Marian Rivera with daughter Zia
Baby Zia, the 22-month-old daughter of actors Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes, has been getting her share of the limelight recently.
During the Paris wedding of celebrity couple Vicky Belo and Hayden Kho earlier this month, for instance, social networking sites like Instagram teemed with photos and videos of Baby Zia walking down the aisle as a flower girl; singing with her dad; waving at people; and just being adorable, in general.
Thus, not a few netizens concluded: The child is meant to be in show biz.
Marian, however, is apprehensive about the idea. “I don’t want her to enter show biz. But, I think it may be in her blood. After all, Dong and I are here,” she told reporters at a recent press conference for her new children-oriented fantasy series “Super Ma’am,” which airs on GMA 7’s primetime block.
Nonetheless, Marian’s happy to see that Zia is growing up to be a sociable child. “Nakakatuwa, she waves at everyone she sees. Sabi ko, ‘Ay hindi ako ’yan.’ In fairness sa anak ko, friendly!” she jested. “But, her being sweet is from me.”
“Well, at least Zia got something from her dad—everything else is from me!” the 33-year-old actress added, laughing.
Marian related that her child had already been asking for a baby brother. But that has to wait; she and her husband need to honor their commitments to their mother network first.
How do Marian and Dingdong balance their family life and show biz careers? Compromise is key. “We both have shows. But, I adjust because Dong is busier. I tape on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. The rest of the week I spend with my child,” she said.
In “Super Ma’am,” Marian plays Minerva Henerala, an odd but kindhearted high school teacher, who turns into the titular hero to save people from mythical winged creatures and shape-shifters called tamawos.
“GMA 7 presented me with a couple of projects, but this is the one I gravitated to. I especially like it, because this is wholesome. And I get to play a teacher, which is a dream of mine,” she said.
Meanwhile, Marian revealed that she and Dingdong would be the veil sponsors at friend’s Ai-Ai delas Alas’ December wedding to fiancé Gerald Sibayan.
According to Marian, her gift to Ai-Ai is a Frederick Peralta gown.