Dolphy reminded us of the importance of laughter
At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities. — Jean Houston
The most wasted of all days is that in which we have not laughed. — Nicolas Chamfort, translated from French
Perhaps I know best why it is man alone who laughs; he alone suffers so deeply that he had to invent laughter. — Friedrich Nietzsche
A lot of things had been said in honor of the late “Comedy King” Dolphy the national comic, a man who had no need for any government “National Artist” title to be respected.
There are many reasons why I admire Dolphy: his was an inspiring “rags-to-riches” success story; he was born and grew up in Manila’s historic Tondo district where this writer also spent his childhood; the love of his life is the well-read, talented and beautiful singer/actress Zsa Zsa Padilla; he didn’t succumb to the temptations of politics because he honestly said it wasn’t for him (he told Philippine STAR entertainment editor Ricky F. Lo on Feb. 7, 1997: “Madaling tumakbo. Eh, paano kung manalo (It’s easy to run but what happens after if one wins)?”; he was generous; he was humble on the few occasions that I met him, and he made many of us nationwide laugh amidst the numerous socio-political or economic travails of the past decades.
Why do I say Dolphy was generous? My uncle, Aloha Hotel owner Manuel O. Chua, told me he witnessed the superstar Dolphy on many occasions in the 1980s handing over cash amounting to tens of thousands of pesos to help then-retired 1950s award-winning movie superstar Leopoldo Salcedo at the hotel’s coffeeshop.
In what would be classified by ethnic Chinese as good karma, Zsa Zsa Padilla recently revealed that when the ailing Dolphy became sick and retired in his final years, TV5’s Manny V. Pangilinan generously continued giving the comedian his salary. When he was at the Makati Medical Center, donations and help reportedly poured in from his friends.
Ex-filmmaker/writer Rafael “Raffy” Guerrero told me that when he directed Lotis Key’s first starring role movie Lady Luck in 1975, her then ex-boyfriend Dolphy agreed to take a guest role for that project with no talent fee, and he was very professional and serious. Guerrero was amazed to witness the Comedy King once during a shoot in front of the old Luna San Pedro-designed Zobel mansion (now a huge condo of Moldex Realty) on Roxas Boulevard; Dolphy was standing and when he was about to sit backwards, suddenly one of the comedian’s staff from out of nowhere came running with a portable chair and — with perfect timing — placed it there for Dolphy to sit down.
By the way, STAR reader Robin Tong e-mailed me to say that he heard the half-American Lotis Key is a descendant of Francis Scott Key, the American lawyer, author and poet famous for writing the lyrics to the United States’ national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.
Comedians Like Dolphy & Jackie Chan Admired, Also Miriam, Cardinal Sin, Erap
Dolphy was the greatest of Philippine comedians and comics, but his recent demise reminded me of other comedians. Philippine STAR columnist and comedian Joey de Leon once showed me around his house, explaining to me his collection of paintings with clown themes by the late national artist Ang Kiu Kok and others.
Among our present-day Philippine comedians are Ai Ai de las Alas, Vic Sotto, Michael V., Ogie Alcasid, Vice Ganda, Allan K and Bayani Agbayani.
Perhaps the greatest comedian ever was the legendary Charlie Chaplin. Other world greats in laughter include the late Bob Hope, George Burns, Moliere the French playwright and actor considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature (his dramas include The Misanthrope, The School for Wives, Tartuffe or the Hypocrite, The Bourgeois Gentleman, The Miser, etc.), Asia’s world-famous action star comic Jackie Chan, Hollywood’s Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Woody Allen, Jerry Seinfield, Britain’s Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean), Jay Leno, Jim Carrey and Bill Cosby.
In politics, I considered former US President George W. Bush a clown and a buffoon — perhaps that’s why people either loved or hated him so viscerally.
In Philippine politics, Senator Lito Lapid is deemed clownish at times by the public, but he has at times used humor to an advantage, like in his speech at the Corona impeachment trial.
Often, comedy — like the high art of poetry — requires the highest levels of intellect, sense of irony and timing. An example is Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, who is a natural, sardonic and witty comic even when angry, with TV cameras showing her peers in the Senate smiling in anticipation or simply giggling like school kids.
Ex-President Joseph Estrada is by no means dumb; he’s actually a comic genius, with his clever self-deprecating Erap jokes as well as his well-calculated mangling of the elite’s English language.
The country’s most powerful, controversial and unforgettable primate of the Catholic Church was the late natural comic Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin. He once asked then First Lady Imelda R. Marcos why she was visiting his residence, or “the House of Sin,” late at night. Sin also deployed sardonic wit and sarcastic humor in his political diatribes and sermons. His Chinese surname “Sin” combined with his ecclesiastical title “cardinal” was naturally funny!
Dolphy Era Comics Panchito, Dely Atay-Atayan & Ww2 Era Pugo & Togo
Returning to the late Dolphy, I researched past and deceased Philippine comedians with names like his sidekick Panchito Alba, his TV show mother-in-law Dely Atay-Atayan (whom the late radio legend Tiya Dely Magpayo of DZRH told me was married to; can you believe this funny name, Andoy Balun-Balunan?), Bert “Tawa” Marcelo, Rene Requestas, Apeng Daldal, Babalu, Chichay, Pugo & Togo, Bayani Casimiro, Chiquito, etc. Dolphy’s TV comedy director was also a comedian, Ading Fernando, a brother of Dely Atay-Atayan.
By the way, I learned that Dolphy’s idols during his youth in the 1940s in Manila’s cinemas were the bald-headed comedy duo Pugo (Mariano Contreras) and Togo (Andres Solomon). They were popular during World War II when they fearlessly poked fun at the Japanese invaders. They performed short skits, slapstick humor and hilarious dialogues live in war-time Manila’s theatres like Clover, Life and Avenue theaters. I think they were forced to temporarily change their stage names to “Puguing” and “Tuguing” during the Japanese occupation, because “Togo” sounded similar to the Tojo surname of the former prime minister of Japan.
Why Laughter Is Beneficial To Life, Love & Work
The late Dolphy’s life and colourful career should always remind us that laughter is not only the best medicine, but beneficial to all of us in many ways.
Scientific studies show that laughter’s physical health benefits are: it boosts immunity (while depression can weaken our immune system); lowers stress hormones; decreases pain (you can literally laugh your pain away!); relaxes our muscles; and prevents heart disease (and I believe laughter can also cure heart problems of the romantic kind!).
Laughter’s mental health benefits are: it adds color, fun, joy and zest to life; eases anxiety and fear; relieves stress; improves our mood; improves our psychological and mental resilience. Do you remember the unforgettable movie Life is Beautiful about the value of humor, even during the Holocaust?
The social benefits of laughter include its ability to strengthen relationships among kin, friends, colleagues; it boosts teamwork; it helps defuse conflict between enemies or rivals (I suggest ex-Senator Migz Zubiri try using humble and good humor to woo political foe Senator Koko Pimentel); it promotes group bonding; and it attracts others to us (I believe this is the No. 1 reason the late Dolphy attracted many beautiful girlfriends like Zsa Zsa Padilla throughout his colorful life).
Smile, because it is the beginning of laughter and the fountain of youth. Laugh every day, at jokes, at problems, at corrupt bad politicians or bad weather, and even ultimately at ourselves.
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