Time is ripe for Bea & Dingdong to partner

If there would be any film we predict would be the blockbuster for the year, it would have to be Star Cinema’s She’s The One starring Bea Alonzo and Dingdong Dantes with Enrique Gil. We are no sage but the first time pairing of these handsome artists with their own die-hard fans should be enough to bring in the crowd.

Directed by Mae Cruz, with story and screenplay by Vanessa Valdez as part of the ABS-CBN 60th anniversary powwow, no one could ask for more. Bea is Cat, Dingdong is Wacky, both good friends sharing their secrets. Dong is today’s hottest romantic idol; Bea is getting out of her shell and relishing it. She said at the movie presscon that she is “enjoying not being stuck in one genre.” It’s about time for both to discover new horizons.

Bea’s blockbuster movies have been One More Chance in 2007 and The Mistress in 2012. By the end of its run, the overall gross of One More Chance was P152,791,025, the highest grossing film for 2007 with John Lloyd and Bea hailed 2007 Box- Office King and Queen. This established the team-up as a formidable one. The Mistress set a box-office record in the Philippine Cinema as currently the fifth highest grossing Filipino film of all time.

We could say unequivocally that The Mistress is our favorite Lloydee-Bea film. Bea has been mistress of businessman Ronaldo Valdez for years, living a quiet undisturbed relationship. Until Ronaldo’s son John Lloyd enters to court her even after discovering the real picture. Under direk Olive Lamasan’s more than capable hands, the film oozes with pain and truth that such a situation brings.

Bea has also partnered with Piolo Pascual in Dreamboy; Jericho Rosales in Pacquiao the Movie, And I Love You So with Derek Ramsay and Sam Milby; had her share of teleseryes like It Might Be You, Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin and I Love Betty La Fea.

It is now time for a new adult chapter in her life — a partnership with Dingdong from rival station GMA. Looking through their individual biographies, we now wonder why it took so long for the project She’s The One to come about. Perhaps it wasn’t Dingdong or Bea who was at fault but the industry itself that wasn’t ready.

At age 17, Dingdong was part of GMA’s TGIS. At age 16, Bea was in the cast of the teleserye Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay.  Both have remained with their respective stations; both have gone up the ladder of success.

Working outside his home station has provided Dong with a reputation few can claim. He started doing projects with Star Cinema, first in the suspense thriller Segunda Mano with Kris Aquino and Angelica Panganiban, an entry to the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival. The following year, he again joined Kapamilya actors Angelica, Angel Locsin and Zanjoe Marudo in One More Try for the Metro Filmfest. In both instances, Dong won Best Actor. For his third Star Cinema project, Dong has a new leading lady, Bea in She’s The One opening Oct 16 in over 120 theater nationwide.

We cannot mention Dong without giving tribute to his willingness to try anything. He has done soaps and sitcoms; hosting for beauty pageants, Binibining Pilipinas, Star Struck, Family Feud, Party Pilipinas; thrillers, fantasies, mini-series; was chosen Third Sexiest Man in the World; directing for TV and Film. His latest venture is being a producer for his company Agostodos which did the horror-adventure Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles.   

Dong talks intelligently, and when asked if there had been any problem with love scenes in She’s The One, especially since both he and Bea are both in a relationship, he answers, “We are grateful to our respective partners, because this is precisely where we get the inspiration to do a love scene well.” Correct! If one is in love, no matter with whom, he and she know very well how the feeling is and can translate it on screen.

(Send your comments to [email protected].)