Marian erring on the side of caution: Other mothers would also prioritize their children’s safety

Marian Rivera (center) with kids Zia and Sixto

If she didn’t have any children, Marian Rivera would have been more than willing to do a teleserye and go to a lock-in taping in the middle of a pandemic. But she has two—the younger of whom is only a year old and has to be breastfed. So, as much as she wants to return to work, she simply couldn’t bear the thought of being away from home for too long.

“I’m still scared,” she said in a recent video conference for the third anniversary of the GMA News and Public Affairs drama series “Tadhana,” which she hosts.” “If I didn’t have kids, OK, I can take care of myself. But what if I get sick? What happens to them?”

Her worries over her loved ones’ health had her erring on the side of caution. She had to make the difficult decision of backing out from the drama series “First Yaya,” for which she had already taped the initial episodes.

“I believe that other mothers would prioritize their children’s safety, too. I would need to go on taping for 15 days straight. You go home and rest for two days. Then, you return for another 15. How do I go about it? Even if I pump breast milk, it may just end up getting spoiled,” she pointed out.

“How can I feel secure if my mind is at home, thinking about how my children are doing?” said Marian, mom to Zia, who turns 5 this month, and Sixto, 1. “It’s tough for me.”

Fortunately, her director LA Madridejos, her management, Triple A, and her mother network, GMA 7, were understanding of Marian’s concerns.

With husband Dingdong Dantes (right) and children

“I’m close to Direk LA, so I was honest with him and said that I was having misgivings about the setup; that I didn’t think I could do it,” she related. “To be fair to my management and GMA, they asked if I were OK with it. I was direct to the point and told them I couldn’t. And they told me that my concern is valid, especially as a mother. I’m thankful for that.”

“Perhaps I can [do a series] once the pandemic subsides and everyone’s better adjusted,” the 36-year-old actress added.

But the good thing, she said, is that her hosting duties for “Tadhana” can be done at home—with her husband, Dingdong Dantes as director. “He does the camerawork and lighting; I take care of the set. It can be tough, but at least we’re at home. It’s a more comfortable setup,” she said.

Once the camera starts rolling, they’re no longer husband and wife, but artist and director, she said.

“If I make a mistake, he makes me do spiels from the top. Other directors are actually more lenient and would just ask me to pick up from where I left off. He’s meticulous,” she said of Dingdong’s directing style. “He wants to make sure that everything is done well. He’s very particular with his shots and my delivery.”

As part of its third anniversary, “Tadhana” has prepared a pair of two-part special episodes, which will be aired on Saturdays, as follows:

“The One that Ran Away” (Nov. 7 and 14) centers on a girl named Hannah (Kim Molina), who’s about to get married to Carlo, an architect. However, during the couple’s prenup shoot, Hannah finds herself crossing paths with Jared (Paolo Contis), a substitute wedding photographer with whom she has unfinished business.

“55 (Hindi pa Huli ang Pag-ibig)” (Nov. 21 and 28), meanwhile, tells of Cordelia, a middle-aged and perennial widow, who meets a mysterious young man, Ramil who will try to make her fall in love again. It stars Cherie Gil, Jon Lucas and Rochelle Pangilinan.

“The overall message we want to give is that, no matter what happens, as long as there’s hope, love will persevere,” Marian said of “Tadhana,” which features stories of love, struggles and triumphs of overseas Filipino workers.

Working from home also allows Marian to supervise Zia as she adjusts to online classes. And so far, this alternative learning mode is proving to be a challenge not only to the student, but also to the parent.

“It’s tough because, sometimes, I feel like I’m actually the student!” she quipped. “There are requirements, homework and offline worksheets. In a normal school setting, the teachers will be there to assist the students. Not this time. But anyway, I once dreamed of becoming a teacher. So maybe this is it!”

But though the situation is less than ideal, it’s better than the kids not being able to go to school at all. “Education is important to us, so I will do my best to help Zia. It’s hard for her, but I’m so proud that she’s starting to enjoy online learning. ‘Konting tiis na lang,’ I would tell her, ‘soon you will see your classmates and teachers again.”

As for her relationship with Dingdong, Marian said that being stuck at home for the past couple of months has only made them get closer—no bickering whatsoever, she quipped.

“It’s the first time we’ve experienced something like this. And at first, you think that you might get bored. But that’s not the case. We have actually become more transparent and vocal about our feelings and needs,” she related. “I guess I can say that we really are compatible!” INQ