Marian completes 14-city tour for fans

MANILA, Philippines - Marian Rivera has come of age after nearly a decade of success in local showbiz. She had just embarked on a 14-city tour outside Metro Manila for the main purpose of reaching out to her fans. The result displayed her solid fanbase, with her series of Kapuso Fans’ Day prompting public hysteria only the most admired of entertainment celebrities can generate.

“Nakakataba ng puso at di ko expected na ganun ang klase ng mga taong nagmamahal sa akin. Nagtiyatiyaga silang maghintay makita lang ako. I really felt their love,” she told The STAR in an exclusive interview at Ciudad Fernandina Hotel in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

The said city, which recently celebrated its Raniag Twilight Festival, welcomed the first-time visitor (last Oct. 27) before a packed, cheering crowd which also witnessed a giant Christmas tree lighting prior to her show in front of Vigan City Hall. Fans erupted in jubilation after she was introduced by host Boobay, Marian’s anointed Fan’s Day tour host. 

One fan, a teen with a backpack who joined a Marian Rivera acting impersonation challenge before the star of the show, was escorted into the stage, grabbed the privilege of sharing spotlight after he was randomly asked by the latter to join her. 

The Kapuso soap queen shared, “Ngayon para sa akin ang pagiging artista ay hindi na kung sikat ka ba or marami ka bang ineendorso. O kung great ba ang soap mo. Nandun na ako sa kung paano mo nata-touch ang buhay ng isang tao sa pagiging artista. Dun mas nagiging makabuluhan ang pagiging artista.”

No doubt her presence made much impact to Bigueños who participated in days-long, costume and float-filled celebration leading up to Undas. Similar thick audiences previously greeted her in other places, namely, Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Batangas, Lucena, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Tagbilaran, Gensan, Naga, Dumaguete and Bacolod.

It’s first time that she has done such an extensive touring, and to think she is not officially promoting a specific project. 

“What’s beautiful about Vigan is its old-world charm. I’m excited to go to the churches,” she said, referring to the carefully preserved and postcard-favorite heritage sites. 

It was a mere overnight trip for Marian. But she reportedly made sure to go around Vigan via a kalesa the morning after her relatively short but admirably interactive show where she sang, danced and signed autographs. 

A significant break from hectic taping schedule has given the popular celebrity the opportunity to tour around the country and meet fans. By choice she stated she’s not so much into social media and had just begun making use of Instagram.

Marian is off to tape her next, still untitled soap this month, along with an upcoming sitcom. When asked where she attributes her comic timing, she noted it’s “inborn, dahil ang pamilya ko ay mga masiyahin ding mga tao.”

It’s obvious that the 29-year-old A-lister looks at blessings from the standpoint of someone mature enough to give in to the possibility that it may be downhill from this day on as far as her level of fame is considered. 

She explained, “Dumating na ‘yung pagkakataon sa buhay ko na hindi na ako masyadong hiling ng hiling. Once in a lifetime lang kung ilang taon ka ngayon at kung anong meron ka. Maging thankful ka na lang sa mga binibigay sayo ni God.”

This year, Marian topped for the second time the FHM magazine’s list of sexiest women. She reflected on her proven charm and credited everything on being just herself. “That’s because I’m being true to myself. Siguro kung nakikita ng tao kung gaano mo kamahal ang sarili mo at nirerespeto mo ang sarili mo, yun ang ibabalik nila sayo at yun ang importante sa akin,” she said.

Key portions of Marian’s Fans Day in Vigan will be aired via Let’s Fiesta TV Special on Nov. 17, care of GMA 7’s regional stations, including those covering Bicol, Dagupan, Iloilo and of course, Ilocos.