Just because many showbiz couples are getting married next year (Drew Arellano and Yia Villania in January, Karylle and Yael Yuzon in March, Boots Anson Roa and Atty. King Rodrigo in June) doesn’t mean Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes will also follow soon.
“I’m happy for Karylle,” she says. “Pero ang kasal, hindi biro yan. Big change yan in one’s life. Lots of adjustments ang kailangan, lalo na kung magkaka-baby ka na. As of now, I don’t feel na ready na ako for that. In due time, kapag nakapagdesisyon na ko nang buo na handa na ako, magpapakasal na ako, I will announce it to all of you. As of now, marami pa kong trabaho. I will start taping my new soap on Wednesday with Alden Richards this, ‘Carmela, Ang Pinakamagandang Babae sa Ibabaw ng Mundo’, directed by Dominic Zapata. This is my most dramatic show so far. Mag-ina kami ni Ms. Agot Isidro at kasama rin si Raymart Bagatsing. Pinalaki ako sa kumbento, so finesse-finessan ang character ko rito sa simula, then biglang magkakaroon ng matinding pagbabago sa’kin at magkakaroon din ng revenge angle. Aside from this, may gagawin din akong bagong sitcom that will also require me to do a lot of dancing. Gusto nga ng GMA, simulan ko na rin agad but I said kakapain ko muna yung character ko as Carmela. Dapat ‘Catarina’ ang title, but hindi ko gusto. Parang pag sinabing Catarina, mahal kita, ang chaka, di ba? Mas maganda ang dating ng Carmela and GMA agreed with me. Besides, yun daw ang favorite na ipangalan sa baby girls sa ibang bansa sa ngayon.”
Was she disappointed when she didn’t win as best actress for “Temptation of Wife” in the Asian TV Awards in Singapore? “Not really, sinabi ko na naman even before I went there na hindi ako pupunta roon expecting na mananalo ako. Yung nomination, big honor na for me kasi ako raw ang pinakabata sa lahat ng best actress nominees. But I had a great experience there, isang table kami ng mga kasama kong Filipino noong awards night. Masaya rin ako na I just won best actress sa Star Awards, also for ‘Temptation of Wife’.”
So what are her wishes for Christmas and 2014? “For myself, wala na. 2013 has been good to me. May mga bagong pintong nabuksan (like her now being managed by Triple A with Atty. Tony Tuviera and Rams David), nanalo ko ng awards, nag-number one ako uli sa FHM, may bagong endorsements. I cannot complain. So for 2014, ang wish ko, makahingi ako ng maraming donations para sa Adopt a Banca project namin ng GMA. We made a study kasi sa mga napinsala ng Typhoon Yolanda at marami, puro donations lang but after that, wala na. So instead of just relief goods, kabuhayan ang itutulong namin sa kanila. Sa survey namin, maraming coastal communities and islands in Northern Cebu na nawalan ng hanapbuhay ang mga mangingisda kasi nawasak ang mga bangka nila. A banca cost something like P30,000 and it will last as their livelihood for 10 to 15 years. We’re making an initial donation of 10 bancas. Tapos, imo-monitor namin through the Kapuso Foundation kung kanino napunta ang mga iyon and how they use it as their livelihood, with matching pictures. So I’m asking everyone to help us and donate sa aming Adopt a Banca project.”
What’s she and Dingdong doing for Christmas? “No definite plans yet. Pero siguro, the usual lang na magpapalipat-lipat kami sa family nila then sa family ko. But definitely, we’ll both busy helping other people. Siya sa Yes Pinoy Foundation niya at ako, sa Adopt at Banca project ko.”
