Around GMA

10,000 cops deployed in C. Visayas to secure Christmas celebration
Luis Pablo is finally home — and a champion: ‘Feels good to win it with La Salle’
Straight from the Expert: Lechon after the celebration (Part 2)

Article Inside Page

Showbiz News

Now embarking on a new series and portraying different roles, people are asking if Marian and Dingdong will surpass their Marimar-Sergio tandem.
MariMar’s phenomenal success brought Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes to the peek of their respective careers. Their love team became Philippines’ most talked about couple. Now embarking on a new series and portraying different roles, people are asking if Marian and Dingdong will surpass their Marimar-Sergio tandem. Text by Loretta Ramirez, Photos courtesy of GMA Network and Mitch S. Mauricio. Mars Ravelos’ Dyesebel has some of the most colorful characters in Philippine lore. It introduces us to a different world and gives us a host of interesting people, including the young mermaid named Dyesebel and her object of affection, Fredo. In GMA’s newest primetime offering, the television adaptation of this classic, Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes are tapped to portray the lead roles of the series, making their love team the hottest pair to watch in Philippine show business. Indeed, how they give life to these new characters will define what their tandem can achieve. Goodbye Marimar and Sergio Preparing for one of the most-loved Filipino tales, Mars Ravelos’ Dyesebel, is indeed a huge task for Marian and Dingdong. They admit that the biggest challenge is to find a way to make the viewers see them as different people and no longer as Marimar and Sergio. “Sobrang magiging challenge sa amin para makawala sa dating naming mga characters,” says Dingdong in an iGMA exclusive interview during the show’s story conference. He admits that he and Marian are primarily concerned with getting out of the characters of Marimar and Sergio and to have a fresh start in Mars Ravelos’ Dyesebel. “Actually nagwo-workshop kami para may iba naman silang makita sa amin kasi sa sobrang haba ng Marimar hindi maiiwasan na parehas na 'yung acting namin sa Marimar so binigyan kami ng chance ng mga directors namin na magkaroon ng workshop at pagusapan 'yung mga dapat naming gawin para maging bago naman sa mga tao,” shares Marian, who will take on a bigger challenge in portraying a mermaid and one of the most loved character in the Philippines. She adds that even the network executives met with them to discuss what they need to do for the viewers to see a different love team on television. So they both said their goodbyes to Marimar and Sergio and prepared for Dyesebel and Fredo with a clean slate. New Characters Dingdong admits that he did not watch the other adaptations of this mermaid tale. He said that he wants to create an image of Fredo based on what he thinks is appropriate in their series. “Ayoko kasi panoorin dahil gusto ko ng bagong approach sa character. Ayokong gumaya sa mga dating Fredo,” says Dingdong firmly. He intimated that they are reinventing the character of Fredo to make him more interesting. “Kasi ang balak kasi namin talaga is to create a bagong Fredo but siyempre we will retain 'yung essence of love story between Dyesebel and Fredo. ‘Yun ang hindi magbabago pero kung sino at ano si Fredo, medyo binago ko sya ng konti parang ‘yung ginawa ko kay Sergio,” explains Dingdong to iGMA. Marian, on the other hand, admits that she is now concentrating on the fact that she will be portraying the character of a mermaid. Her efforts are now focused on learning how to swim like a fish with her tail which weighs more than 10 kilos. “Noong una mahirap pero noong huli na, pag i-neenjoy mo kasi 'yung ginagwa mo parang hindi mo na nararamdaman 'yung hirap. Masaya ako pag nagagawa ko siya lalo na pag may buntot ako at nakakalangoy ako ng tama,” says Marian, quite evident that she is pleased with her new feat. She adds that transforming to Dyesebel was not easy but after their first few weeks of taping, she has learned to enjoy what she is doing and putting on a tail is just like another costume for her. “Sanay na sanay na [ako], mula noong nag Palawan ako hanggang dito sa studio sanay na ako. Excited na ako mapanood nila 'yung pinaghirapan namin sa Palawan at talagang ine-enjoy namin, gusto namin makita kung gaano kaganda sa ilalim ng dagat,” shares Marian rather infectiously. Well the wait is over! Starting Monday, April 28, we will witness Dyesebel’s rebirth on television. Tune in weeknights on GMA’s primetime telebabad block. Feel the Fun with Dingdong and Marian! Text DINGDONG/MARIAN and send to 4627. (Each Fanatxt message costs P2.50 for GLOBE, SMART and TALK N TEXT, while it costs P2.00 for SUN subscribers). Talk about Marian and Dingdong’s transformation on the iGMA forums. Learn more about Mars Ravelos’ Dyesebel in the following features: Chika Minute: Grand launch of Dyesebel Ready to make a splash Chika Minute: Marian and Dingdong prepare for Dyesebel Showbiz Central: Marian begins training for Dyesebel