We all saw it coming. Weeks and even months back when all found out about his failing health, all had, at the back of their minds, a certain acceptance that he would leave soon. That he would die. That he would soon end his suffering. But how come the great sadness when the news of his passing on came. How come the surprise? I was driving home at 9 in the evening when the news of his death was heard on the radio. You would think I would say that's expected. But no. My reaction was, "What?, Why?" And so the same reaction of a lot of people.
And even if I keep thinking that what happened to Dolphy is just a natural course of things, somehow, somewhere, I know deep inside that a void was created. Such is the phenomenon when a great man dies. A void in the hearts of people is felt. And from it came sadness and surprise. Why the void? Because everybody knows that no one can fill that easily. The man who died is so unique and one of its kind. No other replacement can suffice. That is why a great loss is felt.
Dolphy, the King of Philippine Comedy, is known to most only through the medium of entertainment. But most feel that he is close, so close that they felt the great sadness on his passing on. Most feel that he belongs. Most feel that he has a special place in their hearts. He didn't do a lot. Only made people laugh. But it's not in his performance that he is remembered. It's not even the number of Best Actor awards he collected or the movies he produced that mattered.
To many, Dolphy is an icon of a true common Filipino. The image he created in the movies was so close to what a true Filipino is, the one that the common Juan relates to. This is the reason why people mourn greatly his passing on. A part of this Filipino psyche died with him. But this could not have been effective if his personality is not consistent with it. In typical Filipino culture, what appears in the movies is as close that what is real in everyday life. In real life, Dolphy lived like a true Filipino, humble, jolly, principled, family oriented, generous, caring, and helpful to his fellowman. This is the true Dolphy that the Filipinos will miss. This is the true Dolphy that people loves. That is why we mourn on his passing on.
Like all great men, Dolphy will be missed. And as all great men, people will learn from his life. Rest in Peace, the only King of Philippine Comedy.
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