MARIAN RIVERA says GMA-7 is offering her a new soap but she begged off because she’s now busy with preparations for her wedding. “Hindi pala biro,” she sighs at the presscon for the second season of her dance musical show, “Marian”. “Ang daming requirements. Hands on kasi kami ni Dingdong. Pati wedding invitations namin, kung anong kulay, anong isusulat, kami lahat. But enjoy naman kami sa bawat detalyeng ginagawa namin. At least, hindi na ko kailangang binyagan. Ino-honor na yung binyag ko in Spain, pero confirmation na lang daw. So by October, kailangang makumpilan na ako.”
Have they found a reception venue? “Yes, it’s very big. Malapit lang sa church. Mga 30 minutes away. Pero hindi pa puedeng i-announce kung ano.”
Will they invite their fans? “We have 26 fan clubs. Kung about 200 members per club, sobrang dami noon. Siguro, pipili lang kami ng representatives from each club. I know maiintindihan naman nilang hindi sila puede imbitahin lahat.”
They’ve chosen their 20 pairs of ninongs and ninangs. “Personal naming ini-invite ang bawat isa. Noong una, ten pairs lang sana. E, ang daming nagbo-volunteer na kunin namin sila, so naging 15, naging 20. Puede ngang umabot sa 50 pairs, pero OA na, so 20 na lang.”
From showbiz are Gov. Vilma Santos, Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez, GMA execs Atty. Felipe Gozon, Jimmy Duavit, Lilybeth Rasonable of GMA, Wilma Galvante of TV5, TAPE producer Tony Tuviera, Dingdong’s manager Perry Lansigan, Kuya Germs, Directors Mac Alejandre and Joyce Bernal and Lolit Solis.
Tomorrow will be the last episode in first season of “Marian”. In the first episode of the new season that starts on September 20, there will be some changes. Direk Louie Ignacio will be replaced by Mark Reyes. “Not because he
isn’t doing a good job,” says Marian. “For a change lang para mabigyan ng new perspective ang show. I will still do the buwis buhay opening number but magkakaroon ng dance showdown between my guest stars. Si Paolo Ballesteros is too busy so Christian Bautista will replace him as my co-host. Before December, kailangan makapag-advance taping kami ng new episodes kasi weeks before the wedding, gusto kong mag-focus na lang doon to make sure walang hitches.”
Where will they have their honeymoon? “We’re not sure yet. Kasi lahat ng gusto naming puntahan, winter. Sobrang lamig, di hindi kami makakagala.”
We tell her to go to Australia as it’s summer down under. “We’ll consider that,” she says.