Vandolph turns a new leaf

He was the enfant terrible of showbiz, figuring in accident after accident, controversy after controversy. Months after that near-fatal road accident in Pangasinan, Vandolph’s Expedition plunged into a yet-to-be-completed flyover along Katipunan and sent him posthaste to the hospital again.

Almost three months ago, when Fernando Poe Jr. passed away, Vandolph created a scene by showing up in his late godfather’s wake drunk. Dolphy’s son not only raised eyebrows, he got a beating from media.

But Vandolph vows all that is now a thing of the past. He’s turning a new leaf.

"If you live in the past, you stay in the past," he declares.

Vandolph refuses to link his bizarre behavior to neglect on his parents’ (Dolphy and Alma Moreno) part. He may have shuttled from one home to another as a product of a broken family. His parents may have given him more than what their counterparts with lesser means did. But they’re not at fault, says Vandolph.

The problem, he admits, came from him. He was too childish, too reckless. But he has learned his lessons.

The forced vacation from school and showbiz, the string of surgeries on his damaged pelvic area, the fear of being an invalid for the rest of his life —these send alarm bells ringing in his mind. They told him to shape up or conk out.

"I clung to God and my family," Vandolph looks at brother Epy, his co-star in ABS-CBN’s new gag show, Quizon Avenue (to premiere tonight at 7:30.). "Now, I want to make my parents proud of me."

Vandolph knows racing his luxury vehicle and endangering other people’s lives is not cute at all. So he has kissed his daredevil ways behind the wheel good-bye and carefully avoids hitting "even a dangling leaf" when he drives.

He makes it a point to go straight home after taking liquor and refrain from going anywhere else to avoid getting into other people’s nerves.

"My Dad taught me the value of getting along with everyone, and I keep that in mind," Vandolph explains.

And he wants to resume his studies by taking up Mass Communication at the College of St. Benilde, with girlfriend Jenny Salimao as his inspiration.

"I already got a high school diploma," Vandolph beams.

He has become introspective. "I know I still have a mission in life when I survived those accidents,|" Vandolph muses. "What it is, I don’t know yet."

Meanwhile, he’s bent on picking up the pieces by working regularly again.

Quizon Avenue is his nth sitcom with his dad, after Home Along Da Airport and Home Along Da Riles.

Like Dolphy, Vandolph idolizes Charlie Chaplin and the Three Stooges.

"My favorite of the Three Stooges is Curley, since he has my built, and he’s makulit like me," reveals Vandolph.

He knows Quizon Avenue is his nth chance to start again, as a comedian and even as someone who wants to prove that indeed, he is a new and much better person. And Vandolph is not about to bungle this opportunity offered him on a silver platter.

He knows the perks are the offshoot of being the Comedy King’s son.

"I thank my Dad for all the support," says Vandolph. And if (Dolphy) wants to marry Zsa Zsa Padilla, now that her marriage to Dr. Modesto Tatlonghari is annulled, well and good.

"I will support whatever makes my Dad happy," says Vandolph.

And oh, there’s no truth to talks that he and Zsa Zsa are at odds; that Dolphy and his ladylove almost parted ways because of this. In fact, Vandolph adds, he and Zsa Zsa have talked about it and resolved the issue.

"Some people just want to destroy us," Vandolph concludes.

Whatever it is, intrigues are the least of his concerns now. The guy just wants to tell the world he’s changed for the better. And he wants an nth chance, which ABS-CBN is giving to him.

Let’s cross our fingers that this time, the repentant Vandolph will stray no more.