Dingdong Dantes feels honored being referred to as the Philippines' "The Duke" by AXN Asia

Dingdong Dantes with The Duke host, former Ms. Singapore and current Nominated Member of the Parliament (NMP) of Singapore, Eunice Olsen. The actor was impressed by Eunice's professionalism during their interview.

Author: Rose Garcia

Nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) na makapunta at makuhanan ang actual na shoot ng AXN Asia sa aktor na si Dingdong Dantes sa mismong bahay nito sa Quezon City.

Naganap ang naturang shoot before the Holidays last year although, mahigpit ang naging bilin ng mga taga-AXN na hindi pa ito puwedeng maglabas ng anumang details about the show hangga't hindi pa nalalapit ang pag-e-air nito.

Pero sa Febraury 9, Monday at 8 pm, Singapore time and Manila time ay sabay na mapapanood na nga sa mga AXN cable channel ang featured story ng AXN sa kanilang pinakabagong show, ang The Duke.

Ang magsisilbing host ng show ay si Eunice Olsen, a former beauty queen-turned-celebrity and a Nominated Member of the Parliament (NMP) of Singapore. Along with the production people of The Duke, kasama ngang dumating sa bansa si Eunice na siyang nag-interview kay Dingdong.

Nakausap ng PEP ang production-in-charge for AXN Philippines na si Lloyd Pagulayan at siya'ng nagkuwento what The Duke is all about at kung bakit si Dingdong among the local celebrities ang napili nilang i-feature at gawing pilot episode ng The Duke.

"Dingdong was chosen as The Duke in the Philippines. The show will be all over Asia. And we are looking for The Duke's personality all-over Asia and also, lifestyle stories across Asia," paliwanag ni Lloyd.

"We're also working on other Duke's personalities in Hongkong, Korea, Malaysia and other Asian countries."

The Duke is a very high-end lifestyle television magazine program that would cater to the discerning taste of the affluent, significant and high-profiled television viewers in Asia-business magnates, public servants, aspiring politicians, achievers and young professionals.

Noong ginanap ang interview kay Dingdong, hindi pa final kung sino pa ang ibang Filipino na posible nilang mai-feature dito. But at present, AXN's Duke have also included Vice-President Noli de Castro and Dylan Wilk of Gawad Kalinga to be in their show.

Ano nga ba ang naging criteria kung bakit si Dingdong ang napili nilang i-feature among the actors in the Philippines at gawing pang-pilot episode pa ng show?

"The Duke is someone who is aspirational, successful. Whether a celebrity, whether an athlete, a politician, a philanthropist, or a businessman can be a Duke.

"Also, the target market of this program is upper class market. Ages from 20 to 35. So, dahil medyo upper segment siya kaya dapat ang maipi-feature namin, mataas na level of stories din. And only those, affluent, chic, sophisticated and intelligent viewers ang target ng The Duke."

Malaking bagay rin daw ang pagkakapuwesto ni Dingdong as number 3 in the E! 25 Sexiest Men in the World sa pagkakapili sa kanya ng AXN Channel.

Ayon pa sa production staff ng show, "He is a Duke by his own rights. His career as a matinee idol and top-billed actor in the Philippine show business matched by his image as a leading advertising model and brand ambassador are certainly trademarks of The Duke."

Ang naging takbo raw ng interview ay ang pagpapakilala sa actor in Asian viewers na ang viewership nila ay approximately nasa 70 million across the Asian region.

"The interview is about his life. Kung paano rin niya maipapakita ang pagiging Duke niya as a celebrity, as an endorser and as a very successful actor in the Philippines."

The Duke is a 30-minute show and Dingdong's interview will last up to 8 or 10 minutes. The edited version of the interview will be feature in the pilot episode on February 9.

Sa lahat ng ito, nakausap nga ng PEP si Dingdong and asked him about his reaction and his experience being interviewed by the AXN people. Especially, pumunta pa ang mga ito sa Pilipinas only to do the shoot with him.

"Yun nga raw, sa February 9 nga raw ipapalabas na. It's The Duke at parang in every episode, nagpi-feature sila ng one Duke or male personality."

Kumusta naman ang naging interview?

"Parang ano lang siya, how I am off-cam. Kumbaga, kung ano ang ginagawa ko, ano ang hilig kong gawin. So, ipinakita ko kung ano ang trip kong gawin. Nagtanong din sila ng history ko kung paano ako nagsimula, ginagawa ko. So, inulit ko na naman na galing po ako ng T.G.I.S. (GMA-7 teen show in the late '90s). Gumawa po ako ng mga commercials, yung ganoon."

Ano naman ang masasabi niya sa host ng show na si Eunice?

"Talagang professional na professional ang dating at may research siyang talaga."

Sa huli, isang malaking karangalan nga raw para sa kanya ang pagkakapili sa kanya ng AXN.

"Siyempre, since ako ang isa sa mga napili, ayoko namang pahiyain ang bansa natin sa mga ganitong aspeto. Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga ganitong klaseng rekognisyon. Yung mga ganitong bagay kasi, hindi mo talaga ito inaasahan at all na mangyayari pala."

Source: Philippine Entertainment Portal