Dolphy
Dolphy (born Rodolfo Quizon on July 25, 1928 in Pampanga though raised in Tondo, Manila), is a comedian actor in the Philippines. Better known as the Philippine's "King of Comedy", his career has spanned for more than 5 decades. He used the screen names Golay and Pidol under Sampaguita Pictures.
Biography
He was raised by his parents Melencio Espinosa Quizon, a Chinese Filipino, and Salud de la Rosa Vera. He is currently living with his domestic partner Zsa Zsa Padilla. He has 18 children by five different women.
He started as a struggling performer onstage during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. The late Fernando Poe, Sr. gave him his first break as a character actor. His comic talents became well known in the films, Jack en Jill and Facifica Falayfay. Soon, he made many comedy films, alongside fellow comedians, Pugo, Tugo, Babalu, Panchito, Ike Lozada and German Moreno. In 1966, as part of the comedy duo Dolphy and Panchito, he opened for the Beatles at Rizal Stadium in Manila. Even though their show was in Tagalog, Paul McCartney has said he was amused by their act.
He is best known for his character John Puruntong in the comedy sitcom John En Marsha with Nida Blanca. The series lasted for 17 years and ended in 1990.
After John En Marsha, he returned on TV to play Kevin Kosme (a play on the name of actor Kevin Costner) in the sitcom Home Along da Riles, of ABS-CBN, which was reinvented into Home Along da Airport.
In 2001, Dolphy and his sons Eric and Jeffrey Quizon all won the Prix de la Meilleure Interpretation (the equivalent of a Best Actor Award) in Brussels, Belgium for playing Walterina Markova in the movie Markova: Comfort Gay.
He currently appears in a show called John En Shirley which is a spin-off of John En Marsha with Maricel Soriano the only returning cast member from the show.
For latest news about Dolphy, go to
CelebritiesCornerAll about DolphyDolphy is all that – and more.
As a nod to his birthday, Conversations is giving you “80 snippets” as
a preview to the predicted best-seller.
1. I was born on Calle Padre Herrera on July 25, 1928. Orig na Tondo
Boy. I was about 13 when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.
2. My father was Melencio, son of Modesto Quizon and Adorable
Espinosa. He was earning well as tagagawa ng makina sa bapor at the
Atlantic Gulf.
3. My mother was Salud, daughter of Maximo Vera and Ninay de la Rosa.
She owned a tailoring shop at home. She was the first cousin of Rita
Vera Avellana, mother of Lamberto Avellana. My siblings and I called
our parents Papang and Mamang.
4. At that time, I could watch movies for free because I sold peanuts
and butong-pakwan inside, and also singkamas-malamig.
5. Radio was a hit at that time. The couple Dely Atay-Atayan and Andoy
Balunbalunan were the pioneers of radio shows.
6. I am the second of 10 children – Corazon, Rodolfo, Josefina,
Melencio Jr., Laura, Aurora, Jorge, Jaime, Teresita and Jaime.
7. I was circumcised by a barber at the bathroom under our house. When
I saw blood, I swallowed the guava leaves I was chewing, which was to
be used to cover the wound.
8. Pre-war. I started studying in a public school when I was six.
Naabot na ng right hand ko ang tainga ko sa left side so I was
accepted in Grade 1.
9. My baon was two centavos when I was in elementary and 10 centavos
in high school. At the Chinese store, you could buy a cup of coffee
for one centavo and tinapay na may laman for another centavo.
10. My favorite subjects were History and Arithmetic. Augusto Chico,
‘yung nakalaban ni Asiong Salonga, was my classmate.
11. Japanese Time. I did odd jobs, including shining shoes, pagkakabit
ng mga butones ng pantalon sa pagawaan, taga-salansan ng mga bote na
ika-classify mo according to size taga-karga ng bigas na mas mabibigat
pa sa akin sa pier, nag-buy-and-sell at naging kutsero.
12. I watched stage shows at the Life Theater and Avenue Theater. Mga
bida sina Pugo at Tugo, at Bayani Casimiro (Life) at pambato sa drama
si Rogelio de la Rosa; at sina Patsy, Lupito, Lupita and Gregorio
Ticman (Avenue), at pambato sa drama si Leopoldo Salcedo. May shows
din sa Lyric at Majestic.
13. My idols in comedy were Pugo and Tugo; sa sayaw, sina Bayani
Casimiro at Benny Mack.
14. I was turning 17 when Benny Mack got me as a chorus dancer, one
month at Avenue and then I moved to Lyric. When there was an air raid,
we would interrupt the show and run for cover at the air-raid shelter
sa orchestra, kasama ang audience. Kapag walang bombang bumagsak,
tuloy uli ang show.
15. I was also in the shows at Orient Theater. Golay was my first
stage name. My dream was to have a solo dance na gaya ni Fred Astaire.
16. My first love was Aida Javier who came from a family of musicians.
Mahusay siya mag-piano.
17. During my first roadshow, nakasama ko si Carlos Padilla Sr., lolo
ni Zsa Zsa.
18. I met Engracia Dominguez – si Gracia – sa stage show. In our skit,
she stood motionless, kunwari portrait, habang kinakantahan ko ng Mona
Lisa, Mona Lisa. Nagkaroon kami ng anim na anak – Manny, Salud,
Rodolfo Jr., Freddie, Edgar and Raul. Gracia and I separated in 1963.
19. I was among the original OFWs. Mga 1950 ‘yon. Nag-show kami sa
Hawaii, sa Hong Kong. And then, Japan where I saw snow for the first
time. It was also in Japan where I met Bimbo Danao, tatay ni Laura
Danao at dating artist sa LVN na naging singer. Sikat na sikat siya sa
Japan.
20. It was Conde Ubaldo who got me into radio in the late ’40s. He was
a popular radio writer, director and producer. Isinama ako sa Wag
Naman, starring Pancho Magalona, Tessie Quintana and Baby Jane.
21. It was Pancho Magalona who recommended me to Dr. Jose “Doc” Perez,
the starmaker of Sampaguita Pictures. That was in 1952.
22. My first movie was Sa Isang Sulyap Mo, Tita, with Pancho Magalona
and Tita Duran. And then came Jack and Jill. Mga bida sina Rogelio de
la Rosa at Lolita Rodriguez. I wasn’t the first choice. Sina Batotoy
at Bayani ang unang kinonsider.
23. Jack and Jill was a komiks serial by Mars Ravelo. After that, I
did other komiks characters – Silveria, Captain Barbell, Facifica
Falayfay, all by Mars Ravelo.
24. The first time I did drama was in a 4-in-1 movie, with Barbara
Perez who played a blind girl. ‘Yung episode namin was inspired by the
Charlie Chaplin’s movie City Lights.
25. When I joined Sampaguita, my fee was P1,000 per movie. When my
contract expired, P7,000 per picture na ako.
26. I fell in love with a fellow Sampaguitan but I’d rather not reveal
who she was. Sa amin na lang ‘yon. She’s now in America.
27. It was also in Sampaguita where my team-up with Panchito became
popular. Actually, our tandem started on radio, sa mga shows ni Conde
Ubaldo.
28. ‘Yung song-translation gimmick namin ni Panchito started in Tawag
ng Tanghalan, the amateur talent search that produced Pepe Pimentel,
Ric Manrique Jr., Diomedes Maturan, Nora Aunor and Edgar Mortiz.
Panchito and I stayed in Tawag for six months, then sinimulan namin
ang Buhay Artista where we continued the song-translation portion.
Click na click sa audience ‘yon.
29. It’s not true na naging girlfriend ko si Miss Aruba (Maureen Ava
Viera). Sumali siya sa Miss Universe pageant dito noong 1974. Muntik
lang naging kami.
30. I met Gloria Smith in 1956. Nagkaroon kami ng apat na anak –
Mariquita, Carlos, Geraldino and Edwin.
31. As a father, I couldn’t give my children all my attention when
they were growing up. I was really working full time.
32. I was practically jobless when I left Sampaguita. It was Eugenio
“Geny” Lopez Jr., na kung tawagin ay si Kapitan, who got me into
television. Channel 3 pa noon. Sa kanila nagsimula ang Student
Canteen. Hosts sina Eddie Ilarde, Leila Benitez, Pepe Pimentel at
Bobby Ledesma.
33. My first TV show was Buhay Artista, sa ABS-CBN, idea nina Geny at
Ading Fernando. Sa radyo, my talent fee was P250-P300 per program. Sa
TV, mas mataas ng kaunti, P500 per show.
34. I met Baby Smith. Artista rin siya, Pamela Ponti ang screen name.
She was 17, I was 36. Nagkaroon kami ng apat na anak – Ronaldo,
Enrico, Madonna and Jeffrey.
35. I began doing movies for independent studios – LEA Productions,
Balatbat Productions, Filipinas Productions, Zultana Productions and
D’Lanor ni FPJ.
36. FPJ got me to star in two movies in 1964, Captain Barbell and
Daigdig ng Fantasia (with Nova Villa), both directed by Herminio
“Butch” Bautista, tatay ni Herbert.
37. I put up RVQ Productions in 1965. My first venture was Buhay
Artista, released in 1966. Kami ni Panchito pa rin, kasama sina Susan
Roces at Ronaldo Valdez.
38. Ronaldo Valdez’s real name is Ronald James Gibbs. He’s my
discovery, for Pepe en Pilar, pelikula namin ni Susan. We wanted a new
face as Susan’s partner. I saw Ronaldo in a basketball court and
brought him to the presscon so Susan could see him. “Wala bang iba?”
Susan said. I brought Ronaldo to the barber shop, bought him a pair of
boots at Glenmore and lent him my terno. When I presented him to Susan
again, she said, “Iyan pa.” She didn’t know that he was the same guy I
introduced to her earlier. Then I changed his name to Ronaldo Valdez.
39. Because of Jack and Jill, I was typecast in gay roles. My biggest
hit is Facifica Falayfay, directed by Luciano “Chaning” Carlos. I did
23 other movies with Chaning.
40. When agent movies were the fad, I also played a secret agent,
Dolpinger 1-2-3. Si Chiquito naman, Agent 0-2-10.
41. It’s not true that Chiquito and I had a rivalry. May gumawa lang
ng ganoon because at that time mayroong Nora-Vilma rivalry.
42. In the ’60s, naging fad ang bomba films nina Merle Fernandez,
Rossana Marquez, Rosanna Ortiz at Yvonne. Nag-lie low ako for a while.
43. In 1978, balik ako sa gay role, sa Ang Tatay Kong Nanay where I
played a parloristang bakla, directed by Lino Brocka. Kasama ko sina
Niño Muhlach as the son of my boyfriend, si Phillip Salvador. Si
Jessie Yu ang producer, brother ni Mother Lily.
44. RVQ produced more than 100 films. It had sister companies, Rodzon
Film Organization and Rodessa Films.
45. The tsismis was that I had a relationship with all my leading
ladies. Hindi naman po lahat. Mayroon ding hindi natuloy.
46. Did I court Nida Blanca, my leading lady in John en Marsha? Hindi
po. Ni minsan hindi ko naisipang ligawan siya.
47. John en Marsha started in 1971, a year before Martial Law, on
Channel 9. It was the idea of Kitchie Benedicto, head of the station.
Before Nida, who was doing Wala Kang Paki with Nestor de Villa, Boots
Anson-Roa and Helen Gamboa were considered as my wife Marsha. Before
Dely Atay-Atayan, kinonsider din si Chichay as my mother-in-law na
mayaman at matapobre. Mga anak namin sina Rolly (Quizon) at Maricel
Soriano.
48. John en Marsha was such a big hit that it was made into a movie eight times.
49. I don’t need Viagra. Zsa Zsa is my Viagra.
50. Ang type ko sa babae ‘yung mestisahin at siempre, maganda.
51. I am known as a Bombilya King, pero imposibleng dahil “doon” sa,
alam mo na. Kumalat ‘yon after I did El Pinoy Matador. As a torero, my
costume was tight, no underwear. Kapag nakaharap ako, naka-marka
talaga ‘yung akin, parang bombilya.
52. I am shy with women. I start with touching her hand. Pag hindi
inalis, may gusto. Pag inalis na may kasamang gulat, medyo ayaw. Pero
pag dahan-dahang inalis, ok-ok pa, nagpapakipot lang.
53. In the late ’60s while we were shooting in a hospital, I met a
nurse, Evangeline Tagulao. Nagkaroon kami ng isang anak. Nasa States
na sila ngayon.
54. I met Pilar Pilapil in 1969 when we shot Tayo’y Mag-Up, Up and
Away in Rome, Paris, London, New York, Hawaii and Las Vegas. That was
two years after she won the Bb. Pilipinas-Universe title. We almost
got married. Ayaw ng parents niya.
55. Then, I fell in love with Lotis Key. I also almost married her.
Ang mga babae ko, kadalasan nagkakasabay-sabay, nag-o-overlap sila.
56. In 1981, I met Alma Moreno. We have a son, Vandolph. Why did we
break up? Ayoko na lang mag-elaborate. Basta, nahirapan ako sa
lifestyle niya.
57. Nang naging kami ni Zsa Zsa, nabulabog ang buhay namin. Nawalan
ako ng show; tinanggal ang mga commercials ko. At that time, we
seriously thought of living in the States. Nakabili na nga kami ng
bahay doon, eh.
58. Zsa Zsa and I have a daughter, si Zia. We also have an adopted
daughter, si Nicole who was just a few months old nang ibigay sa akin
ng nanay niyang Amerikana. Nasa Hizon’s ako noon.
59. Hizon’s is my favorite restaurant, sa Ermita ‘yon. Masarap ang
ensaymada nila. ‘Yon ang pang-regalo ko sa mga friends ko.
60. When Nicole was baptized, the priest asked me, “Ang dami mo nang
anak; bakit gusto mo pang mag-adopt?” Sabi ko, “Tingnan n’yo, padre,
parang anghel. Kung sa’yo ibinigay, hindi n’yo ba tatanggapin?”
61. One of my embarrassing moments…Sa Orient, sumasayaw kami. May
lifting-lifting. E, may colds ako. Lumobo ang sipon ko habang
binubuhat ko ang partner ko. Palakpakan ang audience.
62. I love shirts by Italian designers. Armani. Gusto ko rin ang Gap
at Banana Republic.
63. Sa perfume, Angel.
64. Sa kotse, Mercedes Benz.
65. Sa books, biography. Nabasa ko na ‘yung books tungkol kay Frank
Sinatra at Charlie Chaplin.
66. Sa color, partial ako sa white. At red na nakuha ko sa Chinese
Feng Shui. Red daw is good luck to wear on a Monday.
67. Sa music, ballads. Fan ako nina Frank Sinatra, Doris Day at Ella Fitzgerald.
68. Gone With The Wind was the first color movie that I saw. Other
movies that I love are Singing in the Rain and all the Chaplin movies.
69. I also like musicals, ‘yung starring Fred Astraire and Gene Kelly.
Oo, Sound of Music.
70. My other favorites: Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Jack Lemmon, Hedy
Lamarr, Ingrid Bergman, Jack Nicholson, Tom Hanks, Al Pacino, Robert
DeNiro, Hilary Swank at marami pang iba.
71. Sa local, ‘yung mga paborito ko namayapa na – Leopoldo Salcedo,
Rogelio de la Rosa, Jose Padilla Jr.
72. Ay si FPJ siempre. Alaga ako noon ng tatay niya, si Fernando Poe
Sr. Ayoko sa pulitika pero nag-kampanya ako para kay FPJ.
73. Oo nga pala, I started in the movies in 1946, kay Fernando Poe Sr.
Nanding ang tawag namin sa kanya. I was only 19 then.
74. My zodiac sign is Leo.
75. Mahilig si FPJ sa jacket, so everytime I traveled, ang pasalubong
ko sa kanya ay jacket na ginagamit naman niya sa kanyang mga pelikula.
76. Yes, it’s true. Mayroon na akong kabaong, bronze. Matagal na. I
was among the first to buy a family estate sa Loyola Memorial Park sa
Marikina.
77. Totoo. Madasalin akong tao. Habang nagtre-treadmill, nagro-rosary ako.
78. Do I have any regrets? None. I may not be a multi-millionaire but
I feel like one dahil marami akong kaibigan.
79. How do I want to be remembered? As a good person.
80. At 80, of course hindi na ako bagets. Na-kidney operation na ako.
Na-bypass. Nagka-tubig sa lungs.
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