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Marian Rivera. Photo by Bulgar TV-

Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Marian Rivera

Marian Rivera is a Filipino recording artist, actress and commercial model. She gained popularity as an actress for her roles in Marimar, Dyesebel, Amaya, Darna and Temptation of Wife.

She is also known for her musical skills; she has two studio albums, the Marian Rivera Dance Hits and Retro Crazy.

Starting as a model to an award-winning actress, Marian has achieved a lot in her career. Additionally, she has involved herself in philanthropist works.

Learn more about Marian Rivera in these top 10 facts.

1. Marian Rivera had a Difficult Childhood

Marian Rivera. Photor Malacañang Photo by Bureau/Robert Viñas-

Marian was born on August 12, 1984, in Madrid, Spain, to Francisco Javier Garcia Alonso, a Spaniard and Amalia Rivera, a Filipina from Cavite. She experienced a difficult childhood because her parents divorced when she was three years old.

After her parent’s divorce, her mother brought her back to the Philippines, where she grew up. Her mother had to leave the Philippines to continue her work commitment abroad. Marian was sent to Bacoor, Cavite, where Francisca Rivera, her maternal grandmother, raised her.

2. Marian Graduated from De La Salle University-Dasmarinas

She pursued her elementary and high school education at Saint Francis of Assisi College System.

She joined De La Salle University at Dasmarinas and pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree. After graduation, she worked for a mental institution in Mandaluyong, the National Institute of Mental Health, for a while. She used to give out medicine and conducted examinations and evaluations of patients.

3. She was Married to her Long-time Boyfriend

Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes. Photo by Gerry Edra-

During a live airing of Marian’s dance program, Dantes, his long-time boyfriend, made a special guest appearance in August 2014. Dantes made a live surprise proposal.

For Marian to marry Dantes, she had to be received into the Roman Catholic Church via conditional Baptism because her baptism in Spain was not accepted as valid.

On December 30, 2014, she married Dingdong Dantes at Cubao Cathedral in Quezon City; while the wedding reception took place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, they had invited over 1,200 guests to their wedding and was televised on GMA Network.

The couple announced they were expecting their first child in April 2015; Marian gave birth to a daughter Maria Letizia (named Zia), at the Makati Medical Centre on November 23, 2015. In April 16, 2019, they had a son Jose Sixto Gonzalez, born at Makati Medical Centre.

4. Marian and Dingdong Dantes have Assisted in Various Charities

In 2009, Typhoon Strom Ondoy was the second-most devastating tropical cyclone of the 2009 Pacific typhoon season. With assistance from Yes Pinoy Foundation, Philippine National Red Cross and Philippine Marines went to Cainta Rizal to help the victims.

In August 2012, Marian joined the Philippine Red Cross team during their mission to help victims of the flooding in Quezon City. She started to help the victims as her 28th birthday gift to herself.

In 2013, she and her boyfriend Dingdong Dantes contributed to the fund-raising event at the annual Noel Bazaar, a Christmas shopping event in Pasay for GMA Kapuso Foundation. They also joined PETA in their campaign to free the elephant Mali from the Manila Zoo.

5. She Was Appointed Ambassador for Women and Children with Disabilities

Marian used her star power to promote the rights of women and children with disabilities in the country and the Congress of the Philippines appointed her as Ambassador for Women and Children with Disabilities.

She proposed a public-private partnership to establish a special school for children with disabilities to have better access to education. She later added another advocacy to her list as she acts with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate.

Also, she was given the Breastfeeding Influencer and Advocate Award by the mother and Child Nurse Association of the Philippine in November 25, 2016, citing her advocacy for public breastfeeding because she supported breastfeeding in public.

6. Marian Started her Career as a Model

Marian pursued ramp modeling in her elementary schooling year. She later joined TV commercial modeling for Skin white lotion, sky flakes biscuits, Hanna Shampoo, 555 Tuna and many more.

In 2008, she appeared in For Him Magazine (FHM) as the sexiest woman; in 2013, she was declared the sexiest woman in Philippine by FHM Philippines.

She was also featured on magazine covers such as UFO Magazine, MEG Magazine speed magazine, Wedding and Beyond Magazine and Preview Magazine.

7. Marian Acting Career

Marian Rivera. Photo by Bulgar TV-

Marian’s modeling made her land opportunities for films. She was first featured in a Philippine TV Soap Opera titled Kung Mamahalin Mo Lang Ako in 2005.

In 2006 she was signed by Regal Entertainment and started in the 2006 horror film Pamahiin. She also appeared in television series such as Pinakamamahal and Agawin Mo Man ang Lahat.

Marian’s acting career reached the pinnacle at the start of 2009. She continued appearing in films and television series such as You to Me Are Everything, Super Inday and many more.

She continues being featured in many films and her acting career became a major success and received significant awards and achievements.

8. She is a Recording Artist

Marian is known for her singing and dancing abilities. She released her first dance music album, Marian Rivera Dance Hits, under Universal Records in 2008. It was a compilation of 12 songs, dance and chorographical by Rivera.

The album sold over 13,00 copies and got certified a 2-times platinum Record Award by the Philippines Association of the Record Industry (PARI).

In 2009, Marian released her second album titled Retro Crazy, which was awarded s gold certification and a single entitled Sabay Sabay Tayo.

The single became a massive hit with 840,000 views on YouTube. All Marian’s musical works have been released under the label Universal Records.

9. Marian has Amassed Many Awards Throughout her Career

Marian has been honored with several awards, which she can boast about. In 2006 she won the prestigious Star Awards under Best New Female TV Personality category for her work in Agawin Mo Man ang Lahat.

In 2008, she won various awards for her work, like in Bernal and Mae, Joyce E and Marimar, a directed Tv Drama. These awards include; Fil-Am Visionary Awards for Favorite Actress, Guillermo Box-Office Award for Most Promising Female Star and Guillermo Box-Office Awards for Phenomenal TV Star.

In 2012, she again won multiple awards, such as NSSUAA 2012 for Best Actress, KZONE Awards for Favorite TV Actress and in 2013, she won Golden Screen TV Awards 2013 for Best Actress.

10. Marian has Worked as a Television Host

In 2012, she co-hosted a travelogue TV show titled Pinoy Adventure and a talk show and reality show titled Showbiz Central and Extra Challenge.

She has been a host of several popular television shows since 2016. She took up various television projects like Encantadia Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko and Etheria.