“Kinakailangang daanin pa ito sa maraming pagdedebate at pagtatalo. Alam mo kung bakit? Kasi ngayon, hindi pa gaanong napag-aaralan ang talagang kontribusyon ni Dolphy sa pelikulang Filipino. Marami lang ang nagsasabi na siya ang Comedy King, but in terms of the number of critical studies, critical works on his filmography, wala pa eh. Kakaunti! Wala ka ngang mahahanap ngayong libro na tinatalakay lang talaga ay iyong kontribusyon talaga ni Dolphy sa pelikulang Filipino… Doon ako natatakot. Ngayon ang move na gawing National Artist si Dolphy ay nakabatay lamang sa impresyon ng mga nasa industriya ng pelikula, na kung minsan naman ay dahil lamang sa naging malapit sila doon sa tao. Pero dahil nga [pagiging] National Artist ang pinag-uusapan, ang dapat na pag-aralan natin ay ang kontribusyon niya sa pelikulang Filipino. Iyon muna ang unahin.” Alvin Yapan, PhD, Filipino Department Chair
“… the National Artist [title] cannot be contested. Incontestable. It’s a symbol of unity. So if you name somebody who will be contested, that will be against the meaning of a “National Artist.” So that’s how I would view it. A National Artist should unify—in other words—should be so compelling that some sectors cannot say ‘hindi puwede,’ even if many sectors say ‘puwede na.’ It should be above. And I think you have to examine whether, even now, it has to be given… It’s because of sympathy, or because of—you know, when some people are dying or are about to die, or are already dead, people want to make up for certain things… If you want to give it to him, it’s like a kind of consuelo or consolation to the family. I think it should have been given when he was alive.” Leovino Ma. Garcia, PhD, Philosophy Department Associate Professor
“Yes, because he dedicated his life to comedy and drama. Naka-focus siya roon, so ‘yung expertise niya talaga, nakita. Although may mga issues sa buhay niya, it’s not about that. It’s about kung ano ‘yung contribution niya doon sa image of art in the Philippines.” Jose Vito Ricardo Fulgencio (IV BS LM)
“Yes, I believe he does. You see, I do not really know of the standards of comedy, or if there is even one for it. What I do know is that Dolphy created that standard. That’s the mark he left for Philippine film and television.” Exequiel Salcedo III (AB PoS–MPM)
Yes, I think he deserves it. Great comedy artists are not born; they are made. Dolphy Quizon, through his own efforts, was able to master the art and science of comedy enough to create his own brand of it. His comedic antics and style not only embodied the life and humor in the Filipino culture, but also reflected the image of every person who has seen and believed in comedy. Apple Noda, OAA Admissions Officer
