No state burial for Dolphy: Palace
-A A +AFriday, July 13, 2012
MANILA (Updated 2:05 p.m.) -- Malacañang said on Friday that there is no plan to hold a state burial for Comedy King Rodolfo "Dolphy" Quizon Sr.
"There is no plan right now for a state burial," said Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon Carandang.
A state funeral at the Libingan ng Bayani (Heroes' Cemetery) is one of the honors and privileges given to a person awarded of the Order of National Artist.
Clamors for Dolphy to be posthumously declared a National Artist continued to snowball on Friday considering his immense contribution to the Philippine entertainment industry.
Dolphy had been an actor-comedian on stage, television and film for over six decades. He starred in more than 200 films.
In 2009, Dolphy was first nominated for the award but was rejected by the selection committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
The NCCA has confirmed that Dolphy has been nominated for the National Artists this year.
President Benigno Aquino III said Thursday that he is in favor of declaring Dolphy a National Artist but he maintained that such recognition would have to undergo a process.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President's opinion is not meant to influence the NCCA but a mere expression of his stand about Dolphy's qualification to be awarded of such recognition.
"That would be up to the NCCA," she said, adding that the President will respect the process of the NCCA.
"People from NCCA don't live under a rock. I am sure they are aware of all these manifestation of support for Dolphy," she added.
Carandang said since a state burial is not possible to happen, the President decided to declare July 13 as National Day of Remembrance.
He said the declaration was an idea of Dolphy's family as they wanted Filipinos to celebrate the Comedy King's life.
Valte said the Quizons want people to be laughing and celebrating Dolphy's life.
On Tuesday, Dolphy died of multiple organ failure at the Makati Medical Center after weeks of battling complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Interment will be held on Sunday at The Heritage Park in Taguig City. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)
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