From left: Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes and Zia
While Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera are both looking forward to their second baby, there is probably no one more excited about the arrival of the new member of “#TeamDantes” than the show biz couple’s firstborn child, Zia, “who’s raring to become a big sister.”
“Every morning and every night, Zia kisses my tummy and says, “I miss you!” Marian, who’s now five months pregnant, told reporters at a recent press conference for The Color Run Hero Tour 2018, which is presented by Runrio Events and GMA 7.
Zia, who’s turning 3 on Nov. 23, often accompanies Marian in her visits to the OB-GYN. “I take her with me to my checkups, and she would always be so thrilled seeing [the sonogram of] the baby on the monitor. We have been calling her ‘ate’ as early as now, to prepare her for the ‘big day.’”
In a video recorded during Zia’s second birthday last year, the kid blurted out, “Baby brother,” when asked what her wish was. Will it come true? Marian confirmed that the family already knows the gender of the baby; they even have a name in mind.
“We will reveal it soon; we’re just looking for the right time,” related the 34-year-old Kapuso star, who has always dreamed of becoming a mother. “This is what I want, and it’s probably why my happiness just comes out.”
Dingdong, meanwhile, gave a roundabout reply when pressed about the coming baby’s gender, and whether he and Marian sought ways on how to increase their chances of having a boy.
“Sometimes, when you take an exam, you get a surprise question. Sometimes, what you studied for doesn’t come out, and what you had read about ages ago comes out. So, it’s a combination of a lot of things,” explained the 38-year-old actor who, like, his wife, hopes to raise a big family.
“It’s our desire to have a third or fourth baby… That’s something we’ve been thinking about since Marian and I got married,” he added. “Basta kung ano ang ibigay.”
For Dingdong, the second baby is a “blessing” and “another reason to be thankful that he’s alive in this world.” “And this is another reason to do good deeds for other people, and to strive to become a better parent.”
Unlike Marian’s previous pregnancy, which was smooth and trouble-free, her second, she admitted, is proving to be more challenging. “Traveling in particular is quite tough, because I always get dizzy,” said Marian, who’s planning to get back to doing yoga to strengthen her body.
Needless to say, Marian won’t be doing soap operas just yet, since those require long work hours.
“But I’m so thankful that GMA 7, as always, is very understanding and gives me time to adjust,” she said.
Though he has already confirmed in a statement issued in September that he’s not running for public office next year, that doesn’t mean that his efforts to help less fortunate Filipinos has to stop. The proceeds of the Color Run Hero Tour, which kicks off on Nov. 18 at McKinley West, will go to the “I am Super” campaign of Dingdong’s YesPinoy Foundation.
According to YesPinoy, “I am Super” is a disaster preparedness project that aims “to arm young people from vulnerable communities and schools with knowledge, skills and tools” to deal with natural and man-made calamities. It also seeks to sustain the livelihood of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” survivors, as well as provide assistance to people displaced by the Marawi siege.
“You can help, whether you have a government position or not. We should always have a collaborative approach toward nation-building,” Dingdong stressed. “You can’t say that you’re just a student or an ordinary citizen—we can all help each other and work together.”