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Eric Quizon on Dolphy Museum and 'sad' state of PH healthcare system
Eric Quizon on Dolphy Museum and 'sad' state of PH healthcare system
Actor-director Eric Quizon indicated that a museum honoring his father, the King of Comedy Dolphy, might be inaugurated this year.
"Meron. Soon. Most likely this year," said Eric, adding that the Dolphy Museum will be located in Calatagan, Batangas.
On comments that it was far from Metro Manila, Eric added, "Para merong tour. We want it to be an educational tour. We have a property there with a space para makapagpatayo my museum. (It's like a tour. We want it to be an educational tour. We have a property there with a space to build my museum.)"
Eric said that the plan to construct the museum is ready. "Ready na lahat. Construction na lang. (Everything is ready. It's just construction.)"
He announced his father's museum following the demolition of the Dolphy Theater at the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City, scheduled for later this year.
Eric said he requested that the theater entrance insignia honoring his father be given to him before demolition. But Cory Vidanes, an ABS-CBN official, told him that the network might still need it when it builds another Dolphy Theater.
There are plans to build another Dolphy Theater in Bulacan, but nothing is definite, he added.
Celebrating his 40th year in showbiz, Eric said he had many fond memories of ABS-CBN.
"My first television show was 'Loveli-Ness.' I co-hosted with Alma (Moreno). This is my 40th year in the industry. ABS-CBN also gave me my first game show. It lasted for eight years: 'Ready, Get Set, Go!' It also gave me the chance to become a director. So my first directorial job was for Maalaala Mo Kaya, Once Upon A Time, etc. So nagswitch ang career ko from being an actor to a director because of ABS-CBN," Eric said.
JuanMeds Pharmacy Chairman Rico Fernando M. Chico, a former Kapamilya Network employee, also shared his memories of the network.
"When I entered ABS-CBN, it was all analog. They were digitizing it. Studio 4 is one of the first HD studios in the Philippines," recalled Chairman Rico.
'Sad' state
Eric expressed concern that the Philippines lacks a robust healthcare system, citing differences between local care and that in other countries.
"I am sorry, but we don't have a health care system," Eric said when asked to comment on the country's healthcare during the launch of his endorsement for JuanMeds Pharmacy at Lemon Square in Quezon City on Feb. 12.
Eric added, "In the US, kapag nagkaroon sila ng emergency, naospital, halos wala silang binabayaran. Kung meron man, very minimal. (In the US, when they have an emergency, they are hospitalized, and they pay almost nothing. If anything, it is very minimal.)
"I remember when my sister had an appendectomy (in the US); the bill was expensive. Ang binayaran niya lang ay 10 percent ng total bill. She pays pero 10 percent lang. (She only paid 10 percent of the total bill. She pays, but only 10 percent.)"
"Sa atin, sorry, pero mamamatay ka na, sorry talaga pero sa atin it's really sad that our government is not doing anything. Andiyan naman ang PhilHealth, pero sana mas maging malakas pa. (For us, sorry, but you're dying, really sorry, but for us it's really sad that our government is not doing anything. PhilHealth is there, but I hope it will be stronger.)"
"Sa atin, may mga hospital na kailangan mo pa rin magbayad bago ka nila tanggapin. May mga public hospitals naman. (In our country, there are hospitals where you still have to pay before they admit you. There are also public hospitals.)"
"But ang ending is hindi kaya ng average Pilipino na magbayad kapag nagkasakit sila. (But the ending is that the average Filipino cannot afford to pay when they get sick.) I think the government should address that. It's more than just PhilHealth or insurance that will guarantee access to health care for the people.
"In many countries, even in Southeast Asian nations, ang ganda ng health care system nila. That's why yung ibang Pilipino, natatakot silang magpagamot. (In many countries, even in Southeast Asian nations, their health care system is great. That's why other Filipinos are afraid to seek medical treatment)," Eric added.
Eric also lauded the pharmacy's theme, which underscores its commitment to building trust through compassion, service excellence, and innovation.
Chairman Rico shared that the pharmacy began with a simple yet meaningful goal: to establish a pharmacy that Filipinos can truly rely on, one that delivers not only medicine, but genuine service, accessibility, and care.