Dolphy’s unbelievable six-decade career crosses several generations. It is an inspiring saga that touches the lives of Filipinos with his humor, and transcends every medium that emerged along the way.

Born in 1928, a young Rodolfo Vera Quizon, Sr. started his career in the vaudeville era of the 1940s. After becoming one of the stage’s brightest stars, Dolphy successfully moved to radio, eventually dominating the world of television and movies well into the new millennium. His natural gift for making people laugh led him to become the Philippines’ one and only Comedy King.

For many of us, the connection runs deeper despite the high distinction. He is not simply a comedian. He is a beloved father figure.

For the kids of the 70s and 80s, Dolphy was the adorable dad John Puruntong in “John en Marsha”, a sitcom that ran for a record-breaking 17 years on television. The 90s youth, on the other hand, grew up with Kevin, the lovable head of the Cosmes in “Home Along Da Riles” which successfully aired for nine years. For today’s kids, he was a doting grandfather in “Pidol’s Wonderland”.

Even in his movies, one of Dolphy’s most memorable roles is in the Lino Brocka film “Ang Tatay Kong Nanay”, where he played an unconventional but caring gay parent.

In portraying these affectionate father roles, Dolphy shared through his comedy an important lesson: that despite many challenges, at the end of the day, love and a positive outlook in life can keep the Filipino family together.

Now that the Quizon patriarch has passed away, his eighteen children are not the only ones who lost a father. Millions of Filipinos – young and old alike – have been orphaned as well.

But as a line from Florante’s classic song goes, and which Dolphy himself would sing throughout his career:

"Tatanda at lilipas din ako, ngunit merong tawanang iiwanan sa inyong alaala, dahil minsan tayo'y nagkasama.”

Dolphy’s passing is a terrible loss, but he left behind a lifetime’s worth of memories and a legacy that lives on for as long as we retain our good-natured humor and an unwavering hope for better things to come.