“I’ve been with GMA for 15 years now, which is almost half of my lifetime (he’s 33), and it is very important for me that they were always there to support me when I was just starting to dream, noong hinahanap ko pa ang magiging direksiyon ko sa buhay, noong mga panahon that I failed, noong mga panahon na hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko, at hanggang ngayon, nandiyan sila,” he says. “They were always there helping 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 GMA as my home where my heart truly belongs.”
How much is his new contract worth? Is he now the highest paid Kapuso actor? “I don’t know about that. It’s classified information. My manager (Perry Lansigan) will be in a better position to answer that. Basta ako, happy with my first show in this new contract, ‘Genesis’, a big-budgeted sci-fi thriller with Rhian Ramos and Lorna Tolentino. At dahil sa new contract ko, I pledge to give a scholarship program to support the education of 12 poor but deserving students.”
Since his contract is for five years, that means he’ll be 38 when it expires. By then, he should be married to Marian Rivera. Does GMA approve of this, if ever? “Laging nakasuporta ang himpilan sa mga gagawin niya,” says GMA exec Jimmy Duavit. “Kapag gusto na ni Dong na magpatuloy sa kanilang buhay ni Marian, nandito lang kami.”
“We are very pleased na naging loyal siya sa amin,” says GMA top honcho Atty. Felipe Gozon. “15 taon na si Dingdong sa GMA at ito ang magpapatunay na marunong makadevelop ng Primetime King ang GMA. He is our exhibit number one kung paano nakaka-develop ng top artist ang GMA 7.”
