Dolphy can still become National Artist, selection panel member says

A member of the board tasked to choose candidates for National Artists of the Philippines said Thursday that the award can still be granted to ailing comedian Dolphy (Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr. in real life). Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III, commissioner of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), said Dolphy satisfies all the requirements to become a National Artist. “Simple lang naman. Una, ‘yung citizenship. Pangalawa, dapat nagpakita ng magandang accomplishment sa komunidad at sa area niya…. Hands down naman he [Dolphy] deserves it eh,” Escudero said in an interview over GMA News TV’s “News To Go.” He said the actor just needs to be nominated by a private individual, preferably one of his colleagues. The NCCA commissioners and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) board of trustees will then determine if the nominee’s name deserves to be forwarded to the President for the conferment of the award. “There is always time. Pwede naman ihabol…. Kailangan lang i-nominate, period. Kami na ang bahala,” the lawmaker said. He did not, however, give a definite time table on how swift the award can be given to Dolphy upon nomination. “I cannot be sure. It depends in whether we can convince the whole board. I, for one, will support him definitely,” Escudero said. Critical condition Dolphy, considered to the country’s “King of Comedy,” is still in critical condition at the Makati Medical Center due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In 2010, the 83-year-old actor was given the “Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart” by President Benigno Aquino III for his 65 years in Philippine theater and film. The National Artist Award is considered “the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts.” The award can be given both to living artists and to those who died after the establishment of the award in 1972 who excelled in the following fields: Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film, Broadcast Arts, and Architecture and Allied Arts. Recipients of the award are entitled to a cash prize of up to P100,000, monthly life pension, medical benefits, life insurance coverage, and a state funeral. Calls mount for Dolphy’s recognition A party-list group meanwhile joined calls to immediately give Dolphy the National Artist Award. Arlene Brosas of the AKAP BATA party-list said the ailing actor deserves the award because of his contributions to Philippine cinema, as well as for his advocacy for the care of children. “For the children of today and of tomorrow to get to know the achievements of Dolphy as a Filipino artist, the Palace must immediately name him as a National Artist before it will be too late,” she said in a statement. Aside from being an actor, Dolphy also founded the Dolphy Aid Foundation, which awards scholarships to less fortunate students. Vice President Jejomar Binay and several senators also earlier urged Malacañang to confer the award to the Comedy King. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, however, said that President Aquino’s hands are tied in giving the award, due to a pending case before the Supreme Court concerning giving  national artist award to seven personalities. — LBG, GMA News