INQUIRER.net poll: Dolphy should be given National Artist Award

MANILA, Philippines—May it be already too late or not, most of the respondents of the recently concluded INQUIRER.net poll said Comedy King Dolphy, Rodolfo “Dolphy” Vera Sr. in real life, should be recognized as among the country’s national artists.

To the poll question “Should Dolphy be conferred the National Artist title?” about 2,552, or 77.57 percent of the total 3,290 respondents said “yes” while only 509, or 15.47 percent voted “no.”

Two hundred twenty-eight (229), meanwhile, were undecided and voted for “maybe.”

In a comment, Benedict Carl said that aside from being good in his films, Dolphy was also good “in the art of helping others.”

He also said that while his father once told him that the original King of Comedy was the veteran “Pugo,” or Mariano Contreras in real life, who was active during the 1950s up to 1960s, Dolphy “keeps on learning afterwards,” citing one of Dolphy’s interviews where he said that he learned from Pugo.

“Ultimately, if not in our time, history will correct itself by awarding him the NAA [National Artist Award]. He deserves,” he said.

Andee Asuncion, meanwhile, said that recognition seemed late already.

“But why only now? coz [Because] he’s ill that’s why you are nominating him?,” Asuncion said, adding that it should have been given long time ago.

Dolphy was first nominated in 2009, according earlier reports, but didn’t make it to the final list.

He is nominated again this year by lawmakers and fellow actors to be National Artist for Film.