The question made Marian Rivera shriek and, for a minute there, it was uncertain whether she was alarmed or tickled pink. Or both.
Would she stand by her man, fellow GMA 7 star Dingdong Dantes, should he decide to plunge into the world of politics?
“I really don’t know,” she replied. “Whatever happens in the future, I will support Dingdong’s decisions. Wherever he goes, whatever makes him happy… I will be behind him.”
Was she ready to be a politician’s wife or, why not, a first lady? Now a gleeful giggle and, quick on the draw, “I just want to be an actress.”
Wedding bells are reportedly ringing soon for the Kapuso couple. “We’re not thinking about that yet,” Marian said. “We know it’s a big decision and we will not hide it from the public when we decide to get married.”
Political inquiries are not necessarily off-tangent, especially because Dantes was recently named “advocate” against human trafficking by the Department of Justice. Dantes is also youth ambassador of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Marian has her own advocacy. She’s supporting the Philippine Red Cross’ Million Volunteer Run in December. She’s not thinking of taking over Miss Rosa Rosal’s role, no. “There’s only one Miss Rosa Rosal,” she said. “All I can do is follow her example.”
She’s content to be “Amaya,” the warrior princess, and grateful that the TV drama has been extended until January 2012.
“I’ve learned a lot from the show,” she said. “I learned ancient Tagalog words, like kampilan, for sword.”
No modern words
Marian said the cast and crew take pains to make each episode as realistic as possible. “It’s very challenging. We make sure not to use modern words.”
She is aware that some scholars have questioned the show’s authenticity. “Criticism cannot be avoided. Aside from being a historical drama, ‘Amaya’ is a soap opera,” she pointed out. “If they wanted it to be 100-percent authentic, the actors would be naked all the time; their teeth wouldn’t be clean; and their hair would be disheveled—just like in ancient times.”
They had to maintain a bit of glamour to look presentable on TV, she insisted.
Apart from “Amaya,” Marian is also in the cast of the Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Ang Panday 2,” which casts her opposite Rhian Ramos, who was once pitted against her (over Dantes) in chismis columns.
“Okay kami ni Rhian. We’re not fighting. There’s no issue between us,” Marian insisted. She has matured a lot in the past few months, she said. “It’s better to wake up each morning with a smile on your face… happy and without enemies.”
E-mail the author at bayanisandiego@hotmail.com.