Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera ink historic partnership with GMA-7 and APT Entertainment for big primetime show

This day (April 25) marked a historic milestone for Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera's stellar career, because it saw the coming together of media giants GMA Network and APT Entertainment for a primetime sitcom.

Top executives from GMA-7 and APT flocked to the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City on Monday morning to sign a contract, wherein Dingdong and Maria through their company Agosto Dos Media will co-produce the highly-anticipated sitcom Jose and Maria's Bonggang Villa.

Representing the Kapuso Network for this momentous partnership were GMA Films Inc. President and Programming Consultant to the Chairman and CEO Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes and First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari Abacan.

Meanwhile, APT Entertainment CEO and President Michael “Mike” Tuviera and their COO and CFO Jojo Oconer were also there to witness this important event.

In a speech during the contract signing, Dingdong expressed his immense gratitude toward his home network.

He said, “Na-realize namin na parang, 'Oo nga 'no, isipin mo, tahanan natin ang GMA for the past two decades and we'll be forever grateful sa tiwala na ibinigay n'yo sa amin, at sa lahat ng mga pinto na binuksan n'yo para sa amin.

'In fact, it's also because of GMA kung bakit ko nakilala ang aking napangasawa at dahil doon nagtayo kami ng aming sariling tahanan.”

Marian Rivera, for her part, described this partnership with GMA-7 and APT Entertainment as a dream-come-true moment.

She explained, “Isa 'tong pangarap sa amin, lalo na sa akin, kasi ang tagal ko nang hindi rin lumabas sa primetime. So sabi ko kay Dong, parang hindi ako makapaniwala na totoo na ito na mangyayari na ito, tapos pangarap ko talaga magkaroon ng sitcom kasama si Dong. So, eto na 'yung pangarap na 'yun.”

Marian added, “Sabi ko sa mga tao na nagmamahal at matagal na naghintay, malapit n'yo nang mapanood sina Maria at Jose, bonggang-bongga 'yan 'pag napanood n'yo.”

The excitement was palpable in the air over this new project. Miss Annette said in her interview with Aubrey Carampel, “Masayang-masaya kami na hindi lang starring dito sa sitcom na 'to ang ating Kapuso Primetime King and Queen na si Marian [Rivera] and si Dingdong [Dantes], pero partners pa natin sila dito ngayon sa sitcom na ito. So, we're very excited for this and I'm sure excited na lahat ng fans nila.”

The Kapuso executive also lauded the couple for working on the amazing concept behind Jose and Maria's Bonggang Villa.

“Alam mo nung pinitch 'tong concept sa amin, napakaganda ng concept! And kasama nga si Dong at Yan sa nag-imbento or gumawa ng kuwento ng kanilang sitcom so napakagaling din nila sa bagay na 'yun. Hindi lang on-cam, off-cam din.”

Mr. Abacan echoed the excitement of Miss Annette, telling Aubrey, “So, when they said that they are going to be co-producing the show, of course, I was very excited, because I've worked with Dingdong and Marian as actors and this time it's very exciting, because we hear their creative inputs.

“Of course, it's not new to me that we are actually doing this with APT [Entertainment], because kami nila Mike [Tuviera] we've been working with each other, but this time it's with Dingdong and Marian who have been sharing their creative inputs in order to make the show work.”

Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera's big contract signing at the Luxent Hotel

DongYan as co-producers

APT Entertainment CEO and president Mike Tuviera also shared what collaborating with DongYan has been like.

He recalled, “Super excited ako. Noong tinawagan ako ni Dong, this was actually middle of last year pa lang. Tapos gusto nila gumawa sana ng project based on Jose and Maria--the characters that they do doon sa YouTube. So, ako siyempre sobra ako na-inspire.

“Kasi sabi ko, 'Wait! Noong unang pumasok sa utak ko, pagbabalik na ba 'to ni Marian on primetime? Doon pa lang sabi ko, 'Wait! Sige sige pag-usapan natin 'yan.'

“So, nag-evolve siya, kasi ang dami-dami nilang ideas and then siyempre 'yung creative team namin, became involved. Tapos 'yung nanganak siya nang nanganak hanggang naging Jose and Maria's Bonggang Villa 'yung concept.” Mr. Tuviera added.

In addition, Direk Tuviera saw with his own eyes how dedicated and involved the Kapuso Power couple was every step of the way.

He noted, “Happy naman sila, in every step of the way naman kasi pine-present talaga namin sa kanila kasi they are producers also.

“So, everything from 'yun sa concept, every script, sa casting lahat dumadaan kay Dong at kay Yan. Kaya, nakaka-excite sa amin sa APT, because, of course, just to have stars like Dong and Yan in your project malaking bagay na. But to partner with them as co-producers ibang level 'yun. It's a dream come true for us.”

DonYan has established themselves as bankable TV stars with a long list of successful shows, including MariMar (2007), Dyesebel (2008), Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang (2009), Endless Love (2010), and My Beloved (2012).

They were also tapped for two very special roles in the requel of the hit telefantasya series Encantadia in 2016.

In addition, Marian and Dingdong have been recognized internationally. Marian won the Most Favorite Foreign Artist in Vietnam in 2014, while Dingdong received the Asian Star Prize in the 2020 Seoul International Drama Awards.

Get to know more about the multi-awarded showbiz power couple in the galleries below.