‘Nahirapan ako kasi mas sanay talaga ako sa drama at sa action — Dingdong Dantes’
DINGDONG Dantes and Marian Rivera are co-producing their own sitcom, “Jose & Maria’s Bonggang Villa” with GMA and APT Entertainment.
“This is the first time we’re this involved in the production of our show,” says Dingdong.
“And we’d like to thank GMA and APT for always asking our opinion, like who are the stars we want to be guesting in the show. We chose to do a sitcom kasi nag-drama na kami before, so this time, comedy naman for the whole family.”
They play a husband and wife named Jose and Maria in the story. “Ang setting is an old house kung saan maraming mangyayari at dun iikot ang kuwento,” says Marian. “Marami ring iba pang funny characters na makikilala sa story. Na-miss ko ring umarte kasi since the pandemic kasi ayoko ng lock-in taping dahil hindi ko maiiwan ang mga anak namin.”
It helped that restrictions have been relaxed for them to work again on cam. “Yes, now, hindi na kami lock-in taping, although we’re still very careful to make sure we’re all safe.
And tuwing may taping kami, our parents help us in looking after our two kids. This time, makikita ng mga tao si Dong na nagko-comedy.”
Dingdong says it’s his wife who acted as an acting coach for him. “Kasi sanay na siya sa comedy like in ‘Sunday Pinasaya.’ Nahirapan ako kasi mas sanay talaga ako sa drama at sa action.”
“Wala naman siyang dapat ikabahala kasi may talent naman siya for comedy,” says Marian.
“Panoorin nyo ang show namin and find out for yourself. Kasi ako, natatawa ako kapag pinapanood ko siya. He’s a natural comedian.”
The show starts airing this Saturday, May 14, replacing “Agimat ng Agila,” directed by John Lapus.
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Tony Labrusca says the title of his new movie, “Breathe Again,” really suits him as he can now really breathe again after the court case filed against him last year in Makati for acts of lasciviousness has now been officially dismissed.
“I’m happy na nakakahinga na uli ako, literally,” he says. “I can now move on. I’m just grateful that I was cleared kasi wala naman akong ginawang masama.”
“Breathe Again” is his second movie with Viva after “Hindi Tayo Pwede” two years ago with Lovi Poe.
“I play Robert, a diving instructor sa Anilao Beach,” he says. “For this role, me and my leading lady, Ariella Arida, had to enroll first in a free diving class to prepare ourselves for the many underwater scenes we are doing in the movie. Ariella goes to the beach resort with her long-time boyfriend, Ivan Padilla, but sparks fly when we meet each other and things become very complicated.”
He has many hot love scenes with Ariella. So how was it?
“I’ve done such scenes before, like in ‘Glorious’, pero nahihiya pa rin ako lagi sa co-actor ko when I do such scenes. It’s important na maging comfortable muna kami sa isa’t isa, so I make sure I talk to them to find out the details of what we can do in our love scenes.”
How about their director, Raffy Francisco, who’s directing a full-length film for the first time?
“He started directing TV commercials and he has made many impressive underwater shoots and videos. He really loves the ocean and you can see it in our movie. Cool lang siya sa set at nag-enjoy talaga ako sa movie namin, lalo na that it’s shot on the beach. His whole team is super fun to work with and the whole shoot was really stress-free, so don’t miss ‘Breathe Again’ when it starts streaming on Vivamax starting June 3.”
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To protect her from the virus, Mother Lily Monteverde has not been allowed by her kids to go out since the pandemic started. On Mother’s Day, her daughter Roselle hosted a dinner for her at Regal Valencia and we’re all happy to be reunited with her. So what did she do while she was just cooped up in their Greenhills home?
“I exercise three times a day, walking, bending, calisthenics,” she says. “When I get bored, I play the piano. I also watch TV, pakonti-konti lang. I call up friends to keep in touch.”
She is happy to be a survivor of the pandemic. “Yes, I’m still here. But I feel sad kasi andaming nawala, ’di ba?”
We tell her she’s a real survivor. Since she started Regal in the ’70s, many of the people who did movies for her have gone, including award-winning directors like Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Marilou Abaya, Maryo de los Reyes, Gil Portes, Mario O’Hara and one of her more trusted confidantes, Joey Gosiengfiao.
“Even among the press people, andami nang nawala,” she adds. “I miss Douglas Quijano, Ricky Lo, Billy Balbastro, Alfie Lorenzo, Oskee Salazar, Inday Badiday, Kuya Germs, Devi Jimenea, Ishko Lopez, Isah Red, and all the others who have left us. Somehow, they’ve all been a part of Regal. And yes, I thank God that at 83, I am still very much around, with so much to be thankful for.”
Regal continues to be busy but it’s Roselle now who handles the production. For GMA, they do the daily primetime drama “Mano Po Legacy: Her Big Boss” starring Bianca Umali and Ken Chan, and the weekly fantasy show every Sunday, “Raya Sirena” with Sofia Pablo and Allen Ansay. They also have seven new movies in the can.
“We’re happy because Roselle’s son, Keith, who is a lawyer in the States, is coming for a visit this week after two years. Kasama ’yung daughter niya, si Mica. First apo ito ni Roselle and my first apo sa tuhod. She’s almost two years old and this is the first time I’d see her in person. They will stay here for two weeks.”
