Dolphy on 'do not resuscitate' status

MANILA, Philippines - Comedy King Dolphy (Rodolfo Vera Quizon) is reportedly now on a “do not resuscitate” (DNR) status at the intensive care unit of the Makati Medical Center.

According to a source inside the hospital, the 83-year-old veteran comedian has been placed under DNR status since Saturday night and that actress Zsa Zsa Padilla and the comedian’s children have reportedly agreed not to have him revived should he register a zero heart rate.

As of yesterday, Dolphy remains in critical but stable condition due to a number of medical complications.

Eric Quizon, one of Dolphy’s celebrity sons, said that his father’s lungs are very weak. He said that his father’s hemoglobin count remains low, which is why they need more blood for transfusion.

Dolphy is suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a common lung disease, which has two forms - chronic bronchitis defined by a long-term cough with mucus, and emphysema defined by destruction of the lungs over time.

Meanwhile, Malacañang and several key government officials joined the world of showbiz and the nation in praying for Dolphy’s speedy recovery.

“We enjoin the Filipino people to pray for Dolphy. We are united in our intentions for our revered icon of the Philippine entertainment industry,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

According to Lacierda, President Aquino’s thoughts were with Quizon and his loved ones in these trying times.

Before leaving for Saudi Arabia, Vice President Jejomar Binay also asked the people to pray for Dolphy’s family and loved ones.

“My family and I join the entire Filipino nation in praying for the immediate recovery of Dolphy Quizon and for guidance and strength for his family and loved ones in this hour of need,” Binay said. 

“He has given the people so much happiness in his sterling career as an actor, and has spoken to and for the Filipino. For this, he deserves our fervent prayers,” he added.

Senators Manny Villar and Pia Cayetano, who ran under the Nacionalista Party in 2010 when Dolphy campaigned for them, were among the first who expressed concern for the comedy king.

“We are one with the nation in praying for the speedy recovery of Dolphy. He is one of the few gems of the entertainment industry. His feat as a comedian will be very hard to replicate,” Villar said.

Villar said that he would be forever indebted to Dolphy for supporting his advocacies, especially his help during the 2010 presidential campaign.

Like Villar, Dolphy hails from Tondo, Manila. 

Senators Ramon Revilla, Francis Pangilinan and Gregorio Honasan also shared the concern for Dolphy’s health.

“Tito Dolphy is an industry pillar. He has contributed a lot to the arts. He is admired, respected and loved not just by those in the industry but by every Filipino,” Revilla said in Filipino.

Revilla, also an actor, said he and his family join the nation in prayer.

“I fervently pray and hope that Tito Dolphy could overcome his present medical condition,” Revilla added.

Pangilinan said he and his wife, megastar Sharon Cuneta, also wish that Dolphy will be able to recover soon. “Mega and I are praying for Dolphy and his family,” he said.

“We join our countrymen in wishing him a good fight and speedy recovery as we stand in vigil over his medical condition,” Honasan noted. 

Former President Joseph Estrada also offered a Mass for Dolphy at the St. John the Baptist Church in Pinaglabanan, San Juan City. “I urge all the Filipino people to pray for his immediate recovery. I will offer a Mass for his immediate recovery,” Estrada told The STAR in a telephone interview.

Estrada said he has already made a request to the parish priests of St. John the Baptist Church in Pinaglabanan to schedule a Mass for Dolphy today.

“I might be there personally to attend,” Estrada added. 

National Artist award 

Given Dolphy’s critical condition, calls for the conferment of the National Artist award mounted and were backed both in and outside showbiz.

According to Binay, all concerned groups should act on Dolphy’s nomination immediately.

“Dolphy is an integral part of Philippine entertainment. He was instrumental in the transition of entertainment from the zarzuela through to the silver screen, and as such deserves to be conferred the highest accolade that our nation can give to artists of his caliber,” Binay explained.

Villar also reiterated his support to recognize Dolphy’s outstanding achievement in the entertainment industry.

Since his letter to Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) chairman Emily Abrera in 2007, Villar has been pushing for Dolphy to be named national artist.

He said Dolphy is an artist who has helped build a sense of Filipino nationalism through motion pictures. He is respected by his peers and was a recipient of many awards.

“But more than the trophies he collected, Dolphy is known as a compassionate man, donating substantial wealth and talent to assist health welfare programs and provide financial assistance to senior actors and those involved in filmmaking including extras, stuntmen, bit players, crews and technical staff,” he added.

“In my heart and in the hearts of many Filipinos, he is a National Artist,” Villar stressed.

According to Honasan, Dolphy has brought so much joy and hope to generations of Filipinos, not only as an entertainment icon and comedian but also as a human being. 

Honasan cited there are two resolutions before the Senate that recognize Dolphy’s contribution to the development and international recognition of the Philippine movie and TV industry to reiterate his conferment as national artist. “Any formal national recognition would be appropriate now while Dolphy, his loved ones and our people can better appreciate it,” Honasan said. Malacañang, however, explained that the conferment of the National Artist award on Dolphy will entail a tedious process that must be followed.

Lacierda reminded the public that the President recently awarded Dolphy the Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart since the National Artist award was subject to a long process.

“We recognize his contribution to the field of entertainment. I spoke to the President (yesterday) and he personally believes that Dolphy has contributed immensely to the arts. And in fact, in his words, he has contributed tremendously to what we call ‘art for man’s sake.’ Having said that, there is a process in selecting the National Artist,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda cited the ongoing case before the Supreme Court wherein a temporary restraining order was issued against the conferment of National Artist awards on director Carlo Caparas, Cecille Guidote-Alvarez and two others.

“We recognize the process and it is a very rigid process. There are several tiers in nominating a National Artist. We would like to respect the process. So we will leave it with both the NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts) and the CCP because these are the two joint boards who will nominate the National Artist,” Lacierda said in a press briefing.

Lacierda said Dolphy had already been nominated several times but he was not familiar as to how the NCCA and the CCP boards would decide on the matter vis-a-vis the pending TRO or status quo ante order of the SC.

“But certainly, the President acknowledges, personally believes that he has contributed a lot to the arts,” he said.

“Let me emphasize that the President strongly believes the tremendous contribution of Dolphy to our industry, to the Philippine cultural society but again, there is a process that we would like to respect and it is a very tedious, stringent process that is free from, should be free from politics,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said the NCCA and the CCP would accept nominations and vet them following a multi-tier process. “From that, there will be a discussion of the body of work of the particular artist. And from there, CCP and the NCCA, the joint boards will select from the list of nominees who are qualified to be a National Artist. And from that it is recommended to the President,” he said.

“Lest we be accused of encroaching on the powers of the judiciary... I’m certain that the Supreme Court is fully aware of what’s going on. We do not need to remind them. It’s up to them,” Lacierda said. 

Dolphy, Estrada and the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), were considered as legends in Philippine movies.

– With Aurea Calica, Jose Rodel Clapano, Christina Mendez