Dingdong laments slain student Kian delos Santos’ tragic fate

Dingdong Dantes

There’s more to Dingdong Dantes than his chiseled good looks and “bangin’” physique—and he’s proven this to us once again when we met him at GMA 7’s merrymaking for the Kadayawan festival in Davao City last Sunday.

Dong isn’t really the type who would start a heated discussion about deeply polarizing topics in show biz or politics.

The actor, along with Solenn Heussaff, Andrea Torres, Dave Bornea and Lindsay de Vera, visited the country’s durian capital to promote “Alyas Robin Hood 2,” which began its second season last week.

But, Dong’s two-year stint with the National Youth Commission (beginning in 2014), whose mandate is to address issues concerning the Filipino youth, has taught the 37-year-old heartthrob to be less of a “fence-sitter.”

These days, talking about his advocacies brings out the passion and activism in Dong. As Solenn, who was there to shoot the breeze with us, aptly noted with a smile: “There’s fire in his eyes!”

“If the issue is something you’re not knowledgeable about, huwag ka nang mag-comment,” Dong told us. “But, if it’s a topic you feel strongly about, and you’re asked to say something about it, you have a responsibility to voice out your opinion and answer the question as honestly as you can.”

So, when we asked the former NYC commissioner what his thoughts were about the contentious issue surrounding the untimely demise of 17-year-old student Kian delos Santos, Dong’s decisive, empathetic answer didn’t come as a surprise:

“While I believe that the drug problem is really a menace to society, I think it should not be fought at the expense of people’s lives,” Dong mused. “Any life—a policeman’s, a bystander’s life—anyone. Especially a young person’s life. Kian was [only] 17 years old.

“Based on our studies in the National Youth Commission, he belonged to the child youth bracket, the one we consider the most vulnerable. He could have been the next best policeman of his city—or President of the country. But he was not given the chance anymore to do so. I want to believe that with this incident, we all agree on one thing—that it is wrong.”

Dingdong wears his heart on his sleeve just as passionately as his character, pro bono lawyer Jose Paulo “Pepe” de Jesus Jr., does in “Alyas Robin Hood 2.” This, he said, was why he was pleased about the return of his action-drama starrer on the tube.

The show works best as a modern-day fable, inspired by the alliterative tale of heroic outlaw Robin Hood in 14th-century England.

“It isn’t every day that a teleserye is given another shot at entertaining its target audience. So, this time, we’re raising the bar by upping the action, comedic and romantic ante. It’s a thrilling mix,” he said.

Pepe may be a vigilante with a heart, but his methodology in dispensing justice isn’t something Dingdong encourages.

“There should be no place for vigilantism in our society,” he quipped. “Robin Hood steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Our take on that is a hero who defends the rights of the downtrodden and disenfranchised. ’Pag naaagrabyado ka, ipagtatanggol ka n’ya.”

We also had a good laugh talking to Dong about the onscreen scuffles he had to endure “for the sake of art”—like his much-discussed, slap-heavy confrontation scenes with Maricel Soriano, who portrayed his two-timing character’s aggrieved wife in the 2014 drama series, “Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real.”

“Siguro, sa buong kasaysayan ng show biz, ako ang nakaranas ng pinakamaraming sampal sa kanya (I was the recipient of the most hits from her),” the actor recalled with a chuckle. “Hindi na yata sampal ’yun, sapak na ’yun (laughs)! But, my character Anthony didn’t mind getting slapped, because he was the one at fault.”

We then poked fun at Dong with a rhetorical question: Would he respond similarly if Marian Rivera were to get as physically violent as Millet (Maricel’s character) during a heated argument?

“I’ll let her hit me twice, then I’ll dodge it the third time—magaling akong umilag (laughs)!” he replied.

We also reminded Dingdong about the importance of 2017 to his relationship with his lovely wife, whom he married on Dec. 30, 2014: Tinseltown’s Robin Hood was introduced to his Lady Marian 10 years ago on the set of “MariMar.”

We asked the actor what his first impression was of Marian the first time they met. Was it a case of love at first sight?

Far from it, Dingdong disclosed: “I knew we wouldn’t get along, because we have the same zodiac sign: Leo (Dong was born on Aug. 2, while Marian’s birthday is on Aug. 12). So, you either clash or get along very well.

“But, we have learned to happily compromise—it’s just a matter of who’s going to give in and give way. That’s what they say about Leos when they find a common ground. And it’s been a fun ride, so far!”