Ivana Alawi on ‘idol’ Marian Rivera, dealing with criticism as content creator

Ivana Alawi considers herself as someone who is usually composed in making content on her platforms. But being pranked by Marian Rivera in her own vlog was one of the rare moments that made her become a ball of nerves.

Alawi went viral in December 2023 after Rivera made her cry in a mukbang vlog, although it turned out to be a prank orchestrated by the actress-content creator’s sister Mona Louise Rey, herself a former Kapuso child actress.

“D’un ako sobrang kabado. Hindi siya nakakaganda. Gusto ko na lang lumubog sa upuan ko. Maiiyak ka, pero usually kaya ko pang [tiisin] hanggang pag-uwi ko sa bahay. ‘Yun, hindi ko na talaga napigilan,” she told INQUIRER.net on the sidelines of a perfume event in Makati.

(I was really nervous at the time. I didn’t feel pretty at that time. I just wanted the ground to swallow me whole. I am one to hold in my tears until I get home. But I wasn’t able to hold it in at the time.)

The reason why he “Batang Quiapo” star did not have a clue about Rivera’s impending prank was because she had nothing but praise for Rivera’s kindness, saying the latter was “very welcoming” to her and her family.

“It was so nice,” she said while referring to Rivera as her idol. “Before and after the prank, sobrang bait niya. Sobra! She’s very welcoming, talagang winelcome niya [kami nina] Kuya [Dingdong Dantes]. I’m very grateful.”

(It was so nice. Before and after the prank, she was so kind. Really! She’s very welcoming, and she and Kuya Dingdong Dantes were very accommodating to us. I’m very grateful.)

On being ‘herself,’ dealing with criticism

Alawi said being “herself” is her priority when making content. She shares that she usually doesn’t have a script, and whenever she creates prank videos, she is usually alone with her hairstylist at a distance.

“Kapag nagpa-prank ako, kinakabahan talaga ako kasi ang daming pwedeng mangyari, pwede akong sapakin. Kapag ginagawa ko ang [prank vlogs] ko, mag-isa talaga ako. I mean, nand’un ‘yung hairstylist ko pero nasa malayo,” she shared.

“I’m really myself. That’s important. Just be yourself and tuloy-tuloy na ‘yun… When it’s your time, you will shine. When you feel depressed because of [your efforts] not working, maniwala [kang] dadating din [‘yung time mo],” she continued.

(When I do prank videos, I’m really nervous because a lot of things can happen. I might even get hit. But I do them alone. I mean, my hairstylist is here but watching from a distance. I’m really myself. That’s important. Just be yourself and everything will follow. When it’s your time, you will shine. When you feel depressed because of your efforts not working out, believe that your time will come.)

When asked how she deals with criticism, Alawi admitted that she doesn’t read negative comments on her platforms anymore, and would rather focus on other things.

“Hindi mo talaga mape-please lahat ng tao. Always keep in mind na may mga taong magugustuhan ka [or hindi],” she said. “Pero para sa’kin, I don’t read the comments. Basta ako, I am just myself. Kung hindi man nila [magustuhan] ‘yung gagawin kong content, salamat at nanonood pa rin.”

(You can’t please everyone. Always keep in mind that people will either like or dislike you. But for me, I don’t read the comments. I am just myself. If they don’t like the content I’m doing, thank you because you still tuned in.)

Alawi added that she learned how to move forward from criticism through time, saying her manager always reminded her to avoid reading negative comments on social media.

“Kung magpapakontrol ako sa kanila, ano ‘yung magagawa kong content… [pero] mahabang proseso siya. Siguro, ‘yung manager ko, tinuruan ako ng ‘no reading’ ng comments (If I allowed myself to be controlled by them, what kind of content would I create? But it was a long process. I guess my manager taught me to not read the comments),” she said.

When asked about her upcoming projects, a smiling Alawi said in response, “Abangan niyo na lang (Watch out for them).”