AS entrances go to a news conference meant to hype the upcoming launch of one’s new prime-time series, Dingdong Dantes’s was met with resounding approval by the entertainment media on that gray and wet August evening. v In full black biker-dude regalia, the star of GMA’s prime-time offering Alyas Robin Hood roared into the function hall of the venue in a big, burly motorbike and then expertly parked the beast just shy of the stage, where his costars had taken their place after having been introduced earlier. Flashing that winning smile, which has moved many an endorsed product since coming into stardom, the actor thanked the press for having braved the surly weather to join him and the rest of the cast of the second season of the hit series that premiered back in September last year.
That Alyas Robin Hood has been recommissioned many months after concluding its original run is a rarity, and it speaks well of the series’ commercial triumph. That said, Dingdong and his costars do face a formidable task of helping restore GMA back to its prime-time dominance, which has been seriously eroded by rival ABS-CBN’s one-two punch in ratings leaders FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano and La Luna Sangre.
After a promising second-season premiere in mid-August, Alyas Robin Hood has been pretty much hovering in the top 5 of the most-watched prime-time programs, based on recent surveys conducted by AGB Nielsen Philippines of the prime-time viewing preferences in Urban Philippines. Surely, a top 5 showing is not even remotely bad by any measure, but no doubt Dingdong and his costars are aiming for even better numbers.
The fierce ratings race notwithstanding, Dingdong Dantes glows with the happiness of a man who’s living the dream that goes beyond the material benefits of fame. Which surprises no one really. When you have the beautiful Marian Rivera as your wife and the adorable Letizia as your daughter, it’s hard not to.
How is the second season of Alyas Robin Hood coming along?
It’s been fun.
It’s not often a series is brought back after the end of its original run. Did it surprise you? Did you have reservations about revisiting the role?
Yes, I was surprised—pleasantly surprised! I think it’s another first in the network’s quest to provide our viewers with a certain consistency in its content quality. Perhaps, they saw how much we engaged our viewers in the previous season, and I’m grateful that I have been given another chance to portray the role of Pepe. When the idea was presented, I was overjoyed because this role is definitely one of my favorites.
A series typically eats up three to four days for taping. How’s that been impacting fatherhood?
I’m blessed that I was given time to be with my family during the first half of this year, as it prepared me for this season’s hectic workdays. Ultimately, all these are for my family, but I’m aware that I should also not lose the balance between those two. More than being an actor, my being a father and a husband is certainly my top priority.
Nearly two years into fatherhood, is it still a big learning experience for you?
Every day, I learn something new. It’s good to have textbook knowledge as basis, but nothing compares to actual, hands-on, organic experience which can definitely shape not only a child’s development, but also the parents’. We also grow together with our daughter.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself since becoming a father?
The good traits are exponentially increasing and improving and the bad ones—almost totally gone.
Is married life everything you expected it to be? What have been the biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge is to accept and adjust to the fact that it’s not what I had expected, but even better.
Your foundation YesPinoy seems to have been gone low-key over the past year. Is this a correct assumption?
By way of an answer, please allow me to cite this news release the foundation released on August 21, which is titled “Dingdong Dantes’ YesPinoy Foundation turns 8”.
“The YesPinoy Foundation Inc. [YPF] of actor and youth advocate Dingdong Dantes celebrates its eighth anniversary today by launching a disaster-resilience campaign, dubbed as ‘I Am Super’, through a week-long art exhibit at the Resorts World Manila.
“The I Am Super campaign aims to distribute YPF Go Bags, which are hooded backpacks with emergency kits and learners’ materials, to all students in 10 schools, identified in partnership with the Department of Education, that are highly at risk to natural and human-induced disasters. In partnership with the social enterprise Taclob, Supertyphoon Yolanda survivors and specially abled persons will be trained and employed to develop the Go Bags.
“The I Am Super campaign believes that with the right knowledge, skill and heart, we can be heroes by empowering others in great need, such as young people and communities in disaster-prone areas,” Dantes said. “Moreover, the campaign extends assistance to families, children and soldiers affected by the Marawi seige. Recently, Dantes visited the Philippine Naval Hospital to meet with wounded soldiers from Mindanao, where he shared encouraging words, and I Am Super gifts and plaques in recognition of the soldiers’ heroism.
“Our soldiers are modern-day heroes. Their efforts, together with our volunteers in Mindanao, deserve to be recognized and appreciated by every Filipino,” said Dantes, who is also a marine reservist.
“To launch the campaign, YPF together with Resorts World Manila organized the I Am Super: An Art Exhibit for Resilience from August 21 to 27 that showcases the works of artists, who volunteered to support the foundation’s advocacy on climate action and disaster preparedness.
“The exhibit features flower arrangements from Flora Vida, the online business venture of Dantes’s wife and prime-time queen Marian Rivera Gracia-Dantes. The founder of Flora Vida also collaborates with Mark Padernal and Carlo Saavedra, the exhibit’s other featured artists. Renowned artists, such as Patrick Cabral, Ivy Lim, Albrecth Behmel, Benedict Abigan, Evelyn Montenegro and Alfonso Recto are also participating in the weeklong event.
Proceeds from the sale of the artworks will fund the activities of YPF’s I Am Super campaign.”
You reiterated recently that you remain resolute in your decision to not go into politics. Given your genuine desire to help people and spur the kind of change for the better, which can only be achieved systemically through legislative action, why not?
I’d like to stick to that “genuine desire” for now. This is exactly what fueled my passion to make my contribution to public service possible all throughout those eight years.
This commitment of mine doesn’t just come in waves; rather, it has already become a way of life. The development of the mission has always been dependent on the need—and I always go where I’m needed. For now, more than anything (or anyone), I believe that my family needs me, and I’m willing to do what it takes to protect them—most especially the future of my children.
You’ve been in show business for a good number of years. How different is the Dingdong Dantes we interviewed for a major newspaper profile back then, to the Dingdong Dantes we’re now interviewing online for a cover story?
Being in the industry for 19 years is quite awesome. I consider it a blessing because what I value are the people I meet, the relationships built and the wisdom from all the hard work.
Back then, we used to have this conversation face-to-face. Now, we can already actually communicate through this platform—minus nga lang the laughter and meaningful pregnant pauses. So aside from that, I guess the other significant difference, really, would be the addition of these two beautiful women in my life—Marian and Letizia
Knowing what you know now, what would career advice would you give to the young Dingdong Dantes?
Find your passion and make it a way of life.