Being one of the powerhouse couples in the entertainment industry, Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera bloomed their love for each other after portraying the iconic roles of Marimar and Sergio in 2007.

During the grand media conference of their comeback film "Rewind" at the Dolphy Theater in ABS-CBN on Dec. 6, Dingdong shared secrets to making their tandem work. 

"Sa aming professional relationship, malaking bagay na nagumpisa kami na medyo in our late 20's, kasi ibig sabihin kahit papaano nakapagmature na kami sa aming mga choices in terms of roles and everything," Dingdong said. 

(In our professional relationship, it's a big deal that we started in our late 20s because it means that we have somehow matured in our choices regarding roles and everything.) 

Dingdong emphasized that their mutual support through life's milestones contributed to their successful marriage.

"Nung nagsama na kami, kumbaga hinog na yung mga gusto namin sa buhay. Second ay, yung mga panahon na yun, dun nangyayari yung mga malalaking milestones na nagaganap sa amin. Maraming firsts sa aming dalawa, and na experience namin yun together, so para sa akin na value ko yung mga moments na yun na kasama siya," Dingdong added. 

(When we got together, it was as if the things we wanted in life were ripe. Second, during those times, significant milestones happened to us. There are many firsts between us, and we experienced that together, so I value those moments with her.) 

Being a love team for 11 years and now a married couple for nine years, Dingdong revealed that throughout those years, he and Marian learned to respect each other and give what real love is. 

For Marian, she greatly honors her husband for being with her through good times and bad.

"Nasabi na ni Dong lahat, pero dagdag ko na lang din na malaking factor na kahit mataas man o mababa, matagumpay or hindi tagumpay nanjan kayo para sa isa't isa, kung anong pagkukulang ng isa pupunan mo. Hindi kasi kailangan na isa lang yung nasa pedestal kailangan nagtutulungan kayo para makamit yung mga pangarap niyo, and makakamit niyo kapag nanjan yung love, respect, give and take," Marian said. 

(Dong has said it all, but I'll add that a significant factor is that no matter how high or low, whether you are successful or not, you are there for each other; if the other one lacks, the other one fills in. There is no need for only one person to be on the pedestal; you need to work together to achieve your dreams, and you can complete them when there is love, respect, give and take.) 

DongYan's favorite moment

Working on previous projects together as sweethearts, Marian and Dingdong were also asked during the media conference what particular moment they wanted to rewind.

"Gusto ko irewind yung moment na siya si Dyesebel, tapos ako si Fredo. Kasi okay lang ka-swimming ka (laughs) basta ayun na yun," Dingdong said. 

(I want to rewind the moment when she was Dyesebel, then I was Fredo. Because it was a good time swimming with you (laughs), that's it for me.)

Later on, Dingdong revealed in an ambush interview that during that time, when they were shooting Dyesebel, they had a little malfunction while on water. 

"Basta may nangyari dun na medyo sinagip ko siya, kasi di ba usually si Dyesebel ang sumasagip, pero may malfunction nung time na yun it was a safety thing dahil kaming dalawa lang yung nandun, it was a life and death situation," he said. 

(I kind of saved her during that time because it's usually Dyesebel who comes to the rescue, but there was a malfunction at that time; it was a safety thing and because it was just the two us that time, it was a life and death situation.) 

Marian mentioned that her favorite moment was the iconic Marimar scene on the beach, which she wished she could relive.

"Ako siguro yung moment na gusto ko irewind ay yung sumasayaw ako ng Marimar sa isla. Bakit yun? Kasi dun ko nakilala si Sergio. Kasi yung moment na yun parang sinabi sa akin ni direk Joyce Bernal, o, Marian this is your moment, ibigay mo na lahat sa sayaw na ito kasi ito yung OBB natin," Marian said. 

(The moment I want to rewind is when I was dancing as Marimar on the island. Why is that? Because that's where I met Sergio. At that moment, director Joyce Bernal says to me, o, Marian, this is your moment; give everything to this dance because this is our OBB) 

Comeback film

Marian can't contain her excitement about reuniting with Dingdong on the big screen for their new movie.

 ''Ay looking forward every day talaga ako kapag makatrabaho kami, sabi ko nga last shooting days na lang mamimiss kitang ka-trabaho," Marian said. 

(I'm really looking forward to every day when we can work together, I said I'll miss working with you in the last shooting days) 

According to screenwriter Enrico Santos, they waited for Dingdong and Marian to accept the project since they've been dreaming to do a movie with them. 

"Siyempre, Star Cinema, sabi, 'We're dreaming of a DongYan movie. Puwede ba tayo gumawa ng kuwento? When we pitched it separately [to] Dingdong and Marian, parang nagustuhan. Pero siyempre poker face. Kinakabahan kami," Enrico said. 

(Of course, Star Cinema said, 'We're dreaming of a DongYan movie. Can we make a story? When we pitched it separately [to] Dingdong and Marian, they seemed to like it. But of course poker face. We are nervous) 

The project got held up due to the pandemic.

Enrico continued, "Sabi nila, gusto nila. But nag-pandemic, willing to be wait daw ba kami? We had a long discussion. Siyempre, first choice, only choice natin, sinulat natin para sa kanila" 

(They said they wanted to. But there is a pandemic, are we willing to wait? We had a long discussion. Of course, our first choice, our only choice, we wrote for them) 

He also added that it was tailored fit for Marian and Dingdong to do the lead roles. 

Directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar, "Rewind" is one of the entries for this year's Metro Manila Film Festival that will be showing on cinemas nationwide on Dec. 25. 

"Rewind" is a collaboration between Star Cinema, APT Entertainment, and Agosto Dos Media.

Also joining Marian and Dingdong on the film are Jordan Lim, Joross Gamboa, Ariel Ureta, Via Antonio, Pamu Pamorada, Chamyto Aguedan, and Mary Joy Apostol.