Challenges stars want to surmount before they ‘kick the bucket’

DANTES. Wants to land a Cessna plane on the South Super Highway—at high noon.

WHAT do you wish to accomplish before you “kick the bucket”? In Rob Reiner’s 2007 dramedy, “Bucket List,” Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman embark on a road trip to settle some scores and tick off as many items on their “must-do” list before they succumb to cancer. Chris Martinez’s 2008 Cinemalaya entry, “100,” similarly muses about life’s fleeting nature as it follows sick protagonist Joyce (Mylene Dizon) on her mad rush to carry out her most important wishes before her time runs out.

David Freeman, co-author with Neil Teplica of the best-selling travel/adventure guide, “100 Things To Do Before You Die,” lived each day like it was his last because, he reasoned, “life is a short journey.” But, the fun-loving advertising executive saw only half of the sites in his book when he died in 2008 at age 47.

Freeman and Teplica’s list included taking part in the Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo; a firewalking ceremony in Greece; a five-day marijuana fest in Amsterdam; nude night surfing in Sydney; the Mevlana festival of Whirling Dervishes in Turkey; a fertility ritual in Japan; bungee-jumping on Vanuatu island; a voodoo fest in Haiti; the Nobel Prize ceremonies in Sweden; the vibrant Carnaval of Rio de Janeiro; a cockroach race in Brisbane, the Cannes film fest in France, and the Academy Awards in the United States!

Acceptance speech

GMA 7’s top heartthrob, Dingdong Dantes, is also setting his sights on Hollywood’s biggest night: “On my bucket list is the chance to represent the country and deliver an acceptance speech at the Oscars!”

The other items on Dingdong’s wish list are just as impressive: “To land a Cessna plane at high noon on the South Super Highway (SLEX); go on a five-hour motorcycle ride to a high and cool place in the Philippines with my grandson, and spend a happy, tipsy night with my future wife in a not-so-popular but beautiful place on each continent of the world (there are seven).” Are you reading this, Marian?

“I already bungee-jumped a couple of years ago,” lovely Giselle Tongi told us. “So, it’s high time for the next step—to jump out of a plane and skydive!”

Veteran star Boots Anson-Roa accomplished one of hers only last month—to jump out of the box in theater—when she performed the piece on childbirth in the recent SRO staging of “The Vagina Monologues” at Music Museum.

CURTIS SMITH. Intends to travel to at least one country on every continent.

Tita Boots also shared with us that she’s working on two more: “To plant and successfully nurture a tree, despite my brown thumb—and to publish my autobiography, which will be produced by my uncle, Vic Valenciano (Gary V’s dad)!”

Jasmine Curtis Smith’s wishes aren’t just for herself (“To travel to at least one country on every continent”); they’re also for her loved ones (“I want to buy a Hermes bag for my mama”). We were also pleasantly surprised to learn that faith plays an important role in the TV5 princess’ life: “I want to live my faith by doing charity work overseas.”

The lists of the exciting teen actors, Alden Richards, Derrick Monasterio and Lexi Fernandez, in the acclaimed horror flick, “The Road,” reflect drive and youthful ambition: Alden intends to visit the new Seven Wonders of the World (in Mexico, Brazil, Italy, China, Peru, Jordan and India); skydive; build his dream home in Forbes Park; buy his dad the sports car he’s always wanted, and fly a plane.

Derrick wants to buy his dream car, a mansion and a farm in 15 years’ time; put up a charity for needy children, and perform in a solo concert with an audience of at least 100,000! And, Lexi wants to create her own perfume line and be known worldwide for her singing and acting prowess.

Bold choices

Alwyn Uytingco’s bold choices represent the versatile actor’s diverse interests: “I want to travel abroad—alone; skydive and scuba dive; rock out a huge concert with my band; write a script; direct an indie film; climb a mountain, and cover my body with tattoos!”

We also asked Lou Veloso and Madeleine Nicolas, two of the Filipino actors in Tony Gilroy’s anticipated “The Bourne Legacy,” for their must-do lists. Lou dreams of going on a trip to the Holy Land, while Mads intends to gather all the members of her family in a family reunion—to make her 100-year-old mother happy; put up a foundation that would address artists’ needs; build an arts complex; get a Master’s degree, and go to Japan to watch cherry blossoms bloom!

And, last but not least is the lead star of “Ang Sayaw Ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa,” Rocco Nacino: “I want to drive an F1 (race) car; skydive; climb a mountain in Tibet—and meet Tom Cruise!”