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He became internet famous because of a viral flying eagle dance move. For Dante Gulapa, a bird spreading its wings is the perfect metaphor for how he turned his life around.
Produced for the web by MARISSE PANALIGAN | March 24, 2019
IT ALL STARTED QUIETLY, when he found himself alone one morning after his wife and children left to visit a relative. After he got out of bed, Dante Gulapa did his usual workout routine with do-it-yourself barbells made of cement he got from construction workers. He was still full of energy after a few reps, so he decided to continue his exercise inside his home in Malabon.
He tidied up the room to free some space. On the left, a plastic drawer was pushed to the wall. On the right, a small electric fan was left on the floor. He stood in the middle as music played from a television on a floating shelf. This domestic setting would become his stage.
Clad only in black underwear and a black cap, Dante looked like he was going for a swim on the beach. But when he began dancing, it became clear that he was not trying to be a fish in the water.
Taking a firm step with one leg, he expertly kept his balance as he slowly leaned his torso forward. He raised his other leg as if it was a bird’s tail and spread his arms as if they were wings. With a few flapping movements that spoke of excellent body control, the transformation was completed. He was an eagle flying high to the sky.
Dante recorded himself as he danced. He simply wanted a remembrance, but when he posted the video on his Facebook account, he became the next viral sensation in the Philippines. Kids and adults alike copied his moves. The Gulapanatics were born, and his life has not been the same since then.
Dante Gulapa was part of a feature on KMJS last February
At age 39, he didn’t think it was possible. But almost overnight, he became a household name as social media’s “Big Papa” and his popularity opened opportunities he could only dream of before.
Dante was not particularly talented as a child. He grew up without his parents, so his grandmother and grandfather ended up raising him. When they died, his life started to spiral out of control. With no one to guide him, he tried all sorts of vices and got involved in all sorts of mischief.
“Parang patapon na ‘yung buhay ko na wala nang kakwenta-kwenta,” he says. “Kumbaga talagang wala nang saysay ‘yung buhay ko dati.”
When he was old enough, he began visiting bars and eventually learned how to dance while watching the male performers. He would copy their moves and practice at home with his friends. Eventually, he became a macho dancer himself.
His trademark dance move, in fact, came from this experience.
“’Yung step na po ‘yun, ‘yung unang pagpasok ko sa bar, ‘yun na kaagad ‘yung unang bumungad sa akin. Sabi ko, ‘Ang galing nito!’ sabi ko, ‘Gagayahin ko,’” Dante says.
Dante Gulapa with Jessica Soho
But he is not a one-trick eagle. He is also known for a dancing style that gives the illusion of a lagging video. The slighest of pauses in his otherwise flowing movements allows him to warp his audience’ perception of time. He is an impressive combination of grace and power, especially for someone of his body type.
Macho dancing was something he did to survive. It was all a part of his hustle to support his family. But eventually, he stopped working in bars. Instead, he earned a living reselling food stuffs like graham cake, leche flan, tocino, and longganisa. He would get jewelry on loan from gambling cockfighters in need of fast cash. He would ply routes and take passengers with the tricycle he was able to buy.
Like the bird he transforms into when he dances, he tirelessly propels himself upward as he goes through the journey of life. When he learned he could probably monetize his viral video by uploading it to Youtube, he started a channel and began doing more dance covers.
The first three videos, interestingly, kept the flying theme in their titles: “Dante Gulapa Baby Palipad Nako,” “Ililipad ka ni papa Dante papunta sa kanyang palasyo,” and “Tila Dante kong lumipad.”
But even without the channel, the viral video was already the tailwind that would carry him to greater heights. His life story was featured on Magpakailanman. He did a commercial with a transportation app. He had guest appearances in events like the Miss Engineering pageant at University of the Philippines.
When asked what people could possibly have seen in him that made them love his eagle pose, Dante says it was probably his passion for what he does.
“Kailangan po kasi kapag ginawa mo ‘yung isang bagay na ganyan, kumbaga ‘yung damang-dama mo, ‘yung ma-fi-feel talaga ng mga taong manonood sa ‘yo,” he says.
Dante is glad that parents do not stop their children from copying him despite the macho dancing origin of his moves. Even his own wife, Emeline, initially told him off for sharing his dancing to the public.
“Parang nari-realize din po nila na wala naman pong masama dun sa pinaggagawa kong sayaw,” he says. “Kumbaga sa akin ibang taktika lang ng pagsu-Zumba na meron ako kasi hindi naman po puro ganun lang ang zumba, para sa akin parang ‘yun ang pinaka-exercise ko sa katawan ko.”
Jak Roberto portrayed Dante Gulapa on Magpakailanman
With his newfound fame, Dante has a simple message for everyone who looks up to him: while their parents are alive and capable of supporting them, young people should take their studies seriously and finish school.
“‘Yun lang ang mga suggestion ko sa mga Solid Gulapanatics at Daigonatics diyan na ipagpatuloy ninyo ‘yung pag-aaral ninyo para hindi lang naman sa mga magulang ninyo, kundi para sa inyo rin at sa magiging pamilya ninyo at sa mga anak ninyo,” he says.
Dante himself was only able to finish Grade Six. But he kept the faith, and he reached where he is today by tirelessly pushing his wings to fly up the horizon.
“Sana katulad ko rin na gayahin ninyo ko na huwag kayong mawawalan ng pag-asa, lagi lang kayong tumawag sa Panginoon,” he says. “Tapos ‘pag panay dasal mo kung hindi ka naman po kikilos sa sarili mo, kung wala kang gagawing hakbang para marating mo ‘yung gusto mong marating.”
