Allyzza Kay Trinidad

Charo and dingdong talk about their movie

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Liezel Dela Cruz

Seven years in the making, &quot;Only We Know&quot; arrives at just the right moment for its lead stars, Charo Santos and Dingdong Dantes. And maybe that’s the point–some stories take time. And when they finally unfold, they feel exactly as they should. Behind the scenes, the two icons approached the film with an intentionality that reflects their years of craft. As they revealed in a separate interview, the project had been pitched to them long ago, pre-pandemic, so they had years to let the story breathe. And by the time cameras rolled, both stars were already aware of their characters long enough to know them intimately. For Charo, embodying Betty, or any character she takes on, goes beyond the physical mannerisms. She begins with the character’s inner world—her values, beliefs, and emotional truth. “When I get to the set, si Betty na ako,” she said. &quot;&#x27;Yung physicality madali na &#x27;yun, para sa akin, touches na lang &#x27;yun. Pero &#x27;yung core, kung nasaan &#x27;yung emosyon mo, ano ang paniniwala mo sa buhay, importanteng alam ko &#x27;yun.&quot; Dingdong, too, recognized the weight of portraying Ryan. What helped was the collaborative atmosphere fostered by director Irene Villamor, who is known for her collaborative storytelling. Dingdong shared that Direk Irene would give them space to refine the scenes before take. &quot;Pagdating sa set, pinag-uusapan namin anong gagawin. Si Direk Irene kasi, tatawagin niya kami, sasabihin niya, &#x27;Discuss tayo. Anong tingin mo dito? Ito &#x27;yung nakalagay sa script pero gagawin mo ba &#x27;yan?&#x27; And then [ipapakita namin] kung paano namin gagawin in our own way. Kaunting adjustments lang,&quot; he shared, adding that even with that freedom, everything remained under Direk Irene’s clear vision and guidance. It’s this same openness and respect that shaped Charo and Dingdong&#x27;s off-screen dynamic. &quot;There&#x27;s a lot of respect as professionals, as actors. Dinala din namin siya bilang characters kasi ganu&#x27;n &#x27;yung naging relationship namin, there&#x27;s a lot of trust and respect between each other,&quot; shared Charo. And this respect showed in how she was always first to arrive on set, and in Dingdong’s intense presence as an actor, the way he&#x27;s giving his all, allowing his co-actors to feed off his energy. Charo described Dingdong’s reverence for the craft through his strong dedication, that when he enters a scene, he’s in it completely. When asked how they let go of their characters’ emotions after filming, Charo shared that it comes down to a conscious shift, drawing a clear line between reel and real so she doesn’t carry the character’s burdens outside the frame. &quot;I try to breathe in and breathe out and be conscious about that thin line. You have to be aware na, &#x27;Sandali, hindi na ako artista pagdating ko sa bahay.&#x27;&quot;  Their passion for the craft was also evident in the way their eyes lit up when asked about the most fulfilling part of being an actor. While Dingdong admitted that, yes, they all hope to reach as many viewers as possible, “Aminin natin, gusto nating maraming makapanood,&quot; he believes fulfillment goes beyond numbers. For him, acting about sharing something meaningful. “May mga mensahe kang gustong sabihin diyan,” he said. “Pero as performers, meron kang nakukuhang satisfaction and also fulfillment kapag nagawa mong tama ang isang scene, na parang, ‘Uy, na-feel ko na tama ’yung ginawa ko.’ Mararamdaman mo ’yun, eh.” Meanwhile, for Charo, the satisfaction lies in resonance—when she’s able to awaken something in viewers through the character she paints, &quot;When my character is able to connect to the viewers tapos nagre-resonate &#x27;yung pinagdaanan ko as a character sa kanila, na parang for an hour and a half and even two hours, parang nakalimutan mo &#x27;yung mundo mo and you&#x27;re brought into a different world, you&#x27;re brought into a different experience.&quot;  Whether it’s about love, resilience, or strength, she believes great stories can move people to see the world, and even themselves, differently. “Very powerful sa akin ang storytelling in whatever form,” she emphasized. &quot;We&#x27;re only limited by the experience we live in, by the books we read, so what broadens our understanding of the humanity and the world is when we see how people live in different circumstances.&quot; That’s what keeps her love for acting and storytelling alive. &quot;Kasi nakikita mo ang iba&#x27;t ibang klase ng buhay and it makes you count your blessing, na, &#x27;Kaya niya! Kaya ko rin &#x27;yan!&#x27; Nagre-resonate ang mga experiences.&quot;  With that same openness, Charo remains eager to keep exploring. Asked if she still has dream roles, she answered, “Marami pa. I’m open to anything. I just have to like the story, the character, and I’m okay.” Dingdong, on the other hand, has one specific project in mind. “Hindi pa ako nakakagawa ng biopic, pero ’yan ang gusto kong gawin,” he said. The process of portraying a real person, with all the layers of complexities and lived experiences, fascinates him. &quot;Iba siya sa character building kasi ng mga usual narratives na ginagawa namin. Kasi puwede mong ilikha ang isang character base sa interpretation mo, pero iba ‘pag totong tao ang pino-portray mo. Interesado ako doon sa proseso ng pag-aaral ng katauhang &#x27;yun.&quot;  In &quot;Only We Know,&quot; they play Betty, a retired teacher trying to enjoy life at her own pace, and Ryan, a grieving widower. At its core, the film explores a bond that blooms between two people with noticeable age gap, one that turns deeply intimate, rooted in comforting companionship and the absence of judgment. And by the way Charo and Dingdong talk about it, especially during their recent Kapamilya Chat interview, it sounds like the “relationship” between Betty and Ryan may not come with labels either. In the story, Betty doesn’t overthink things when Ryan enters her life. She doesn’t put up walls or ask too many questions. “Si Ryan, hindi ko siya hinusgahan for who he is. Winelcome ko lang siya sa buhay ko,&quot; Charo said about her character’s connection with Dingdong’s. Betty and Ryan’s friendship, just like in many real-life connections, deepened over time without anyone realizing it. It’s just so beautiful that Charo hopes more people get to experience the same.“Sa lahat ng Betty na nanonood, I hope you find your Ryan. And lahat ng Ryan, I hope you find your Betty.” Dingdong added, “Dumating kasi si Betty sa buhay ni Ryan at a point na, &#x27;Huwag ka nang mag-judge diyan. Buti nga may kaibigan ka, eh.&#x27; Pero hindi lang naman basta-basta kaibigan but a deep connection, na gusto ko silang mga manonood ang maka-discover.&quot; &quot;Only We Know&quot; beats with a question many quietly carry–is it really possible to find your one great love even with a large age difference? For Charo, the answer is simple. “Yes,” she said without hesitation. “Age should not be a problem, should not be a consideration when it comes to loving.” Love, after all, doesn’t operate on timelines or calendars. It arrives when it&#x27;s mean to, sometimes unexpectedly, and often in ways that defy social norms. Dingdong echoed Charo’s sentiment, “Hindi rin siya dependent kung nasaang punto ka ng buhay mo.” Whether you’re in your early twenties or finding your stride much later in life, love can come knocking. “Baka sa dulo mo pa nga makuha ’yung one great love, o baka sa gitna. Hindi natin alam. Kahit saan pwedeng mangyari.” In a world quick to put people in boxes, they believe that a lasting relationship, no matter the age or background, begins when we resist the urge to define or assume. “Kung meron kang biases right away about the person, paano mo siya kikilalanin?” Charo pointed out. “Kinahon mo na siya. Dapat bukas lang.” &quot;Only We Know &quot; is a reminder that love, in its truest form, meets us exactly where we are.Experience the beauty of love with Betty and Ryan in “Only We Know,” available in cinemas beginning June 11.

Charo Santos and Dingdong Dantes reflect on their roles in “Only We Know.”

Charo Santos and Dingdong Dantes reflect on their roles in “Only We Know.”

“Only We Know” stars Charo Santos and Dingdong Dantes share their thoughts on love that defies age and labels

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“Only We Know” stars Charo Santos and Dingdong Dantes share their thoughts on love that defies age and labels

Liezel Dela Cruz

Published Jun 07, 2025 08:32 AM PHT

Read More:

Charo Santos

Dingdong Dantes

Kapamilya Chat

Only We Know

Charo and Dingdong movie

Betty and Ryan

Direk Irene

Irene Villamor

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