Lawmakers want to give Dolphy Congressional Medal of Distinction

KING OF COMEDY Dolphy (Rodolfo Vera Quizon). INQUIRER PHOTO

Two lawmakers have proposed giving the late Comedy King Dolphy the Congressional Medal of Distinction, the highest award the House of Representatives can confer on an exemplary individual.

Representatives Gina de Venecia and Bernadette Herrera-Dy have filed House Resolution No. 2581 conferring the congressional medal posthumously on Rodolfo “Dolphy” Vera Quizon for his “outstanding accomplishments as a stage, television and movie actor over a span of seven decades, earning for himself the title Comedy King of Philippine Show Business.”

The Congressional Medal of Distinction was given to Manny Pacquiao in 2010 when he captured his eighth world boxing title.

“Dolphy is also worthy of that honor, in recognition not only of his performance as an actor, but more so for his role in making the Filipino people laugh amid crises and poverty, a feat not every actor is able to achieve while maintaining humility and kindness,” said De Venecia.

Dy said she expected the resolution to receive strong support from their colleagues. “Dolphy is deserving of that distinction because he was very influential in eradicating gender bias by portraying homosexuals in his movies. He was also recognized for championing the plight of the common man, through John En Marsha.

Dolphy died on July 10 at the age of 83.