Jose Sixto Raphael Gonzales Dantes III – though practically every Filipino just calls him Dingdong – has been a mainstay in showbiz since the ’90s, and I honestly think he’s one of the few who has managed to grow up with the country. Born in Quezon City in 1980, he somehow never got stuck in a single box or faded away, which is honestly impressive for someone who’s been in the public eye since his teens.
I keep coming back to his versatility as the secret sauce. Like, sure, those heartthrob genes didn’t exactly hurt (let’s be real), but Dingdong never just coasted by on good looks alone. He started out in the cutesy roles – those loveteam days in Marimar and that epic run in Encantadia – but he’s always looked for ways to stretch a bit more. These days, he leans into drama, comedy, and even hosting with the same kind of grounding, which a lot of his contemporaries honestly never learned.
But the Dingdong “formula” isn’t just about upping his acting game. Off-cam, he’s been consistent – a rare thing in showbiz – with his advocacy for youth education. His YesPinoy Foundation isn’t just a PR prop, either; he’s actually there, elsewhere, doing the nitty-gritty work without a whole press con following him around. It’s low-key, and that makes me believe he’s in it for the right reasons.
From Co-Star to Life Partner
Now, onto his love story – honestly, you couldn’t write a more classic teleserye plot than how Dingdong and Marian Rivera ended up together. They met on Marimar in 2007 (admit it, the chemistry was there from the get-go). Watching those early interviews now feels like time-traveling back to when their “kilig” factor was impossible to ignore.
By 2014, after about five years of dating, they had that no-holds-barred cathedral wedding – seriously, Manila traffic didn’t stand a chance that day. Everyone was glued to their TVs or Twitter for updates; it was one of those rare pop culture moments everyone remembers. Now, with two kids, Zia and Sixto, their Instagram game is weirdly wholesome. There’s none of that filtered, always-perfect vibe you sometimes get from celeb families. If anything, their posts leave you wishing other stars would take notes on doing “public” family life without the cringe.
That’s not to say Dingdong’s journey to forever with Marian was drama-free. He had some seriously public relationships before tying the knot:
- Karylle (2006-2008) – This one was a big deal back in the day. They were the “it” couple for a while, always at events, both talented and grounded. Their breakup? Messy – at least by showbiz standards – complete with rumors of a third party (the kind that keeps tabloids busy for weeks). But props to both: they moved on and are perfectly civil today, no shade thrown.
- Antoinette Taus (1996-2005) – High school sweethearts, basically. They grew up in the business together, and their relationship quietly fizzled out when Antoinette moved to the US. No public tiffs, no lingering bitterness, just two people following different paths.
And, of course, there was always chismis – notably about Angel Locsin and Iza Calzado as possible flings. But honestly, those always sounded more like manufactured network rivalries than anything legit. Nothing ever confirmed, just whispers swirling for the sake of keeping people watching.
Evolution as a Partner
The thing about Dingdong is how much he’s evolved – and how open he is about that process. Early in his career, he played his cards close to his chest, never really letting the public see too much. As he got older (and, let’s be honest, got a stronger foothold in the industry), he seemed to choose partners who actually understood what it’s like to exist in a constant media spotlight. It’s a kind of self-awareness that you don’t always see, especially in someone who started out as teen idol material.
In his forties, married, two kids – he feels more grounded than ever. I remember him on a talk show in 2019, saying something like, “Love is a journey, not a destination.” If anyone else had said that, it would’ve sounded like a Hallmark card, but somehow, with Dingdong’s track record, it works. He’s been through the messy breakups, the misunderstandings, the big declarations – and ended up choosing the slow-and-steady route, which seems to actually stick.
What stands out for me is how Dingdong never resorts to drama or trash talk about his exes. Ask him about Karylle in an interview years later, and he simply says they were “at different places in life” when they split. No point-scoring, no bitterness; just facts. That maturity feels refreshing in a local showbiz landscape that sometimes seems to reward the opposite.
And that’s probably why his marriage to Marian seems to be working. They’re public enough to keep fans happy – showing up at events together, occasionally posting family pics – but private where it counts. No oversharing, no attempt to play out every argument or milestone for clout. Just a sense of two people who actually know where the spotlight ends and real life begins.
Past Relationships
Marian Rivera
Karylle
Antoinette Taus
In a business where so many relationships feel written by PR rather than real emotion, Dingdong has managed to make love and partnership look genuine – sometimes messy, almost always steady, and, against the odds, mostly scandal-free. That, more than any role or award, is probably his real legacy.
