Dingdong Dantes empathizes with OFWs ahead of 12-day closed shoot with 'DOTS' crew

As Dingdong Dantes returns to work to continue taping "Descendants of the Sun," he said it will be a challenge to be away from his family for more than two weeks for a closed shoot.

"Imagine after being together for more than five months and then suddenly malalayo ka ng mahigit dalawang linggo," Dingdong told GMA News Online in a Zoom media conference for GMA Pinoy TV's 15th anniversary.

Dingdong said that after his 12-day shoot, he will still have to self-isolate and get tested for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"Kailangan pang extra five days, kailangan mag-self isolate pa ako and then test again before going back home," he said.

The Kapuso Primetime King empathized with Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are away from their families.

"It's really difficult. I can just imagine especially the people who work abroad, 'yung nalalayo sa pamilya nila ng six months, minsan dalawang taon," he said.

Despite the sadness and sacrifices of being away with his family for work, Dingdong said he needs to get things done.

"Ina-anticipate ko na 'yung lungkot but kailangan eh. We have to move, we have to get things done, but ultimately we have to tell the stories. Hindi puwede mawala 'yun," he said.

Dingdong said he appreciates how he was given the privilege to spend more time with his family within the quarantine period.

"Maganda na we had that five months period for us to bond even further and even deeper," Dingdong said.

In a previous interview on "24 Oras," Dingdong's wife Marian Rivera she said she understands that her husband needs to do it.

"Descendants of the Sun" recently brought honor to the country after winning the Most Popular Foreign Drama of the Year in the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards.

The show premiered in February 2020 and is headlined by Dingdong as Captain Lucas Manalo aka "Big Boss" and Ultimate Star Jennylyn Mercado as cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr. Maxine Dela Cruz aka "Beauty."

Its shooting and airing was put on hold amid the quarantine period but it is set to return for shooting next week. —MGP, GMA News