After two decades in the spotlight, actress Marian Rivera skillfully navigates the realms of family, fame, and fulfillment, with seemingly&nbsp;to have no regrets.&nbsp;

PHOTOGRAPHY Andrea Beldua
STYLING Yanna Lopez
CREATIVE DIRECTION Loris Pe&ntilde;a
Marian has gained recognition for her powerful and iconic roles such as Darna, Dyesebel, Amaya, Marimar, and Super Inday. However, her portrayals as Mary in the movie Rewind and Teacher Emmy in Balota reflect a blend of her current self&mdash;a dedicated mother and wife who advocates for her beliefs. Her evolution as an actress taught her a lot, especially the importance of hard work and dedication. &ldquo;Each role I portrayed taught me different aspects of storytelling and character depth. The most significant lesson has been the value of resilience. The industry can be tough, but staying true to oneself and continuously improving is crucial,&rdquo; Marian shares.

"I wouldn't want to rewind my life to change anything."

Playing Teacher Emmy in the movie Balota, a political thriller and satire drama, was something that she wasn&rsquo;t expecting she would do. Throughout the trailer, you&rsquo;d see a haggard yet valiant Teacher Emmy running through the forest as she tries to protect herself, her loved ones, and the unaccounted ballot box. &ldquo;It is true that you do not always plan everything because, for example, working on Balota was not on my schedule. Director Kip Oebanda and his team came to me and expressed their wish for me to portray the main character in the film, suggesting that I take a look at the script. At times, receiving unexpected projects like that can ignite a spark, especially since I haven&rsquo;t taken on that type of role before; it presents an entirely new experience for me,&rdquo; she shares. As Mary in the blockbuster hit Rewind, co-starring with her husband Dingdong Dantes, she embodies the essence of a loving mother and devoted wife, a role that mirrors her own life.
Marian has come a long way from being a promising commercial model to a multi-awarded actress. She seamlessly balances her demanding career with motherhood and a loving marriage with Dingdong Dantes. &ldquo;I prioritize my time and set boundaries. My family is my anchor, and I make sure to carve out quality time with them. It&rsquo;s all about finding a rhythm that allows me to fulfill my responsibilities without compromising my personal life,&rdquo; says Marian. The mother of Zia and Ziggy speaks about them in a way that makes it clear they are her entire world. After the cover shoot, she mentioned that she would immediately pick up Zia and accompany her to a rehearsal for a singing recital.

Cardigan, dress, Blondie bag, and Horsebit pumps; all GUCCI

&ldquo;Motherhood has changed me in profound ways. The most satisfying parts are witnessing Zia and Ziggy grow and learn. Their laughter and milestones fill my heart with happiness and purpose,&rdquo; Marian shares. She credits her children for teaching her patience, something she admits she previously struggled with. &ldquo;Just take your time with everything. My kids have taught me to keep my cool and not overreact to everything. Take a moment to consider all possibilities before I make a move.
Back in my younger days, it was always &lsquo;Game! Game! Game! Sige!&rsquo; As you get older, you start to realize what truly matters to you and who really matters in your life, and that&rsquo;s where your focus will inevitably go.&rdquo;This year marks the tenth anniversary of her marriage to Dingdong, and her smile, when speaking of him, has the same warmth she reserves for her children. &ldquo;He is very responsible in every aspect,&rdquo; Marian shares when asked about what she admires the most about her husband. According to her, there is no complicated way to ensure that they remain together. &ldquo;We enjoy quiet dinners, movie nights, or simply taking walks together. Keeping the spark alive means making time for each other amidst our busy lives,&rdquo; she continues, &ldquo;we support each other by discussing our aspirations and finding ways to collaborate. Communication is vital; it helps us stay aligned and connected.&rdquo; She and her husband share a passion for philanthropy, often donating relief goods or raising funds during calamities. One of Marian&rsquo;s charities that she has been supporting for many years is Smile Train, a non-profit organization that gives free surgery to children with cleft lip and palate. &ldquo;That is my way of returning the favor to all the blessings the Lord provides. As an actress, I feel like I have more opportunities to help those in need, and it comes with a big responsibility too. At first, I might not have understood it, but over time, especially with my family and the experiences I&rsquo;ve had in these past few years, I&rsquo;ve realized that I can make a difference for others.&rdquo;

Jacket, trousers, Horsebit pumps, and Blondie bag; all GUCCI

Dress, cardigan, and GG Marmont bag; all GUCCI

"Sometimes you make decisions and end up making mistakes, but that doesn't mean these mistakes can't be fixed."

She held the title of the &ldquo;Sexiest Woman in the Philippines&rdquo; in the early 2000s, her captivating beauty, talent, and remarkable charm have made her one of the most sought-after actresses and brand ambassadors in the country up until the present. Her style is timeless, evoking the classic yet innovative essence of Gucci&rsquo;s designs. She appreciates the brand&rsquo;s sophistication. &ldquo;I cherish my current Gucci pieces that embody my style.&rdquo; Marian agrees that Gucci&rsquo;s timeless appeal stems from its capability to adapt.
Just as Gucci&rsquo;s influence in the fashion industry is here to stay, Marian&rsquo;s star power is continuously skyrocketing. She has a long list of endorsement deals under her belt, including being the first Filipina to endorse a popular Italian cosmetics line, a phone brand, and a consumer financing firm, to name a few. She has a powerful presence in the entertainment industry and is also very influential on social media. Thanks to her massive online fan base, she effortlessly turns her social media posts&mdash;particularly her TikTok dance challenges&mdash;into viral hits. As a social media influencer, Marian understands that social media, while a powerful tool to connect with fans, is a double-edged sword that requires careful handling. &ldquo;To be honest, social media is so big that it is scary because you can show anything you want across all platforms. As someone who utilizes social media, I make sure that I am careful and accountable for whatever I post,&rdquo; she says.
In addition to showcasing her dance moves online, she has recently been sharing her expanding collection of figures from Pop Mart, an emerging global company recognized for its collectible designer toys, typically offered in a &ldquo;blind box&rdquo; format. According to Marian she has, however, been collecting long before this pop culture craze began, and it&rsquo;s one of her ways of making herself happy.

&ldquo;I have been collecting items such as Sanrio products, bags, stuffed toys, and notebooks. And I recently discovered a new collection that I enjoy. If collecting what you like will allow you to relax and enjoy life, go for it. It&rsquo;s like rewarding your &lsquo;inner child&rsquo; when you do that. Collecting knows no age limits. When you accomplish something that makes you happy and doesn&rsquo;t require the approval of others, that&rsquo;s what will make you stronger. My office is filled with my collection of figures already,&rdquo; she admits.
Marian has turned 40 this year and is gracefully embracing the milestone. She celebrated with a private party, filled with fun and dance, as evidenced by her husband&rsquo;s Instagram posts. She also received an early birthday gift: a Best Actress award from Cinemalaya for her portrayal of Teacher Emmy in Balota. As one would expect from a woman of her fearless nature, her answer to the question of what she would change about her 30s was unsurprising.
&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t want to rewind my life to change anything. I&rsquo;ve been through a lot, and I&rsquo;ve learned something from each experience, so I really don&rsquo;t want to take any of that away from my life. When everything you do feels just right, it&rsquo;s like life loses its excitement. Sometimes you make decisions and end up making mistakes, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean these mistakes can&rsquo;t be fixed.&rdquo;

Dress, cardigan GUCCI

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PRODUCERS Loris Pe&ntilde;a and Knelle Rosario 
MAKEUP Juan Sarte 
HAIR Nante Alingasa
ASSISTANT STYLIST&nbsp;Tere Gabat 
SET DESIGN Justine Arcega Bumanlag
ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHERS Joey Alvero, Mark Reyes, David Tan 
SET MEN Castor Mosquito, Mario Taipen, Jan Abal, John Amon, Jonel Navarro 
VIDEO DIRECTOR MV Isip 
ASSISTANT VIDEOGRAPHER Hix Murakami
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No Erase, No Rewind: Marian Rivera

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