Dingdong and Marian transformed into “heroes” to save the world

Philippine TV’s bankable power couple Marian Rivera (Destinies, My Teacher, My Hero) and Dingdong Dantes (Descendants of the Sun Philippines, Bow of Justice) bannered GMA’s year-end special entitled ‘Year of the Superhero’. Produced by GMA Public Affairs, the special tells the inspiring stories behind some of the most heroic moments that made news in the Philippines in 2021. Based on Nielsen Philippines’ overnight data, the special earned a rating of 8.9% and was the second most watched program on the first day of 2022. The real-life husband and wife gained international popularity through a number of widely distributed series including Marimar, Dyesebel, Endless Love, and My Beloved.

Dingdong and Marian are no strangers to stories of the superhuman kind, having played iconic heroes on GMA’s primetime series My Teacher, My Hero, Encantadia, and Bow of Justice. In the documentary, they meet real-life heroes and learn about their heroism.

Marian Rivera walks viewers through a giant 3D art installation by contemporary Filipino artist Leeroy New. The inspiration for the New’s art are the stories of ordinary citizens who lifted Filipino spirits in the midst of adversities in the year 2021.

Leeroy New’s work depicts the inspiring stories of the Olympians who raised the Philippine flag in Tokyo, the nurses who saved 35 infants from a burning hospital, and the youth behind the community pantry initiative which made headlines this year.

The special looks back at the rescue of the survivors of the C-130 Hercules aircraft crash in Sulu, South of the Philippines, the news of a police officer who assisted a woman giving birth on the street, and the viral story of a girl who rescued her pet dog from being hit by an oncoming train.

Meanwhile, Dingdong Dantes takes viewers through each page of the heroes’ journeys via a comic book storytelling in a collaboration with award-winning children’s book author Augie Rivera, and acclaimed director Dominic Zapata.