Lawmakers push for national artist award to Dolphy
-A A +AMonday, June 25, 2012
THE House of Representatives is set to fast-track a resolution filed last May urging the government to declare Comedy King Rodolfo Vera “Dolphy” Quizon Sr. as a National Artist “for his outstanding contribution to radio, television, film, and the arts.”
House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said the House of Representatives will act swiftly on the resolution filed by Las Piñas City Representative Mark Villar to honor Dolphy after the actor’s medical condition has worsened after the past week.
Gonzales, however, appealed to Dolphy’s fans for time as Congress is on sine die adjournment until July 23.
“We will push for the adoption of the resolution declaring our idol Dolphy as national artist. But we appeal for a little time because Congress is now on recess,” he said.
“Comedy King Dolphy deserves to be a national artist because of the wealth that he contributed to the showbiz industry,” Gonzales added.
House Resolution (HR) 2404 urges President Benigno Aquino III, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA), and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CPP) to declare Dolphy as a national artist “with the end in view of inspiring Filipinos to live up to the value of love of country and to have pride in our culture.”
Villar’s resolution is pending with the House committee on basic education and culture.
Both the NCCA and CPP, the two government agencies that administer the Order of the National Artist awards, earlier said that the Comedy King’s nomination is now at the evaluation process.
“For the moment, we understand that Mang Dolphy has been nominated and is now undergoing the process of evaluation, along with other noteworthy artists. In the meantime, we continue to pray for his recovery and return to full health,” the NCCA said in its official statement.
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., for his part, assured that HR 2404 will be adopted by House members.
“I will certainly push for the immediate adoption of the resolution. I’m one of his fans,” he added. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
Local news
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