Dingdong Dantes is still a Kapuso after 21 years

Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes remains a Kapuso as he renews his contract with GMA Network on Monday, April 22.

Present at the contract signing were GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, GMA President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment TV Lilybeth G. Rasonable, and Dingdong's manager Perry Lansigan of PPL Entertainment.

Dingdong expressed his gratitude to the network for taking care of him for the past 21 years.

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"Higit kalahati ng buhay ko nasa GMA ako. Dito ko nakilala ang asawa ko. Dahil nakilala ko siya, siyempre kinasal kami. Dito kami nagkaroon ng panganay, at ngayon nagkaroon ng pangalawang anak. Lahat ng mga highlights ng buhay ko ay naganap within GMA."

He adds, "Hindi ko rin naman in-expect na magagawa ko [ang nagagawa ko ngayon] noong nag-uumpisa ako. Pero dahil binigyan nila ako ng opportunity to explore what I can do, naging posible 'yun.

"Kaya ngayon na mayroon ulit na renewed ties with the network, with my family, excited ako sa mga puwedeng gawin together.

"Siyempre nagbabago ang landscape, nagbabago ang lahat ng gusto ng tao, pero sinisiguro kong handang-handa kaming ibigay ang gusto nila."

Atty. Gozon is also proud to have someone like Dingdong in GMA.

"Tayo ang very proud na hindi lamang siya dito na-develop, and he is now one of the most outstanding actors not only in GMA but in the whole country," he shares.

Mr. Duavit had the same sentiments and even remembered that Dong was one of the first artists who signed an exclusive contract with the Kapuso network.

"There's a great sense of happiness and pride, kasi bukod sa hindi siya nag-iba, bagama't ang laki na ng itinaas sa industriya, he has remained the same, very humble, very professional, very conscientious, and loyal person and friend.

Kaya nakakatuwa na time flies and it's great to continue working with a person who has remained to be an example to everyone."

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As for his future projects, Ms. Rasonable says that his versatility as an actor plays a big role.

"He's such a versatile actor, so ang sarap gawan ng mga characters na puwede niyang gampanan. So ang mga writers are challenged din on what to give him, para naman every time he comes out on television, may bago na mapapanood sa kanya."