You can count actor and TV host Dingdong Dantes as one the most celebrated personalities who are given the unique opportunity to have a big impact on society.
While some celebrities are content with how comfortable their lives revolve around the limelight, the 39-year-old actor chooses to wield that opportunity to creating a better community for his family and ordinary Filipinos.
Dingdong uses his platforms for the better. He stands up, promotes causes that make the world a safer place.
“It’s not a one-time thing. It’s a way of life, not just for yourself but for the benefit of the people around you,” Dingdong told Manila Standard in an exclusive interview.
Dingdong is now a lieutenant commander in the Philippine Navy. Early this year, he attended a ceremony during which he was bestowed the rank. He got enlisted and trained to be a marine reservist back in 2006. He reenlisted in 2017 with the rank of master sergeant.
In his speech, Dingdong underscored the legacy of his grandfather and namesake Col. Sixto R. Dantes, who served from Aug. 28, 1941 to Aug. 5, 1971 in the Philippine Army. He was a World War 2 veteran and a death march survivor, and my father.
“I grew up in a family of military men. My grandfather, who died even before I was born, served in the military. My uncle and his children are coastguard volunteers. So, growing up, I was kind of exposed to this kind of service to the community,” Dingdong related.
According to the actor, due to his exposure to military men’s selfless service, he told himself that one day he’d like to do something for the country.
Since his enlistment and upon creating the YesPinoy Foundation Inc. (YPF) in 2009, his group has actively supported the missions of the Citizen Armed Force or the Reserve Force as stated in Republic Act No. 7077, which are to provide support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, assist in disaster relief and rescue, and contribute in nation-building, in general.
“You don’t have to be in politics just to make a difference. You don’t have to be in an elective position to reach out to people,” Dingdong pointed out underscoring Republic Act 7077 that allows ordinary citizen “to volunteer and become reservists.”
“Aside from their professional careers, they are given the opportunity to help their country. This is the kind of effort we promote.”
While others see his being a reservist in a different light, Dingdong likens his endeavor to parents wanting the best for their children, which makes more sense.
“It’s like our parents, they raise us not for themselves, what they’re thinking of what we are going to be in the future,”he said.
“My dream for my children is for them to live a comfortable life and become fulfilled in their social endeavors. And this thing would happen if they lived in a safe environment,” Dingdong carried on saying that his being part of the reservist program is part of his commitment to creating a better community.
“You cannot do that to other people kung sa sarili mong bakuran eh hindi mo magawa. That’s the first order of business. If there’s one mission that you need to accomplish, that’s securing your own family so you would know how do it when you’re surrounded by a bigger set of people in your community,”he added.
Talking about his family, the actor also shared how his family has been his pillar of strength and source of inspiration, and how his wife Marian Rivera and children Zia and Ziggy have played a significant role in both his personal and professional life.
“My life changed 360, my disposition in life. I literally became a different person. There are things I didn’t know I’m capable of doing, like running a marathon. In my ‘20s I didn’t think I could do it. I realized, you can do anything especially when you have the right motivation,” he shared.
Currently, Dingdong is playing Big Boss in the local adaption of the global hit Descendants of the Sun. As a man in uniform in the series, the actor points out that the character, and the story in general is very close to his heart.
“Descendants of the Sun tells the stories of our modern-day heroes, specifically our soldiers. The story relevant because we have reached this point that everything that is happening around us seems so uncertain,” he said.
“If we could only predict all the things that are happening, then we could have prepared or event prevented them. Prediction can go to a certain level but madalas magugulat ka na lang. There’s earthquake, there’s virus. In Descendants of the Sun, it tell us that above it all, there’s a love story na nagsasabi na kahit gaano kahirap ang pinagdadaanan natin, nangingibabaw pa rin ang ating pagkatao, our commitment to the people dear to us. It’s about being a hero, a superhero, if you will. And you don’t need a cape to be one,” he ended.