Congress urged to confer highest award to Dolphy

MANILA (Updated 11:30 a.m.) -- A lawmaker urged on Monday the House of Representatives to posthumously confer the Congressional Medal of Distinction to the late King of Comedy, Dolphy.

Bagong Henerasyon party-list Representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy said Rodolfo Vera “Dolphy” Quizon Sr. deserves the same award earlier bestowed to Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao.

The Congressional Medal of Distinction is the highest award the House of Representatives can confer an individual.

Herrera-Dy said the Congressional Medal of Distinction should be conferred to the late actor “for his outstanding achievements as a stage, television and movie actor over a span of six decades earning for himself the title ‘Comedy King of Philippine show business.’”

“Mang Dolphy may not have reached international fame like our very own Congressman Pacquiao, but he left an indelible mark in the hearts of Filipinos whom he gifted with joy and laughter in the face of economic and political adversities in the past several decades,” she said.

Herrera-Dy said that during his lifetime, Dolphy was able to prove to the country that he deserved many of the highest distinctions both government and the private sector could give, including the National Artist award.

She recalled that in 2010, President Benigno Aquino III conferred on Dolphy the Grand Collar of the Order the Golden Heart, the highest honor that the President could give a private individual.

The neophyte lawmaker added that the massive outpouring of love and sympathy for the passing of Dolphy, as shown by the thousands who visited the wake, already signifies his greatness as an actor and as a Filipino.

Dolphy was laid to rest Sunday afternoon at the Heritage Park in Taguig City.

Facing at least 200 people at Dolphy’s final resting place, the Comedy King’s partner for 23 years Zsa Zsa Padilla thanked all the family’s close friends and relatives who came to the burial.

“Mahal na mahal ka ng sambayanan, Dolphy. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng katatawanan na ibinigay mo sa lahat ng Pilipino (The nation loves you. Thank you for the laughter),” she said on Sunday.

“I love you, lovey ko. Until we meet again,” she added.

Dolphy will celebrate his 84th birthday this July 25, exactly 15 days after his passing. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)