Daniel Kenji "Dandan" Silva Matsunaga (born November 28, 1988) is a Brazilian former model, actor, professional footballer, host and businessman. He became known in the Philippines by appearing in Cosmopolitan Philippines’ September 2009 "Cosmo Men" supplement. He was scouted in the Philippines as an actor and was first given TV drama projects on GMA Network. He also joined ABS-CBN's reality TV show Pinoy Big Brother and was declared as the PBB All-In big winner in 2014.
As a footballer he has played for Team Socceroo, Pachanga and Kaya in the United Football League (UFL) which was the top-flight football league in the Philippines during its existence.
Early life Matsunaga was born in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. His mother, Gerarda Silva, is a Brazilian of Portuguese, African, and Indigenous descent, while his father, Paulo Mitsuo Matsunaga, is of Japanese descent.8 Things You Don’t Know About Daniel Matsunaga He has a brother and a sister.
Career Modelling and acting Matsunaga started his career when he became a model for Cosmopolitan Philippines 'Cosmo Men' supplement. His debut series on screen was on GMA-7's top rated drama series The Last Prince with co-stars Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal.
In 2012, he moved to TV5 for more TV shows and projects like Game N Go, Enchanted and Misibis Bay.
He went to ABS-CBN to be one of the celebrity judges for It's Showtime. On 17 May 2014, Matsunaga entered the Pinoy Big Brother house on Day 21 as the fourth celebrity and eighteenth official housemate of the Pinoy Big Brother: All In season.
On 24 August 2014, he was declared as the big winner of Pinoy Big Brother: All In.
In May 2017, Matsunaga was introduced as the first male endorser for Avon Philippines' Men's Club during the "Confidence is the New Sexy" campaign launch. He was chosen to be the endorser because he "reflects the Modern Gentleman who is a man of style, adventure, and confidence".
Football career Matsunaga started playing football during his childhood and aspired to play for the Brazil national football team before he got involved in showbiz. He played for clubs in his native Brazil as well as in Hong Kong before playing in the Philippines. In the Philippines he had played for Team Socceroo, Pachanga, and Kaya.
He played in the now defunct United Football League (UFL) starting in Division 2 playing for Team Socceroo in 2011 playing with fellow model actor Fabio Ide. He then moved to Division 1 club Pachanga Diliman during the 2012 UFL Cup, before eventually moving to Stallion for the 2013 season. For the 2014 season he moved to Kaya.
In street football, he played for Team Naxional who secured qualification as the Philippine representatives at the Neymar Jr's Five Football Tournament by winning over Tondo in the final of the Philippine qualifying leg. The world final held in Brazil was contested by 53 other countries with Romania emerging as champions.
Matsunaga also became involved in the 7's Football League as a player.
He returned to domestic football, when he signed to play with Philippines Football League newcomer Maharlika F.C. in August 2020, although he was not part of the final lineup for the 2020 season for undisclosed reasons.
Personal life Matsunaga is a Christian. He obtained permanent residency in the Philippines in December 2014 and had expressed intention to petition for Filipino citizenship.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Studio 2012 Sisterakas Marlon Star Cinema2013 The Bride and the Lover Sheila's husband Regal Films She's the One Jason Star Cinema2014 Endless Daniel ABS-CBN (Pinoy Big Brother: All In) Past Tense Carlos Santillan Star Cinema Shake, Rattle & Roll XV Bryan Regal Films2017 Spirit of the Glass 2: The Haunted Enzo OctoArts Films, T-Rex Entertainment Productions Fallback Chris Cineko Meant to Beh Benjo Marasigan OctoArts Films, M-Zet Productions, APT Entertainment 2018 Kahit Ayaw Mo Na Reggie BluArt Productions, Viva Films2024Love in DisguiseAlexImpact Creation Films
Television Year Title Role Network2010 The Last Prince Prince Nicolai GMA Network Langit sa Piling Mo Xavier Cruz Love Bug Presents: Wish Come True Raoul Del Rosario 2010–2011 Grazilda Kasmir2011 Machete Baal Spooky Nights: Snow White and the Seven Ghosts Prince Futbolilits Raphael Yamamoto 2012–2013 Game 'N Go Host TV5 2012 Third Eye Lucas 2012–2013 Enchanted Garden Mark Morgan2013 Kris TV Recurring guest co-host ABS-CBN Toda Max Victor Cassandra: Warrior Angel Lucas TV5 Misibis Bay Andrew Cadiz 2014 It's Showtime Celebrity Judge ABS-CBN The Replacement Bride Kael TV5 Pinoy Big Brother: All In Housemate (Big Winner) ABS-CBN2015 Two Wives Kenjie Celdran Ipaglaban Mo: Nakaw Na Sandali Peter R U Tough Enough: Philippines Host/Ambassador KIX 2016 Be My Lady Philip Oliviera ABS-CBN 2016–2021 ASAP Himself / Performer 2017 I Can Do That Contestant A Love to Last Patrick Buendia 2018 Discover the Philippines Host Discovery Channel / TLC 2018–2019 Halik Yohan Tanaka ABS-CBN 2020–2021 Sunday 'Kada Himself / Various characters TV5
References
External links