Dingdong Dantes finally receives MMFF Best Actor award

Dingdong Dantes had a second shot at receiving his Best Actor award at the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival Appreciation Dinner held last Thursday night, February 24, 2012 at the Emar Suites, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City. He bagged the Best Actor Award for his performance in Segunda Mano but failed to receive his trophy during the awards night last December 28, 2011. Dingdong, known for his appealing boyish charm, hunky bod, primetime-teleserye-lead-man roles, and humanitarian advocacies, now adds "award-winning" to his accomplishments. It is his first major award in acting for a film. During the ceremony, the 31-year-old heartthrob, was called back to the stage after receiving his cash prize. A short speech was demanded from the model-actor. "Gusto ko talaga sabihin na itong jacket na suot ko, ito talaga dapat ang susuotin ko sa awards night," started Dingdong. "But some for some domestic reason, e, di po ako naka-attend because I was with my family in Boracay. "Nevertheless, sabi ko, tonight, it is as important as, siguro, I was to receive the award nung gabing yun. "Kaya sinuot ko po uli." Dingdong went on to express how important it was for him to be there on the said occasion: "Kasi una ko po ito sa pelikula." His first acting award was for the drama series Stairway To Heaven, in which he won Best Actor at the PMPC Star Awards for Television in 2010. The grateful actor, who now stars in the Kapuso channel's primetime soap My Beloved, called his new award another "opportunity" and "isang napakagandang biyaya." In an interview right after he was recognized in front of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority heads and staff, likewise the awardees of the 37th MMFF, Dingdong articulated his elation. "Ang sarap, ang sarap. Buti nga may ganito, e. "Mabuti na lang talaga there's a second opportunity for me to accept the award... "So, gusto ko magpasalamat talaga personally sa lahat ng bumubuo ng organization. "[I'm] looking forward to next year sa mga bagong kalahok!" Asked if he now feels the pressure since much is expected from "award-winning actors," Dingdong tells, "Siguro konti po... mas challenging. "Gaya [rin] naman nung umpisa nung pag-shoooting ng Segunda Mano, may pressure din. "Well, hindi naman [naging] madali yung role. "Mas masarap na may ganun, e. Para mas maengganyo ka to outdo yourself." DANCE OF THE STEELBARS. Dingdong Dantes will soon star in the feature film Dance of the Steelbars, which he had been working on since 2009. Although the actor, who now ventures into filmmaking, cannot give full details about his said project, was generous enough to give a few details. "I finished dubbing. Definitely it will be released this year. "Kung kailan eksakto, I would say right about middle of this year. Finally, palalabas na siya." According to him, the film is a full-length narrative that exposes the lives of the inmates at the Cebu Provincial and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC). "Istorya siya tungkol sa mga nasa loob ng Cebu jail and how the very famous dancing inmates started. "So, fictional siya," adds Dingdong. "But some scenes ay inspired by the real story kung papaano talaga nabuo." Inquired if he will portray the character of a prisoner, Dingdong smiles as if to be secretive and answers in the affirmative. The Cebu inmates' famous zombie dance featured in Michael Jackson's hit single "Thriller" went viral on YouTube in 2007. Will the actor be caught dancing in the said upcoming film? Teasingly he says, "Konti. Panoorin n'yo. Hindi ko puwede i-reveal yun, e!" Dingdong was, however, excited to relay how enlightening the experience of shooting the film was, more so working and interacting with the inmates. "Oo! As in dun talaga! "I worked with them. Literally. Basta we worked together. "It was a different experience. Very humbling. The whole movie itself, e. "It will probably show the picture and development of the inmates, yung buhay nila dun, kung papaano yung pagbabago nila, makikita mo rin yun, e." Dance of the Steelbars is produced by Portfolio films, an international filmmaking company, who is at present working on the post-production of the said feature film. -- Abby Mendoza, PEP