Dolphy deserves 'National Artist' award

MANILA, Philippines - A board member of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts on Thursday said he believes comedy king Rodolfo "Dolphy" Quizon is worthy to be named as a National Artist.

In a television interview, Rep. Salvador Escudero III of Sorsogon, NCCA commissioner, said a nomination of Dolphy as a National Artist and the subsequent approval of the NCCA are needed to award the 83-year-old comedian of the recognition.

"I, for one, would fully support him [as a National Artist]. He deserves it," Escudero said.

The NCCA has 15 board members, three of whom came from the private sector.

According to the NCCA's guidelines, the Order of National Artists recognition is given to Filipino individuals who have "made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts; namely, Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film and Broadcast Arts, and Architecture and Allied Arts."

Escudero said after the nomination, the NCCA board members may opt to expedite the grant of recognition to Dolphy, who is in critical condition at the Makati Medical Center, especially because they are "racing against time."

"He (Dolphy) is an outstanding actor; nagpapatawa, nagpapasaya ng tao," Escudero said.

Besides the award and presidential recognition, those recognized as National Artists or given the Order ng Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining will get a "lifetime emolument and material and physical benefits comparable in value to those received by the highest officers of the land such as a cash award of P100,000, net of taxes for living awardees; a cash award of P75,000 net of taxes for posthumous awardees, payable to legal heir/s; a monthly life pension, medical and hospitalization benefits; lifetime insurance coverage for awardees who are still insurable; arrangements and expenses for a state funeral, and a place of honor at national state functions, and recognition at cultural events."

One of Dolphy's sons, Eric, told the media that his father is in critical, but stable condition. He said that Dolphy's blood pressure and the condition of his kidney have already started to stabilize.

Eric said in radio and television interviews that Dolphy's hemoglobin count remains low and doctors continue to subject him to blood transfusion.

He said that Dolphy could not talk, but responds to them physically.

Eric said that his father's lungs are "very, very weak" but "his brain, heart and liver, they are all in good condition."

Dolphy suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, one of the most common lung diseases. Yahoo! Health said that there are two forms of COPD -- chronic bronchitis, which is defined by a long-term cough with mucus and emphysema, defined by destruction of the lungs over time.

Lung transplant

In another interview, Dolphy's other son Ronnie, said that they are studying the possibility of subjecting the famous comedian to a lung transplant surgery.

"Pinag-aralan ko na yung tanging paraan at yung ang mahirap gawin, lung transplant," Ronnie said.

He said his father would not want to suffer more with medical syringe being administered on him to stabilize his condition.

"Ayaw niyang may tinutusok sa kanya. Ayaw niyang buhay nga pero nahihirapan siya. Sabi niya 'kung mawawala na ako... Pffft, ganoon na lang'," Ronnie said.

He said the entire Quizon clan is praying that their father would still be with them when he celebrates his 84th birthday on July 25.

"It's all in God's hands. Kung ano ang gusto ng Diyos, mangyayari iyan," he said.