There's more to the Sexiest Man in the country (and third internationally!) than his sex appeal.

For almost two hours at his post-birthday celebration last August 21 at GMA Network's Studio 7, Dingdong wows the crowd with his versatile performance.

The show begins with "Dingdong Dantes History," a segment inspired by his idol, the late King of Pop Michael Jackson. 

Dingdong exhibits his dancing prowess with Jackson's "Billie Jean."

"Mahirap maging performer na buong show, e, kasama ka. Pero nakakagana dahil ipinagkaloob sa akin ng Network, ipinagkatiwala sa akin, na bihira siya nangyayari, especially para sa akin," says Dingdong Dantes about his solo TV special.

Dingdong's friendship with actress Sunshine Dizon goes back to the early '90s, when they worked together as the second- generation stars in the defunct youth-oriented show T.G.I.S.

Dingdong played Iñaki, the younger brother of actor Bobby Andrews; Sunshine played Calai, the love interest of Polo Ravales's character.

Dingdong Dantes is delighted to be reunited with his kuya in T.G.I.S., Bobby Andrews, and his brother's girlfriend, played by Angelu de Leon. 

"Fan ako ng loveteam nina Bobby Andrews at Angelu de Leon," says Dingdong in an interview after the show.

The birthday celebrator (center) sings with  his celebrity friends—(from left) Paolo Contis, Gabby Eigenmann, Dennis Trillo, Geoff Eigenmann, and Arthur Solinap (not in photo).

These hunk actors wore a pilot suit a la Tom Cruise in the 1986 action-thriller Top Gun—  one of Dindong's several motifs for his "bookazine," YES! Life Stories: Dingdong.

Iza Calzado mentions in her spiel that Dingdong is her "knight in shining armor." Moreover, "Dingdong is one of my truest friends in show business."

They have worked together in several projects, including the movie Moments of Love (2006) and the TV series, Encantadia (2005) and Atlantika (2006), which the birthday boy co-directed with Direk Mark Reyes.

Dingdong's new leading lady in his upcoming TV series Stairway to Heaven (Pinoy adaptation of the hit Koreanovela) is Rhian Ramos.

(Clockwise, from left) The La Diva—Aicelle Santos, Jonalyn Viray, and Maricris Garcia; former Sugarpop member Julie Ann San Jose, and car racer turned singer Matteo Guidicelli perform between each segment of Dantes Peak.

(Clockwise, from left) Daiana Menezes, Rich Asuncion, and Rochelle Pangilinan dance with the former member of the Abztract Dancers to the songs that were included in Dingdong's dance album, The Dingdong Dantes Experience.

Opera singer Karla Gutierrez gives a classic touch to the Regine Velasquez's rendition of The Climb.

While the two ladies are singing, photos of Dingdong in YES! Life Stories serve as the backdrop.

Eat Bulaga host Joey de Leon recites a verse he wrote for Dingdong before exclusive photographs of YES! Life Stories: Dingdong are shown to the audience. 

The first stanza reads:

"Nang minsang ako'y mapadaan sa EDSA, ako po ay muntik-muntik nang madisgrasya, 'pagkat ang bakla kong driver biglang pumarada, biglang preno 'pagkat si Dingdong ay nakita."

The Q&A portion between Dingdong and rumored girlfriend Marian Rivera is one of the most-awaited segments. 

The Darna actress asks her former leading man, "Anong katangiang mayroon ako na wala silang lahat [former leading ladies], na sa tingin mo, e, maipagmamalaki mo bilang ako?"

Dingdong replies, "Kaya mo akong pangitiin kahit anong oras."

These scenes sent the fans screaming, especially when the couple kissed at the end of "Can You Read My Mind," the theme song of the 1978 film Superman.

After the show, Marian and Dingdong tell the press that it's part of the production. 

Dingdong adds, "Ang ganda lang ng moment, ang ganda lang ng song." (Click here to read related article.)

On the previous night, the two were caught in a "public display of affection" at the post-birthday party for Marian by Regal Films matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde. (Click here to read related article.)

Dantes Peak also launches Dingdong's newest project, a bookazine titled YES! Life Stories: Dingdong, which is his collaboration with Summit Media's YES! magazine.

 

YES! magazine's editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Maglipon offers a toast to the successful partnership with the sexiest man in the country.

Dingdong Dantes's bookazine not only features breath-taking photographs; he also "talks about my dreams, my fantasies, and realities of life."

Dingdong also announces in Dantes Peak the birth of his foundation, the Yes Pinoy Foundation, which benefits orphaned children of the Marine Corps.

"Close kasi ako sa Marines and at the same time, advocacy ko talaga ang education ng youth. So, it's a perfect combination to give a chance sa mga naiwanan at namatayan na pamilya," explained Dingdong.  

After the show, Dingdong personally thanks the people who joined him in celebrating his 29th birthday: GMA-7's senior vice president for entertainment Wilma Galvante, popular hairdresser Ricky Reyes, director Mark Reyes (hidden, behind Dingdong), Dantes Peak sponsors, Marine Corps officers, and friends from the media.

After the program, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) spots Marian Rivera greeting Dingdong's mother, Angeline Dantes (left), and aunt Lui Henson (right).

The young actress admits she's close to Dingdong's family and, "happy ako kasi lahat sila okay."