MANILA, Philippines — “Multi-faceted” is how one will describe actor-singer-songwriter and athlete Mark Daniel Rivera, who joined the star-studded cast of the landmark teleserye, Unbreak My Heart, that premiered last May 29 on GMA 7. The primetime series is a joint production of GMA 7, ABS-CBN and Viu.
“I’m not scared to try new things,” admitted Mark. “I always tell myself I should be uncomfortable because once you’re uncomfortable, there’s growth.”
Mark is part of the star-studded cast of Unbreak My Heart that includes Jodi Sta. Maria, Richard Yap, Joshua Garcia, Sunshine Cruz, Eula Valdez, Gabbi Garcia and Laurice Guillen, with Manny Palo and Dolly Dulu at the helm as director and writer, respectively.
“We shot in Lucerne, Switzerland and also in Milan, Italy during winter season last February,” shared Mark. “It was challenging for the entire staff to work. Zero degrees and we were out shooting.”
Turning 26 in October, Mark wants to experience being part of a loveteam and do action, heavy drama and romantic-comedy films. Then, he also wants to venture into singing. In the third or last quarter of 2023, he is slated to release his debut album under Universal Records, with original tunes and covers.
“I’m really excited to learn and grow,” said the newest talent of ALV Talent Circuit. “So watch out for me with everything that I plan to do. I’m not going to get tired easily with everything that I will do. I’m going to keep on going. What I have in mind, I will really try to achieve those things. Whatever that I’m panning to do.”
Mark is even open to do theater. “It’s a different discipline compared to the other arts. There’s body language, there’s voice that will also be helpful to my singing career. There’s audience on the spot. One take only. I want to get challenged to do theater.”
Born and raised in Milan, Italy, Mark has been here in the Philippines since 2012, when he turned 15. “I still return to Italy because my parents are still there,” he said. “When it’s my vacation there, July-August, I would visit the Philippines.”
In 2013, Mark played football for the Askals National Team under 21 age range. “I started football since I was six years old,” he granted. “Italian was still my No. 1 language then. I didn’t know how to speak Tagalog because I was born and raised in Milan.”
Mark finished his architectural course at Instituto Tecnico di Milano Carlo Cattaneo before returning to Manila for good. He prompted himself to learn Tagalog so it would be easy for him to navigate local showbiz.
In 2015, he made his TV acting debut in the daytime series, Be My Lady, with Erich Gonzales and Daniel Matsunaga, in a role close to his heart.
“They were looking for a varsity football player,” Mark shared. “I got the role and I got lucky because I know how to play football. Bagay sa akin ang role. Very challenging because of the language.”
The series proved to be a real challenge for Mark. At that time, he was still not yet fluent in speaking Tagalog. “Acting-wise, it was totally different from commercials,” he said.
Thanks to his elder sister with whom Mark previously stayed with, also in 2015, he subsequently got a role in an Australian TV series, Jack Irish, Season 3, where he played a young Filipino surgeon.
He also appeared in The Good Son, where he previously worked with his Unbreak My Heart co-star Joshua Garcia. His other TV credits included Araw-Gabi (ABS-CBN), Nang Ngumiti ang Langit (ABS-CBN), Spirits Reawaken (iWant TV), The Four Bad Boys and Me (Star Cinema) and Without You (OctoArts Films).
Mark also acted in Mga Batang Poz (iWant TV), an advocacy series about HIV awareness. “I have no problem playing gay roles,” Mark said. “I grew up in Italy, so we had sex education from grade school.”
“What I noticed here in the Philippines, we didn’t have that. So, I really wanted to support this project. We need to tell people, tell kids or people about certain things about sex, the process,” he added.
“I know that our Filipino culture is very religious and conservative. It’s also the virtue of our country. Let’s bring awareness. Let’s talk about it for our sons and daughters because it’s really important knowledge. They will really regret not knowing about these things.”