Serious This Time

AN ICON of laughter in the entertainment industry had passed away. Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr., better known as “Dolphy” finally succumbed to his death after battling it out multiple organ failure.

It’s ironic to see people who once laughed at his jokes, now crying after the loss of the comedian of all time, who outlived all other funny thespians of his time.

I’ve seen many of his films and TV sitcoms which made me laugh. Some may call his performances as “bakya” and filled with toilet humor, but the thing is, they made people cry with laughter.

The very purpose of comedy actors and actresses is to make people forget about problems which we all have. Dolphy was one of a kind. He lived and served his purpose as an actor. Ho often portrayed gay roles and an underdog, which by the end of the movie won the hearts of his fans.

He may not be an action star with numerous love affairs, but he was the most lovable actor who had defied age with his charisma. One of his former partners in life is Alma Moreno, a Kapampangan. “Ness”, who is from Macabebe town, has a son with Dolphy, Vandolph.

By this time, many have been written about him, all filled with emotion, including everyone’s memories of Comedy King Dolphy. Perhaps when a man is dead, the only things he can leave behind are memories.

On television sets, we are able to glimpse his past, like when he was still starting during the times of the vaudeville and stage shows. Comedy then involved slapstick and other kinds of comedy feats which we may consider now as corny rather than funny.

Prior to his death, Dolphy left something which his fellows in the entertainment world and his fans consider a tragedy. The awarding of his being a national artist was held in abeyance. Despite his nomination, many believed he should have been bestowed such when he was still alive. Too late the hero they say. Posthumous awards and citations are nothing but “consuelo do bobo” to some.

Now that the comedy actor has bid goodbye, we lost someone who made a million Filipinos smile and cry with laughter.
Comedy was turned serious this time.

*****

I have passed by a portion of the Jose Abad Santos Avenue (in front of our Sun.Star office) where business establishments particularly restaurants and processed food outlets abound. The traffic flow, the mud and the dust all rolled into one are seriously unbearable. We cannot blame why an association of restaurant owners was organized and called for the fast-tracking of the flyover and road-widening and concreting projects.

The snail-paced construction of the said infrastructures is hurting the businesses. Their customers are discouraged from going to the establishments in the area due to the mentioned unbearable elements.

Another factor worth mentioning is that the project affects the health of residents, motorists and passersby. The fine dust courts asthma attacks and other lung problems. I may not be a contractor or an engineer by profession but I think a water truck should be there to somehow provide convenience.

The problem there is getting serious.

*****

Speaking of roads, traffic jams and slow traffic flow is likewise experienced between the two giant malls in the City of San Fernando. What caught my attention was an open manhole that poses danger to motorists and human traffic as well.

The manhole is about one and a half feet deep and “disappears after being submerged in water after a drizzle, making it dangerous to motorists. The fact that the said manhole is left uncovered is no laughing matter. A lot of accidents had happened in the past due to open manholes especially during the occurrence of floods.

I believe it had a cover before but is now left open for unknown reasons. It will be appreciated if government would be more serious this time in making our roads safer and more secured.