Melencio Espinosa Quizon, Sr. parents of Dolphy, the latter's siblings include Melencio Quizon, Jr., Teresita Vera Quizon and Wilfredo D. Quizon and Orlando Gallardo).
2010 Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart – the highest award given to a private citizen by the President of the Philippines. Dolphy was cited for his contributions to the entertainment industry and for his charitable and philanthropic works.[2][52][53]
2012 Gawad na Diwa ng Lahi – the highest honor given by the government of Manila to artists[54]
2012 People's Artist Award – the award bestowed posthumously upon Dolphy by the Dakilang Lahi Foundation, recognizes the many contributions of the actor to the movie industry.[29]
^"'Dolphy at 80!' World Tour". Global Nation. Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 29, 2008. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
^ abLeavold, Andrew (2017). "The short, the fat and the ugly". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 95. ISBN9780994411235.
^ abcdefLeavold, Andrew (2017). "The short, the fat and the ugly". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 96. ISBN9780994411235.
^ abLeavold, Andrew (2017). "The short, the fat and the ugly". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. pp. 96–97. ISBN9780994411235.
^ abcLeavold, Andrew (2017). "The short, the fat and the ugly". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 98. ISBN9780994411235.
^Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Weng Weng filmography". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. pp. 230–231. ISBN9780994411235.
^Leavold, Andrew (2017). "The short, the fat and the ugly". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. pp. 98–99. ISBN9780994411235.
^Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Weng Weng filmography". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 231. ISBN9780994411235.
^Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Weng Weng filmography". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 233. ISBN9780994411235.
^Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Weng Weng filmography". The Search for Weng Weng. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 232. ISBN9780994411235.
