Dingdong Dantes on detractors: I respect their opinion

April 7, 2008

DINGDONG Dantes flew to Palawan last Sunday morning to shoot the underwater scenes with Marian Rivera for the forthcoming fantaserye, Dyesebel. He should be back in Manila in five days.

“It will be our first shooting day and I feel excited already. I am a nature boy and I love the sea. Mga eksena lang namin ni Marian ang kukunan sa Palawan which is truly a beach paradise. Among them is a scene where I am supposed to be drowning at sasagipin ako ni Dyesebel,” says Dingdong as we talked at Centerstage last Saturday.

The last time Dingdong went underwater for a role was in Atlantika, another fantaserye where the actor did his own action stunts. Exploring the deep has never been a problem for Dingdong because he is a certified diver in real life.

There has been many versions of Dyesebel made on the big screen and the one usually shown on Cinema One has Alice Dixson playing the title role with Richard Gomez as the mortal who falls in love with the mermaid.

Dingdong has not seen any Dyesebel movie. If only the original version is available, we would have recommended Dingdong to see it because it is considered the best. It was directed by Gerry de Leon and introduced a new and fresh face named Edna Luna as Dyesebel. The late actor Jaime dela Rosa was Fredo. It was from the 50s and the direction by national artist Gerry de Leon was considered way ahead of its time. Dingdong, however, has no intention of seeing any available print of one of the most popular characters created by Mars Ravelo.

“I don’t want to be accused of copying someone else’s characterization. Ang gusto kong mangyari is to come out with a fresher and newer approach sa karakter ni Fredo. I am sure Richard (Gomez) whom I idolize so much did a good job playing the role,” says the Bench endorser who can easily be called the David Beckham of the Philippines. Both David and Richard posed for a controversial underwear pictorial. David is married to Spice girl Victoria while Dingdong has Karylle a singer as his girlfriend.

Who else are included in Dyesebel which is set to air this summer?

“Alfred Vargas is also in the cast and he plays a merman who loves Dyesebel very much. Posibleng sumunod siya sa lupa para agawin sa akin si Dyesebel. You know how it is with TV scripts nowadays. Changes are made the last minute.We might even have an underwater fighting scene ni Alfred whom I will be working for the first time in a teleserye. Also in the cast is Bianca King who plays my girlfriend,” Dindgdong shares.

Before Dingdong decided to go “nude,” Alfred was the first to pose for a 20-page nude pictorial shot two years ago by ace photographer Ronnie Salvacion. Would Dingdong come up with his own coffee table book, too?

“There has been no offer yet. With my decision to go sexy I am not closing the doors na gawin ko ‘yon but if only within the limits of decency. The concept must be very good. It should mean not to arouse but admired,” he says.

In between filming Dyesebel, GMA7 is cooking up a project which will star Dingdong with two of GMA’s most prized properties, Marian Rivera and Iza Calzado. Looks like a triangle love story.

There are more product endorsement offers coming for him but the actor chose not to reveal what they are.

Curiously, one asked: Does he really wear Bench underwear?

“All the time. I find them very comfortable. Do you want to see it?” he proudly asked back as his hands reached for his waist to show the Bench tag.

Wearing a Hugo casual wear during our interview, we asked what his message would be for his detractors who seem to know more about his private life.

“Don’t believe they exist. In all the years of my stay in showbusiness, I have never stepped on anyone intentionally. Wala akong sinasaktan na tao. But you see, whatever we do is open to public opinion. I am not offended when some writers speculate. What they write is their own opinion and I respect them.” he admits.

At a certain point during the interview, he asked to be excused because he has to rehearse a song (with a band which he manages) for a gig to be held at Centerstage that same night. It was Karylle herself who fetched the actor from where he was seated and even invited us to watch the rehearsal. Minutes later, we heard Dingdong sing Every Breath You Take.

That evening, Dingdong and Karylle were a picture of two persons very much in love.

Bookmark to: