Dingdong on making time for kids despite hectic sked: They won’t be little forever

Dingdong Dantes —Photos by GMA NETWORK

Dingdong Dantes didn’t expect 2023 to be this busy—three television shows, a primetime soap and a coming entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). His hectic work schedule eventually caught up with him.

“Earlier this year, when I learned that my path for this year would be like this, in a way I was a little shocked … The year is ending in just three months, and I thought I would make it through all my projects without getting sick. But I did a few weeks ago, which caused some delays. It is what it is,” Dingdong said at a recent visit to the set of the game show “Family Feud.”

Aside from “Family Feud,” whose new season begins airing on Oct. 2 on GMA 7, Dingdong also hosts the infotainment program “Amazing Earth” and the reality singing competition “The Voice Generations.” His drama series, “Royal Blood,” ended last Sept. 22. Meanwhile, shooting has already started for his MMFF film “Rewind,” which he topbills with his wife, Marian Rivera. “Fortunately, everything’s OK. I’m now well-rested and reenergized for the rest of the year,” the Kapuso star said. “We’re taking it a day at a time.”

Truth be told, there were times, Dingdong said, when he wished he could spend more time with his children, Zia, 7, and Sixto IV, 4. That’s why he makes sure that his Sundays, as much as possible, are devoted to his family.

“Minsan, nagkukulang talaga sa oras… So if it’s a Sunday, or if there are things I can put off, or not do at all, I give my time to them. Sometimes, even if I get home late from a shoot, I still get up early the next morning so I can take the kids to school,” he said.

“For me, this stage in their lives is so important—they won’t be this young forever. Soon, they will grow up and develop their own interests. So, tired or not, I want to be with them as much as I can,” the 43-year-old actor added.

This is one reason Dingdong loves hosting “Family Feud.” Not only does it demand a considerably smaller chunk of his schedule, it can also easily accommodate his children if they please.

Dantes

New season

“It’s very different from teleserye taping where I’m away from home for a whole day. Here, we get to shoot multiple episodes a day and I will still have time to have dinner with them,” he said. “They also visit me frequently on the set. And that’s something I really appreciate. When I finish early, we go out and have fun.”

There will be some “new elements and big changes” in the new season of “Family Feud.” First, the show is set to open its doors to Filipino workers and professionals and other noncelebrity hopefuls. “Nurses, delivery riders, waiters, barangay tanods … and even those who aren’t part of actual families or barkadas can join,” he said.

The “Family Feud” team also hopes to introduce kiddie battles. The concept is currently being explored and tested with children aged 7 to 12 being asked to answer past survey questions. If everything goes well, they hope they can do it once or twice a week starting in November.

“Zia and I have tried playing it at home. I made her answer past questions. And she was able to come up with some answers. If she can do it, what about older kids? I’m sure the questions and answers will be funny and amusing while still being educational,” he said.

‘Most challenging’

Of the three shows Dingdong hosts at the moment, “Family Feud” is arguably the most challenging, because he has to control the tempo and sustain the energy from start to finish. “In ‘The Voice,’ you weave together the things that are happening. And the main attractions really are the contestants and the way they interact with their coaches. In ‘Amazing Earth,’ it’s more about voice-overs and introducing stories. But here in ‘Family Feud,’ I need to facilitate the game while making sure the guests are happy and entertained.”

He also needs to be quick on his feet just in case a contestant blurts out something that may need bleeping—like that one girl who answered “t*t*” when asked to give a body part that starts with the letter T.

“We anticipate possible answers to the questions, so I can be ready. But of course, no matter how well you prepare, you can’t account for everything. May susulpot at susulpot out of nowhere. Sometimes, I’m left speechless. But that’s the exciting part for me, the spur-of-the-moment answers,” Dingdong said. Dingdong is naturally quiet and reserved. But being on the “Family Feud” set, he said, gives him the space to be fun and loud.

“It’s something I don’t usually get to do offscreen. The energy I get from the contestants is just different. Every day I get to meet new people,” he said. “And hosting is kind of therapeutic for me because, in a way, it’s like you’re also performing … I love what I’m doing.”

“At first, I was a bit nervous and had to feel my way around. But I learned to embrace it. I got more confident and relaxed as I went on,” Dingdong added.