Marian Rivera is back in the showbiz harness.
It's been barely a year since she gave birth to youngest son Ziggy, but the in-demand actress/TV host has resumed her hosting duties for her GMA-7 shows Tadhana and Sunday PinaSaya.
And as if that weren't enough, blessings keep coming her way in the form of endorsement deals and other related events.
Amid all these, does she even get her much-deserved time for herself and her family?
Isn't this too steep a price to pay for someone who's too hands-on with all facets of her life?
She confesses, “Hands-on sa lahat.”
“Although siyempre, hindi ko naman kinakaya lahat.
"May helper rin ako na tumutulong sa akin. Pero ako talaga ang nagmamando kung ano ang kakainin. Kapag school, ako kasi ang naghahatid-sundo kay Zia.
“Kapag may trabaho ako, si Dong [Dingdong Dantes] naman, pero most of the time, ako talaga.”
MARIAN: QUEEN OF HER HOUSEHOLD
Marian admits that she's very meticulous, especially when it comes to taking care of her family and managing their household.
She admits, “Maarte talaga ako, lalo na ngayong may bata. Siyempre, kapag may bata, mukhang playground yung bahay niyo. Imposibleng hindi.
“So, hinahayaan ko na lang pero at the end of the day, kailangan maayos ‘yan, malinis ‘yan, na-sterilized ‘yan.
“Sa kitchen, kung ano ang kakainin namin. Kapag may time, ako talaga ang nagluluto. Kapag walang time, siyempre, ang helper ang gagawa niyan. Pero lahat ng nangyayari sa bahay, nakatoka sa akin niyan.”
She adds, “Bilang ang asawa ko e, napakasipag magtrabaho para sa amin, ako naman sa bahay.”
MARIAN SETS HER PRIORITIES RIGHT
Despite her attention to detail, Marian admits that she gets just the right amount of downtime for herself and her kids.
She says, “Hindi puwedeng wala, e.
“Palagi kong sinasabi na paano mo ibibigay ang lahat ng bagay kung wala ka sa sarili mo ng buo? So dapat, sa sarili mo muna at okay ka bago mo i-extend sa asawa mo at mga anak mo.
“Oo, mahal mo iyan, aasikasuhin mo, 'tapos ikaw, hindi? Anong klaseng pagmamahal ang maibibigay mo kung hindi ka buo?
“So dapat sa sarili mo, buo ka, contented ka, masaya ka. Nagagawa mo ang mga dapat mong gawin. Kaya si Dong, sinasabi ko, 'O Dad ha, ito ang oras ko, ito ang gagawin ko, wala siyang gagawin, sa bata siya.'”
She acknowledges, “Very supportive kasi si Dong, very understanding kaya nagagawa ko ang mga bagay-bagay.”
MARIAN HELPS EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
Marian renewed her endorsement contract with home fragrances brand Reverie by Beautederm Home last November 7, at Luxent Hotel, Quezon City. The couple, through the auspices of the Yes Pinoy Foundation, is one of many celebrity advocates helping out with their own charity efforts for the Cotabato earthquake victims.
We asked Marian if she will be contributing part of her endorsement talent fees to their charity efforts.
She confirms, “Ay, nangangalap talaga kami ng mga donation for the victims talaga.
"And by this week siguro, magpa-pack na kami. Ang Yes Pinoy Foundation ang isa sa nangunguna talaga para matulungan natin ang mga kababayan natin na nangangailangan sa Mindanao.
“Katulad nga nito na yung mga kababayan natin, nangangailangan ng pagkain. Sabi niya, ‘wag kang mag-aalala, magbibigay ako ng kabang-kabang bigas.”
She also adds in jest, “Parang gusto mong tanungin kung magkano ang talent fee ko ha.”
MARIAN HAS SO MUCH RESPECT FOR KRIS
Marian's drawing power has been compared to Kris Aquino's.
However, the actress refuses to be put on the same pedestal.
Shrugging off the accolades, Marian points out, “Ah hindi.
“Ang hirap mag-compare ng isang tao sa ibang tao, so walang comparison. Ayoko ng comparison at ninang ko iyan, nirerespeto ko iyan.
“Iba ang sa kanya at iba ang bigay sa akin ng Panginoon. Very thankful ako dahil dati kasi noong single ako, wow, may endorsement, ipon ako.
"Ngayon, kapag nanay ka, iba. Salamat Lord at nakakaipon ako para sa magandang future sa mga anak ko.”