Vandolph Quizon expressed his heartfelt gratitude to ABS-CBN for granting them the rights to produce the highly anticipated comedy film Home Along Da Riles: Da Reunion.
The actor and son of the late comedy king Dolphy delivered an emotional speech during the film's first advanced screening held at the historic Metropolitan Theater in Manila, where he also thanked Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso for making the event possible.
According to Vandolph, it was the mayor himself who suggested holding the screening at the iconic Art Deco landmark in the heart of the city.
"Maraming, maraming salamat. Nung binanggit ko sa inyo ang ideya na 'to, kayo ang nagsabi na dapat sa Metropolitan Theater ganapin ang film screening ng Home Along Da Riles," Vandolph said.
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For the Quizon family, the night felt like a homecoming, particularly because Dolphy grew up in Tondo, just a stone's throw away from the theater.
"Kidding aside, dehins mo lang kami binigyan ng venue. Ngayong gabi, binigyan niyo kami ng pagkakataong makabalik-tanaw at makauwi. You gave us a piece of our history back. Maraming salamat po sa pagpapahalaga sa legasiya ng aking ama, si Kevin Cosme," he said.
Vandolph, who was only five or six years old when Home Along Da Riles was at the height of its popularity, shared that he practically grew up on the set of the beloved sitcom. Watching his father work taught him lessons that went far beyond acting.
"Sa Home Along ako natuto. Kasi I was 5 to 6 years old. Pinapanood ko lang po ang aking ama, si Tito Babalu, kung paano umarte. Parang napakahalaga po ng kanyang ginagawa para sa akin. Kasi sa simpleng pagpapatawa, napapasaya niya ang taong-bayan o ang mga manonood," he recalled.
But for Vandolph, what his father built was never just about laughs. It was about giving people a reason to smile even in their most difficult moments, something he was reminded of in the most moving way during Dolphy's wake.
"Isipin niyo po yung tatay ko noong binuburol, may free viewing. May lumapit po sa aking lola at umiiyak. Ang sabi niya sa akin, 'Alam mo, mapanood ko lang ang tatay mo ng isang oras, nawawala ang gutom ko. Nakakalimutan ko ang problema.' Iyan po ang pinakamagandang maipapana sa'yo ng iyong ama. Kaya Papa, maraming-maraming salamat po," he said, his voice filled with emotion.
READ: Eric Quizon defends father Dolphy’s legacy and addresses why he has yet to be named as National Artist
Vandolph then turned his gratitude toward ABS-CBN, without whom, he said, none of this would have been possible.
Home Along Da Riles ran on the Kapamilya network from 1992 to 2003, making it one of the longest-running and most beloved sitcoms in Philippine television history.
"Alam niyo po, siyempre, hindi magiging totoo ang pangarap na 'to kung hindi siyempre dahil sa ABS-CBN, kay Tita Cory, sa pagtulong sa amin at sa pagbibigay ng tiwala at sa pagpapahiram ng franchise. Maraming salamat Tita Cory, at sa mga bumubuo ng ABS-CBN," he said, referring to ABS-CBN COO for Broadcast Cory Vidanes.
The film, which Vandolph revealed took more than two and a half years to complete, also brought together the original cast of the sitcom. He credited his nephew Boy2 Quizon for taking on the director's chair, saying no one else was better suited for the job.
"Nag-usap nga kami ni Boy2, sabi ko, 'Tingin mo sino ang magdi-direk?' Sabi ko, 'Dos, dapat ikaw. Wala nang iba. Kasi alam niya ang bawat nangyayari at sitwasyon ng Home Along Da Riles. Doon siya lumaki din.' Kaya sabi ko, ang galing mo. Direk, I salute you," Vandolph said.
Closing his speech, he made a direct appeal to fans, invoking the warmth and simplicity of '90s family life that the show once represented.
"Kasi iba tayo nung '90s. Iba po ang kabataan noong '90s. Mararamdaman po natin ang pagmamahal sa bawat pamilya. May aral. At walang swipe-swipe, di ba?" he said with a laugh.
"Noon kasi, ang ginagawa natin noong '90s, medyo relax eh. Pag-uwi ng bahay, after ng ABS-CBN News, kailangan nasa bahay na ako para mapanood ko ang Home Along Da Riles. Minsan habang kumakain, sama-sama nanonood ang pamilya. Minsan nakikinood pa ako sa kapitbahay para mapanood – ganoon kami kamahal dito," he added.
Vandolph ended the night with an open invitation to all Filipinos to relive the magic of Home Along Da Riles once more.
"Samahan niyo po kaming ibalik ang Home Along Da Riles, ang pambansang pamilya. Kaya ito po ay handog namin sa inyo na nagmamahal sa amin. At lalong-lalo na sa nagmamahal sa aking ama. Kaya thank you, and God bless you!"
Among those in attendance at the screening were Nova Villa, Dang Cruz, Gio Alvarez, Maybeline Dela Cruz, Cita Astals, Vitto Quizon, and Jenny Quizon.
Home Along Da Riles: Da Reunion premieres on June 17.
—By Paolo Lim