Who can stop Dingdong Dantes?
Amazing is the only word that I can think of to describe Dingdong Dantes’ resurging career. The year before he was cast as Sergio in the localized version of the two decades old Mexican telenovela MariMar, not a few scribes had lump him up along with other “downhill racers” in this very dynamic business.
Yet, the once-upon-a-time member of Abztraktk, an all-male dance group that popped in and out of noontime shows, seems not ready to sit and watch younger stars take over. With a sculpted anatomy and cutting- edge look as Sergio, he actually put everything for these young stars on hold, short of saying, “I’m still very much around. Watch me.”
And we did watch him soup up primetime television (along with Marian Rivera) and captivating audiences across the archipelago to get hooked on MariMar five days a week. A reinvigorated career kicked Dingdong to the top, making him TV’s most watched actor, eclipsing hyper-hyped matinee idols, like John Lloyd Cruz and Piolo Pascual.
Apart from keeping ratings of MariMar in the high 30’s to low 40’s, Dingdong started to get feelers from advertisers scrambling to make him their celebrity endorser.
First, there came Bench Body. Giant billboards in strategic locations across the metro had everyone, women and men alike, gawking at the actor’s six-pack abs, satin-smooth thighs, and seductive eyes. The billboard even stirred controversy as members of the Catholic Women’s League wanted them taken off.
Then, San Miguel Beer offered him to pitch for San Mig Light, the phenomenal beer brand intended for the younger, upwardly mobile market.
Now, he is also the face of Gran Matador Brandy.
The endorsement came as Dyesebel, in which he plays Fredo, has become the country’s no. 1 drama series on primetime TV.
“Life’s really good. I like the pace. I like how things are turning out,” says Dantes. “Acting actually did not come naturally. But the opportunities came and it’s good that I was ready for it.”
Aside for a burgeoning career as an actor and commercial model, Dantes handles a production house and investment company, not to mention his business interests in a bar. The way his life is going, you might think Dingdong has it all but the competitive fire to achieve is still there.
“In general terms, I would want to be remembered as someone who started something. Whatever that is, I would have to pick that up in the process. Although I have many things in mind, I would like to be very sure about it first,” Dantes adds.
Dantes as Gran Matador endorser early this year will have him appearing in billboards and a television commercial that is already rotating heavily in primetime and non-primetime shows.
For him, a shot of brandy comes with a celebration.
“So I wouldn’t do it in the office or on the set. I do it at a time when I want to relax or when I am in a party when I am not thinking of anything. I think that there is always a reason to celebrate even just over small things. That’s why it is called a celebration because you cannot celebrate by yourself. It’s a way to connect with others, a way to bond with them,” says Dantes, who will celebrate his 28th birthday on Aug. 2.
John Lloyd Cruz turned 25Yesterday, John Lloyd Cruz turned 25 years old. He also received the Best Actor Awards for his role in the movie One More Chance at the annual Golden Screen Awards handed out by the members of the Entertainment Press.
John Lloyd and his leading lady Bea Alonzo were named Box Office King and Queen by the Guillermo Memorial Scholarship Foundation.
Cruz is currently in the thick of things of the movie he is starring in. Shooting takes place almost daily with co-star Sarah Geronimo.
The movie, his first with Geronimo, is slated for theatrical release in July.
There are also offers for shows abroad, but his schedule is so tight he doesn’t know how he can put all those in his calendar of events.
John Lloyd is still the face of Urban Bags. He is also in his second year for the Biogesic “Ingat” campaign. His new endorsements include Smart, Clear (shampoo and conditioner), and Greenwich Pizza. He is also one of the celebrity endorsers of Bench, Belo Medical Group, Toni and Guy Salon, Charms and Crystals, Converse, Gan Dental Clinic, TFC Bigatin Loyalty Card, Chikka.Com and ABS-CBN Interactive/2366.
John Lloyd is really very thankful for all the blessings he has been receiving and wants to share some of them with the residents of Katutubo Village in Porac, Pampanga. He led a medical mission to bring free medical checkup to the Aeta children.
Disappointed SidSid Lucero was definitely disappointed that he was edged out by John Lloyd Cruz in the annual Golden Screen awards in the Best Actor category. Cruz won for his role in One More Chance. Lucero has been cited by critics for his moving performances in Selda and Tambolista.
Yet, the young prodigious actor who is now playing an important role in the afternoon drama series Mga Ligaw na Bulaklak on ABS-CBN doesn’t want to be affected.
He says, “I don’t take it against anyone, much more so the members of the press, if I don’t get a trophy or something. Perhaps, for them my performance wasn’t good enough. It becomes for me a big challenge to prove to them that I am worthy of a Golden Screen trophy.”
The actor is nominated in the Philippine Movie Press Club Star Awards for Movies in two acting categories: Best Actor (Selda) and Best Supporting Actor (Tambolista).
The Golden Screen Awards were handed out last night at Zirkoh, the comedy bar in Greenhills, by members of the Entertainment Press, the breakaway group of the Philippine Movie Press Club.
Incredible box-office HulkThe Incredible Hulk, the new big-screen version of the comic book hero Bruce Banner who turns into a green powerful creature, has accumulated some $96,476,000 only after two weeks in release (in the United States).
Here, the movie directed by the 35-year-old Frenchman Louis Leterrier, who worked as second unit director on The Transporter with director Corey Yuen and producer Luc Besson, is holding on its own against Kung Fu Panda, which has dominated the box office since it opened last week.
The new version is more engaging than the 2003 retelling of the same comic book character by Ang Lee with Eric Bana as Banner.
Leterrier, obviously a disciple of Luc Besson, opts for a more linear plotline, simple narrative but more action that no matter how they may be improbable they still come out as acceptable within the context of the genre.
Also, the film doesn’t rely only upon CGI of the Hulk, but more on the performances of Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, William Hurt, and Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky who turns into a monstrous and destructive Hulk that had nothing in its mind but to crush to smithereens Banner’s Hulk.
On its first weekend, The Incredible Hulk topped the box office, making it a certified film franchise that is assured of sequels.
Already, before the end of the film, Robert Downey, as Tony Stark (a character in Iron Man) appears as General Ross who was drowning his frustration in alcohol. Stark makes a proposition, “Why don’t we make a partnership?” Ross retorts back, “Who’s we?” Then the screen fades to black as the end credits starts rolling.
Must-see movieIf you’re in a romantic mode, then Made of Honour is your kind of movie. Starring Grey Anatomy’s Patrick Dempsey as Tom Bailey, a guy who doesn’t believe in marriage until best friend Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) announces she is off to marry a Scottish dreamboat Colin McMurray (played by Kevin McKidd).
While Made of Honour (directed by British filmmaker Paul Weiland) may appear a bit whimsical for serious movie buffs, it is actually a very engaging romantic comedy, not only because it stars Dempsey, whom we adored in Enchanted and is equally adorable here as an elusive bachelor whose idea of a relationship is a one-night stand and no back-to-back sex (meaning not the same girl two nights in a row).
Even McKidd seems pretty suited up for the role as the groom, and Monaghan as the bride gels perfectly with her character.
Weiland combines both comedy of manners and comedy of errors in building up situations that had us laughing, from beginning to end.
Dempsey is definitely the new Kid on the Hollywood romantic comedy block, and we’re certain we will be seeing more of him in this kind of film genre in the next couple of years.
Hot gossipTwo young stars seem unable to control their raging hormones. According to a very reliable source, these kids had one drink too many, they started to give each other some kind of sexual signals during a night out with friends recently.
Apparently, the young female star has had the hots for the young male star, and she found the situation perfect for seduction. And she succeeded in leading the young male star on. Not too long, they are in a cubicle in female comfort room in the hotel. Say our source, the kids were in the cubicle for nearly an hour. And the only sound they made were oohs… aahs and then a muffled scream. A flushing sound capped the tryst, and both quietly stepped out of the comfort room like nothing happened.
Singing champ at Investors Night in Lapu Lapu CitySinging champion Jimmy Marquez will provide the entertainment in the Investors Night hosted by Lapu Lapu City at the Mactan Shanri-La.
The Investors Night is organized by Lapu Lapu City Mayor Boy Radaza and honors top investors in the city led by the Gokongwei Group, Lucio Tan, Sta. Lucia Realty and Megaworld Properties, among others. Around 80 special guests will be in the event including members of the diplomatic corps.
Marquez was the runner-up in the Search for a Star in a Million Season. He also bagged the silver prize at the 2006 Asia New Singer Competition during the 9th Shanghai Asia Music Festival in Shanghai last year. He is a native Cebuano.
No Comments
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment