Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes and their kids Zia and Sixto. Image: Instagram/@marianrivera

Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes will be celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary before the end of the year, or on December 30, but the Kapuso royal couple is not keen on having a renewal of vows, opting instead for a simpler celebration with their family and friends.

On the sidelines of a thanksgiving party hosted by a Filipino telecommunity company, Dantes said they are looking forward to celebrating this milestone of being married for a full decade, together with their two children Zia and Sixto.

The Kapuso Primetime King said what they would want is for their children to see the significance of the milestone, of being together for 10 years now.

“Hindi naman namin kailangang mag-renewal of vows kasi naaalala pa naman namin (We don’t need to renew our vows yet because we still remember them),” he said. “Gusto naming ma-realize nila na dito nag-umpisa ang lahat (We want them to realize that this is where it all began), 10 years ago,”

Dantes said it may be a bit challenging for their youngest Sixto to grasp the concept. “Pero sabi nga namin sa isa’t isa (But we told each other) the greatest way of showing the true importance of marriage is to show it every day,” he explained.

As for Rivera, more than having a grand 10th anniversary celebration, the better way to impart to the kids the importance of their union is by showing how they treat each other at home every day.

She said they bond with the children over television, watching movies and programs. “So kapag ang internet maganda at walang interruption, mas maganda ang bonding (So if you have strong internet with no interruption, the bonding gets better),” Rivera said.

Dingdong Dantes (left) and Marian Rivera/ARMIN P. ADINA

And whenever Dantes is away filming for “Amazing Earth,” or stays in the studio for long hours for “Family Feud,” he makes sure to check up on the family through video messaging.

“Siyempre ayaw nating nai-interrupt kapag mga video messages. Gusto ko nakikita ko ang mga anak ko tsaka siyempre si misis, nagre-report (Of course we don’t want our video messages interrupted. I want to see my children, and of course, my wife, to update them),” he said.

Christmas celebration

In a chat with reporters, Rivera said she used to have a smaller Christmas celebration, far different from what her children with husband Dingdong Dantes is experiencing now every year.

“Iyong Pasko ng kabataan ko, madalas kami lang ng lola ko ang magkasama (The Christmas of my childhood, usually it’s just me and my grandmother),” the actress said.

But now that she has a family of her own, Rivera said the people she spends Christmas with has grown, which now includes Dantes’ family and their kids. “So mas masaya ngayon (it’s more fun now),” she shared.

Dantes said he is making his wife experience what he has been having all his life, continuing his family’s tradition of holding big gatherings during Christmas. “It’s our turn to make the kids experience that, and create our own tradition,” he said.

“Kumbaga hindi lang iyong mga natutunan namin, pati iyong sa kaniyang (It’s not just what we have learned, but also her) experience in the past. Now we’re creating our own Christmas tradition,” he added.

Rivera has had an eventful year, where she embarked on her first Cinemalaya project, “Balota,” that also earned for her an acting award. She also scored multiple new endoresements this 2024.