Emotions Pour as Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera Make Their Comeback Movie, 'Rewind' | ABS-CBN

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Emotions Pour as Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera Make Their Comeback Movie, 'Rewind'

Emotions Pour as Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera Make Their Comeback Movie, 'Rewind'

Grace Libero-Cruz

 | 

Updated Dec 08, 2023 08:01 AM PHT

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Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera in their comeback movie, Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera in their comeback movie, 'Rewind' Photo courtesy of Star Cinema


As a married couple, who has established themselves as the DongYan love team, Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera have always been partners. Theirs is a relationship that blossomed as co-actors, eventually evolving into husband & wife and parents. Even as they pursue their individual careers, the DongYan onscreen tandem was never really forgotten. Thirteen years since they starred in the movie You to Me Are Everything, Dingdong and Marian felt now was the perfect time to make a movie comeback together. Several factors contributed to this major decision, but ultimately, it was the material presented to them that they simply couldn’t say no to.




Perfect timing

Back in 2019, pre-pandemic, Rewind, described as a “family drama” with hints of “magic realism,” was pitched to Dingdong and Marian. That was a challenging time for the couple, as they had just welcomed their second child, son Sixto, that year and were navigating parenting this little boy and their daughter Letizia. Then the pandemic happened and many things, including this project, had to be put on hold.


This year, with the situation returning to normal, they revisited this pitch, recalling how much they were impressed and moved when they read the script by Enrico Santos. “Mahalagang-mahalaga sa’min itong project na ito dahil du’n sa nangyari when it was pitched to us years ago. So, nai-kuwento siya tapos nabasa namin ’yung briefer, so it was a synopsis. Tapos nagkatinginan lang kami tapos sabi namin, ‘Wow.’ Parang hindi na namin sinabi verbally na ‘yes,’ pero du’n pa lang sa tinginan namin, parang automatic siya na may something itong project na ito. May goosebumps level,” Dingdong recounts. “Akala namin hindi na talaga siya matutuloy hanggang sa tinanong na nga namin kung and’yan pa ba and maiintindihan namin kung hindi na namin siya magagawa. But for some reason, napunta pa rin siya sa’min and that’s something that we will be very, very grateful for.”



Marian said that this year was indeed the perfect time to proceed with this project because, before the pandemic, she just wasn’t ready to work yet. “

Maliit pa si

Sixto

nu’n e

.

Parang hindi pa ako

ready

mag-trabaho

.

Hindi pa talaga

.

Pero kung sa

project

at

project

din lang

, ’

yung

script

kasi

,

sabi ko

,

ang ganda

! Actually,

binabasa ko pa lang

,

umiiyak na

ako

.

K

aya sabi ko sa kanya

, ‘My god, dad,

sobrang ganda ng

script

na ito

.’

Kay kami ’yung gumawa o hindi

,

maganda talaga ’yung

project

e

.

Tapos siguro

in God’s perfect time,

nag

-pandemic

tapos bumalik na uli ako sa

showbiz

kasi nagpahinga ako

for almost four years,

kay

Sixto,

e di sabi niya

, ‘

Andito pa ’yung

project. They’re asking if you want to do this project. With me!’

Sabi ko

, ‘

Ha

?

Talaga

?

Nak

u

,

hindi ko na papakawalan ’yan

. Let’s do this, dad!’ So, ’

yun na ’yun

,

dire-diretso na kami nu’n

.”




Dream collaboration

Rewind is a dream project for Dingdong and Marian in more ways than one. It not only serves as their reunion movie, but it’s also a collaborative project for ABS-CBN and GMA, as well as Star Cinema, APT Entertainment, and Agosto Dos Pictures. The movie is also an official entry to the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), the festival’s 49th edition.

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Si Dong, palaging naka-over the bakod na ’yan,” Marian says. “Palagi niyang sinasabi sa’kin na sana balang-araw wala na ’tong mga ’to [network wars]. Sana lahat p’wede mag-collaborate. Sana lahat p’wedeng mag-experience o mag-transfer ng ganyan. Walang sinasagasaan. Palagi niyang sinasabi sa’kin. And then nangyari talaga.”


Dingdong worked with Star Cinema for movies One More Try, The Unmarried Wife, Seven Sundays, and She’s the One where he was directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar. As for Marian, Rewind marks her first time working with Direk Mae, so she was excited from the beginning and delighted that their collaboration has exceeded her expectations.


Ang maganda rin siguro kay Direk Mae, binibigyan ka niya ng pagkakataon na i-explore ’yung sarili mo. Kung paanong atake ’yung gagawin mo. Kung paano mo ipo-portray itong character na ito. Tapos kung may mga suggestions kami, very open talaga siya,” Marian shares. To which, Dingdong adds, “’Yun ’yung gustong-gusto ko tungkol sa proseso ng production crew, production staff and the creative team, headed by Direk Mae kasi very collaborative ’yung sinet niya na culture dito sa pelikula.”


Dingdong Dantes, Dingdong Dantes, 'Rewind' director Mae Cruz-Alviar, and Marian Rivera Photo courtesy of Star Cinema


The movie has been making waves online, and people are expressing their excitement about watching it in cinemas nationwide once it’s out on December 25. ABS-CBN Film Productions dropped Rewind’s official trailer and it garnered over 16 million views within 24 hours since its release on various Star Cinema and ABS-CBN platforms last December 4.


Rewind gave Dingdong and Marian a chance to reconnect with their previous collaborators and at the same time work with new people. But most notably, it reignites their relationship as co-actors.


They say that their dynamics at home and on the set are not that different. “May kaibahan ba kami sa bahay hanggang sa trabaho? Siguro ’yung ano lang, the lines, the script, the character. Siguro isa sa pagmamalaki ko talaga sa relationship namin, swak kami sa isa’t-isa e. Kumbaga para kaming mga clay na magmo-mold talaga. Ito siya as individual, ito ako, pero ’pag pinagsama mo talaga kami, nagmo-mold talaga kami into one,” Marian explains. “So ’yun ’yung pinaka-proud kong sabihin na parang walang adjustment na malaking-malaki naAy, may eksena tayo. Kailangan ganito.’ Hindi e, mas nakatulong pa ’yung pagiging mag-asawa namin dito sa mga characters namin. Kasi mas nasusuportahan namin ang isa’t-isa, at ang maganda niyan, may mga pagkakataon na na-e-experience namin ’yan. Although, s’yempre, as an actor, ’pag binigay naman sa’yo ’yung task, kailangan i-arte mo talaga e. Pero iba pa rin kapag na-experience mo ’yung mga bagay-bagay tapos inarte mo siya.”


As parents to two kids, Rewind strikes differently and tugs at their heartstrings, too, because their roles as Mary and John are also parents to child actor Jordan Lim’s Austin.


Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes with Jordan Lim, who stars as their son in the movie Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes with Jordan Lim, who stars as their son in the movie 'Rewind' Photo courtesy of Star Cinema


Dingdong also pointed out how they complement, supplement, and support each other all the time, which is key to a strong partnership on- and off-cam. He says, “Kaya kami nagkakasundo kasi kung ano ’yung strength niya, ’yun din naman ’yung maaaring sa’kin hindi masyado tapos sinu-supplyan namin ’yung isa’t-isa and vice versa. So, that’s how our dynamics are.”


Now that filming is over and they’re booked and busy with promotions, we asked them to share some behind-the-scenes anecdotes while working on the movie. For Dingdong, while his moments with his wife on the set are truly unforgettable, he says he also appreciated all the times the two of them spent together in the car to and from work. Their routine was head to work after dropping off their kids at school and have conversations while in transit. “Alam mo ’yung mga ganu’ng usapan, minsan na lang namin magawa kasi parati siyang busy. Ako rin may ginagawa. Kung meron naman kaming oras, kasama naman namin ’yung kids. So, you know, ’yung ganu’ng usapan sa kotse talaga, I really value and treasure those,” Dingdong tells Metro.Style.



A teary-eyed Marian also revealed her most memorable moment behind the scenes. She opens up, “Ngayon ko lang iko-confess, bilang kayo ’yan. Ngayon ko lang sasabihin. Siguro ’yung eksena na last scene. Basta may mga nangyayari du’n. Siguro ’yung isang eksena na patapos na. ’Yung eksena, naiyak talaga ako. Dapat hindi ako iiyak. Sabi niya [Dingdong], ‘Bakit ka umiiyak?’ Tapos [sabi ko], ‘Direk, sorry, kasi naiiyak ako kasi nagiging emotional ako kasi ito ’yung huling eksena na ka-trabaho ko siya na naman.’ So, hindi ko alam kung kailan uli. So parang sabi ko, gusto kong i-treasure ’yung moment na ’yun kasi for 13 years, ang tagal na hindipero ’yung emotion ko nu’n, parang sabi ko, wow, ito ’yung mami-miss ko, ’yung kasama ko siya sa set.


Sobrang gusto ko talaga siya ka-trabaho. Of course, GMA, hindi naman kami minsan mabigyan ng chance kasi as individual, may sarili siyang show. May sarili akong show. So sabi ko, dito sa pelikulang ito, ang daming emotions. First time for Star Cinema, with Direk Mae, lahat ng ka-trabaho ko sa ABS na sobrang good experience. And then after 13 years, ka-trabaho ko ’yung asawa ko na dream role ko. Sabi ko, I want to do a heavy drama talaga, which is binigay ng Star Cinema. So, lahat ng nangyari sa’kin this year, especially sa movie na ito, lahat dream come true for me. Sabi ko, the mere fact na may entry kami for MMFF, sobrang thankful kami at very grateful ako na ka-trabaho ko ito. Pina-experience nila sa’kin na ka-trabaho ko ang Star Cinema and bonus pa with my husband. Parang wow. Ano pa bang sasabihin ko? Amen for that!”


Marian adds, laughing while wiping her tears, “Naiyak tuloy ako. Na-miss ko ’yung asawa ko, e kasama ko naman sa bahay.”




Looking back, looking forward

No marriage is perfect but for Dingdong and Marian, making a marriage work and last boils down to always being supportive of each other. Dingdong offers, “When you say partnership, ano ’yan e, hindi naman siya ’yung tipong pagalingan e, ’di ba? Merong give and take ’yan. Meron talagang pag-supply ng kakulangan ng isa and vice versa. So, ’yung ganu’ng klaseng working relationship namin onscreen and as professionals, sa tingin ko, nadala rin namin in our personal life e dahil ganu’n din kami bilang mag-asawa.”


He also likened marriage to danceーwhether it be chacha, as Marian suggested; one of those TikTok dance crazes she’d become viral for; or even those swoon-worthy moves he’d make back when he was an Abztract Dancers member. “Para siyang sayaw kasi, you know, ’pag sumayaw ka na sa music, parang hindi ’yung pupunta lahat lang sa kaliwa, sa kanan. Meron kang nararamdaman na dapat sabay kayong pumupunta together na ang instinct lang na nagsasabi nu’n ay ’yung pakiramdam. Hindi ko maipaliwanag. Basta it’s very fluid. It’s very dynamic in a sense na para kaming sumasayaw. ’Yun ’yung description ko sa samahan namin. And I think nakuha namin ito dahil sa aming pagsasama even before we got into this relationship.”


'Rewind' is Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera's comeback movie since starring together in 'You to Me Are Everything' in 2010. Photo courtesy of Star Cinema


Dingdong and Marian got married on December 30, 2014. This month, as they’re busy with holiday preparations and movie promotions, they will also celebrate their wedding anniversary. Since there is also a wedding scene in Rewind, we asked them to “rewind” to their wedding day, which was considered the showbiz royal wedding at the time, but it’s not the grandness of the event that they remember most.


For Dingdong, it was their car ride after the ceremony as they made their way to the reception venue. He recalls, “’Yung nasa kotse na kami pagkatapos. Nu’ng papunta na kaming reception, ‘Ano’ng nangyari du’n? Tapos na ba?’ Tapos na pala. Tapos ‘picture nga tayo.’ Alam mo ’yun, parang hindi ako makapaniwala nu’ng time na ’yun na, finally, tapos na siya and yet natapos siya na ganu’ng kabilis lang. Pero ’yung preparasyon niyan ilang buwan, ’di ba? Taon pa nga. Pero sabi nga nila, ’yun ’yung ceremony. ’Yung totoong marriage nagsimula nu’ng araw na ’yun. So ako, para sa’kin, ’yun na talaga ’yung nag-jumpstart ng magandang married life ko together with her.”


As for Marian, their big day was extra special because it was a family affair. She shares, “Andu’n kasi ’yung tatlong pinaka-importanteng tao sa buhay ko. Napagsama-sama sa wedding ko. Si nanay [her maternal grandmother], si mama, at ang papa ko. So silang tatlo, andu’n sila. Present sila sa pinakamahalagang araw sa buhay ko. So ’yun talaga ’yung sinasabi ko na, oh my god, very blessed ako na andu’n sila to bless our relationship.”



No doubt, 2023 has been a great year for Dingdong and Marian. In his words, the year was “tough yet fulfilling.” And the mere fact that they’re ending it on a high note with an exciting, heartwarming project like Rewind is beyond their imagination. Now, they’re looking forward to 2024 overflowing with love, happiness, and positivity.


Inspired by his biggest takeaway from Rewind, Dingdong says their mantra for next year is “to live more and love more.” He emphasizes, “May mga bagay na hindi mo talaga p’wedeng i-rewind, imposible mo nang ma-rewind kaya make the most of what you have right now. ’Yung relationships na meron ka, ’yung mga taong mahal mo siguraduhin mong iparamdam mo na mahal sila kasi baka hindi na dumating ’yung araw na maibigay mo sa kanila ’yun. So, bago pa magsisi ang lahat, now is the time for us to live more and to love more.”



Rewind revolves around John (Dingdong), who looks to make up for lost time and regrets with his family after an uneventful accident that cost his wife's life in a car crash. Desperate to have his wife, Mary (Marian), back into his life and to mend his relationship with their son Austin (Jordan Lim), he receives unexpected help from Lods, played by Pepe Herrera—giving him a chance to start anew and amend his wrongdoings to his family. But along with this opportunity, a costly consequence awaits.


Completing the stellar cast are Sue Ramirez, Joross Gamboa, Lito Pimentel, Ina Feleo, Ariel Ureta, Pamu Pomerada, Mary Joy Apostol, Via Antonio, Chamyto Aguedan, and Coney Reyes.


Catch Rewind in the upcoming MMFF 2023, in cinemas nationwide starting December 25.


Photos courtesy of Star Cinema


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