marian on what inspires her to pay it forward
It’s been proven time and again that it matters less where you came from than where you’re headed. In the case of Marian Rivera, she has taken the lessons she learned as a child and used them to help the less fortunate.
As almost everyone knows, Marian grew up with her grandmother as her sole guardian after her parents went their separate ways. Lola Iska led by example and now Marian has two main advocacies: Smile Train which performs cleft palate operations on children, and another one dedicated to helping disabled women land jobs.
Four years ago in 2014, Marian was appointed ambassador for Women and Children with Disabilities. The distinction was bestowed by two House panels, namely the House Committee on Women and Gender Equity headed by Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica of Bulacan, and the House Committee on Social Services led by Rep. Arturo Robes of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
Marian credits her grandmother for making her aware to the plight of the less fortunate.
“Nagsisimula naman ang mga ganyang awareness sa bahay. Bata pa lang ako, nakikita ko kung gaano kalapit ang Lola ko sa mga taong kapus-palad. Hangga’t kaya mong tumulong kahit sa maliliit na pamamaraan, e gawin mo yun kasi para sa kanila, walang maliit o malaki. Ang mahalaga nabigyan mo sila ng pansin, binigyan mo sila ng halaga at alam nila na concerned ka kahit di mo sila kakilala,” she recounted.
Since she and husband Dingdong Dantes became parents to daughter Zia, Marian has become a breastfeeding advocate. She will feed her daughter wherever they may be, only making sure she has a protective cloth or shawl to cover herself.
“Kapag anak na ang pinag-uusapan, wala kang iisipin kung hindi yung anak mo dahil pag gutom na siya, alangan namang sabihin mo, ‘Ay, sandali lang ha, di ka dito pwedeng magutom anak.’ Hindi mo dapat pine-pending yung nutrisyon ng anak mo.”
As a well-known celebrity, she is aware that people look up to her and often watch her every move.
“Bilang artista, responsable ako lalo na sa mga kabataan dahil kung ano ang nakikita nila, yun ang gagayahin nila. Gusto ko talagang maging magandang ehemplo sa pagiging nanay at sa mata ng mga mas nakakabata sa akin,” she said.
The lessons she learned from her grandmother continue to resonate with her like remaining steadfast and practicing a willingness to accept whatever life gives you. More than anything else, her grandmother taught her that everything happens for a reason.
Like any child, Marian must have been bewildered when her parents separated; she might even have initially blamed herself.
“Sabi ng Lola ko sa akin, ‘Alam mo anak, hindi ka magiging successful sa buhay mo kapag may galit ka sa magulang mo. So kailangan mo i-let go yan, kailangan mong maipagdasal at ipagpasalamat.’”
She seems to have taken her grandmother’s words to heart as she has a flourishing career, a husband who adores her and a daughter who looks up to her. Asked what are her greatest achievements so far, Marian listed three: Being able to help her family, taking an active role in her advocacies and giving birth to a healthy baby girl.
“Kasi yan ang talagang mga bagay sa mundong ito na mahirap dayain. Kapag meron ka niyan at buo ang loob mo, siguradong 100 percent masaya ka. At ang pagiging masaya, hindi napepeke yan.”