Dante Balboa, the ‘educated hunk’

Curtain-raisers:

* Congratulations to Kat de Castro and husband Eric Cruz on the birth of their first child, to be named Danielle, at 8 p.m. last Friday, June 4. The baby, weighing nine lbs., is "super gorgeous like her lolo (Sen. Noli de Castro) and lola (Arlene de Castro)," according to the brand-new mom.

* When Pampanga Governor-elect Mark Lapid came back from a brief R&R in the US, guess what he gave his "special friend" Kris Aquino as pasalubong – yes, three big balikbayan boxes full of... well, guess what?

* * *

Say hunk and the image that immediately comes to mind is a good-looking muscle man who’s God’s gift to women. All brawn but no brains. You know what they also say about dumb blondes. Gifted all over their anatomy but empty between the ears.

And then you meet a hunk like Dante Balboa and your concept of a hunk changes. Dante is an "educated hunk" and you wish there are more hunks like him – with grey matter where it matters.

Not many movie fans know that the sexy stud who starred in a few Seiko skin flicks is a professor at FEU, teaching Language, Literature and Philosophy of Man. Heavy, isn’t it?

Asked how his students react when they recognize him as the bold actor, Dante smiled, "Inside the classroom, they treat me as they do their other professors – with respect. On campus, I’m totally different from my screen persona. Sometimes, my students would ask me, ‘Why do you have to teach? Teaching doesn’t pay as much as showbiz does.’ I would tell them, ‘I’m basically a teacher; I want to share whatever knowledge I have with other people.’ I guess I was born a teacher."

Actually, Dante is a teacher and a student at the same time. He has already tucked up a degree in Architecture but he still goes to school. He only has to finish his thesis to tuck up a B.A. Film degree and seven subjects (one semester) for a B.A. Philosophy degree. He has also taken advance courses in Landscape Architecture and Art Studies, and a few other subjects (computer science, etc.) during summer.

Why does he have such an insatiable hunger for knowledge?

"Even before I joined showbiz, mahilig na talaga ako mag-aral. I hate being idle. Time to me is like gold. Not a minute should be wasted."

It doesn’t mean, however, that Dante has turned his back on showbiz. He has just shot a bold-drama called Karelasyon, directed for ATB-4 Productions by Buboy Tan and slated to be shown soon. Between school and movies, he manages to do stage plays, the latest being Tatarin (inspired by Nick Joaquin’s Summer Solstice which has also been made into a movie by Tikoy Aguiluz for Viva Films). He might be cast in Seiko’s next project (after Liberated 2).

"Theater is not alien territory to me," said Dante.

Two years ago, he debuted as Dr. Jose Rizal in 1898, followed by Mate, May Kaluluwa Ba sa Likod ng Utak? (at CCP, with Julio Diaz and Sylvia Sanchez among his co-stars), The Bomb (of PETA Productions, staged at the Raha Sulayman Theater in Fort Santiago), as Haring Herod in Martir sa Golgota, as Andres Bonifacio in Mabini: Utak ng Himagsikan, again as Rizal in Huwag Mo Akong Salingin and then Pamhinta (also at CCP).

"There might be a re-staging of Huwag Mo Akong Salingin, done almost yearly. I might again do Three Rats (with Criselda Volks and Cris Villanueva)."

Does he have any regrets being a bold actor?

"None... none at all. The ‘bold’ is also a film genre. Several bold stars eventually become good actors and actresses and we should credit them for that. When you’re a bold star, mas natsa-challenge ka because you have to take good care of your body and at the same time prove to the public that you are not just a body, that you can also act."

Yes, brawn and brains.

Dante is the best example of that rare combination.

Linkin Park quiz

The Linkin Park will have a concert on June 15 at the CCP Open Grounds (presented by Smart Buddy, No Curfew Watch Stores and Jag Jeans, along with Frenzy, Petron, Treats, Summit Natural Drinking Water and Citizen Eco-Drive Watches).

In connection with this, Funfare is conducting a joint quiz promo with the concert producer from yesterday until Saturday, June 12. Everyday, two winners (who will each get two tickets to the concert) will be picked by a representative of the concert-producer. There will be 12 winners all in all.

Simply answer the question Who do you think is the coolest Linkin Park member? and e-mail your answer to [email protected] or fax to 816-0014. (Winners will be duly notified and can claim their tickets on June 14 at Unit 809 V. Madrigal Bldg., Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Bring your ID and look for Mic Florendo or Agie Dacanay, or call 817-2940.)

* From Marc Abaya, son of director Marilou Diaz-Abaya and member of the rock band Sandwich: "It’s Chester. He’s got an amazing voice and so much energy playing alive!"

* From Hot Babes Andrea del Rosario and Gwen Garci: "Chester, of course! Cute siya at magaling kumanta."

The Linkin Park is composed of Joe Hahn, Chester Bennington, MC Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell a.k.a. Phoenix and Rob Bourdon.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected])