“Sorry, but hindi,” she says. “Nagse-share naman ako ng pictures niya sa Instagram. Kami ni Dong. Okay na yun. Oo, madamot ako. Kasi alam nyo naman, grabe ang bashers ngayon. So hangga’t maari, limited lang ang pagpapakita namin sa pictures ni Zia. Pero malay natin. Mommy nga ni Dong, nag-guest sa show ko. Baka siya rin, later.”
One celebrity mom whose baby got a lot of bashing is Bianca Gonzales, whose daughter was called “Negra. Pangit.” “Nag-uusap nga kami ni Bianca. Grabe talaga yang bashers. E, mga duwag naman sila. Nagpapanggap sa likod ng ibang pangalan. Ako, never akong sumasagot sa bashers. Bahala sila sa buhay nila.”
She admits feeling tense over hosting a talk show like “Yan ang Morning”. “I’ve hosted a musical variety show before, ‘Marian’, pero first time ko to do a talk show and this is more challenging kasi hindi pwedeng puro ganda lang ang ipakita mo. When GMA first offered it to me, sabi ko, kaya ko ba? Kasi mas carry kong umarte sa harap ng kamera doing drama than hosting a talk show. But then, naisip ko, wala namang masama if I’d try to do things na never ko pang ginawa before. I have to grow and, so far, marami na kaming na-tape na episodes at enjoy naman ako.”
The show’s director, Louie Ignacio, says he and the staff are all pleased with Marian’s hosting skills. “May utak kasi siya,” he says. “Many important topics are discussed in the show and she shows na marami talaga siyang alam when she interacts and exchange views with our guests kaya tuwang-tuwa kami sa kanya.”
“Malapit naman kasi sa puso ko ang topics namin, like breastfeeding,” says Marian. “Nagbe-breastfeed naman talaga ako and I alsolearned a lot from our guests kung paano ako magkakaroon ng more milk. Pag hindi ko alam, hindi ako nagpe-pretend na alam ko. Hindi rin ako nagi-English dahil ayokong magmukhang nagmamagaling ako o nagmamaganda. Sabi ng husband ko, just be yourself. And I’m very thankful na napaka-supportive niya sa akin. I discuss with him yung topics namin at marami akong nakukuhang opinions and inputs mula sa kanya na nagagamit ko naman, like doon sa topic na do we spare the rod and spoil the child. Kasi ayaw naming mamalo.”
When do they intend to give Baby Zia a baby brother or sister? “After a year siguro. Kasi 5 months pa lang siya. E, nagbe-breastfeed ako. If I’d get pregnant now, magte-take ako ng vitamins, supplements na sasama sa gatas ko so wait na lang muna until one year na siya at saka namin sundan. Being a mom is priceless. Kahit mahirap magbuntis at mag-labor, it’s all worth it. When I wake up in the morning and see my husband and my baby beside me, I always thank God and say, Yan ang Morning ko!”
Will she be willing to let Heart Evangelista be a guest in her show? “Lahat naman, puedeng mag-guest. Walang problema. Wala akong haharangin, lalo na kung may maitutulong silang i-share sa topic namin for the day. Kahit naman sa ‘Sunday Pinasaya’ hindi ko ginawa yun. My God, sa ganda ng buhay ko ngayon, wala akong time para sa ganyan. Positive na lang tayo lagi.”
Don’t miss the special Mother’s Day presentation of “Yan ang Morning”. Marian has lined up some great segments like a cooking portion (she shares some secret recipes like tortang malunggay), physical fitness (she teaches viewers how to dance the zumba), DIY (do it yourself projects) and fun games with her guest who include moms like Ai Ai de las Alas (who appears with son Sancho de las Alas, who’ll be a dad soon), LJ Reyes and Katrina Halili (who shed a lot of tears during her guesting stint.)
