His glass cup, her gold necklace

Mark Rivera —PHOTO FROM RIVERA’S INSTAGRAM

It’s interesting to find out what people really hold dear especially if you follow their heavily curated socials. On Instagram (IG), actor Mark Rivera, who’s part of the “Unbreak My Heart” cast, posts about his trips to Prague, Budapest and Switzerland. He alternates these with photos on the beach, on a yacht or in a pool.

Not a lot of people know that behind all the glitz, Mark is the sentimental type. His favorite thing is a glass cup that was given to him when he joined Favor Church, a Christian church located in Ortigas.

“The cup is special because it reminds me of the day of my baptism when I fully accepted God into my life,” Mark said. “It’s a welcome gift given to first timers.”

He joined the church during the pandemic after a long period of lockdown. Initially, he was “anxious and scared” to socialize, and kept his mask and face shield on the entire time.

“The cup reminds me that I overcame the pandemic and other challenging things in my life. I was also able to invite my Catholic parents, who were in the country on vacation, to my church. They witnessed my acceptance of being a Christian and also received the cup,” Mark said.

“The glass cup is standard size, transparent with the word ‘Favor’ on it. I bring it with me when I have tapings. I use it for coffee in the morning and tea at night. That’s how important it is to me. It’s part of my daily routine,” he said.

A time teller

Ara Arida —PHOTO FROM ARIDA’S INSTAGRAM

Ten years after being crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2013 and representing the country at the Miss Universe 2013 pageant where she placed third runner-up, Ariella “Ara” Arida still cuts a beautiful figure.

The actress and model is enjoying the good life with beach trips and glitzy events dotting her IG grid. We asked her what her favorite thing is, and she chose a piece of jewelry.

“My dainty gold necklace is special to me. I feel naked without it,” Ara said. “I bought it myself. You know when you reach the point in your life that you start investing? This necklace signifies that and also that moment when you feel mature enough to know what you really want to accomplish. It’s a simple necklace, but a time teller for me.”

The necklace is a thin gold chain with eight tiny balls placed equidistantly from each other. Ara said she preferred its simplicity because she is partial to everything simple, dainty and classic.

“I wear it all the time. It’s the only piece of my jewelry that I never remove whether I go to beach or attend an event whether it’s casual or formal. You’ll always see me wearing it. I feel accomplished just by wearing it,” she said.