‘Descendants of the Sun’: Serendipitous convergence of Dingdong’s profession and passion

Dantes (left) with wife Marian and mom Angeline

Dingdong Dantes grew up in a family of uniformed servicemen.

His late grandfather served in the Philippine Army and was a World War II veteran, who survived the Bataan Death March. His father, Sixto Jr., was a civilian volunteer for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Two of his uncles, among other relatives, were also military men.

Thus, from a young age, Dingdong has already known the importance of the role such people play in keeping our loved ones safe.

“They serve and risk their lives for the country—that was instilled in me early on. And I was inspired by that,” he told the Inquirer in a recent interview for GMA 7’s local adaptation for the hit Korean drama, “Descendants of the Sun.”He ended up pursuing a career in show biz. But the desire to serve the country didn’t wane one bit. In 2006, he enlisted in the Marine Reserve Force, and completed the necessary orientation and training to graduate.

“I looked for different ways on how I could serve the country. And I figured that enlisting or volunteering would allow me to do my part, somehow, despite having a different profession. It’s not a full-time job for us, but we’re here to assist,” he related. “I think it’s great that I can keep my job, but at the same time, serve people in an official capacity.”

The Kapuso star has since held other officer ranks within the reserve force, including master sergeant in 2017 and, just last month, lieutenant commander.“Being a commissioned officer … it was a long process. I went through a series of physical and mental tests. There were a lot of requirements. It went through tedious and rigorous deliberation and vetting process,” he said of his new position in the Philippine Navy Reserve Command.

And since its founding in 2009, Dingdong’s YesPinoy Foundation has been actively supporting the reserve force’s programs and advocacies.

“In times of need—particularly during calamities—we’re here to volunteer and offer our assistance. When disaster strikes, we deliver relief. We also conduct disaster preparedness training for children in public schools, especially those in vulnerable areas,” he related.

Given his background as a reservist, it is, in a way, fitting that the 39-year-old actor was selected to top-bill “Descendants,” which will have him stepping into the shoes of Capt. Lucas Manalo (Capt. Yoo Si-jin, played by actor Song Joong-ki in the original )—leader of Team Alpha, a fictional special forces unit under the Philippine Army.

As part of his preparation for the series, Dingdong and his costars Rocco Nacino, Antonio Aquitania, Ricardo Cepeda, Paul Salas, Jon Lucas, Lucho Ayala and Prince Clemente underwent a strict, two-day training and immersion at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

“We followed their usual routine and did what they did. We were put in conditions that simulated the difficulties of being in a battlefield,” Dingdong recalled, adding that the time they spent with the soldiers made him respect them even more.“We learned about their way of life. We got to hear their stories … how they became soldiers. They make sacrifices, they risk their lives. They have to be superhuman,” he stressed. “We now have a deeper appreciation for the work they do for us, now that we have seen them up close.”Captain Lucas’ love interest, cardiothoracic surgeon Maxine dela Cruz, is played by Jennylyn Mercado (Kang Mo-yeon, played by Korean superstar Song Hye-kyo). Their romance starts with an air of uncertainty. Time is never on their side, because of their conflicting schedules. Maxine is also left wondering about Lucas’ sudden disappearances and classified assignments. While Dingdong and Jennylyn have worked together a couple of times in the past, the two have yet to do anything with a romantic angle—until now. “It wasn’t a matter of if, but when. It was inevitable. And I’m glad it’s for such a big project,” said Dingdong, host of the reality talent “StarStruck”—the first season of which was won by Jennylyn in 2003. They also played father-daughter roles in the fantasy series “Encantadia” in 2005. “So far, our dynamic has been good, because we’re both open to suggestions and thinking of creative ways to attack our roles,” he added.

Because “Descendants” is a such a well-loved show around the world, it’s imperative, Dingdong said, that they stay as faithful to the source material as possible.

“We took our time and put extra care in reimagining the iconic scenes, like the one where Lucas flicks Maxine’s phone off her hand,” he said.

But since the show is being adapted with local viewers in mind, it will be a disservice not to incorporate Filipino touches or sensibilities into the plot.

“There will be more family-related subplots. The characters’ backgrounds will be more extensive, and will touch on their upbringing. We also get to see their parents. That way, we get a better idea why these people are the way they are. And this will be crucial later on, because their motivations will have something to do with their families,” he said.“And since many people have already seen the original version, we also think of ways to make the scenes feel new or fresh. That’s the constant challenge,” Dingdong added. If there’s someone more excited than Dingdong about the show’s pilot episode on Monday night, it’s none other than his 4-year-old daughter, Zia, who got curious when she saw her father wearing military attire at the donning of ranks ceremony.

“I tell her that I’m a reservist, that I’m here to assist real soldiers. ‘That’s real,’ I said. ‘But that one in ‘Descendants’ is just pretend,’” he said.

As such, Dingdong also hopes to use this opportunity to teach Zia the concept of heroism and helping others.

“Every day, we get a chance to do good deeds. And you have to instill these values in a child this early. You have to set a good example, because they will follow your lead,” he said. INQ