MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III visited the wake of Rodolfo “Dolphy” Quizon Sr on Thursday, July 12, the same day he expressed his desire to name Dolphy a National Artist.

Aquino arrived at the Heritage Park, Taguig City at around 5:30 p.m. and left less than 15 minutes later.

The President briefly spoke with Dolphy’s long-time partner, Zsa-Zsa Padilla, but didn’t entertain questions from reporters. He also met some of Dolphy’s family members.

Earlier during the day, Aquino addressed questions on the proposed National Artist recognition for Dolphy. “Publicly naman, ako, sang-ayon ako doon sa mungkahi na gawin siyang National Artist,” Aquino told reporters. (Publicly, I agree to the proposal to make him a National Artist.)

The President stressed the government’s need to follow a process in bestowing the National Artist award. He noted a pending case before the Supreme Court on the alleged railroading of the award in 2009. “Ayaw na po nating ulitin ‘yan.” (We do not want a repeat of that.)

This is the same position taken by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts. (Read: ‘National Artist award for Dolphy should go through process.’)

‘Day of Remembrance’

Aquino, nevertheless, said he highly respects the King of Comedy. On Thursday, he also declared July 13 as a National Day of Remembrance for Dolphy, who died on July 10. (Read: July 13 National Day of Remembrance for Dolphy.)

“Palagay ko marami siyang naitulong sa atin pong lipunan at saka sa kanyang sining na talagang ibinuhos ang kanyang buhay sa pagkatagal-tagal,” he said. (I think he he has contributed a lot to our society, and to his craft into which he poured a lot of himself for a long time.)

Like Aquino, hundreds of Filipinos trooped to Dolphy’s wake on Thursday, the first day for public viewing at Heritage Park. The public viewing is scheduled 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Saturday, July 14. (Read: A movie in heaven for Dolphy?)

Dolphy will be buried Sunday, July 15. – Rappler.com

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