MANILA, Philippines -- A statue of the late comedian Dolphy was unveiled on Tuesday in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.
The seven-foot bronze statue, which was made by Jonas Roces, the same artist who did the monument of the late actor Fernando Poe Jr., was erected in front of the Museo Pambata, near the corner of T.M. Kalaw and Roxas Boulevard.
The Museo Pambata was a beneficiary of the RVQ Foundation, established by Dolphy in 1966, which is the reason why it had been chosen as the site of his monument.
Tuesday's wreath-laying and unveiling ceremony was led by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who was a good friend of Dolphy, and attended by children, relatives and friends of the actor, including Dolphy’s sister Laura and children Dolphy Quizon, Jr., Vandolph, Epy, Eric, Ronnie, Nicole, Sally and Rolly Quizon.
“Priceless `yung mapatawa tayo ni Dolphy. Not everybody can make you laugh,” Lim said, as he extolled Dolphy for the kindness he had shown to his family, friends, co-workers and even people he does not know, who have benefitted from his philanthropic ways sans any fanfare.
In response, Dolphy Quizon Jr., the eldest in of the comedian's children, thanked Lim for having built the monument in behalf of his father.
He also noted that Lim had been his father’s best friend way back when they were much younger.
“Hindi po naming ito makakalimutan. Magkaibigan silang matalik at napatunayan namin `yan hanggang sa huling hantungan at isa po si Mayor Lim sa nagbuhat ng casket. Kaya kayo, piliin ninyo ang inyong kaibigan. Kailangan tama ang inyong pipiliing kaibigan,” Dolphy, Jr. said.
Meanwhile, in her official Twitter account, Zsa Zsa Padilla, the long-time partner of Dolphy, also thanked Lim.
"Good morning! Dolphy's monument to be unveiled today along Roxas Blvd. Thank you to the city of Manila and Mayor Lim," she tweeted.
