Marian Rivera on relationship with Dingdong Dantes: “God is in our midst”

GMA’s Primetime Queen Marian Rivera portrays the role of a pathetic, insecure housewife named Angeline in the primetime series “Temptation of Wife.” In real life though, she says she feels very much secure with her relationship with boyfriend Dingdong Dantes because ‘God is at its center.’

“As long as nasa gitna ng relationship niyo si God walang temptation talaga. Masasabi kong sa relationship namin nasa gitna si God kasi kung hindi, matagal na sigurong laglag yung relationship namin pero hindi e, the more na nagtatagal ang relationship namin mas lalo kaming tumitibay at lalo kaming nagiging masaya,” she shared.

Marian says that she is not affected by rumors that link Dingdong to other women both inside and outside of showbiz.

“Meron ba? Parang wala naman. Parte na ng pag-aartista yan e. For as long as kasama namin si God at kaming dalawa ay nagkakasundo at nagkakaintindihan, sa tingin ko walang magiging problema,” she added.

For her part, Marian says there is no reason for Dingdong not to feel the same way about her since she is not vulnerable to temptation.

“Ako kasi yung tipo ng babae na kapag may karelasyon ako ay doon lang talaga nakatuon ang atensiyon ko.  Hindi ko naman sinasabing hindi ako natetempt, nakaka-appreciate pa rin naman ako ng lalaki pero hindi naman ibig sabihin non ay lalandi ako,” the actress said.

Marian as ‘Angeline’

In “Temptation of Wife,” Marian’s laid back character is the exact opposite of that of her antagonist Glaiza de Castro who plays “Heidi,” Angeline’s covetous best friend.  Heidi secretly detests Angeline because she feels that fate has always favored Angeline over her and has given her the things -- and people -- that Heidi had always wanted. One of which is Angeline’s husband, Marcel.

Reflecting about her role in the series, Marian says it is way different from her role in her previous series “Amaya” and “My Beloved.”

“Mas malalim ito at saka mas mabigat. Although wala pa naman akong asawa, pero ito yung nakikita mo talagang sa totoong buhay na nangyayari na ang asawa ay may kabit tapos yung kabit pa yung mas matapang kaysa sa asawa,” she said.

In order to have some sort of bases for the internalization of their characters, the cast watched the original (Korean) version of “Temptation of Wife.”  Although the scenes are just as intense, Marian says the Philippine version is less violent but more emotional. 

“Ang mas importante ay nabibigyan namin ng Pinoy version tayo na mas madamdamin, mas sensitive, mas may puso.  Feeling ko yun ang talagang maipaglalaki namin dito sa ‘Temptation of Wife,” she explained.

Asked whether she is fine with the scuffle and tussle required in her scenes with Glaiza, Marian says she has gotten used to having bruises all over her body from her shows.

“Sa lahat naman ng soap ko binubugbog ako.  Sanay na yung katawan ko (laughs),” she quipped. 

In real life, Marian and Glaiza are very comfortable working together.  They became close when they worked together in “Amaya.”

“Nakakatuwa na kahit tapos na yung Amaya ay hindi pa rin nawawala yung tawagan namin sa isa’t isa na ‘Bai’ (pronounced Ba-i).  Nakakatawa na kapag nagkikita kami halimbawa sa Party Pilipinas, yun pa rin ang tawagan namin. Kaya natuwa rin ako nang malaman kong siya ang makakasama ko kasi kumportable din, kilala namin ang isa’t isa.  Halimbawa ‘pag may eksena na kunwari nasampal ako ni Glaiza yung parang alam namin na wala lang yun, hindi siya magiging big deal,” said Marian. 

“Temptation of Wife” airs weeknights after Aso ni San Roque on GMA-7.