GMA's Prime Leading Man on empowering the Filipino youth

Beyond his numerous acting awards and his Kapuso Primetime King title is a man with a big heart. Dingdong Dantes, more than anything else, is a philanthropist dedicated to empower the Filipino Youth through YesPinoy Foundation.

According to yespinoy.org, the foundation’s official website, “YesPinoy Foundation (YPF) arose out of the simple yearning of an EDSA baby named Jose Sixto “Dingdong” G. Dantes III to help others, especially the youth, achieve their dreams of having a better life despite poverty and powerlessness . With the support of his friends in the entertainment, business and nonprofit sectors, YPF Founder and Chairman Dingdong Dantes established the foundation last Aug. 21, 2009.”

In an interview with Dingdong during the pictorial of his latest GMA Primetime series, Genesis, he talked about YesPinoy Foundation and said, “Basically, we just want to provide access to education to the underprivileged. In a nutshell, that’s what it’s all about, and under that is giving scholarships, and providing different types of seminars to students.”

When did he realize that he wanted to push through with this advocacy?

The award-winning actor replied, “I’ve always wanted to do this. Education, I believe is the most powerful tool, so if you have the opportunity to give it, why not?”

Besides supporting educational causes, YesPinoy Foundation also seeks to extend a helping hand during trying times. When Typhoon Ondoy hit the country, YPF held relief drives in several affected areas and launched Oplan Restore Paaralan.

Other endeavors by Dingdong’s YesPinoy Foundation include the Paskong Ligtas para sa Batang Kalye Program which offered alternative activities to street children in Metro Manila to protect them from the dangers of begging and caroling along busy streets.

Official website, yespinoy.org also states that “During the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Edsa People Power Revolution, YPF successfully spearheaded the Edsa Baby Ako campaign geared to instill to the youth the lessons and gains of the People Power revolution, 25 years ago as well as to challenge today's generation of Edsa Babies to carry on people power in their daily lives.” YPF also came up with campaigns like Pilipinas Got Bukas and Edsa Babies Expo, both geared at empowering the youth and encouraging them to make a difference.

With a heart of gold and bright ideas for the future of the youth, it is no surprise that many blessings are coming his way. May Dingdong continue to inspire and thrive in his endeavors.

Catch this superb actor and role model in Genesis, a story about the triumph of love and the human spirit. Genesis will be invading your TV screens beginning October 14 on GMA Telebabad. -Text by Samantha Portillo, Photo by Bochic Estrada, GMANetwork.com.