Actor and son of the late Comedy King Dolphy, Epy Quizon is set to pay tribute to his father’s legacy through his role in the historical drama ‘Pulang Araw.’
This significant role sees Quizon embodying a character reminiscent of his father’s early vaudeville (bodabil) performances during World War II.
In ‘ulang Araw,’ Quizon portrays Julio Borromeo, a bodabil performer and owner of the Cine Borromeo theater. His character is also the biological father of Teresita Borromeo (played by Sanya Lopez) and Adelina dela Cruz (Barbie Forteza). The drama features a star-studded cast including Alden Richards, David Licauco, Dennis Trillo, Angelu de Leon, Ashley Ortega, Rochelle Pangilinan, Mikoy Morales, and Sef Cadayona.
Bodabil, a form of entertainment introduced to the Philippines by the Americans, combines elements of zarzuela, komedya, and French vaudeville, featuring musical numbers, dramatic skits, and short-form comedy performances.
During a press conference for ‘Pulang Araw,’ Quizon shared his excitement and personal connection to the role. He revealed that he was planning to take a break from showbiz, but the opportunity to play a character so close to his father’s legacy was too significant to pass up. Dolphy, who performed under the stage name Golay during his vaudeville days, often shared stories of entertaining audiences during wartime, making this role particularly meaningful for Quizon.
“Noong pinakita sa akin ‘yung character description at concept nito, sabi ko, ‘I want to be part of this,’” Quizon said. “Malapit ito sa puso ko dahil ang tatay ko ay isang mananayaw ng Bodabil. At siyempre pinagdaanan ng tatay ko ang giyera, diba? Naikwento niya sa akin. So, isa po itong proyekto na talagang malapit sa puso ko.”
In a recent interview on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,’ Quizon expressed his hope that people wouldn’t compare him to his legendary father. “How can I say no to a vaudeville actor during World War 2 which, kwento ‘yan ng tatay ko sa’kin? When I saw [the role], I’m in… Huwag niyo akong ikumpara sa tatay ko dahil iba ‘yung tatay ko,” he said. “Nakakatakot kasi alam mo agad na ikukumpara ako sa tatay ko eh. So ngayon pa lang sinasabi ko sa inyo, huwag niyo akong ikumpara. Napakagaling n’un.”
Quizon emphasized the importance of ‘Pulang Araw’ in showcasing a glimpse of the Philippines’ history. He highlighted the need to remember the past to move forward. “We have to look back at our past for us to go forward. ‘Pulang Araw’ shows us a glimpse of our history, of what happened pre-war and during the war, it’s not just about the bodabil [kundi] ang pinagdaanan ng mga Pilipino sa kamay ng mga Amerikano at Hapon,” he said.
With his heartfelt performance in ‘Pulang Araw,’ Epy Quizon not only honors his father’s legacy but also brings a significant period of Philippine history to life.
