Dingdong Dantes on upcoming Hybrid Games: ‘A health and wellness day for actors’
With a projected 1,200 participants from the industry set to join the upcoming Hybrid Games, Aktor PH founder Dingdong Dantes could not be more excited at their first sports event which aims to foster community building and camaraderie with his fellow actors.
During the Bench/Active and Aktor PH contract signing held earlier this month, Dingdong talked about what Aktor PH means to him.
“When we founded Aktor six years ago, the goal was to build a community of empowered professional performers. Yun lang yung north star namin nung binuo namin siya.
“At siyempre, gusto rin naman yung community din sana, yun yung magsisilbing boses ng mga aktor, yun yung community ang magsisilbing suporta or support group ng mga aktor at karamay sa mga pangangailangan. At the front and center of our programs, ang nandun palagi yung welfare ng mga actors. It has always been about the welfare. It has always been about the well-being of actors, not just the physical well-being, but also mental well-being.
“Kaya nga, sa November 8 we are just very happy to partner with Bench dahil matagal na naming pangarap na magkaroon ng ganitong klaseng activity. A health and wellness day for actors. And itong pangarap na ito ay maisasakatuparan dahil sa partnership namin with Bench who I would like to thank for giving us this platform to gather as a community and celebrate one another.”
Dingdong also stressed the importance of the event for not just athletic actors, but to encourage his colleagues who have yet to start their fitness journey.
“Kasi siyempre, bilang mga actor, gamit namin bilang instrumento an aming mga katawan, ang aming emotions, yung talent. Most of the time kasi, hindi rin namin naaalagaan yung mga sarili namin. That’s why we really want to highlight the health of our members. And that’s why it made me think that this Hybrid Games is the perfect opportunity for us to come together. Hindi lang para sa matagal na nasa sports, pero mas importante at mahalaga para sa mga hindi pa nagsisimula.
“We would like to encourage them to move. So kapag masimulan nila yun, eh we’re happy to provide that platform and venue for all the actors. And these are not just for Aktor PH members but for all the actors. And we are all for community, gusto namin palaging magsama-sama ang mga aktor dahil kapag nagsama-sama, we get the chance to connect with one another, we get the chance to talk about our work and just relax. And for most people, maari itong maging simula ng fitness journey nila na matagal ng gusong umpisahan,” he explained.
Dingdong also shared that this annual event, which aims to bring together the acting community through movement, health, wellness, camaraderie, and fun, will be open to all actors, regardless of whether they are already an Aktor PH or not, will include different categories of actors competing through hybrid fitness racing.
“This event is all about inclusivity and community. We really want to strengthen the community of actors, regardless of studio, regardless of genre or age. Ito talaga yung event na gusto namin magtipin tipon ang lahat ng mga aktor. So we have contacted different groups already, management groups, even networks, and we have already sent out the invitations. We are really hoping to gather as many actors as we can.
“When you say Aktor as a community, yun yung parang organizational side of it, dito yung may mga benefits yung members, etc. But when you say Aktor, when you’re an actor, you’re part of Aktor. That’s why we are really opening this event to all actors in the community,” he said.
Although it is in a fitness competition format, the Aktor PH member clarified that the Hybrid games is meant for everyone to enjoy, regardless of their physical abilities.
“Yung sa November 7 na event is open to everyone. It is a competition so may categories siya and halimbawa kung sino ang pinakamabilis na matatapos sa kanilang age category ay magkakaroon ng chance sa podium at ma-re-recognize. But for our event which will happen on November 8 with the actors, we will have different types of recognitions. We’ll take it a little playfully, na hindi lang siya siguro pabilisan, meron ding best in effort, ang pinakamagaling sa acting na nahihirapan pero hindi naman, mga ganun. We’re going to be very creative and playful about it,” he added.