9. Unless you're incapacitated, maimed, or no longer breathing, the show must go on. Dolphy was already appearing in shows at the Lyric Theater, as well as the Orient Theater and the Avenue Theater, during the Japanese Occupation. Sometimes, while he and his fellow performers were on stage, there would be air raids. Instead of stopping the show, they would simply run to the theater's air raid shelter while the explosions went on and get back on stage when the coast was clear (in a manner of speaking).
8. When possible, plan ahead. In his autobiography, Dolphy: Hindi Ko Ito Narating Ng Mag-Isa, Dolphy revealed, "Matagal na itong tsismis. I will confirm it. Mayro'n na nga akong kabaong bronze. No'n ko pa kinuha. Isa din ako sa kauna-unahang bumili ng family estate plan sa Loyola Memorial Park sa Marikina. (There has been talk about this for some time. I will confirm it. I've already picked out a bronze coffin for myself. I bought it a long time ago. I think I'm also among the first who bought a family estate plan Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina)."
7. Remain level-headed, even when there are people who seem to want you dead. In December 2010, Dolphy himself addressed death hoax ringleaders in a TV Patrol interview. He jokingly told them, "Ako, hindi ko masasabing mamamatay na 'ko. Kaya sinasabi ko, kanya-kanya tayong oras ng pagdating do'n. So huwag niyo kong apurahin, darating tayo dun (I can't say when I'll die. I say, we all have our own time when it comes to that. So, don't rush me, we'll get there)."
6. Be genuinely gracious to your ex. According to a GMA News Online report, when asked how he felt about his ex, actress Alma Moreno, the mother of his son Vandolph, getting married to a Mindanao-based politician, Dolphy said, "I'm happy for her. Basta kinakailangan magsaya siya, di ba? Hanggat ika nga e may anghang pa tayo pareho-pareho, di ba (We need to be happy, right? As long as we all still have that 'heat,' right)?" And then, of course, he finished his statement with a laugh.
5. Never kiss and tell. Depsite his romantic involvements, Dolphy was always a gentleman. In a segment in the book, Dolphy: Hindi Ko Ito Narating Ng Mag-Isa, he's asked about why he broke up with actress Alma Moreno. He replied, "Tapos na 'yon, tapos na rin kami, huwag na lang nating ungkatin. Pwede n’yo siyang tanungin, kung gusto ninyo, pero walang manggagaling sa akin (That's done and over with and we're no longer together so let's not bring up the past. You can ask her if you want, but nothing will come from me)."
4. When you make a mistake, own up to it and take the criticism like a man. In the wake of the brouhaha over certain "disrespectful to the Church" scenes in the Father Jejemon (produced by his film company RVQ Productions), Dolphy didn't whine or ask for special treatment. He simply apologized for what was perceived as a "gaffe" on SNN, saying, "Nag so-sorry po ako... kung ayaw nila, aalisin (I am saying sorry...and if they don't like those scenes, they will be removed)." He was sincere, direct to the point, and followed through on his promise.
3. Success doesn't come in a snap, you have to start somewhere and keep going. Dolphy didn't earn his fame overnight. In 1947, when he was 19 years old, he got his first movie break when he was cast in Dugo at Bayan (I Remember Bataan), which starred Fernando Poe, Sr., father of another movie king, Fernando Poe Jr. It would be several years later before Dolphy was hailed as a star. He went on to play loveable underdogs such as John Puruntong and Kevin Cosme, and a host of others that showcased how brilliant he was at making the audience laugh and even cry. Dolphy was a comic genius, but he was also a force to reckon with when it came to drama.
2. Just because you're a big star, it doesn't mean you'll be a hit as a politician. Despite the clamor for him to run for office, Dolphy never did. A GMA News Online report points out one of the most popular anecdotes about Dolphy and politics. It seems that he was once asked if he would join politics, he said, "Huwag na. Natatakot ako (No, never mind. I'm scared)" When it was pointed out that he shouldn't be scared because he would surely win, Dolphy explained, "Doon ako natatakot, eh. Baka manalo ako. Madaling tumakbo, paano kung manalo (That's what I'm afraid of. That maybe I'd win. It's easy to run for office, but what do you after you win)?"
1. Never apologize for living by your own rules. Dolphy's life wasn't exactly conventional. All in all, he had 18 children with six women whom he had loved deeply. But he never got married. He would have married his partner of over 20 years, singer-actress Zsa Zsa Padilla, but health-related obstacles got in the way. Nevetheless, Dolphy said, "Ang pagsasama namin parang higit pa sa ikinasal (Our relationship is more than a marriage)."
