Bashers won’t make Marian quit social media

MANILA, Philippines - Famous couples have taken to social media to share photos and videos of their babies and kiddos, filling their fans’ news feeds of their #OOTDs and adorable antics.

Several celebrity offsprings even have their own Instagram accounts managed, of course, by the proud parents.

Marian Rivera is not about to hitch on the bandwagon though. She prefers to have glimpses of her life with firstborn Zia posted on either husband Dingdong Dantes’ Instagram or hers.

For the Kapuso star, not setting up a separate soc-med account for their one-year-old toddler is their way of letting her grow up with some privacy.

“Ay ayoko. Kung gusto niya (Zia) mag-Instagram paglaki niya, gawin niya. Pero parang kami ang hahawak? (No). Gusto naming ibigay yung privacy na para sa anak namin,” Marian told The STAR in an interview after she was launched as the first brand endorser of Snow Crystal White Tomato, a skin-whitening and anti-aging food supplement. 

Nevertheless, mother and daughter’s bonding moments have brought in more likes, follows and engagement to Marian’s well-curated Instagram, which recently reached the four-million mark in terms of number of followers. She also has a Facebook account with over 18 million likes, but her IG appears to be more personalized.

In an age where celebs have opened up their worlds a little — or, a little too much — through social media, one thing perhaps you can’t accuse Marian of is using these platforms to engage haters, stir controversy and further foment negativity online.

The delete button is definitely her friend.

“Let’s say, yung mga nag-ko-comment ng hindi maganda sa Instagram ko, nag-de-delete ako. Siempre hindi naman papayag yung totoong nagmamahal sa akin na may namba-bash and… ang negative! So, I simply delete them. Dini-delete ko kasi nag-aaway-away na,” she said, adding that she will never give them the chance to exchange tirades on her Instagram. 

Marian said there’s no reason for her to give bashers or trolls even an iota of her time. Instead of responding to them, she’d rather “take care of my daughter and arrange flowers,” referring to her new floral arrangement business Flora Vida.

“I’m not affected by the negative comments. My god, every time I see my daughter, whatever they say, my reaction is, OK. Kung anong buhay ngayon, trabaho lang walang personalan. Especially now that I’m working for my daughter.”

Even as one of the most active and followed personalities, ergo, one of the most exposed to the good, the bad and the ugly online, Marian swore that she never thought of quitting social media.

With Jhun Tizon and Erick Armigos, vice president and president, respectively, of VIDA Nutriscience, Inc., makers of wellness products Snow Caps, mySlim and Snow Crystal White Tomato, of which Marian is the first celebrity endorser

“No, because I want to post and share the happiness that I have, especially when it comes to my child, with other people. Like yesterday, I came home from work, we got finished at 2 a.m., then I woke up early because I had a shoot, then when I arrived home, I saw my daughter, hay, ang sarap! Whenever I see my child, wala na!” Marian related. “So, bahala ka diyan! Ano ako? Panget ako? OK lang, sige, push mo yan ‘Te (laughs)! ”

Meanwhile, Marian and Dingdong who fell in love as co-stars in the 2008 teleserye Dyesebel are marking their birth month by working together again. (Marian turns 32 on Aug. 12. Dingdong is 37 today.)  

Dingdong has directed Marian in an episode of her OFW-themed weekly anthology Tadhana airing soon.

She remembered telling Dingdong (who has a few directing credits for past TV shows like Kakabakaba Adventures and Atlantika) that she felt nervous to have him as her director and that she initially didn’t want to do it.

“I told him, sabi nila strict ka raw na director. Sabi niya, iba ako dun, di mo ako asawa dun. Naasar talaga ako (laughs). Well, it’s exciting because he always texts me, especially whenever I take selfies at work, and tells me, ‘I miss working with you.’”

When asked for her B-day wish for her hubby, she shared, “I wish for our relationship to be stronger, especially because we want many more kids to come.”

GMA’s “primetime queen” will topbill another primetime soap soon titled The Good Teacher, portraying a role that seemingly befits her current priorities in life.

According to Marian, she’s done with “pa-sweet or pa-sexy roles” because “I’ve really embraced my role as a mother now…. It has always been my dream to become a mother.

“I want to be a good example for those who are afraid to become mothers or have children, that it’s not true (there’s nothing to be afraid of). Sayang ang pagkakataon. I want them to know that just in case God gives them the opportunity (to give birth and raise a child), it will really give them a different kind of happiness.”