Veteran actress and former ABS-CBN executive Charo Santos-Concio recently took to social media to share one of her most unforgettable experiences with the late Comedy King Dolphy—his much-awaited return to television after years of absence.

In her storytime video, Santos revealed how she played a crucial role in reviving Dolphy’s TV career.

According to her, Dolphy approached her upon returning from the US, eager to make a comeback. Having grown up watching his legendary shows like Buhay Artista and John & Marsha, and having worked with him in My Juan en Only, she was more than excited about the idea.

Determined to make it happen, she pitched the idea to her boss at ABS-CBN, but it was met with hesitation.

"Sir! Ibalik natin si Mang Dolphy sa TV," she urged.

The response was blunt: “Ano ka ba? Hindi ka ba nag-iisip? Tatlong taon nang wala yan, nakalimutan na yan ng tao.”

But Santos was firm in her belief. “Sir, hindi. As far as I’m concerned, he’s the King of Comedy.”

Still unconvinced, her boss warned of the risks. “Malaking risk yan. Eh kung hindi mag-rate?”

In a moment of bold conviction, she made a daring promise: “Sir, pag hindi nag-rate ang programa ni Dolphy, you can fire me.”

With everything on the line, she put together a powerhouse production team and carefully selected the perfect cast. The stakes were high—her boss even jested that if the pilot episode didn’t make him laugh within five minutes, she might as well resign.

"Wala nang urungan 'to. Sa awa ng Diyos, in the first five minutes, nadinig namin yung halakhak ng aming top boss," she recounted with relief.

True enough, when Home Along Da Riles premiered in 1992, it became an instant primetime sensation, holding the number one spot on ABS-CBN’s lineup. The sitcom remained a top-rated program for an impressive 11 years, solidifying its place as one of Philippine television’s most beloved shows.

Beyond her pivotal role in bringing Dolphy back to TV, Santos also made history as the host of Maalaala Mo Kaya, the country’s longest-running drama anthology, which aired for more than three decades before concluding in 2022.

In 2024, ABS-CBN Corporation appointed Santos as one of its board of directors, cementing her legacy as one of the most influential figures in Philippine media.