Eric Quizon on possible rise of new Dolphy theater, museum

MANILA, Philippines — The late King of Comedy Dolphy’s legacy may soon find a new home.

According to Eric Quizon, plans are underway to build a museum dedicated to his father.

He also addressed talk on the possibility of a new Dolphy Theater in ABS-CBN’s production facility in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

It was reported on Philstar.com last year that the iconic Dolphy Theater at the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City is set to be demolished following the company’s sale of a large portion of its property to Ayala Land, Inc.

Asked for an update and reaction to the reported demolition during the intimate press launch of JuanMeds Pharmacy, for which he serves as celebrity endorser, the director-actor said, “Wala na benta na eh. Kasama yun ng sale nung property. So gigibain talaga yun. But I know — I think — they have plans in Bulacan.”

He continued, “Alam ko may plans na ilipat yung theater duon. Kasi dini-develop pa rin naman talaga nila yun.”

If there’s one element of the Dolphy Theater that he wants preserved, he said it’s the signage.

“I asked it from Tita Cory (Vidanes, chief operating officer at ABS-CBN). (She said), let’s see Eric because we might use it as we might put up another Dolphy Theater in Bulacan. May ganun naman sila na plan. Pero sabi ko pagka ano ha, amin nalang yan.”

One thing that’s going to materialize soon is the museum. Eric revealed that the family is eyeing to build the Dolphy museum in Calatagan, Batangas.

Developments are in progress.

“Soon, basta soon. Most likely this year,” he hinted.

“We have a property there na meron space para magtayo ng museum. (Why there?) Para mayroon tour (for tourism) and educational siya. Naka-plano na siya. Complete na siya, it’s just construction nalang. Funding nalang. Malapit na. Basta inaayos na.”

Direk Eric also looked back on his long-standing relationship with ABS-CBN, the network where he began his television career.

“My very first television show was ‘Loveliness,’ (a 1980s show where) I co-hosted with Alma Moreno. In fact, I started in the industry in 1986. I was 19. So, this year is actually my 40th year. So, fond memories (of ABS-CBN) marami,” he said.

ABS-CBN was also the first network to entrust him with his own game show, “Ready, Get Set, Go!” that ran for eight years in the ’90s.

The media giant later gave him the opportunity to step behind the camera.

“Maalaala Mo Kaya” was his first directorial job, followed by “Wansapanataym” and “Star Drama.”

“Dun talaga nag-switch yung career ko, from being just an actor to a director, to a point na pagdi-direct lang yung ginawa ko.”

Pharmacy brand endorser

The STAR and other members of the press caught up with the director-actor during the ribbon-cutting event for JuanMeds Pharmacy at Lemon Square along EDSA in Quezon City. The new pharmacy brand aims to provide “accessible and reliable healthcare services to Filipinos” through innovation, including its own mobile app.

Interestingly, its chairman, Rico Fernando Chico, traces his roots to broadcast media. He was formerly an ABS-CBN engineer and helped build Studio 4, which made history as one of the first HD (high-definition) studios in the Philippines.

Asked how he transitioned from media to healthcare, Chico shared his journey: “I was a broadcast engineer, we handled the live shows, studio and OB productions, so yung mga basketball, things like that. Sometimes, we were sent abroad for research and development. And then, I saw some opportunities with tech.

“Originally, I’m a computer science graduate from Adamson, so my core is really IT (information technology). That time, when we started our company in 2014, our goal was to really have an IT firm that’s different, na more on broadcasting, that’s the story behind the company. But as the years moved forward, we saw the opportunity in financial tech.”

Chico resigned from ABS-CBN in 2018 and eventually, his business evolved from fintech to health tech and care.

But he was able to contribute his many years of working experience in the TV industry to his latest business venture JuanMeds.

“Yung mga nasa TV alam nila yung ‘ngarag.’ We brought that culture — di naman nangarag — but proactive. Ganun sa TV. Tulungan talaga, lalo na sa production and engineering, wherein we would plan and execute. And pusong malasakit kasi ‘pag galing ka sa TV, be it GMA or ABS-CBN, makita mo yung tao diyan halos (lahat) puro for the love ang trabaho. Alam naman natin ang mga nasa media na madalas for the love. We bring that culture here.”