Flonique Guimary

Dingdong Dantes says working with director Irene Villamor was 'like watching magic unfold'

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>After having a successful star-studded premiere night for his new Star Cinema film <em>Only We Know,</em> actor Dingdong Dantes dedicated a post to their director Irene Villamor, along with a behind-the-scenes clip of her shooting a scene with Charo Santos on top of a mountain.</p><div><br/></div><p>In his Instagram post last June 12, the 44-year-old actor talked about being inspired by direk Irene once again. The two first worked together on her 2018 romantic drama film <em>Sid &amp; Aya</em> which paired Dingdong with Anne Curtis for the first time. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-12" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKKJCRXSTIx/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=630&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A12%2C%22os%22%3A107415689.6%2C%22ls%22%3A506233.299999997%2C%22le%22%3A506239.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1018" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-12" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-13" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJrFEN4TfTn/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=630&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A13%2C%22os%22%3A107415697.6%2C%22ls%22%3A506233.299999997%2C%22le%22%3A506239.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="787" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-13" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>He wrote, “What a privilege to witness Direk Irene’s brilliance up close again—last time was <em>Sid &amp; Aya, </em>and now this. Watching her direct the whole film (and especially this scene with Ma’am Charo) was like watching magic unfold right in front of us.”</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-14" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKyZqZdSh9j/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=630&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A14%2C%22os%22%3A107415710.5%2C%22ls%22%3A506233.299999997%2C%22le%22%3A506239.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1167" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-14" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-15" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKJ83GyTHJz/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=630&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A15%2C%22os%22%3A107416828.6%2C%22ls%22%3A506233.299999997%2C%22le%22%3A506239.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="787" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-15" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/6/10/celebrities-show-full-support-for-only-we-know-red-carpet-premiere-0037" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Celebrities show full support for &#x27;Only We Know&#x27; red carpet premiere</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Dingdong also thanked the talented director for choosing to work with him again in such a uniquely themed film, which explores love in a very mature way when a retired college professor and a widowed engineer form an unexpected friendship that turns into love. </p><div><br/></div><p>“Salamat, Direk, for your vision, your grit, and for letting us be part of something this honest and powerful. And for always going back to that one question when telling stories:</p><p>“Ano ba talaga ang gusto kong sabihin sa mundo?”</p><p>So… ano nga ba?</p><p>There’s only one way to find out.”</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-16" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKnndhGyovc/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=630&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A16%2C%22os%22%3A107418074.29999998%2C%22ls%22%3A506233.299999997%2C%22le%22%3A506239.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="862" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-16" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-17" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKyhOIiTZQK/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=630&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A17%2C%22os%22%3A107418370.9%2C%22ls%22%3A506233.299999997%2C%22le%22%3A506239.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1581" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-17" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2020/2/9/fresh-scoops/director-irene-villamor-reveals-why-jc-santos-was-14478" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Director Irene Villamor reveals why JC Santos was shy about doing ‘On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>In her own post, Dingdong’s co-star and leading lady Charo Santos shared her own words of gratitude for their <em>Only We Know </em>director. “It takes courage to tell a story like this. Direk @ayrin gave this film its heart. Maraming salamat, Direk, for letting silence speak and for trusting the quiet power of emotion. 💖🙏💫”</p><div><br/></div><p><em>Only We Know</em> is now showing in 215 cinemas nationwide and will be playing in over 400 cinemas worldwide, with the following dates: Australia and New Zealand on June 12; United States, Canada, and Guam on June 13; Middle East, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei on June 19; and Hong Kong and Macau on June 22. Special screenings and meet-and-greet will be held on: June 20 and 21 in Toronto, Canada; and June 22 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. Get your tickets at mytfc.com. </p>

<p>Actor Dingdong Dantes gives thanks to working again with his 2018 'Sid &amp; Aya' director Irene Villamor.</p>

Actor Dingdong Dantes gives thanks to working again with his 2018 'Sid & Aya' director Irene Villamor.