Pagkatapos ng live interview niya sa Bandila, muling lumabas sa isang programa ng ABS-CBN ang GMA-7 actor na si Dingdong Dantes.
Kagabi, December 17, si Dingdong ang naging guest ni Boy Abunda sa late-night talk show nitong Bottom Line With Boy Abunda sa Kapamilya network.
Ang dalawang nabanggit na interviews ay kaugnay pa rin ng promo ng pelikula ni Dingdong, kasama ang ABS-CBN stars na sina Kris Aquino at Angelica Panganiban. Ito ang Segunda Mano, entry sa Metro Manila Film Festival 2011.
Narito ang naging usapan nina Boy at Dingdong sa Bottom Line:
Boy: "You're goodlooking, you have a great career. My friends were saying, 'He's very wealthy.' You are perceived to have everything.
"My questions are: Does it bother you, what don't you have, and what's wrong with you?"
Dingdong: "Whew! Well, siyempre, I wouldn't consider myself perfect because there are still things that are left undone."
Boy: "Pero, hindi ito first time na naririnig mo? Yung too much expectation?"
Dingdong: "Siguro yung term na perfect, ngayon pa lang. Pero yung expectation, yes..."
Boy: "Na parang ang yaman-yaman mo, ang guwapo-guwapo mo. Na parang you have everything. I mean, that's what people say."
Dingdong: "Feeling ko, that's just people's perception. Pero para sa akin, e, hindi naman.
"Ako, I would like to consider myself a normal human being na I'm just doing what I wanna do. That's it."
Boy: "Sabi mo kanina, marami ka pang gustong gawin, talk about it..."
Dingdong: "Minsan, pinangarap ko na maging artista, naging posible siya. Nangyari.
"Sabi ko minsan, balang-araw, baka pupuwede na makapag-produce na rin ako ng sarili kong pelikula—na nangyayari na rin ngayon.
"Ang dami pa sa buhay na mas importante para sa akin, halimbawa, ang pagiging ama, ang pagiging isang asawa.
"Yung mga essential na bagay para sa akin ay hindi ko pa nagagawa, so these are the things that I'm referring to."
Boy: "Do you and Marian [Rivera, Dingdong's girlfriend] are talking about getting married now, having children, settling down, at this point in your life?"
Dingdong: "Honestly, we try to avoid discussing it because it is so special and we do not want to ruin the right moment.
"I mean, kung kailan siya dapat pag-usapan, dapat doon siya pag-usapan."
Boy: "Siya ba, does she share this vision? Na sa kabila ng lahat ng gulo, ng saya na pinagdadaanan—ito yun, pamilya, mga anak?"
Dingdong: "Siguro kaya kami nagtagal is because we are on the same page when it comes to that matter."
Boy: "You and I came from this business and always say, 'I am passionately in love with this business.' When you hear people who condescend the line of business na pinakamamahal natin, ano ang reaction mo?"
Dingdong: "When I was in high school, I knew I have a calling na pumasok na isang full-time actor.
"Pero may mga humahadlang noong panahon na yun dahil alam ko na maaaring hindi tamang pagkakataon, and I'm already hearing those condescending comments.
"Probably, because of the community or the people I'm surrounded with.
"Indeed, I got hurt.
"So, when I tried it, I told myself that one day, I'll prove to these people that what they are saying is wrong.
"Because you have to be there, and you have to know what you're doing for you to prove how rich this industry is."
Boy: "As an actor, do you subscribe to technique, do you subscribe to your instinct? What is your process as an actor?"
Dingdong: "There's no science to it, para sa akin. That's why for me, it's more of spiritual exercise, because sometimes it is given to you. Sometimes, hindi."
Boy: "Do you come to work prepared, or how do you prepare for roles, or do you prepare at all?
Dingdong: "Yes, of course. There is a process, but it varies, e. Depende rin sa needs.
"Like for example, if I'll refer to this movie, Segunda Mano, there's a scene there which requires me to go back to my childhood.
"So, hindi ko naman masasabi na yung childhood ng pinortray kong character na iba ang pangalan ay pareho ng childhood ko.
"I did something na, siguro, sa start of my day, wala, siguro I just don't talk to everyone. Nag-zone in lang ako doon.
"I just had faith, and then it came."
"Take one. Pero siyempre, uulitin yun, take two, take three. Noong mga take three na, wala na.
"So, parang ganoon 'yan, e. Hindi ko naman masasabing tsamba.
"Pero kaya siya sobrang special sa akin, it's very unique, e."
Boy: "When you attack a role, iniisip mo 'yan, and then when you start to act, binibitawan mo ba 'yan? How did it go? It's one of the most amazing jobs in the world. How do you guys do it?"
Dingdong: "Kaya nga sabi ko, wala siyang science to it. Kahit i-one plus one mo siya, kapag nandoon ka na sa scene, there's a tendency for you to do something else, or sometimes, most of the time, that something else comes out to be more brilliant as planned.
"So, parang ganoon. Depende rin sa director. Like si Joyce [Bernal], minsan, mas gusto niya yung lumalabas sa 'yong spontaneous kesa sa sinabi niya sa 'yo na gawin mo."
Boy: "Matanong ka sa director mo?"
Dingdong: "Oo...palagi. Yes, matanong ako. And I think, that's the trait na hindi ko dapat ginagawa kasi I tend to over-see kung ano ang gusto kong mangyari sa susunod na eksena, na nakakalimutan ko ang most essential na kailangang mangyari for this scene."
Boy: "Have you decided if you're going to grow old in this business?"
Dingdong: "Definitely!"
Boy: "This is one job that you'll do for the rest of your life?"
Dingdong: "Definitely...probably not always on-cam, but definitely, just around it. Within the business. The evolution of things around. There will be things to do."
Boy: "Fame, money, award. Which is number 1, number 2, and number 3?"
Dingdong: "Siguro...sige, fame, money, award."
Boy: "Okay, fame, money, award. Are you comfortable being famous?"
Dingdong: "Actually, hindi, e. I never regard myself as such.
"But when you say fame naman at iniisip ko para sa ibang tao, you're doing something extraordinary. And you're recognized for it. And that makes you famous."
Boy: "With fame comes nasty controversy, misconception, all sorts of judgment. How do you survive?"
Dingdong: "Kailangan lang talaga, secure ka sa katotohanan. Kasi, if you have that, you'll be strong enough to face everything."
Boy: "And sometimes you get hurt, kahit alam mo ang totoo?"
Dingdong: "Yes, sa kabila ng lahat, there are really people out there who will have their own judgment."
Boy: "Wala pang pagkakataon, Dong, na sinabi mo sa sarili mo na, 'Enough is enough'?
Dingdong: "Meron. Way back siguro 2006, I considered that period na parang ano ako, dark years.
"Siguro, kinailangan ko lang ng isang bagay na magpapa-excite sa akin. I needed transformation for myself.
"Not just for my job but for myself as general. Parang I just wanted to do more worthwhile...e-enjoy-in ko."
Boy: "Why dark?"
Dingdong: "Parang I felt, I was getting nowhere. Probably because I felt that achieving my end goal was parang difficult."
Boy: "What was that exciting that made you decide, tuloy 'to?"
Dingdong: "Sa mga taong nakapaligid sa akin, siyempre nandoon ang suporta.
"In-assure nila ako na sila yung mga nandiyan palagi sa akin, no matter what.
"Mag-fail man o hindi, malaking bagay that I would get there in one way or another."
Boy: "With money, are you good with money? How much money do you have, Dingdong Dantes? How much are you worth? Kuripot ka ba?"
Dingdong: "Kuripot ako. Pero sa mga taong hindi ko kinukuriputan, e, talagang todohan. Todohan talaga.
"Para sa akin, money is just a form of currency. Ang halaga niyan ay kung kanino galing at yung pamamaraan ng pagkuha ng halaga na yun."
Boy: "This is a general question, how much are you worth? Are you very rich?"
Dingdong: "No, I'm just alright."
Boy: "Award?"
Dingdong: "Award? For me, it's just a matter of opinion."
Boy: "And what is your opinion about award?"
Dingdong: "I mean, the opinion of giving the award, para sa akin, it may vary, e. Maaaring sa iba, magugustuhan nila ang gawa mo kaya ka may award. Maaaring yung iba, hindi. So, kanya-kanya 'yan, at nirerespeto ko."
Boy: "So, hindi nabubuo ang pagkatao ng isang artista sa pamamagitan ng award?"
Dingdong: "Para sa akin, hindi. Pero, isang malaking bagay siya. Pero personally, siyempre sasabihin ko naman na gusto ko rin magkaroon.
"Pero, hindi naman ibig sabihin no'n na magkukumpleto, dahil it's a much more complicated subject matter.
"And, of course, yes, an award will add to it, not everything."
Boy: "Pulitika. Ikaw ba ay papasok sa pulitika?"
Dingdong: "Mas gusto ko, Tito Boy, na maging normal na citizen and I want to focus on my strength.
"Hindi ko naman masasabi na sobrang strength ko ang pag-arte, sobrang strength ko na nandito sa industriya.
"Pero nandito na ako nang matagal. Ito ang gusto kong gawin, so gusto kong maglaan ng panahon dito, kesa gumawa ng isang bagay na alam ko naman na hindi para sa akin."
Boy: "Napakaingay ngayon ng nangyayari sa ating bayan. Ang debate ng Korte Suprema. Itong tripartite arrangement. Itong equal branches ng government. Ang legislative... Itong away ni President Noy at ng Supreme Court. What are your thoughts? What is your take?"
Dingdong: "Para sa akin, he's there for a reason that's why he won as President. Ako, I believe he would really take us to the right path.
"Ngayon, kung sa kanyang palagay ay hindi napuprotektahan ang interes ng State and these are the steps na kailangang gawin, then I would give it to them.
"And if the Legislative body will agree also, then that's what happening now."
Boy: "Umiyak ka na dahil sa pag-ibig?"
Dingdong: "Oo naman. Hindi lang sa pag-ibig sa isang babae. Pag-ibig sa pamilya. Pag-ibig sa..."
Boy: "Pag-ibig sa babae ang gusto naming malaman."
Dingdong: "Oo naman."
Boy: "When was the last time you cried?"
Dingdong: "Well, last year, maybe...but, I think, that was tears of joy."
Boy: "Kumusta ang iyong relasyon sa iyong Diyos?"
Dingdong: "I make sure na kinakausap ko Siya araw-araw."
Boy: "And how's that conversation?"
Dingdong: "Unang-una, pagpapasalamat sa lahat ng ibinibigay. Siguro kinukuwentuhan ko.
"Kung minsan, may mga bagay na hindi mo naman masasabi lang sa kaibigan, sa pamilya, o kaya kahit sa iyong karelasyon dahil maaaring masaktan or magkaroon ng ibang interpretation.
"Pero sa Kanya, wala Siyang judgment sa 'yo. Wala Siyang iisipin. Tatanggap lang Siya nang tatanggap.
"And para sa akin, ang isang pinakaimportanteng nakukuha ko araw-araw is the open communication line which, I feel, made me stronger."
Boy: "Tayo mo sa RH Bill?"
Dingdong: "RH, I am definitely against abortion. So all means that can make it vanish, I'm for it."
Boy: "Divorce?"
Dingdong: "Definitely, hindi."
Boy: "Paano kung hindi na puwede?"
Dingdong: "Ito po ang take ko riyan, e. It is such a great reason na ibibigay mo sa mga gustong ikasal dahil meron silang option.
"Ibig sabihin, 'Okay, sige, pasukin na natin 'to, siguro let's take the risk because we know, later on, if it won't work and we can go on separate ways."
Boy: "What about the option to people who deserve that option?"
Dingdong: "Then, I think they shouldn't get married to begin with."
Boy: "Same-sex marriage?"
Dingdong: "I'm for love."
Boy: "Gender equality?"
Dingdong: "Thank God for women! Ha ha ha!"
Boy: "Thank God for men. Ha-ha-ha! Motorcycling...I know you have a new Ducati."
(Ang tinutukoy ni Boy ay ang advanced Christmas gift ni Marian kay Dingdong.)
Dingdong: "Kasi alam ko, parang may ano yata, helmet law. Tingin ko dapat, ano na, total package. Kunwari, kung may tamang riding gear, dapat pati yun, buuin na talaga."
Boy: "Dong, what makes a man a man?"
Dingdong: "His words. When he gives it, he makes sure that he will execute it, no matter what."
Boy: "Marami akong kilalang bakla who have words. But, we are not men."
Dingdong: "Then maybe we really are all men. Even women. The men, inside the women."
Boy: "Interesting..."
Pagkatapos nito ay binigyan naman ng pagkakataon ni Boy na makapagtanong kay Dingdong ang ilang guests ng Bottom Line sa audience.
Paolo, from ICCT College: "Kung hindi ka artista, sino ka?"
Dingdong: "Kasi ang gusto ko talaga, maging member ng isang rock band. Noong grade school ako, member ako ng isang banda. Siguro kung 'pinagpatuloy ko yun, siguro, isa 'kong nasa banda. Drummer.
"Bukod do'n, siguro kung hindi man ako nasa banda or nasa showbiz, siguro sundalo."
Naalala naman ni Boy na parte noon ng Abztract Dancers si Dingdong.
Boy: "So, how much of that young dancer is still there with him now?"
Dingdong: "I still enjoy every time na nabibigyan ako ng chance to dance, especially variety show. Pero, bihira na lang yun.
"Kaya nga, I always look forward to dance numbers like that. Talagang parang bumubuhay yung memories."
Irish, from the audience: "How does it feel working with Kris Aquino?"
Dingdong: "Thanks for the question. Ang galing, e... Napag-usapan lang namin 'to sometime last year and I saw her enthusiasm in the project. Tapos, akala ko nga, hindi siya matutuloy.
"So, for a time, akala ko hindi matutuloy. Pero dahil sa pagpupursige niya and namin din, it became possible. Throughout the whole process, ang ganda ng experience.
"Sabi ko nga, palagi ko lang siyang nakikita sa kanyang mga pelikula. Particularly in my favorite, Feng Shui, tapos ngayon, kaeksena ko na siya.
"Iba kasi kapag kausap. Iba kapag kaeksena.
"Kapag binitawan na niya ang sigaw niya, sabi ko, 'Eto na 'to. This is the real thing. I'm really acting head-on with her.'
"So, ang galing, ang bait niya, e. Ang bait niya sa set. She's such a generous actress on- and off-cam."
Lynee, from the audience: "Sa sobrang busy nila ni Marian, paano nila nabibigyan ng quality time ang isa't isa?"
Dingdong: "'Yan ang sikreto kung bakit nagtatagal kami... Hindi, kailangan, importante yun.
"Masaya kami kapag natatapos ang isang season ng trabaho na sabay kami. Kasi, nagkakaroon kami ng chance na, halimbawa, lumabas ng bansa or pumunta sa magagandang resorts ng Pilipinas.
"Yung mga ganoong bagay, nakaka-recharge pa kami. Minsan, itutulog mo na lang, mas pipiliin mo pang makipagkita."
Kris Aquino: "Sa entire life ba niya, may relationship na nag-overlap?"
Dingdong: "Never akong nag-overlap. Never bukod sa relationship ko sa aking family which will always be there. But hindi, never akong nag-overlap. I'm certain about that."
Binasa naman ni Boy ang ilang mga katanungan from the Bottom Liners, o ang mga tagapanood ng kanyang programa.
Boy: "Bilang isa sa naging kampanyador noong nakaraang election kay PNoy, ano ang grado mo ngayon sa kanyang performance? Sa iyong opinyon, saan siya puwedeng mag-improve pa?"
Dingdong: "Siguro more of doon sa pagiging open niya sa kanyang gustong mangyari pa. Bukod sa sinasabing dadalhin niya tayo sa tuwid na daan, yung mga specific points of interest.
"Halimbawa, kapag sinabi natin sa education, something that everyone will understand instantly. Para hindi na siya bigyan ng kahit na anong katanungan.
"Because I know, he has his main battle plan. And what I'm saying is, how to make it understandable. And that it is already being implemented.
"Kung sa grade, 85."
Boy: "If you run for public office in the future and you win, what are the first things that you will do and why?"
Dingdong: "Why? Probably...I never thought about that. Siguro magpapa-fiesta ako sa barangay ko. Siguro, susuportahan ko foundation ko. I don't know."
Boy: "It's all right because wala sa mindset mo talaga. Now, how do you maintain your privacy even if you're a public figure?"
Dingdong: "Siguro, nasa pagkatao ko na lang din. Kasi, hindi naman ako mahilig masyado lumabas. Kung oo man, talagang all out. Pero kung sa frequency, hindi naman siya madalas."
Mike, Bottom Liner: "Kung gagawa ka ng pelikula that will entail a kissing or love scene between you and another man, sino ang gusto mong makatambal at bakit?"
Dingdong: "Hindi ko naisip yun, a! Mike, puwede bang ikaw na lang ang mag-isip at sabihin ko sa 'yo kung oo o hindi. Ha-ha-ha!"
Boy: "But would you...kiss another man in the movie? Premise is, it's necessary for the movie."
Dingdong: "I don't think that would be a problem."
Boy: "How protective are you with Marian, your girlfriend, especially with her bashers in social media like Twitter?"
Dingdong: "Ako kasi, lahat 'yan, I saw it coming. Parang ina-anticipate ko lahat ng pupuwedeng maging opinyon or reaction base sa ginagawa niya.
"Para sa akin, ang obligasyon ko bilang kasama niya is to warn her that these things may happen. From there, magkakaroon na ng learnings kung kailangan.
"Kasi, kung nasa tama naman siya, sila ang kailangan matuto. Kasi, opinyon lang din naman yun at nirerespeto naman namin ang opinyon nila. Hindi naman ibig sabihin noon, e, tama sila."
Boy: "Sa tagal ng pagsasama n'yo ni Marian, masasabi mo bang naging loyal ka?"
Dingdong: "Yes!"
From Gabby Eigenmann, Dingdong's friend: "Will you ever be a husband and a father, anytime soon?"
Dingdong: "Siguro as early as three years ago, reding-ready na ako."
Boy: "The most interesting line na binitawan mo ay ito. Dingdong Dantes, you will always be for love, yes or no?
Dingdong: "Yes..."
Boy: "Dahil sa seryoso ng ating pag-uusap, yes or no, does the size matter?"
Dingdong: "Yes."