Dingdong Dantes looks back on years of collaboration and friendship with director Mae Cruz Alviar

Dingdong Dantes took to social media to pay tribute to director Mae Cruz Alviar, reflecting on their years of collaboration and friendship, with Remember marking their latest film together.

In his post, Dingdong recalled how the director encouraged him to step outside his comfort zone during their first film together.

“Direk Mae, on our first film together, you got me to dance the Maglalatik, coconut shells and all, haha. You got me to sing the theme song, too on screen. So yes, I’d say I was pretty comfortable with you from the start,” he recalled.

He went on: “Even then, you treated your actors as fellow artists telling the same story. Para ka naming nanay sa set, Direk. Alagang-alaga mo kami. And over the years, I’ve come to know you as a true friend.”

Dingdong then looked back on their collaboration in the 2023 blockbuster film Rewind, which also starred his wife, Marian Rivera.

“Then came Rewind in 2023. That film brought us closer, Direk. We were still finding our feet after the pandemic, and then people showed up in cinemas for it. Getting to share that experience with you and Marian will always be a core memory for me,” the actor highlighted.

Reflecting on their latest project, Remember, Dingdong shared how an unexpected discovery during their filming in Canada led to the film’s title.

“And now, Remember. As you kept saying, Canada was never the plan. And then we got to Quebec, and what’s written on the license plates there? ‘Je me souviens.’ I remember. We already had our title, Direk. Who could’ve planned that?” he said.

The actor also recounted other meaningful moments they experienced on set, which he described as answers to their prayers.

“It kept happening, too. We’d be filming in a church, one of us would notice some little detail, and you, Marian, and I would just look at each other. Those moments felt like little answers to our prayers. Okay, let’s keep going. Maybe this is why the three of us are here again,” he relayed.

Dingdong also shared how the story of Remember resonated with him deeply, particularly in his roles as a father, husband, and son. He credited Mae for helping him gain a deeper understanding of his character.

“I loved Remember when I first read it. It spoke to me as a father, a husband, and a son. But to play this man, I needed to see him through your eyes, too. You helped me understand him beyond the lines on the page,” he highlighted. 

Concluding his heartfelt message, Dingdong praised Mae’s dedication to filmmaking and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with her once again.

“I’ve always felt you care for your films the way you would your own children, Direk. You give a part of yourself to each one. And today, the people who walk into a cinema to see Remember get to know a little of the Mae I’ve been lucky enough to know all these years. Thank you for this one, Direk @maecruzalviar,” he remarked.