I am an 80s kid. I was born and raised in the 80s.And my childhood reminds me a lot of Dolphy’s movies that my mom would take me to local cinemas in downtown Legazpi City just to watch his movies.
The one that absolutely had great impact to me was his 1987 movie “Once Upon a Time”. I was 7 years old that time but the plot of that story really remained in my mind up to now. The whole cast of the movie is a blockbuster during that time – with the loveteam of Snooky-Richard, Janice de Belen (my all-tuime favourite Filipina actress and my childhood crush), the very regal Lani Mercado with the very versatile Gloria Romero playing as the villain, and of course, entwined with the great comedy antics of Chichay and Tessie Tomas, plus the That’s Entertainment stars Mon Alvir,Anjo Yllana & Chuckie Dreyfuss.
Once Upon A Time,a 1987 hit comedy-fantasy flick which starred “Dolphy”.
As a kid, the plot of that movie really remained in my mind.
I grew up as a teenager just right in time in 1993 when ABS-CBN first invaded Bicol. Legazpi and the rest of the Albay province (and contiguous towns & provinces) only has one Tv channel that is GMA-7 in which the shows are shown one-week delayed. yes,one week delayed. It means, we can watch a That’s Entertainment episode a week after it was telecast in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon provinces. Indeed, 1993 was just right in time when Dolphy’s hit TV sitcom “Home Along da Riles” became popular after debuting in 1991.
Home Along has been a part of my weekly Thursday routine – that me and my siblings and my aunts and other relatives would pile up in front of the TV just to watch the weekly dish of the show. That time, me and my siblings would eat early dinner so that we can proceed to our Aunt’s house nearby just to watch TV since we still do not have any TV set during that time.And we always have a great laugh.
1990 hit-TV sitcom Home Along da Riles aired on ABS-CBN for almost 15 years.
Dolphy is one of the very few Filipino comedians who can throw a punchline without laughing ahead of the comedy stint. His newspaper poking at the Sunog-Baga Boys and Babalu is a signature that every other comedian during that time, followed.
Dolphy thumbmarked and sealed the 90s as his prime decade in Philippine TV sitcom. i can say this since during the hit of John & Marsha, I was not born yet and that RPN-9’s coverage is not that extensive to the provinces. I only heard about John & Marsha when I was already on my early teens only in commentaries, reviews, tributes. memory-lane programs on TV,and even a re-run in the recent years.
A scene in Home Along da Riles (TV) with Claudine as Bing and Dolphy as Kevin Cosme with Gio Alvarez on the background.
The conglomerate of Cita Astals, Bernardo Bernardo, Roxanne (Dang Cruz), Nova Villa, Claudine Barretto, Gio Alvarez, Maybelline, Smokey Manoloto, Vandolph etc are also the ones I missed on Philippine TV comedy scen (well,of course,apart from my other favourite Abangan Ang Susunod na Kabanata).
The Philippines’ Comedy King during his heydays. A legend, indeed.
When I finished college in 2000, that started the dwindling of Home Along. I was barely watching the show. Maybe because I was already starting on my professional career and had been focusing on some other serious structures of my life. Until the day that Home Along bid farewell on TV.
And Dolphy contiued his TV and movie career. With some short-lived comedy programs and some hit movies. Until in 2010.
I would admit in 2004, I became less as a fan of Dolphy when he endorsed FPJ as his Presidential bet. Well, I knew Dolphy is an absolute vote-magnet. He can sway votes of millions of Filipinos with his charisma and character. I am also a fan of FPJ as an actor but I was never a fan of him to be a Philippine President.I was then rooting for the late great Senator Raul S. Roco.
In 2010, much more I was a little off with Dolphy when he endorsed MannyVillar for President. Again, I admit I was never an Erap supporter, but I deem, he should have endorsed Erap instead of Villar having the former as his good and long-time friend than the latter.
But all of those are history. Villar, Erap and Dolphy all have moved on.
When it was reported that Dolphy has been admitted to the ICU of Makati Medical Center last June, I felt an innate sadness. I think this man has made us happy and smile most of our lives – even our parents and grandparents. Dolphy gave us a sense of good laugh, hope, fantasy,imagination, genuine talent, the art of comedy and passion. This man who have been in the showbusiness for 6 decades has achieved something that no other can duplicate or even come close to it.
I continued to pray that this man, who, in his great splendor, is the absolute and indisputable King of Philippine Comedy, would recover from his ailments.
I was hoping for it, was praying for it. I though the positive developments the last 2 weeks would continue. But, sadly, last night I was stunned hearing the news that he is gone.
Que triste. Definitivamente, que triste la muerte de rey de comedia de peliculas Filipinas! I am very sad. Something in me has been lost – which I cannot explain nor expound. The closest encounter I had with Dolphy was when his motorcade for the FPJ campaign pass by our vehicle enroute to Tabaco City in 2004, but it is like Dolphy is already part of my subliminal system.
How in the world can I ever imagine Philippine show business without a Dolphy? Such a great loss.
The only thing left for us, fans, critics and observers is to respect, revere and try to move on with the death; and proceed with the inspiration and legacy he has left.
Goodbye, Dolphy!
Que En Pas Descanse! (QEPD)
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Nota bene:
This is the author’s personal account of how he remembers and regards Dolphy during the course of his lifetime and does not in any way represent anybodyelse’s experiences, emotions or opinions. This is purely a personal account and recounting of how he recalls and experience the King of Comedy.
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