Marian Rivera with son Jose Sixto Dantes IV —INSTAGRAM
For Dingdong Dantes, the recent birth of his second child, Jose Sixto Dantes IV, was as much a celebration of new life as it was of his wife, Marian Rivera’s, strength as a woman.
“Women go through a lot when they give birth—their lives are on the line. Of course, they carried the baby for nine months. That’s why if we celebrate our birthdays, we should also celebrate our mothers,” the actor told reporters at his recent contract renewal with his mother network, GMA 7.
Marian, who had a normal delivery, was in labor for 10 hours. Dingdong never left her side until their baby finally arrived in the afternoon of April 16.
“My respect for her grew even more. I want to honor her sacrifices … So, whatever she needs to feel comfortable or pampered, I would do it,” stressed the Kapuso star, whose firstborn, 3-year-old Zia, had been raring to be a big sister.
“The household is happy because there’s a new family member,” Dingdong related. “Zia immediately hugged Sixto the minute she saw him. ‘Not too tight!’ we told her. They have been inseparable.”
From what he has observed so far, the 38-year-old artist said Sixto seemed a quieter baby than Zia was. “I can’t compare the experience. With Zia, everything was new for us. But this is a different kind of excitement,” he said.
One thing’s for sure: Things won’t get any easier. “But we’re up for the challenge,” stressed the excited father, who expects to be busy with work in the coming months. “I will be asking for breaks, especially because we have no helper—it’s all Marian. I try to be with them as much as possible.”
More than anything, however, Sixto’s birth has also reminded him of his “mission in this world.”
“Through this blessing, I have renewed my commitment to live a more meaningful life, not just for myself, but for my family and others, as well,” he wrote in a recent post on Instagram.
“Now more than ever, I know what’s important to me—and that’s my family,” Dingdong said in the interview. “And I will do anything to raise them well.”
Meanwhile, Dingdong teared up upon watching a tribute video of the different roles he has done for GMA 7 for the past 21 years.
“I won’t be here if it weren’t for the network’s trust in me. And it’s only fitting that I reciprocate that trust,” said Dingdong, who’s also looking forward to doing more work behind the camera, as a creative consultant for television shows or perhaps as a director for GMA Pictures.
Dingdong will likewise topbill an upcoming local adaptation of the popular Korean drama series, “Descendants of the Sun.”
“I think it’s great to have stories with regional appeal; something Filipinos can relate to, especially when it comes to love and the things we fight for. Giving it a Philippine context makes it even more fascinating,” he said.