How having two moms helps Marian Rivera raise her kids

Marian Rivera feels fortunate that she has two mothers, and she’s always been very vocal about it. 

The actor grew up with her Lola Iska (Francisca Rivera), now 89 years old, whom she fondly calls Nanay after her parents separated when

she was 2 and her mother had to work overseas. 

Rivera said it was her Nanay who taught her that a person can surpass anything if they have a determination in life, faith in God, and believe in themselves and in people that surround them and love them. These values, the multi-awarded actor says, have contributed to her success. 

She then became close to her mother, Amalia, when the latter returned to the Philippines. Rivera considers her mom her best friend. 

Now herself a mother of two young children, Zia and Ziggy, Rivera makes sure her kids know they are her top priority. She also teaches them the values she learned from her two mothers. 

She is a hands-on mother, for instance, doing activities with her 4-year-old daughter Zia, such as home—studying, fun arts and crafts, and baking. 

She’s also on top of planning and preparing food for her family.

“Iyon ang pinakamahalaga na maihain ko sa kanila kung ano ang dapat at ligtas para sa kanila (The most important thing is I feed them with food that’s right and safe for them),” shares Rivera.

But the current situation admittedly makes it difficult for the doting mother and loving wife to accomplish her tasks at home. As most parts of the country at the moment are still on enhanced community quarantine, Rivera maximizes delivery services such as WalterMart Supermarket’s (www.waltermartdelivery.com.ph) in getting their family’s essentials. 

Acknowledging that she can’t do everything herself, she believes that teamwork is important in families with husband Dingdong, daughter Zia, and herself taking on different tasks. 

As the majority of moms celebrate Mother’s Day at home, Rivera extends gratitude and support to fellow ilaw ng tahanan who take care of their families despite the challenging circumstances. 

While she feels sad about the current situation, she feels it is important that “we stay strong together, stay in touch, and inspire each other.” 

“Kung may kapitbahay na nagtutulungan sa oras ng kagipitan, tayo namang mga mommy ay magkakapit-nanay (If neighbors help each other in times of need, us mommies must be there for each other),” she suggests. 

This Mother’s Month, Rivera gives a special salute to our “kapit-nanay frontliners—doctors, nurses, police and military, government workers, food and grocery workers, OFWs, and all essential workers.

Photos from Marian Rivera