Marian Rivera bares qualms about leaving kids behind to shoot ‘Remember’ abroad

Celebrity couple Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes have long wanted to do a project together that’s set abroad, but when opportunity knocked, the actress felt her hesitation creeping in.

At the global media launch of their new movie, “Remember,” the showbiz royal couple said shooting in Quebec, Canada instantly became one of their most memorable project to date, not only because it is their first time filming together overseas; it was also the most chill.

“Matagal na naming gustong gumawa ng project abroad, much more a film. Kaya naging perfect din yung Quebec at saka yung kwento dahil andaming firsts para sa amin… it’s the overall experience of shooting in a foreign land, especially kapag napakalapit sayo ng material na ginagawa mo. Parang ang sarap sa pakiramdam at lalo na kung ang katrabaho mo ay yung mahal mo sa buhay,” said Dantes.

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But Rivera said she has misgivings when the project was first offered to her. She told Dantes that she had qualms leaving behind their two children — Zia and Ziggy, aged 10 and 7, respectively.

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“Parang hindi ako ready kase maiiwan ko yung mga bata since ako yung nag aasikaso sa kanila. So andaming usap, andami kong kinausap. And tulad ng sinabi nya, ni-remind nya ko, “Diba ito yung dream natin, na makapag shoot tayo sa ibang bansa? Baka eto na yung chance bnatin,” she said.

“Naging mahirap para sa akin yan. Siguro ilang buwan kong kinausap yung mga anak ko para sa araw na aalis ako, handa na kami, pati ako. So naging okay. Tapos yung napanood ko yung trailer, talagang inaadmit ko na naging emotional ako kasi parang naisip ko na mahirap na mawalay sa mga anak pero worth it din pala,” she added.

The story follows Ria (Rivera) and Joseph (Dantes), an estranged couple pretending to be in love again for the sake of their ailing daughter who is suffering from a rare genetic disease. The movie is set in Quebec, the French-speaking region in Canada where Ria sought refuge after her separation from Joseph.

The movie also stars Ana Abad Santos, Dimples Romana, Rowell Santiago, Kaila Estrada, Joross Gamboa, Charlie Dizon, and child star Zia Grace.

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The movie is directed by Mae Cruz Alviar and screenplay by Enrico Santos, the same team behind the couple’s widely successful movie “Rewind,” which was the highest-grossing film in the Philippines in 2023, with a total of P815 million earnings as of January 17.

Santos said the concept behind the movie was to attempt to bridge the gab between love and remembrance of a painful past. Specifically, should Ria forgive Joseph for the sake of their daughter? And what would it take Joseph to regain Ria’s trust and forgiveness?

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“Pag ba naaalala mo ang tao — mahal mo sya, naaalala mo ang mga pinagdaanan ninyo — pero pano kapag hindi mo na naaalala ang tao at ang pinagdaanan nyo? Mananatili pa ba ang pagmamahal? So mula po doon na-hatch namin ang kwento ng mag asawang nagkahiwalay, dahil may pagkakamaling naganap at napilitan ang babae na mag abroad kasama ang kanyang anak. Dito nya tinigasan ang puso nya na di na sila magbabalikan ng kanyang asawa,” he said.

Asked how they wanted to be remembered as actors, Dantes agreed with what Alviar said that fame is fleeting, but as they experience life, what they will leave behind is how they made people feel good about themselves and had a positive impact, even in a small encouraging moment.

For Rivera, she said: “Yung fame, yung ganda lumilipas. Pero kapag dinescribe ka ng tao na naging malaking biyaya ka sa buhay nila at nakagawa ka ng kabutihan, ibang klase yon. Siguro yun ang mas gusto kong maalala sa akin, na sa buong buhay ko nakagawa ako ng mabuti para sa iba.”

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Produced by ABS-CBN Studios (Star Cinema), APT Entertainment, Inc., Regal Entertainment Inc., AgostoDos Picture, “Remember” will be showing in cinemas simultaneously worldwide on November 11.