Dingdong remains a Kapuso

MANILA, Philippines - Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes remains a full-fledged Kapuso as he inked an exclusive five-year contract with GMA Network, Inc. The contract signing, held last Saturday at the Manila Polo Club, was attended by the top officers of the network, including GMA chairman and CEO lawyer Felipe Gozon, GMA president and COO Gilberto Duavit Jr., GMA EVP and CFO  Felipe Yalong, GMA Films president lawyer Annette Gozon-Abrogar, GMA Entertainment TV’s OIC Lilybeth Rasonable, GMA VP for Program Management Jose Mari Abacan, GMA VP for Program Support Department Regie Bautista, GMA VP for Drama Productions Redgie Acuña-Magno, GMA AVP for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara, GMA AVP for Corporate Communications Angela Javier-Cruz,  program manager for ETV Drama Redgynn Alba and Dingdong’s manager Perry Lansigan.

Dingdong said he is happy to renew his contract with GMA 7 which has been his home network for almost two decades.

“I’ve been with GMA for 15 years. Ang pinaka-importante throughout the years, which is practically half of my lifetime, is that they were always there to support me noong nag-uumpisa akong mangarap, noong hindi ko pa alam ang magiging direksyon ko sa buhay, noong mga panahon kung kailan I failed, noong mga panahon na hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko hanggang ngayon, andiyan sila.

They were always there to help me fulfill my dreams. That support is beyond just being a company, a network and just a house that holds my talent, but a home. I consider this as my home where my heart truly belongs.”

The award-winning actor is currently taping Genesis, the network’s primetime drama slated to premiere on Oct. 7 on GMA Telebabad.

Dingdong is recognized as one of the country’s top celebrity endorsers, a much-admired youth advocate and one of the most accomplished TV and movie actors of his generation. Dingdong started his career in GMA’s top-rating youth-oriented series T.G.I.S. in 1995 and since then, he was given various projects that honed and developed his craft as an actor, host and performer.

During the contract signing, Gozon said he is pleased that Dingdong continues to affirm his loyalty to the Kapuso network, “Alam n’yo mga 15 taon na si Dingdong sa GMA. Ito ang mag-papatunay na marunong maka-develop ng Primetime King ang GMA. He is our exhibit No. 1 kung paano nakaka-develop ng artist ang GMA 7.”

Duavit shared that he is very proud of Dingdong’s achievements and how he has matured and grown as an actor over the years. “We are very, very happy about the signing today. In fact, nung nabanggit na 15 years na si Dingdong na Kapuso, parang kailan lang Dong was the very first exclusive contract that I recall signing many, many years ago. This event today somehow gives us that gratification and we’re honored that we’ve grown together, ang GMA at si Dong. At malayong-malayo pa ang mararating natin together.”

Rasonable said that the network will continue to provide good projects for Dingdong that will further his career and stature in the showbiz industry and will keep on supporting his endeavors and advocacies.

On the other hand, Lansigan said he is contented with the way GMA is handling Dingdong’s career and is looking forward to a stronger working relationship with the network. “Nag-papasalamat kami sa GMA sa tiwala nila, panibagong yugto ng another lifetime ni Dingdong. Maraming salamat kila Atty. Gozon, Mr. Duavit, Mr. Yalong, Ma’am Lilybeth. Buong puso kaming nagpapasalamat sa pagtitiwala at pag-aalaga nila kay Dingdong.”