Dingdong leads Kapuso stars in wowing New York crowd

MANILA, Philippines - It must be the hair. His flourishing career. Or maybe his love life.

According to Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre, “Whatever it may be, a fresh, vibrant and much younger-looking Dingdong Dantes wowed thousands of Filipino revelers at Sunday’s (June 3) Philippine Independence Day parade on Madison Avenue in Manhattan.”

Riding on a big GMA Pinoy TV float, Dingdong, together with Aljur Abrenica, put thousands of parade-watchers in Kapuso mode as fans cheered them “Right on!” with deafening screams and shout-outs (and camera flashes) to which the two actors responded with wide smiles and waves.

“They’re definitely hot,” Edmund quoted parade coordinator Vivian Velasco as saying. “The girls just can’t get enough of them.”

Spectators in every street block — many of whom regularly catch the two stars on television via GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV— saw Dingdong and Aljur’s participation as the highlight of the biggest Filipino Independence Day celebration outside of the Philippines.

“And we couldn’t help but notice Dingdong’s new aura these days,” added Edmund. “The guy’s demeanor and gestures suggest that he is more than a movie star. He comes across as a young politico — perhaps like a young Ralph Recto or Miguel Zubiri — who can easily charm the public with his warmth and affection.” 

I told Edmund that it could be Dingdong’s active involvement in his Yes Pinoy Foundation (YPF) which he created a couple of years ago in support of Pres. Noynoy Aquino’s youth-related programs.

Time and again, Dingdong has denied any interest in plunging into politics anytime soon. But it’s hard to ignore the idea while seeing him getting his hands dirty pushing for issues like education and disaster preparedness among the youth.

I agree with Edmund when he noted that image-wise, Dingdong is squeaky-clean and career-wise, he nourishes a healthy showbiz portfolio with worthwhile projects and endorsements, and along the way collecting honors and recognitions including a much-deserved Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actor Award for Segunda Mano. His turn in the TV drama series My Beloved is also award-worthy.

Cheri Domingo, head of programming at GMA International, said Dingdong is for real.

“He just loves doing it (public service) and he really finds time doing it despite his tight schedule as a TV and movie actor,” Cheri said. “He finds real satisfaction in doing something to help others. I believe he has no political ambition as of now, but wherever his destiny will bring him, he deserves our support because the guy is sincere and passionate about making a difference.”

“The people just love Dingdong and Aljur,” said Grace Hufano-Labaguis, marketing consultant for GMA Pinoy TV East Coast. “It’s obvious that both of them have strong followers here that’s why many requested that they be our special guest artists in this celebration.”

“They really added luster to this occasion,” Grace added.

Another GMA artist, Rachelle Ann Go, didn’t make it to the parade, but later joined the cultural extravaganza where New York and Philippine-based artists showcased their musical talents.

“Beth Tamayo and Bessie Badilla also marched in ravishing Filipiniana ternos,” reported Edmund, “while Illac Diaz, executive director of MyShelter Foundation, joined to promote the ‘Liter of Light’ project. During brief stops at the parade route, an animated Bessie exchanged pleasantries with spectators and even posed for photographs with fans.”

Also at the parade and cultural show were Broadway artist Anna Maria Perez de Tagle of Godspell (she joined the Kapampangan float in a lovely terno), composer and music icon Ryan Cayabyab and his young singers, Filipino-American performers on- and off-Broadway called Broadway Barkada, and the dance troupe Mga Anak Ni Inang Daigdig, whose members were all born and raised in the former Tondo dumpsite known as Smokey Mountain.

The resplendently costumed and lively contingency of Bacolod MassKara and the float depicting the Philippines-China rift over the Spratly Islands by the US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG) shared the two major parade prizes for Best Marchers and Best Float, respectively.

The parade started with an 11:45 a.m. opening ceremony on 38th Street, spearheaded by Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose L. Cuisia and Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. and Deputy Consul General Tess Dizon-de Vega, along with this year’s grand marshal, Dr. Prospero Lim, and community leaders led by Fe Martinez, overall chair of the Philippine Independence Day Committee, Inc. and her parade committee co-chairs Raul Estrellado and Antero “Ner” Martinez.

Also present were Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-New York), and Jersey City, New Jersey’s first Filipino-American councilman Rolando Lavarro.

Fil-Am TV broadcaster and UP graduate Frances Rivera (who anchors WPIX Morning News in New York) and popular stand up comedian Air Tabigue emceed the nearly two-hour parade. Broadway performer Liz Casasola and former Kundirana artist Jared Philips hosted the cultural festival. reported Edmund, “while Illac Diaz, executive director of MyShelter Foundation, joined to promote the ‘Liter of Light’ project. During brief stops at the parade route, an animated Bessie exchanged pleasantries with spectators and even posed for photographs with fans.”

Also at the parade and cultural show were Broadway artist Anna Maria Perez de Tagle of Godspell (she joined the Kapampangan float in a lovely terno), composer and music icon Ryan Cayabyab and his young singers, Filipino-American performers on- and off-Broadway called Broadway Barkada, and the dance troupe Mga Anak Ni Inang Daigdig, whose members were all born and raised in the former Tondo dumpsite known as Smokey Mountain.

The resplendently costumed and lively contingency of Bacolod MassKara and the float depicting the Philippines-China rift over the Spratly Islands by the US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG) shared the two major parade prizes for Best Marchers and Best Float, respectively.

The parade started with an 11:45 a.m. opening ceremony on 38th Street, spearheaded by Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose L. Cuisia and Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. and Deputy Consul General Tess Dizon-de Vega, along with this year’s grand marshal, Dr. Prospero Lim, and community leaders led by Fe Martinez, overall chair of the Philippine Independence Day Committee, Inc. and her parade committee co-chairs Raul Estrellado and Antero “Ner” Martinez.

Also present were Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-New York), and Jersey City, New Jersey’s first Filipino-American councilman Rolando Lavarro.

Fil-Am TV broadcaster and UP graduate Frances Rivera (who anchors WPIX Morning News in New York) and popular stand up comedian Air Tabigue emceed the nearly two-hour parade. Broadway performer Liz Casasola and former Kundirana artist Jared Philips hosted the cultural festival.