September 26, 2012

For Dingdong Dantes, acting means waiting for the next challenge and anticipating new adventures

There is not a hint of the braces-wearing, stocky male newcomer of the GMA-7 youth series TGIS back in 1997 in the Dingdong Dantes that reaped accolades for last December’s film fest horror tale Segunda Mano.

Even earlier than his award-winning performance as a crazed lover in Segunda Mano, Dingdong had already made viewers pause and reconsider his potential as a leading man and reliable performer. This was, of course, when the then-27-year-old heartthrob lost the baby fats, achieved a toned physique and shed his boy-next-door image via the local version of the Mexican soap Marimar.

In the span of less than a year, Dingdong soared to a new level of popularity and acclaim, ranking high in every top showbiz transformation list of 2007. “Reinvention has always been part of the plan,” the actor shares. “It was and will always be my priority to excite myself with projects that are timely, socially relevant, and of great quality. Once these opportunities are given to me, I embrace them with passion and enthusiasm.”

Those two virtues – passion and enthusiasm – were what were lacking when Dingdong was still plying the teen idol route. “In the beginning, it was all just fun. I did not take things seriously then. I guess it came with maturity that I woke up one day and told myself that it is about time to contribute something (to the industry).”

And grow up Dingdong surely did. Life, with its highs and lows, thrills and woes, helped mold him into the more sensible man and sensitive actor that he has become. “New learnings, new experiences can be used to help one grow as a person. And the same experiences can also be used to make you grow as an actor. It can happen simultaneously,” says Dingdong.

That level of maturity can be easily discerned from the actor’s most recent screen undertakings – as the man searching for his long-lost love in TV’s Stairway to Heaven, the elegantly comical leading man opposite Regine Velasquez in I Heart You, Pare, and the man torn between two women in the melodrama One True Love.

With maturity comes a sense of adventure, a desire to take risks, to tread on unfamiliar ground. The drive to take on challenges of a different nature was what prompted Dingdong Dantes to produce under his own Agostodos Pictures – along with Reality Entertainment, Mothership, PostManila and GMA Films – and star in the Erik Matti-helmed horror thriller Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles. Based from the trailer alone, the movie promises honest to goodness scares coupled with irreverent Pinoy humor and special effects that are nothing less than spectacular.

The film's producers bankrolled this ambitious project, a full CG venture shot entirely on green screen, with a set built wholly on a studio with such feverish excitement.Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles finds Dingdong playing a happy-go-lucky guy who, while fetching his girlfriend (played by Lovi Poe), heavy with their firstborn, in the province, finds himself besieged by an aswang attack on him and those who are dear to him. The man with an aimless existence would learn to test his sense of responsibility.

In a case of art imitating life, that was exactly what Dingdong Dantes, the actor, learned at the time when he decided that acting was where his heart belonged. He learned to take responsibility and treat acting not as a source of amusement but a career, a sort of calling. It is the one passion that continues to whet his appetite for exploring and experimenting. “The most important thing that fame has taught me,” reveals the showbiz A-lister, “is the power of influence, of touching lives, of affecting people. Ngayon, iba na ang tingin ko sa pag-arte. Hindi siya laro kundi mabigat na tungkulin. I invest so much in a role, physically, emotionally. You have to inhabit your character. You have to be the role. You have to live it.”

And that is exactly what Dingdong did in tackling the part of an aimless man who finds his true purpose in life but not without going through a battle to save his life and those of his loved ones. Being the King of Reinvention who is always open to the idea of change, Dingdong tirelessly went out of his way to study his role and give it his own stamp. He likes the feel of a fresh challenge and with Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles, he is given that opportunity both as star and producer to create something different that Dingdong Dantes fanatics and believers should watch out for.

September 25, 2012

"Ina , Kapatid, Anak" - 2012 Much Awaited TV Series This October

“Ina Kapatid Anak” is a compelling story about family, love, power, rivalry and acceptance. It features a powerhouse cast composed of four of the hottest young stars of their generation Kim, Xian, Enchong, and Maja; highly-acclaimed seasoned actors Janice de Belen, Cherry Pie Picache and Ariel Rivera; and well respected veteran stars Ronaldo Valdez, Pilar Pilapil and Eddie Guiterrez. It is directed by Don Cuaresma and Jojo Saguin.

Ina Kapatid Anak will be on Primetime Bida this October. This teleserye will give the viewers another perspective on term Ina, (mother), Kapatid (siblings) and Anak (child) with the help of all the characters played by the power cast and create a different kind of story that will surely touch the heart of every viewer of Primetime Bida.

Primetime princesses Kim Chiu and Maja Salvador are both excited to share with the TV viewers their newest top caliber family drama series, where their rivalry sparks up in “Ina Kapatid Anak.”

“Everything is here–it’s a story about family, friendship and sisterhood,” said Kim, who will portray the role of the poor but optimistic young girl named Celine. “In our teleserye, the audience will learn how to value their families and how to achieve their dreams.”

Maja, on the other hand, will play the character of the rich and glamorous woman, Margaux. “All her things are glittering, but eventually the viewers will discover what’s really inside her mind and heart,” she related.

Contrary to their solid friendship off-cam, Kim and Maja’s fiercer roles in “Ina Kapatid Anak” will unravel an onscreen rivalry that everyone will surely be talking about.

Maja hinted that viewers should watch out if she will be a wicked bida-kontrabida in the story. “What’s interesting about Kim and I’s characters is that both Celine and Margaux are born fighters and they do not allow their families to be maltreated by anyone,” she shared.

Kim added that her role is totally new for her. “I’ve never done a character like Celine who’s so loud and talkative,” said Kim. “If in ‘My Binondo Girl’ I portrayed as a sweet at relatively well-off girl; here in ‘Ina Kapatid Anak,’ I am super poor.”

Aside from the highly anticipated confrontation scenes between Kim and Maja, TV viewers are even more excited with the two’s love interests in the story. In “Ina Kapatid Anak” Kim will be paired again with Xian Lim, while Maja will team up for the first time with Enchong Dee.

When asked if their fans can expect for some daring or love scenes from the two love teams, Kim simply answered, “So far, we’re just taping scenes where me and Xian’s characters are still teenagers. But I think later on, we’ll have something like that. Let’s just wait and see.”

This new teleserye will also celebrates the reunion of Kim and Maja after their first project together in First Day High aside from being mainstays of ASAP 2012, and also Kim to Xian after My Binondo Girl and with Enchong in My Girl and My Only Hope.

Watch out for the grand premiere of “Ina Kapatid Anak” this October on ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida.

For more updates on Ina Kapatid Anak, log on to :

www.ABS-CBN.com

www.facebook.com/InaKapatidAnak.TV

and follow @_InaKapatidAnak on Twitter

Jeric was eliminated from the X Factor Philippines

Judge-mentor Martin Nievera saw one of his wards go home from "The X Factor Philippines" after Jeric Medina was eliminated from the popular TV talent search on Sunday night.

KZ Tandingan first took a safe seat, followed by Gabriel Maturan and Allen Sta. Maria completed the top three finalists. Jeric and Daddy’s Home we’re left as the bottom two. The result was based on the audience votes after the mentor-judges voted 2-2 with Pilita Corales and Martin Nievera in favor of Jeric. Charice and Gary Valenciano were in favor of the only group in the final five, Daddy’s Home.

For their survival songs, Jeric chose Aerosmith's "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" while Daddy's Home did Phil Collins' "Against All Odds."

Jeric was eliminated from the X Factor Philippines.

Here are the Final Four !

Watch the X-Factor Philippines , airs after Maalaala Mo Kaya every Saturday for Performance Night and Results Night every Sunday after Sarah G. Live only on ABS-CBN.

The grand finals of "The X Factor Philippines" will be held on October 6 and 7.

"After Manila, Pasig River Rehabilitation Goes to QC " - Gina Lopez

ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Gina Lopez
at Estero de San Miguel

Following the significant changes on the surroundings and the lifestyle of residents along the esteros revived by the Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP), the campaign for the rehabilitation of Pasig River is set for an aggressive push to spur local government units in cleaning their own esteros.

ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Gina Lopez with
the River Warriors

This year, KBPIP is focused on the waterways in Quezon City which empties most of its trash to the San Juan River. San Juan River, meanwhile, contributes over 40% of the filth that flows into the Pasig River.

“If we clean San Juan River, we’ll clean half of Pasig River. If we have to clean San Juan River, we have to clean Quezon City,” said Gina Lopez, the managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation that operates KBPIP.

Estero de Paco (Quirino to Pedro Gil) -
Current taken 20 Sep 2012

KBPIP patterns much of its rehabilitation efforts after the rehabilitated and beautified Estero de Paco in Manila. It has since undergone a major makeover since the start of its rehabilitation in 2009 – what used to be an immense garbage patch occupied by informal settlers is now a park bordered by plants and illuminated by streetlights.

The rehabilitation process of the estuary began by relocating thousands of families living along the waterways, building linear parks, training of River Warriors or community volunteers who clean and guard the esteros against polluters, and installing active island reactors to bring life back into the estero waters.

Using Estero de Paco as a template, Lopez said she wants every estuary in the metro to be developed as a commercial hub where residents can earn a living and improve their lives. Lopez even takes pride in the construction of a supermarket and a three-story hotel near Estero de Paco that she said wouldn’t have been possible had the estero not been cleaned.

“The conjecture here is that when you clean the esteros, the economy will boom up,” said Lopez.

Estero de Paco (Trece de Agosto to Apacible) - Current taken 20 Sep 2012

Lopez also emphasized the benefits of the Estero de Paco clean-up on the lifestyle of residents in the area. For one thing, the estero’s vicinity didn’t suffer from flooding during the onslaught of rains brought by the monsoon winds last August because water could flow easily without trash jamming the stream.

Since the estero was cleaned, substantial changes have been noted in the area. Based on the barangay blotter, a 40% reduction in crime incidence was recorded in seven out of 16 barangays near the estero. According to the City of Manila, the value of land near Estero de Paco has also gone up and might benefit the land owner of up to P2 million in 20 years.

More notably, a survey sponsored by KBPIP with 7,000 households living within 200 meters from Estero de Paco revealed that 100% are getting more exercise, 97% have greater sense of community pride, 97% are satisfied with their lives, 89% feel less sick, and 89% feel safer in their community. Eighty five percent of them also claimed they have lower medical expenses due to their cleaner and healthier environment.

“Cleaning the esteros reaches far beyond the economic effect. It goes into the very way they feel about themselves, the way they feel about each other. This is the way to go. We clean the estero and we have a much happier and fulfilled life,” Lopez stressed.

The long-term crusade for cleaner waterways in Metro Manila will go full blast in the upcoming “09.30.2012 Run, Ride & Roll for the Pasig River” to be held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Sunday (Sept 30). Over 80,000 participants are expected to show up and take part in the advocacy event that will fund the rehabilitation of esteros in Quezon City.

“The Quezon City experience is really important because it sets the template for other cities. Unless local government units take on the cleaning of the esteros, it’s not going to happen,” said Lopez.

KBPIP has a track record of organizing three successful runs, namely the 2009 Philippine International Marathon: A Run for the Pasig River with an estimated 23,000 participants, the historic 10.10.10 Run for the Pasig River that broke the Guinness World Record for the “most participants in a racing event” with 116,087 runners, and last year’s 11.20.2011 Run for the Pasig River was the largest foot race joined by 86,547 runners.

The 10.10.10 Run for the Pasig River won a Bronze Anvil and an Award of Excellence at the 45th Anvil Awards given by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, while the Estero de Paco clean-up earned an Award of Merit from the 2010 Philippine Quill Awards given by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines.

Registration for the 09.30.2012 Run for the Pasig River is ongoing at SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, R.O.X, Chris Sports Festival Mall and Chris Sports Glorietta. Registration is until Saturday (Sept 29). Aside from the registration, there will also be merchandise available in the SM booths, in which part of the proceeds will also go to the river rehabilitation.

For updates on this advocacy run -

visit www.runforthepasigriver.com

like www.facebook.com/runforthepasigriver

follow @run4pasigriver on Twitter

Photos by : Faizza Tangol, ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.