Marian: No rivalry with Angel over competing shows

MANILA, Philippines – They may be coming out with new shows at the same time, but Marian Rivera said she does not consider herself competing with Angel Locsin.

Marian’s new soap opera—“Carmela: Ang Pinakamagandang Babae Sa Mundong Ibabaw”—will premiere on Monday, January 27. Coincidentally, Angel’s “The Legal Wife” will begin airing on the same day.

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The two are often pitted against each other by fans and the entertainment media since Angel left GMA-7 for ABS-CBN. Marian rose to fame when she played “Marimar” in 2008, a role reportedly meant for Angel.

The 28-year-old GMA-7 actress merely shrugged off the idea of having a “primetime showdown” with the Kapamilya actress.

“Network lang naman ang nagkakaroon ng competition. Para sa akin, wala akong kakumpitensya. Basta ako, gagawin ko yung trabaho ko,” Marian said in a press conference recently.

She added, “Masaya ako sa ‘Carmela’ at yun ang mahalaga sa para sa akin.”

“Carmela” is the Kapuso star’s first primetime drama since she renewed her contract with GMA-7 August of last year.

It coincides with Marian’s recent success and popularity in various Asian countries such as Cambodia and Vietnam. Last year, she received an acting nomination for her performance in “Temptation of Wife” at the Asian TV Awards in Singapore.

Marian shared “Endless Love,” a local remake of a Korean drama she did with Dingdong Dantes, will be aired in Africa.

Of course, the Kapuso actress is ecstatic over her overseas success.

“Can you imagine na minamahal ka ng mga taong di mo kalahi? Doon pa lang, fulfilling na dahil ibig sabihin mahal ka ng tao hindi dahil sa kung sino ka ngunit dahil sa ginagawa mong trabaho,” she said.

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Marian also revealed she is working on two movies this year—with two actors she has not worked with before.

“Yung isang leading man na makakapartner ko, galling channel 5, yung isa ay channel 2,” she shared.

“Wala akong reklamo sa kung sino ang leading man. Mas gusto ko yung sumusubok ng bagong leading man. Wala namang masamang mag-try ng mag-try. Trial and error na lang yun pagdating sa mga pelikula,” Marian added. “Subok lang ng subok. Hangga’t maganda ang pelikula ay go lang ng go.”