Dingdong: More than just the sound of a doorbell

Full name: Jose Sixto Dantes III

Nickname: Dingdong

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 180 lbs.

Father: Jigg Dantes, businessman

Mother: Angelina Gonzales, housewife

Birthday: August 2, 1980

Education: Grade school and high school at Ateneo; now a B.S. Marketing sophomore in San Beda College

Religion: Roman Catholic

Status: Single

Nationality: Filipino

Favorite actor(s): Jim Carrey and Nicolas Cage

Actress: Julia Roberts ("Of course!")

Movie: Suspense, action and horror ("The last movie I've seen was Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigolo.")

Song: Whenever I Call You Friend (Kenny Loggins)

Singer(s): James Ingram and Duncan Sheik ("Among the many")

Book: "That's my problem. I'm not fond of reading books."

Perfume: Pleasures

Saint: St. Ignatius (patron saint of Ateneo)

Hero: Batman

Hobbies: Playing drums and riding motorcycle

Hangout: Moviehouse

Sleeping wear: Shorts and T-shirts

Favorite part of girl's body: The face

Favorite part of his body: "My eyes ... I guess!"

Food: Japanese

Motto: Lahat puede pero hindi lahat dapat

With that intro, let's get right down to business...

Why were you nicknamed Dingdong?

Kasi when I was a kid, according to my Dad, I used to pee daw on people's faces when they lifted me. I was peeing all the time daw! My Dad told me I was less than one year old daw. Dingdong actually means a lot of things -- the sound of the peeing, a boy's "thing" or the sound of the doorbell. In some countries, it could mean stupid.

Of course, you don't pee on people's faces now when they lift you (if they still do)!

(Breaking into conscious laughter) Of course, hindi na! Not anymore!

What sort of childhood did you have?

I would say that I was brought up like any normal child. I played with friends, I loved toys, I went to school. Maybe the only thing different was that, at three years old, I already did a commercial and that was for Carnation milk. In the commercial, I drank a glass of milk and sang three lines of a song.

And you did more commercials after that. How many?

Many! Twenty siguro, more or less -- for McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts, etc.

You were never a Close-Up model?

Never. Because my teeth (now in braces) are not so nice.

How many brothers and sisters do you have?

One brother and three sisters. I'm the eldest. The one next to me is Angela, 18, followed by Cristina, 16, Angelo (turning 10) and Victoria (three years old). I'm the only one who's in showbiz.

What are the best things that you learned from your parents?

They constantly remind me to have good (sense of) values all the time, to be always God-fearing.

Meaning to pray every night?

Not really praying every night but just to be always aware of what He likes and what He doesn't like, knowing what's right and what's wrong.

Does knowing "what's right" and "what's wrong" also involve your relationship with girls?

Oh, yes, of course!

You know, young people today can be impulsive and they get involved in all sorts of "accidents" (unwanted pregnancies, etc.).

I know the limits.

How are you as a student?

In grade school, I would say that I was between "A" and "B". In high school, between "B" and "C."

And now, in college?

To be honest about it, medyo okey lang.

What's your favorite subject in school?

Although I sometimes fail in it, my favorite subject is Math... Algebra, pero nakakahabol din naman ako.

In what subject do you get the highest grade?

(Breaking into wide smile) Religion! And English.

You must be religious...

Not really. It must be because I was brought up in a very moral environment, with my parents and relatives always reminding me, "Oy, that's wrong! Oy, that's bad!" while at the same time being told what's right and what's good. So when exams time in Religion comes around, I find it easy to answer questions about good values and being a good Christian.

Would you say that you are a highly-moral kind of person?

(Thinking awhile) Highly-moral? I won't say naman that I am "highly-moral"; I just try my best to do what I think is right, although it's sometimes difficult because I'm in a period of my life where there's a lot of temptations. I'm not saying that I do the right things all the time but I do try my best. Kahit papano, may kapalpakan din, di ba?

What was the most "wrong" thing you think you've committed so far?

(Thinking hard) I can't think of any!

You must have been a "saint," so far.

I don't think so.

Do you have a girlfriend?

None, yet.

What about Antoinette Taus (his favorite leading lady)?

No, she's not my girlfriend; she's just my friend.

What's your "ideal" girl?

Someone who's sensible, who I can talk to about various topics. Gusto ko may sense ang pinaguusapan namin. Someone who has the same sense of values as I have. Pretty and wholesome. Mabait.

You seem to be describing Antoinette.

(Blushing a bit) She has all those qualities -- she has more than those pa! She's also intelligent and outgoing. With her, I can be myself, I open up, I'm very relaxed. I'm comfortable with her because she's a real friend. She's one of the best friends I ever had in and out of showbiz.

Since you're the only one in your family who's in showbiz, don't you have any "star complex" at home?

To be honest with you, wala. I still do the same responsibilities. Tumutulong sa work sa bahay. As soon as I wake up, I make my bed; I don't let anybody else to do it. Helpers at home come and go, so I'm used to doing household chores.

What was your ambition/dream before you got into showbiz?