Remembering Danny Dolor, patron of Phl arts and cinema

Danny Dolor, known patron of the movie industry, arts and highly esteemed for his unwavering support for Philippine culture, passed away on July 21. He was 84.

Born on Sept. 26, 1938, Danny was doing dialysis three times a week until the time of his death.

The son of a wealthy couple in Lipa, Batangas, Danny’s father, Leon, was a pharmacist-businessman and former assembly woman Soledad Lirio Dolor.

Danny’s cousin, former Tanauan Mayor Francisco Lirio, disclosed Danny was so kind to him and treated him like his own brother. Danny built a chapel in his farm in Lipa.

The young Danny Dolor (right).

Danny was among the first recipients of the Dangal ng Haraya award from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA). He was cited for “keeping alive the flame of his passion for Filipiniana.”

In 1978, Danny founded the Tribung Pilipino Foundation and its musical performing arm, Tribung Pinoy.

An Aliw Lifetime Achievement awardee in 2012 and 2016, Danny received the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Dr. Jose R. Perez Memorial Award in 2011 and the Arturo M. Padua 2015 for his lifetime contributions to Philippine cinema.

Danny wrote a yet unreleased book, Remember When, named after his Philippine STAR weekly column of the same title. The book has an accompanying short essay by Danny’s good friend, veteran entertainment journalist Ronald Constantino.

The Lirio-Dolor Museum in Lipa City, Batangas.

“In his foreword, Ronald said the book was a ‘modest although belated contribution’ to the centennial of Philippine cinema in 2019. It provides ‘spices and elements of huge human interest,’” wrote journalist and Dolor’s relative, Gerry Lirio, on Philstarlife on Aug. 16, 2022 after Lirio read the Remember When book.

“(Dolor’s) collection was a treasure trove of photographs showcasing the stars of the Philippine entertainment scene, possibly covering the last 100 years from Atang de la Rama, Carmen Rosales and Rogelio de la Rosa, Gloria Romero and Delia Razon to Amalia Fuentes and Romeo Vasquez, Susan Roces and Fernando Poe, Jr. to Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos, among other greats,” Lirio informed.

Lirio wrote “Danny published more than 1,400 issues or photos in the regular Sunday column from 1994 to 2021.”

Danny compiled his columns in a 465-page book he dedicated to the memory of Ricky Lo, the Philippine STAR’s former entertainment editor, who was also one of Danny’s very good and closest friends.

“The book featured the indisputable kings, queens and clowns of Philippine movies,” added Lirio. “Actors who made movie watchers cry, fall in and out of love, actors who made people laugh and forget about their worries, actors in movies who raised people’s libido, like Peque Gallaga’s Scorpio Nights, among others.”

Dolor’s Pharmacy, the family’s business.

Photos Courtesy of Gerry Lirio from Danny’s book, Remember When

 

Danny was also close to Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos and the late movie queen, Susan Roces.

Viewing of Danny’s remains is from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. until tomorrow, July 26, at Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati. Daily Masses are scheduled at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be on July 27, 2 p.m. at Santuario de San Antonio, after which burial will take place at the Dolor Mausoleum, Capilla de la Virgen y del Señor, Manila Memorial Park, Sucat, Parañaque City.