Dolphy in costume as a police trainee for one of his early films.
For his many movie roles playing and honoring men in uniform, the late, great Comedy King Dolphy was posthumously bestowed with a “Distinguished Artist Award” by the Philippine National Police during the 2nd PNP Film Festival Awards Night held September 12 at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Also known as the Crame Awards, the annual film festival is a joint undertaking of the PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR) in cooperation with A4 Telemedia and Marketing Services Inc. and aims to highlight police best practices.
“This was actually the last award that Daddy knew he would be receiving while he was alive,” son Ronnie Quizon posted on his Facebook page. “I told him about this when he was at the ICU. I saw him smile and nod when I said I’ll receive it and thank them on his behalf. It’s just so sad and unfortunate that it became a posthumous award.”
Along with his message, Ronnie also posted an old picture of his late father from one of his very first movies where he played a young policeman who just graduated from the academy.
“I forgot the title of the movie already but he was with Pancho Magalona and Bayani Casimiro, if I remember right,” Ronnie told InterAksyon.
Ronnie also recalled that Dolphy actually played a Japanese soldier as an extra in his very first movie but did not appear on screen when it was shown in theaters.
“In his second movie, his first movie with Sampaguita with Fernando Poe, Sr, he played a navy guy. Then the rest is history. He played every uniformed man in his career and a policeman many times in the past,” Ronnie pointed out.
The PNP award will not be the last time Dolphy will be honored for his enormous entertainment contributions. On September 19, the Dolphy Aid Para Sa Pinoy Foundation, Inc. in cooperation with PLDT and SM Mall of Asia Arena will stage “Dolphy Alay Tawa,” a tribute concert to commemorate the 40th day of the screen legend’s passing.
Based on the late, great Comedy King’s autobiography, “Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-Isa,” the concert will also celebrate Dolphy’s career as an entertainer for 65 years in radio, stage, TV and the movies.
Directed by Al Quinn and written by Bibeth Orteza, the two and a half hour concert will feature performances from Vic Sotto, Maricel Soriano, Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, Edu Manzano, Michael V, Vina Morales, Jolina Magdangal, Ruffa Gutierrez, brothers Richard and Raymond Gutierrez, Wendel Ramos, Martin Escudero, Alex Gonzaga, Danita Paner, Arci Munoz, Ritz Azul, Eula Caballero and JC de Vera.
Zsa Zsa Padilla, Dolphy’s longtime partner who is still recovering from a recent surgery, has confirmed to InterAksyon that she will attend the concert but will not perform.
