'Universal man' Dolphy should be given a posthumous National Artist Award - Angara

By: Karl John C. Reyes, InterAksyon.com
July 15, 2012 11:16 AM

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines - Senator Edgardo Angara said on Sunday that Dolphy, Rodolfo Vera Quizon in real life, should be given the National Artist Award posthumously because he has exceptional talent and a universal man to all Filipinos.

“Nakakasiguro ako na si Dolphy ay makatatanggap at naniniwala akong bibigyan ng Award si Dolphy, kakaiba ang talent ni Dolphy (I am sure that Dolphy will receive the award because he has such exceptional talent). He is a universal man,” said Angara, a member of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA), in his taped interview aired over dzBB.

“I am a member of NCCA, pabor ako dyan kasi si (I am in favor because) Dolphy is more than deserving of the National Artist Award. Dapat tumanggap siya ng posthumous. Kung ako lang, ibibigay ko na sa kanya upang manamnam niya ang award (He should get it posthumously. If it were up to me, I would've given it when he was alive so he could have savored it). Dolphy has given us happy moments,” Angara said.

National Artist Award process under review

Angara said that the rules being used by the NCCA governing the conferment of a National Artist Award is under review.

“Under review ngayon ang pamimili ng Natonal Artist Award. Ilalatag namin kung ano ang karapatan nila at entitlement na ibibigay sa awardee kabilang sa Natatanging Manlilikha ng Bayan (The process for choosing the National Artist is under review now. We are going to set down their rights and entitlements)," Angara said.

“We suggest refining the process on the conferment of the National Artist Awrd including the National Living Treasure o Natatanging Manlilikha ng Bayan. Bilisan, at hindi masyadong protracted kasi sabi nga namin, hindi naman eleksiyon ito, at namimili lamang sila among their peers, para katabi mo lang ang pipiliin (To hasten and not have a protracted process because as we said, this is not an election and the choice is among peers who can be sitting beside you),” he added.

Angara, a member of NCCA as chairman of the Senate committee on education, assured that Dolphy will be given the National Artist Award since the late Comedy King is more than deserving of the Award.

Angara said he will ask in which stage of the nomination process is Dolphy's award now.

He said that under the rules, nominees will be sorted out by a nomination and review committee which will then submit the names to the board consisting of NCCA members and the president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

“We, at the board, are second to the last. We nominate to the Office of the President, then the President will give the award,” Angara explained.

Angara said that a posthumous award was given only once, to the late Fernando Poe Jr.