And so the curtain closed
as these flashes of scenes are now gone with the wind. Tributes have been made
and prepared just for you. The credits are now rolling… I can see your name,
your face, your story…
So today, I have thought
of writing a letter for you, not just a simple letter but an elegy for the king
of comedy, a serious letter which I hope can make the people smile.
“All the world’s a stage
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts.”
-William
Shakespeare
While writing
this letter, I smile as I recall the hilarious antics you left within my gray cells.
You are tickling our ribs for sometimes, you beat someone, you pinch someone,
you toss a bucket of water on someone, you shoot someone with water which came
from your mouth, or else your face is filled with creams of cake. You sometimes
crumple your face for a sour expression. You sometimes wear your favorite
shorts. You are sometimes a gay. You are sometimes drunk.
You are
sometimes a gender-bending DARNA. You are sometimes a spoof of James Bond. You
are sometimes a failed desperate advertiser. You are sometimes a sweet man
visiting your lady for a harana. You
are sometimes a father. You are sometimes a grandfather. You are sometimes a
common social worker.
But most of the
times, I can hear your wealthy mother-in-law shouting, “Kaya ikaw John, magsumikap ka!”
But the best
role you have showed to us is being a DOLPHY who seriously told the world that
even if you die and live again, you will still be an actor. Now I wonder, when
comes such another one?
I know, during
your times, things are not just as easy as ABC or as fast as a second goes. You
will never expect to perform in a theater… if you are just a peanut vendor or a
watermelon seed vendor in a theater. First of all, you need to aspire, to dream.
Before the spotlight shined upon your face, you have shined a lot of shoes.
Before you drove us crazy, you drove a kalesa.
Before playing such epic roles, you have played the roles of different workers…
in real life!
And once you
reach the first step of your giant leap, walls will emerge from nowhere and
block your way to the finish line. During the times of war, Japanese air raids
would disturb the show. You would run in a safe air raid shelter. If no bombs
exploded, the show would soon resume. The show must go on.
And your talent
fee, to begin with, was a five peso!
Through the
years, you remained as a good person. Once upon a time, you wanted a new
partner for Susan Roces. You just met Ronaldo Valdez in a basketball court. You
presented him to Susan. But Susan responded, “Wala bang iba?” But then, you brought the man in a barber shop,
bought him a pair of boots and lent him your suit. When the two of you came
back to the press conference, Susan finally chose him as her new partner. The
good thing here is that Susan did not even realize it was the same man he
rejected before!
Through the
years, you remained as a wise person. When asked about joining politics, you
said, “Huwag na. Natatakot ako.” But
when it was pointed out that you should not be scared because you would surely
win, you responded, “Doon ako natatakot, eh.
Baka manalo ako. Madaling tumakbo, paano kung manalo?”
Through the years, you remained humble and down to
Earth. You are just so honest to tell us that you are not comfortable in being
called as the “Comedy King.” You keep your feet on the ground as you keep your
hands on the pulse of the people.
“Hari ang tawag sa iyo, tulad ng isang
lawing matayog ang lipad, nasa taas man ay hindi naman silaw sa sinag ng araw
kundi nakatingin pa rin sa lupa kung saan ikaw ay isinilang, tulad ng isang
kawayang marunong yumuko kahit dumaraan ang marahas na hangin, nakatingin pa
rin sa lupa kung saan naroon ang iyong mga ugat.”
Through the
years, you dedicated your life on the stage. You believed that the worst sin a
performer could commit is to rest on his laurels.
Through the
years, through your acts, you taught us a lot of lessons. You taught us that
films with gay characters are not all the time funny but even touching. You,
Kevin Cosme and John Puruntong, taught us to smile in times of crisis and problems, to
laugh in times of crisis and problems, to be happy in times of crisis and problems. You simply
reminded us that laughter is the best medicine. Just imagine how many people
you have healed if the laughter you shared with us is truly a medicine that can
cure a serious disease like cancer or AIDS or even a medicine that can cure a simple
illness like cold or cough. You simply reminded us that life is a tragedy to
those who feel but a comedy to those who think. You simply reminded us Charlie
Chaplin’s wonderful quote, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.”
Through the
years, for us, you never fade and grow old. You left footprints that waves
can’t wash away.
Through the
years, I never had the chance to meet you, just to know you. But I am relieved
by your words:
“Pindutin mo lang ang PLAY at magsasama ulit tayo.”
And through the
years, we admire you, we love you!
Now, the
greatest achievement you achieved, the greatest gift you have given to us, is
how you want us to remember you.
"Gusto ko nakangiti sila kapag nabanggit iyong pangalan ko.
Gusto ko ngumingiti ka, may maiwang ngiti sa iyo.”
Yes, the comedy
king is dead! But long live the comedy king!
Now, as I end
this letter, as you finish reading this letter, I know we are on the verge of
our tears yet let us remember his words. Let us not cry. Let us smile! Let us
be happy! =)
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