Marian Rivera
She is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful showbiz personalities to grace TV and movie screens. Indeed, even marriage and motherhood becomes Marian Rivera.
At the Avon event that launched her as the cosmetics company’s latest endorser and featuring the Avon Beauty on Wheels Bus, the actress was positively glowing and very pretty in pink.
She starts talking about how blessed she is, with a very supportive and handsome husband. “He is very understanding. Hindi ko makakaya ang lahat kapag wala siya, iba din talaga ang may nagpu-push sa iyo. Lahat naman nababalanse. Ang asawa ko very understanding. Konti lang schedules ko, and when I do have schedules, dapat siya naman ang wala,” she explains.
Her role as mom is her biggest challenge and yet also the most rewarding, she says.
“Ang biggest challenge ko ngayon is balancing breastfeeding and working. Zia is purely breastfed, at ngayon na 10 months na siya at nagka-ngipin na, tumbling talaga ako!” she jokes in her usual relatable manner.
“Iba ’yung feeling (ng pagbreastfeed) kasi alam mo na kailangan ka niya. When she is breastfeeding and she looks up at me, ay, heaven.”
Marian is taking lighter workloads these days because she wishes to spend more time with her baby. “Gusto ko ’yung pag-gising niya, andu’n na ako ulit, as if nothing happened,” she grins.
The actress cautions, though, that focusing on family should not mean taking yourself for granted.
“’Yung ibang moms, dumadating sa point na sobrang dedicated nila sa family, inaalay nila ang lahat sa anak at asawa nila. Pero siguro hindi dapat ’yun maging dahilan para pabayaan mo ang sarili mo. That is why I want other moms to look at me as a sort of role model, na hindi porke’t may asawa at anak ka na, you should forget about yourself. Dapat may time ka pa din sa sarili mo at inaalagaan mo pa din ang sarili mo. Lalo ka nila mamahalin dahil diyan.”
Marian with husband Dingdong Dantes and Baby Zia (Instagram)
She does not even mean going overboard on makeup, as she says that even if she leaves the house with just lipstick on, she would already feel confident. “You just have to look presentable, okay ka na” was how Marian put it.
As a former “tomboy” in her growing up years, she reveals that she only started experimenting with makeup during her “Marimar” days. That said, she adds that she was thrilled to be tapped by Avon as an ambassador for the Ultra Color Indulgence line of lipsticks.
“It is a dream come true, kasi 130 years na ’yung brand. Naalala ko pa noon, nu’ng nasa Cavite pa ako, may mga kapitbahay kami na may brochure, nagbebenta ng Avon. Lahat yata tayo dumaan dun,” she smiles.
Another factor that she likes about the brand is that it empowers women, particularly mothers to earn a living even as they take care of their families at home.
“Pwede ka kumita kahit nasa bahay ka lang at iniintindi mo ang anak mo. Wala nang dahilan para hindi ka magka-trabaho at magkaroon ng earning opportunities.”