People: King of Comedy - Dolphy passes away at 83 by InterAksyon.com (The online news portal of TV 5, Manila, Philippines)

Dolphy

Dolphy passes away at 83

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines' Comedy King, Rodolfo "Dolphy" Quizon passed away shortly after 8:30 p.m., his son Eric Quizon said Tuesday night.

"My Dad is now with his Creator," Quizon said of his father who had been confined at the Makati Medical Center (MMC) since June 9 and will turn 84 on July 25. Dolphy is survived by partner Zsa Zsa Padilla and his 18 children. 

Just over a week ago, it was reported that Dolphy's health condition had improved considerably. In fact, Quizon said last June 29 that his father already wanted to go home. "Uwi, uwi na tayo [Let's go home]," the already lucid Dolphy mouthed to his family. The veteran actor even asked for orange juice, Quizon said.

In fact, Quizon said last June 29 that his father already wanted to go home. "Uwi, uwi na tayo [Let's go home]," the already lucid Dolphy mouthed to his family. 

The veteran actor even asked for orange juice, Quizon said. 

A few days ago, Dolphy's family said that the veteran actor's condition had continuously improved and that his pneumonia was under control as he underwent another dialysis and blood transfusion to boost his immune system.  

In its medical bulletin Tuesday night, MMC said Dolphy died at 8:34 p.m. due to multiple organ failure, secondary to complications brought about by severe pneumonia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and acute renal failure. 

Dolphy's COPD - an illness that results in breathing difficulty and worsens over time - was diagnosed five years ago. According to Quizon, his father's COPD had progressed to Stage IV. 

"Five years ago, sinabihan na siya na stage four 'yong sakit niya na 'yon. When you say stage four in cancer terms, very critical na 'yon," Quizon said in an interview with a television program last June 20.

Most people suffering from COPD are smokers or used to smoke. About 600 million people worldwide suffer from COPD, according to the World Health Organization. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States, which has more than 12 million people diagnosed with the disease.