Comedy King's national artist nomination to undergo process

MANILA -- The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) said Thursday that the nomination for the national artist award of the late Comedy King Dolphy should go through the process of selection.

The public have been calling for Dolphy to be given the national artist award for his contribution in the entertainment industry.

The NCCA’s public affairs and information office said in a statement released July 12, however, that the policy stands that “any nominee should go through the process of selection, which we have earlier explained to the public.”

The NCCA, along with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, screens the nominees for the prestigious award.

The rest of its statement read: “The NCCA joins the whole nation in mourning the passing of Rodolfo Vera Quizon, also known as Dolphy, actor, producer, and dubbed as the country’s one and only King of Comedy.

“We fully recognize and appreciate his contributions in the country -- encompassing several generations. He was able to lighten the burden of living for many Filipinos because of his sense of humor, which appeal very much to Filipinos, and alleviate national pain, especially during times of crisis.”

“In this light, the NCCA is one with the whole nation in praying for the soul of Dolphy, a true gem of the film and television industry.”

Malacañang earlier said that Dolphy is automatically nominated for national artist award this year. He was previously nominated in 2009.

The King of Comedy succumbed to multiple organ failure Tuesday night after more than a month of hospitalization at the intensive care unit of the Makati Medical Center. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)