MANILA, Philippines?Comedy King Dolphy was recently honored by Willie Revillame on his ?Wowowee? noontime show, and the durable comedian?s fans were heartened to see that, at a ripe, old 81 years of age, the master comic was as ready as ever to lighten and brighten viewers? day.

Some years ago, Dolphy looked weary and listless, so people feared that it was time for him to call it quits. But, with some help from his ?last? lady love, Zsa Zsa Padilla, it looks like Dolphy has gotten a fresh burst of vim and vigor, so he should be more than just alive and kicking for years to come.

In fact, the way he talked on ?Wowowee,? it looked like Dolphy was raring to get out of semi-retirement once more and come up with some more comedic gems to add to his glittering career output.

His outstanding movies include ?Ang Tatay Kong Nanay,? ?Jack and Jill,? ?Cyrano de Bergerac,? and ?Once Upon a Time,? a film in which he played a tikbalang.

On TV, his signature starrers, ?Buhay Artista? and ?John and Marsha? have become emblematic representations of sassy indomitability, Philippine style.

Despite these iconic achievements, however, we feel that Dolphy has more to give before he dims his stellar lights. What are we looking for? Perhaps its the comedy-drama project that would establish just how great his talent is.

?Ang Tatay Kong Nanay? was great, but one memorable film deserves another, so we trust that Dolphy will soon decide to throw all other considerations to the wind and gift us?and himself?with the definitive Dolphy comedy drama for all ages.

Susan at 68

Another much-admired senior star, Susan Roces, recently celebrated her 68th year. More than a decade younger than Dolphy, Susan still has a lot to remember and be grateful for.

From ?Boksingera? to her years of wedded bliss with the late, great Ronnie Poe and her feisty furtherance of his political patrimony, Susan continues to surprise even herself with the fascinating chapters she continues to ?write? in her ongoing ?autobiography.? Where else will her continuing journey of self-discovery take her?

We hope that the trip includes more performances to add to her roster of thespic achievements. Like Dolphy, Susan?s stellar career was exceptional but generally circumscribed by practical considerations like ?popular? choices of TV-film projects.

Now that she?s gone beyond that as a nationally admired personality, we hope that she too will give her talent its due, and come up with the performance of her life.

In this day of the indie film, Susan can easily cause the production of a really great film that will challenge her to push back her thespic limits and belatedly prove what an exceptional artist she?s been all along. We saw a fiery flash of this emotional unction during her stunning ?not once but twice?? TV tirade some years ago, and trust that it can also be put to use in a truly memorable film.