BEING an only child, Marian Rivera wants a big family.
Marian Rivera thought the day she married Dingdong Dantes was the happiest of her life. Learning she will soon be a mother turned out to be a happier one.
“Words could not express how I felt when my doctor broke the news… I had never cried that much. It’s always been my dream to be a mom and raise children,” Marian told the Inquirer at her recent launch as the new endorser of 555’s KumpleTUNA.
Giggling, the GMA 7 actress, nine weeks into her pregnancy, said she sees herself spoiling her future children. “I will be a supportive mom for sure. I’ll give my kids the best of everything,” she said. Her mother, mother-in-law and grandmother have been giving her lots of tips on pregnancy and parenthood.
Many questions
“It’s my first time; I naturally have a lot of questions! I’ve been reading up… but having people who’ve been there share their experiences with me, is precious,” she said.
The 30-year-old star would like a big family, because she’s an only child. “But,” she said, “we’ll see. These past weeks have been tough, physically. Even short trips make me dizzy. But I know this will all be worth it.”
Asked if she plans to take a break from work, Marian said it was too early to say. She assured fans that they’ll be seeing more of her meanwhile via her new prime-time drama series, “The Rich Man’s Daughter,” which premieres May 4.
“Taping for that new soap opera will continue. ‘Eat Bulaga!’ will have to take a backseat, unfortunately, because the work is physically demanding,” she pointed out.
Marian said she and Dingdong may not be sharing any more details about the pregnancy in the coming weeks and begged the public’s indulgence. “We wanted to share this good news with supporters, but of course, there are things that Dong and I would like to keep to ourselves.”
Good wishes
Meanwhile, since breaking the news on “24 Oras” last Monday, the couple has been receiving a flood of good wishes from family, friends and their godparents (GMA 7 executive) Lilybeth Rasonable, (singer) Ogie Alcasid and (talent manager) Lolit Solis.
“Motherhood is truly Marian’s dream and Dingdong has a soft spot for children, so I’m sure they’ll both be very good parents,” Solis told the Inquirer. “I wish them more babies!”
Rasonable and Alcasid both said babies are “wonderful gifts from God” and that they’ll continue to pray for the health of Marian and Dingdong’s family.
Spiritual adviser
Fr. Tito Caluag, the couple’s spiritual adviser, related that Dingdong and Marian, in their meetings before the wedding, expressed their desire to have a baby soonest. “Recently, Dingdong texted me, saying, ‘Father, may bibinyagan ka na sa December!’ The baby, I think, is due in November,” he told the Inquirer.
Caluag added, “I’m very happy for them; they’re deserving recipients of God’s grace as they’ve always been generous people. My advice to them as they enter a new chapter in their life, is to maintain their sense of gratitude.”
(apolicarpio@inquirer.com.ph)