MANILA, Philippines — Marian Rivera recently shared how she and her husband, Dingdong Dantes, will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary.
The reel-to-real-life couple had a fairytale-like grand wedding on Dec. 30, 2014, at Cubao Cathedral in Quezon City.
For their 10th year as husband and wife, the Kapuso primetime queen revealed that Dingdong is preparing an intimate gathering with immediate family members and their closest friends. She also hinted that they are planning to renew their wedding vows.
“Very simple (gathering) with family… My husband is the one planning it. With Dong kasi, he is a bit sentimental,” the “Balota” star recently told the press, including The STAR.
"When we realized that, eto na, it's coming, he said to me, ‘They want to celebrate.‘ I asked him, ‘Why? Do you want to?’”
She continued, “For me, the mere fact that we’re together, that our relationship is good, and that our children are doing well, that’s enough for me. But Dong really said, ‘No, I want us to celebrate this because we’ve been blessed by the Lord for 10 years and He has never forsaken us. We need to offer everything to Him. Not for anyone else, but for Him.’
“So, I said, ‘Yes! Sige, go! Amen. Okay.’ He got me to say yes right away,” she shared.
When asked by this writer about the “secret formula” to her decade-long marriage with Dingdong, Marian explained that it’s about putting God at the center of their relationship.
“I don’t think I’m in a position to say what the formula is. Nobody is perfect in a relationship,” she said.
“But maybe what’s good is that both of us know that God is really at the center... He’s the center of everything. Whatever happens to us, He’s always there.
“Triangle kami. Nandun Siya sa (center). Nandun kaming dalawa ni Dong sa gilid.”
Marian also believes that she and Dingdong have reached a level of maturity where they no longer experience fights or fits of jealousy.
“Siguro ‘pag tumatanda ka na, nababawasan yung mga issues niyo. And your priorities changed. Maybe that’s how you are when you grow older and matured na rin parehas. Especially me. The realization, the maturity,” she said.
In terms of practical efforts, they make sure not to go to bed without resolving issues. “Ganun kami ni Dong,” she said.
“Sometimes, corny na, hindi nga kami nag-aaway. Arte-arte na lang ako parang kunwari may issue kami. Wala talaga eh!”
At present, Marian said their priority as a couple is to strengthen their marriage and set a good example for their kids, Zia and Sixto.
“Our priority right now is to strengthen our love for each other because we want to show our kids what real love is,” she said.
“Especially since we have a daughter. This is the kind of love you should choose, if ever you have to choose something. For Sixto, it’s the same for me.
“So as much as possible, we want to be role models for our two kids. As parents, we know how the world is. So we really want to guide them to grow up as better kids.”
Marian is very much aware that showbiz is filled with examples of problematic and failed marriages and relationships. The STAR asked if she ever felt affected by news of couples breaking up.
The Kapuso star admitted that she has reached out to some friends to offer support and comfort.
“It’s really sad when we hear about things like that,” Marian said.
“Ang point ko lang, kung kilala ko, magpahinga muna ako tapos, iti-text ko talaga. I would text and ask, ‘How are you? Do you need anything? You just let me know.”
But pressing for the details, Marian would never do it because “it’s not right.”
“Pero parang mag-usisa kung anong dahilan, parang mali-mali yun. Never, never nating gagawin yun,” she said.