Despite being known as Kapamilya country, Cebu welcomed GMA7 star Marian Rivera during her visit this week for the Sinulog celebration.
In the Kapuso mall show at SM City Cebu, about 10,000 Cebuanos flocked to see this Marimar and Dyesebel star. It was Marian’s second time to visit Cebu, but it was her first visit after hitting it big via Marimar and Dyesebel.
Aware that Cebu is pro-Kapamilya, Marian herself was shocked to see the turnout. “Happy ako kasi unexpected. Hanggang dito sa Cebu, may mga fans club pala ako. May mga Marianites Cebu Chapter at mga Dongyans,” she said in a press conference at Port Seafood Restaurant in Lahug last January 17.
New teleserye
Right now, she’s focusing all her efforts on her upcoming teleserye, which pairs her anew with Dingdong Dantes, “Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang,” which is scheduled to air on February 9.
Unlike her usual roles in previous teleseryes, Marian plays the role of a knowledgeable and well-educated woman.
“Di ba sa mga teleserye ko, wala akong alam. Dito, ako naman ang mas may alam. At si Dingdong na ang naghahabol sa akin. Mas daring na rin ito. Pero wholesome pa rin in a way para pwede sa mga bata,” she said.
She’s excited about the project because of the new people she will be working with. She added that the original story is not strictly followed. It has been made less daring and sexy so that it will suit the younger audience.
Some of the cast are Carmi Martin, Eugene Eugenio and Angelu de Leon.
Other projects
After her teleserye, Marian isn’t sure yet what her next project will be but she is set to shoot three movies: a romantic comedy, pure comedy and horror. These movies will be shown on April, November and December. There’s no telling yet as to whom she will be paired, particularly for the romantic comedy film.
“Kahit sino ibigay nila bilang ka-parehas ko. Ganon naman talaga. Dapat may tiwala ka kung sino ang ibigay ng management,” she explained.
After all, Marian loves challenge. “Ayaw ko kasi na hindi na-challenge. Maganda para maiba ang acting at mga kasama. Exciting yun.”
About her dance album, Marian admitted that she feels sad that she’s not able to promote it that well.
“Nabalian kasi ako. Kaya medyo mahirap,” Marian explained. However, she said that her feet feel better now because she can already wear high heels. But after the show, she wears flats. (She was wearing black ballet shoes during the presscon.)
Moreover, to add to her growing list of product endorsements, Marian has sealed the deal with four new product endorsements. Her endorsements number to 26 all in all.
“Masaya ako kasi lahat ng contracts nag-renew this year,” she said.
Past is past
With the forthcoming projects, she is happy and excited for what is in store for her this year 2009. She shared that she had already put away all problems and controversies that shrouded her career last year.
“Ang lahat na issues na negative, iniwan ko na. Happy ako ngayon kasi maraming trabaho na dapat abangan,” she said.
Investing her income in a 12-door apartment, she said she doesn’t have any regrets in everything she has gone through.
“As long as wala akong naaapakan at nagpapasaya ako ng tao, di ko babawiin kung sino si Marian Rivera noon at ngayon,” she stressed.
With her experiences, both good and bad, she said she has learned a lot from it.
Asked as to what she learned from the brouhaha pinning her as the cause of the Dingdong-Karylle breakup and which she roundly denied, Marian said she learned to be true to herself.
“Kung ano man naramdaman mo, dapat maging totoo ka sa sarili mo. Kaya minsan na-misinterpret ka ng iba na hindi kilala,” she shared.
Enjoy the ride
For her, being an artist makes her a public property. That is why she accepts that she cannot please everybody. “Kaya enjoy na lang,” she said.
This year 2009, she further wished for more projects and more time for her family. “Hangga’t kaya, uuwi ako ng Cavite,” Marian, who grew up with her grandmother in Cavite, smiled. Part of her plans to bond with her family is also bringing her Spanish father this year to the country if her schedule won’t permit her to go to Spain.
As to her love life, she said, “Kung sino man siya, dadating lang siya.”
And what about Dingdong, her perennial screen partner who is eternally being linked to her?
“Isa siya sa pinakamahalagang tao sa buhay ko na palagi siyang nandiyan kahit ano man mangyari,” she said. “Kung ano man nakikita ko, ‘yun na.”