After playing a priest in Pari ‘Koy, his last Kapuso starrer, Dingdong Dantes shifts to action in Alyas Robin Hood which premieres tomorrow night (after Encantadia) on the network’s Telebabad block. It is directed by Dominic Zapata.
The star-studded series was ushered in by a minor controversy accusing the network of copying the American series Arrow in which the main character wears a hood and is armed with an arrow. Like other legendary heroes, Robin Hood has been reworked a dozen times over by different countries, adapted to every country’s culture and core values.
Dingdong is unperturbed by the uncalled-for fuss.
“Everybody knows the story of Robin Hood na isang alamat,” Dingdong told The STAR. “You really cannot please everybody. But the most important thing is our intention to deliver to the viewers a show which not only entertains but also imparts values. Alam natin kung ano ang pinagdaanan nung character at kung saan siya papunta. We are confident how the story will go. Napapanahon talaga and it’s very, very Filipino.”
The series dramatically showcases an inspiring truth that there’s a hero in everyone of us…ready, willing and able to be of service to other people.
“I love the character,” said Dingdong. “He has a big heart behind the hood.”
As head of the National Youth Commission (NYC) in the past administration, Dingdong actually had a chance to play Robin Hood.
“But there’s a little difference,” he pointed out. “I had to publicize the NYC projects para ipaalam sa tao kung saan napupunta ang serbisyo, samantalang si Robin Hood tumutulong na di dapat malaman ng tao.”
A combination of action, drama, adventure and comedy, Alyas Robin Hood revolves around the life of Pepe de Jesus (Dingdong), a man who finds absolution in doing service to his community. Known to be a prodigal son-turned-bar passer-turned-urban poor advocate, Pepe was framed up for the murder of his own father and was put behind bars. Believed to have perished after a violent prison break, Pepe survives and searches for the culprit.
Meanwhile, Dingdong takes the “Complete The Sentence” psychological “test.”
• I hate people who…are not authentic.
• I avoid people who…are careless.
With co-stars (from left) Sid Lucero, Dave Bornea, Lindsay de Vera, Megan Young, Andrea Torres, Paolo Contis, Dennis Padilla and Gio Alvarez. Other cast members not present during the presscon were Cherie Gil, Christopher de Leon, Gary Estrada, Jaclyn Jose, Ces Quesada and Rey ‘PJ’ Abellana. —Photo by SALVE ASIS
• My greatest pleasure in life is…having breakfast with my family while appreciating a breath-taking view of Mother Nature.
• My worst moment is…when I don’t remember important stuff.
• My biggest fear is…for rats to invade and overpower mankind.
• I pray for…you.
• If I were to be reincarnated as an animal, I would be…a rat predator.
• I deal with gossip by…not dealing with it.
• The one thing I can’t do without is...a go bag. (A floating device that has all the needs of a person, good for three days, in times of a disaster.)
• The girl that turns me on is…funny.
• The girl that turns me off is...uhhmmm.
• My philosophy in life is…”Lahat puwede, pero ‘di lahat dapat,” as stated by my former high school teacher, Ron Capinding.
• I lose my temper…when someone steals my fried chicken.
• When I’m alone in my room, I fantasize about…jumping on rooftops while fighting criminality in a cape.
• If I were somebody else I would like to be…Ronald McDonald for a day.
• I’m happiest when…I see my girls (Marian and Letizia) every morning.
• My ultimate goal is…to ultimately be happy.
• What I like most about myself is…my ability to focus on areas of interest, when the need arises.
• What I don’t like about myself is…that I rarely get angry but when I do, I don’t like myself even more.
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com.)
A Miss World-type character for Megan
In Alyas Robin Hood, 2013 Miss World Megan Young plays Sarri Acosta, a pediatrician with whom she can easily identify.
“Sarri is active in charity work, helping the poor and the needy,” said Megan, “something I have in common with her in my continuing advocacy as Miss World. I am, like Sarri, involved in philanthropy. I am also strong-willed, hindi nag-papaapi.”
It’s her second time to work with Dingdong Dantes who, as Robin Hood, shares the same values with the pediatrician. Last year, Dingdong and Megan co-hosted StarStruck, the Kapuso talent search that Megan joined at age 14, the youngest in the batch that included LJ Reyes who won an Urian Best Actress for the indie Anino sa Likod ng Buwan.
“StarStruck was different because Dingdong and I were ourselves, not playing characters,” explained Megan. “As in StarStruck, ang ganda rin ng rapport between Dingdong and me. Natural na natural ang batuhan namin ng linya, very conversational.”
As expected, Megan has a kissing scene with Dingdong, a light smack on the lips initially.
“I was kind of gulat in that kissing scene,” recalled Megan.
Asked if a more passionate scene is going to follow, Megan blushed, “I don’t know; I’m not sure,” adding that she’s conditioning herself for it.
“Dingdong is a gentleman,” shared Megan. “A champion not just of the poor but also of women.”