For the first time at ICU, Dolphy smiles

MAKATI CITY – Is the Comedy King Dolphy well on the road to recovery?
More glimmers of hope are seen as doctors of the Makati Medical Center disclosed that Dolphy smiled for the first time since last week at its intensive care unit, is more responsive and can now feel pain.

The 84-year-old movie icon was rushed to the intensive care unit of MMC last June 9 for complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
This developed as more family members, friends and colleagues like former President Joseph Estrada and Manila Vice Mayor Iskho Moreno visited Dolphy at the hospital. His children from the United States came home and are now looking after their father.
Also, more groups came out in support of the conferment of the National Artist Award on Dolphy, whose real name is Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr. Among the supporters for the award are Sens. Manuel Villar Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and his father Joseph Estrada.
“He can also feel pain now and it shows from his facial expression and movement from time to time, that’s a good sign,” said Dr. Eric Nubla.
This is a good sign of health, according to Nubla, adding that while his condition was still critical, he was already recovering.
In its latest medical bulletin at press time, the hospital stated that Dolphy was now responding to stimulus.
Nubla said responding to stimulus meant that Dolphy’s senses were improving.
The medical bulletin also stated that the actor continues to undergo blood transfusion because his platelet level remains low.
The doctor said Dolphy will also have another dialysis session, his third. Doctors were continuing the session because of Dolphy’s marked improvement after the dialysis was first made.
Nubla said: “He’s recovering. Mahirap i-quantify iyon kung full o hindi. Like they say, critical but stable and it’s one day at a time.” 
The doctor said more strict visitation privileges are being enforced to protect Dolphy’s health and his privacy.
The Quizon family appealed to the media to respect their privacy.
Rollie Quizon, a son of Dolphy, reported on Tuesday that a tabloid reporter had tried to sneak into the hospital’s intensive care unit to get a photo of the ailing Dolphy.
The reporter, who refused to identify himself, also allegedly threatened Dolphy’s family, the network reported.
Rollie said  there was no need to violate his father’s privacy because they were regularly giving updates to the public regarding Dolphy’s health.
According to the doctors, Dolphy is battling pneumonia for the 11th time in 11 months, adding that he  has been suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which hinders the flow of air to his lungs.
He underwent tracheostomy Saturday night “to alleviate from a lot of discomfort and make it easier for his organs to perform properly,” according to a statement from his family Sunday. 
Rollie said the Quizon family thanked all who offered prayers to his dad, who remains confined in the MMC Intensive Care Unit.
For director Bibeth Orteza, who wrote the biography of Dolphy, the Comedy King should have been made National Artist a long time ago.
 Orteza, author of the actor’s published biography “Dolphy, Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-isa,“ said: “Dolphy is the last of the icons na talagang nagdugtong sa iba’t-ibang aspeto ng pagiging artista dito sa ating bansa.” 
The bio “Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-isa“ was actually a by-product of story-telling sessions between Bibeth and Dolphy which happened three times a week, for  almost a year before it was published in 2008, which also marked the actor’s 80th birthday.
“Ang styling namin diyan, ang pinaguusapan namin eh ‘yung Maynila. Maynila kung saan siya pinanganak and ‘yung Maynila that created someone like him as opposed to the Maynila that we know now,” said Orteza.
Born in Tondo,  Dolphy finished second year high school.
The 84-year-old actor started as  a mere extra to Fernando Poe Sr. In all, he has been in the movies for 70 years.
According to Orteza,  Dolphy’s love life has been  truly colorful with 18 children, two of them with his longtime partner Zsa Zsa Padilla.