Dingdong Dantes. Image: INQUIRER.net/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines—Kapuso ‘Primetime King’ Dingdong Dantes believes actors like himself need to be audacious to flourish in the business, but reminded them to be conscious of limits, to have the courage to take risks but remain responsible.
“Especially as actors, we always have to take risks. Otherwise, if we remain complacent in what we do, that’s what your viewers will always see. So as artists, we always have to push the limit, be audacious, be bold, be wild in a sense,” the actor-host told the Inquirer at the sidelines of his launch as the first Filipino ambassador for the global lifestyle brand Police held at the SM Mall of Asia branch of Ideal Vision in Pasay City on March 25.
The “Family Feud” host said his new role reminds him of the value of discovering one’s full potential. “Come to think of it, if you’re not going to push your limit, you will never know that you need to do that. And I think this is what I appreciate about the campaign, it’s the tagline ‘audacity wanted,’” he explained.
Dantes also noted publicist Frank Briones’ remarks when he was introduced to the members of the media who came to the launch: “‘It’s good to be audacious, it’s good to be bold, it’s good to take risks,’ as long as the fundamentals are established. You cannot be a risktaker in everything. If you take risks, it should be calculated.”
He has constantly emphasized this need to still establish boundaries in navigating through the quirks of the business. “Whatever happens, you have to be responsible for it,” he said, the father in him kicking in.
A doting dad to Zia and Sixto, his two children with Kapuso “Primetime Queen” Marian Rivera, Dantes said raising kids is a journey full of discoveries. “There is no perfect manual for that, but it’s your own instinct to adapt, what you think is best for your kids, you’re the only one who knows that as a parent. And I think that’s one of the greatest gifts that a parent can receive,” he shared.
Dantes is at one of his busiest moments as an actor-host these days. “Many of those, I should have done at the time when the [COVID-19] pandemic hit. That is why we’re full throttle now, and I hope it goes on. Especially in movies, we want Filipino films to be revived again. So in the upcoming movies, both local and foreign, I hope the people will go back to the theaters,” he shared.
Aside from the daily game show “Family Feud,” he is also set to appear in the Kapuso family drama series “Royal Blood” and the GMA Public Affairs film “Firefly.” He also appeared in a promotional material for the global lifestyle brand with British race car driver Lewis Hamilton shown in New York. He will also fly to Tokyo next month for the gathering of all of the brand’s ambassadors from different parts of the world. /ra