Dolphy and his bold political choices

MANILA, Philippines – Rodolfo “Dolphy” Quizon Sr played an active role in Philippine politics. Celebrity endorsements are common during elections, but Dolphy did not just lend his name to candidates he believed in. He took the extra mile to fight with them until the end.

Dolphy was a key personality in the campaigns of the late Fernando Poe Jr (FPJ) and Sen Manny Villar in the 2004 and 2010 presidential elections, respectively. In both occasions, his candidates lost.

Gilbert Remulla of Villar’s Nacionalista Party recalled how Dolphy during the 2010 campaign period worked hard to campaign for Villar. Then 81, Dolphy joined campaign sorties. 

“Being the non-politician that Dolphy was, the King of Comedy stuck to what he did best: to give a color of levity to the serious side of politics and campaigns and to show his sincerity in endorsing Senator Villar as a kindred spirit and as someone whom he thought would make a very good president for the country,” Remulla told Rappler.

Dolphy joined the ranks of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and noontime show host Willie Revillame as major endorsers of Villar. (Watch their ad below.)

 

But intrigue plagued Dolphy’s endorsement of Villar. Critics asked: Why would Dolphy choose to endorse Villar over showbiz industry friend, former President Joseph Estrada, who also sought to regain Malacañang in 2010? Both Villar and Estrada lost to President Benigno Aquino III.

When Villar’s campaign suffered heavily from accusations hurled by the Aquino camp that he lied about the poverty of his family, Dolphy stood by him. He appeared in an emotional political ad that defended Villar.

“My family will forever be indebted to Dolphy for his friendship and for bringing laughter to our lives. He will always be our idol,” Villar said in a press release released on Wednesday.

“I think it’s their affinity with one another — the Tondo background, the rags-to-riches story — that made their relationship go beyond just politics,” Remulla said. (Watch the ad below.) In that ad, Dolphy confidently declares, “Kay Manny Villar, panatag ang loob ko.” (I have confidence in Manny Villar.)

Dolphy’s endorsement however did little to arrest the downward slide of Villar’s campaign that started strong. It was a bruising fight that even the comedian was powerless to do something about or even turn around.

The cost of Dolphy’s endorsements

On ANC Headstart on Wednesday, July 11, Poe’s daughter Movie Television and Review Classification Board (MTRCB) chairman Grace Poe Llamanzares also recalled how Dolphy supported her father in the 2004 elections.

“He (FPJ) purposely didn’t call his friends in showbiz to campaign for him. I mean he could have easily done so, calling in the favor, but no. He was very careful not to oblige them to campaign for him. But Dolphy wouldn’t hear any of it and said ‘Hindi, kung ayaw mo basta sasama ako sa iyo.‘ So he went around with my Dad. Definitely for my Dad, there was no talent fee, he just went around,” Llamanzares told ANC.

President Arroyo won the elections, but FPJ’s camp claimed she cheated.

Llamanzares said Dolphy’s endorsement of FPJ cost him the National Artist award. The administration of President Arroyo was “a bit vengeful,” she said. FPJ himself did not get the award until after his death.

The same claim was made against the administration of President Aquino for its failure to give the award to Dolphy. But Malacañang denied it, citing the Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart that President Aquino gave Dolphy in 2010.

Even in his death, calls to give Dolphy the National Artist award continue to mount.

Dolphy knew his limitations

Dolphy himself was always invited to run for public office. But he would always turn them down.

Actress and Dolphy biographer Bibeth Orteza recalled how, when he was at the top of his career, Dolphy was approached to run for mayor of Manila.

“He always said, “Hindi problema ang tumakbo. Hindi problema ang manalo. Kaso kapag nanalo ako ano ang gagawin ko?” Orteza said. (Running is not a problem. Winning is not a problem. But if I win, what will I do?)

Dolphy knew his popularity could win him elections, but he also knew his shortcomings. For this, Dolphy earned more respect. – Rappler.com

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