MANILA, Philippines – Not many artists in the showbiz industry can look you in the eye and tell you that they have faith in the Filipino, that they love the Philippines and that they have hope for the future of their country.
Those traits will not come from the mouth of Dingdong Dantes, but actually emanate from his actions. More of a doer than a talker, Dingdong founded YesPinoy Foundation (YPF) to effect change in the lives of many students whose future is in peril because of abject poverty and blunt hopelessness.
The YPF was founded on Aug. 21, 2009, the day the country commemorated the 26th anniversary of the martyrdom of Ninoy Aquino, to provide full college scholarships to the children of the Philippine Marines who died defending their country. The foundation is also active in giving humanitarian support to victims of calamities.
Dingdong’s desire to put up the foundation sprung from his conviction that to whom much is given, much is expected in return. Giving back is second nature to him.
More than a year after the YPF was put up, it has taken on a role of greater service to a greater audience. The YPF recently launched its flagship program “Para Paaralan,” which will address further the problems confronting the education sector of the country. President Aquino attended the successful launch to support Dingdong in his advocacy to help the youth.
Para Paaralan, Dingdong explains, is a roving bus caravan, which will provide better access to education to disadvantaged students and youth living in Department of Education designated “red” and “black” areas where a backlog of 77,000 school buildings exists.
Dingdong, an Interdisciplinary Studies and Communication Arts graduate of the Ateneo de Manila, acknowledges that “the Philippine public education system is in crisis.”
“In the present school year,” Dingdong explains, “we lack 71,325 classrooms, 4 million armchairs, 34.7 million textbooks. We also need 49,699 public school teachers.”
It’s very easy to take Dingdong seriously in his advocacy in the same manner that it is not hard to admire his craft as an actor. Dingdong, who started doing commercials at the age of three and is now busy shooting four times a week for his GMA 7 teleserye “I Heart You Pare,” knows the stuff he’s talking about when it comes to education-related statistics. He’s not just a beautiful face in tinseltown; he also has a beautiful heart that beats for the children who want to reach their seemingly unreachable dreams.
The actor adds, “Out of 10 students entering Grade 1, only six will finish Grade 6. Five will enter high school and only four will finish fourth year. Two will enter college and only one will be able to finish it.”
These figures are alarming, Dingdong admits, adding that based on year 2008 data, there are 11.6 million Filipinos (including street children and youth) who are out of school. “It means that no less than 16 percent of our population is in a state of arrested development,” the 30-year-old actor says.
With the full understanding of the education problem the country faces, Dingdong, with resolute will to provide better access for learning, put up YesPinoy Foundation with honorary trustees like lawyer Felipe Gozon (chairman and CEO of GMA 7), Jimmy Duavit (COO of GMA 7), Antonio Tuviera (president of Television and Production Exponents, Inc.), Emilio Antonio, Jr. (chairman of Reid Foundation), Ogie Alcasid (president of OPM), Jun Palafox (president of the Management Association of the Philippines), Gary Lopez (cardiologist), Richard Alvin Nalupta (former NYC chairman), Jerry Kliatchko (dean of School of Communications, IMC), Fr. RB Hizon (Ateneo High School principal) and Fr. Jett Villarin (incoming Ateneo president).
Helping Dingdong as the founding chair of YPF are Joseph Aguilar as executive director, Elmer Argano, lawyer Emmanuel Caparas and Wilma Galvante of GMA 7.
“Nobody can do everything but everyone can do something,” Dingdong says of the motivational force that drives him to go full steam with YPF. “We are here because of our desire to help bridge the gaps in Philippine education and to enable the Filipino youth to become educated and productive citizens of the digitally wired world.”
Talk to Dingdong about his advocacy in education and you will feel his intense desire to help, to reach out to those who are helpless and hopeless.
“Unless drastic measures are implemented to address this situation, the country is poised to contend with a future generation of youth that is deprived of education,” he says. But Dingdong quickly defends his hope for the future: “The point, however, is how we, concerned citizens and stakeholders, can help government address the education crisis by harnessing the immense power of the people.”
And Dingdong and the people behind the Yes Pinoy Foundation are hopeful that with their foundation, they can contribute to the betterment of the education of the Filipino youth. After all, it’s included in the YPF’s vision for each student whose life they will touch that he or she “lives in a country worth living for, one that we will never leave behind.”
Dingdong Dantes has come a long way from his teenage days of being a dancer to becoming a bankable star. With a progressive career and an even more progressive mind that thinks of other people’s welfare, the actor is assured of more rewards and blessings.
Dingdong is blessed because he, too, is a blessing to those who are in need. He lives well his part: To whom much is given, much is expected in return.
Those who want to donate either their time or resources to the YesPinoy Foundation may call (632) 545-8304 or log on to www.yespinoy.org.