GMA Network’s Primetime Queen says she never dreamed about achieving fame or accumulating wealth when she was younger. All she wished for was to have a complete family she could call her own.x
MARIAN RIVERA’S INSTAGRAM

The first is always special and what better way to present the very first episode of my new GMA show, Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, than to have a special guest in the person of GMA Network’s Primetime Queen Marian Rivera.

Marian graced the pilot show last Jan. 23 and she gamely took the two-minute Fast Talk challenge with responses that resonated with her true persona of being outspoken, witty and vivacious.

The actress revealed that she never dreamed about achieving fame or accumulating wealth when she was younger. All she wished for was to have a complete family she could call her own. And now that she is blessed with a loving husband in Dingdong Dantes and two beautiful children Zia and Sixto, Marian is indubitably living her dream.

“Sinasabi ko talaga na ang dream ko is to have a complete family which I didn’t really have before,” began Marian who was born in Spain and left under the care of her maternal grandmother after her parents — Francisco Javier Gracia, a Spaniard, and Amalia Rivera, a Filipina — divorced when she was three years old.

Her mom brought her to the Philippines and had to leave her due to work commitments abroad. “Pero ngayon, gumising ako every morning na nandyan ‘yung dalawang anak ko at si Dong. I said, Lord, salamat sa biyaya at pagpapala.”

Marian cannot also be thankful enough for her rosy acting career. She will never forget how the GMA Network’s adaptation of the popular Mexican series Marimar catapulted her to stardom.

In the show’s Talk segment, I showed Marian the bunch of puka shell necklaces she wore in Marimar.

“Ang Marimar kasi ang unang nagbigay ng pagkakataon na ipakita ‘yung talento ko sa GMA at sa mga tao kaya tuwing nakikita ko ‘yan (necklaces) o kaya sabihin sa akin ang gumiling (ala my character Marimar), OK ako doon. Sobrang palaging flashback sa akin si Marimar. Si Marimar talaga ang nagbigay sa akin ng maraming oportunidad na makilala ng tao,” she ruminated.

It was also in Marimar where she and Dingdong initially worked together but both felt absolutely nothing — zero sparks the first time they met. Marian said they were both focused on their respective careers that time.

“We were both serious with our work in Marimar because I think it was his big break in a soap while I was also concentrated on my character. Medyo hindi kami magkasundo sa Marimar, hindi kami nagpapansinan. Maldita kasi ako, hahahaha!”

It was only towards the end of the series that they became “slight friends,” as Marian put it.

She also recalled how she hated Dingdong while they were taping for Dyesebel in Palawan. “Sabi n’ya sa akin, ‘Ang suplada mo naman, tine-text kita bakit hindi ka nag-re-reply? Siguro, naka-prepaid ka lang!’ I got mad at him because what he said was true that I was only using prepaid hahahaha,” she amusingly narrated.

“Nasa isla kasi kami noon ng Palawan, so I already bought a lot of prepaid cards and whenever I would run out of load, I would go to the back (of the set) and start scratching the cards, hahahaha, that’s why I was so affected by what he said. But I promised myself to get a line (postpaid) once I got my salary. Kaya ayun naka-line na ko.”

Eventually, the two fell in love, got married and started raising a family. No wonder, Marian turned emotional when I showed her their family picture.

Marian was game to do the Fast Talk. Her eyes would sparkle whenever she spoke words straight from the heart. Below are excerpts.

Ding or Dong?

“Dong.”

Ting-ting or Tang-tang?

“Ting-ting.”

Luha o ulan?

“Ulan.”

Sabay-sabay tayo o kanya-kanya tayo?

“Sabay-sabay tayo.”

Gigiling o gugulong?

“Gigiling.”

Sipa o tadyak?

“Tadyak.”

Sampal o sabunot?

Atras o abante?

“Abante.”

Away na aatrasan mo.

“Wala.”

Inang Reyna o Inang Magenta?

“Inang Reyna.”

Maganda o makapangyarihan?

“Makapangyarihan.”

Sexiest part of Dingdong’s body.

“Chest.”

Kung nagiging hayop si Dong sa gabi, anong hayop siya?

“Leon.”

You feel sexy kapag ginagawa ni Dong sa ‘yo ito.

“Hinahalikan ang aking paa.”

The last text message you received from Dong.

“I love you.”

Complete this sentence: Nakikiliti ako kapag…

“Hinahalikan ako sa leeg.”

May umaaligid kay Dong, ano ang gagawin mo?

“Dedma, sa ngayon, hahahaha.”

If you were a flower, what would you be?

“Roses.”

The first thing you do in the morning.

“Brush my teeth.”

The last thing you do at night.

“Kiss my loved ones.”

Ugali mo na namana ni Zia.

“Malambing.”

Ugaling mong ayaw mo mamana ni Zia.

“Maldita.”

Sunrise or sunset?

“Sunrise.”

Love or hate?

“Love.”

Endless love or true love?

“True love.”

When do you feel most beautiful?

“Every morning.”

Lights on or lights off?

“Lights on.”

Happiness or chocolates?

“Happiness.”

What’s the best time for happiness?

“Every day.”

Laban na hindi mo kaya.

“Wala.”

Kung bubuksan ang puso mo ngayon, anong tanong ang nakasulat?

“Bakit N’yo po ako pinagpapala ng ganito?”