Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera talk memories, unconditional love in ‘Remember’ global media launch

A journey of hope, family, and faith continues — and DongYan made sure to make this stop a memorable one! 

Led by Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, and director Mae Cruz Alviar, the cast and creative team of upcoming family drama film “Remember” shared their fond memories and heartfelt reflections during their global media launch, held at Eastwood Mall Cinemas on Thursday, October 22. 

Dingdong and Marian looked every bit the elegant couple as they warmly greeted host MJ Felipe, fans, and members of the press. The dashing Dingdong wore a navy blue ensemble featuring a multi-pocket coat and a polka-dot scarf, while Marian glowed in an ethereal pink corset gown with dainty lace details. 

Staying in theme with soft, wintery hues were Direk Mae, writers Enrico C. Santos and Daisy Cayanan-Mejares, and cast members Zia Grace and Ana Abad Santos, who each dressed in their best pastel and neutral-toned outfits. 

“Araw-Araw” by Ben&Ben, the official soundtrack of “Remember”, also played while the stars and creators made their way down the red carpet, setting the vibe for the night’s conversations. 

The song captures the story at the heart of “Remember”, one that follows an estranged couple coping with their daughter’s rare illness, and how memories play a part in seeing them through hardship.  

The event was officially off to a sentimental start as writers Enrico and Daisy looked back on Dingdong, Marian, and direk Mae’s previous film “Rewind”, whose screenplay was also penned by Enrico.  

He said, “Pagkatapos ng ‘Rewind’, ang next namin na tanong nina Dingdong [at] Marian is, ‘Anong susunod na ikukwento natin?'” 

Enrico shared that their goal was to provide audiences with a worthwhile and familiar story about hope, love, and family, while still piercing deep in their hearts. The result was “Remember”, which asks the poignant question of: “Pa’no ‘pag hindi mo na naaalala ‘yung tao at pinagdaanan mo. Nananatili pa ba ang pagmamahal?” 

Daisy then teased the journey that Dingdong and Marian’s characters embark on in the film: “Along the way, they will realize that maybe, sometimes, it takes a miracle to remember.” 

But who exactly do Dingdong and Marian play in “Remember”? And who will join them in bringing the story to life? 

Dingdong stars as Joseph, a father and husband who makes it his mission to mend his family back together after committing a grave mistake. Marian is Ria, a loving and hardworking mother to Ella, played by child star Zia Grace in her film debut. 

Zia playfully described her character as “a bit naughty,” to which Marian quipped, “Mukhang sa akin n’ya nakuha ‘yon.” 

An unapologetic and family-centered personality seems to run in the family, as Ana Abad Santos navigates her own distinct mother-daughter relationship with Ria as her mom, Mutya, a quirky cafe owner from Quebec. 

The setting of “Remember” feels like a character of its own, with the film taking place in the scenic province of Quebec, Canada. 

Direk Mae revealed that when they were researching for a location, they considered how the setting must fulfill one important narrative function: to be so far away from the Philippines, making it difficult for Joseph to travel and make amends with his family. 

The team behind “Remember” initially set their sights on Europe and later considered the French province of Quebec.  

“Everything just fell into place,” Direk Mae said, recalling how Quebec’s motto of “Je me souviens” perfectly ties into the film’s themes. Adding to the serendipitous discoveries was their premiere date of November 11, which also happens to be Canada’s Remembrance Day. 

“Remember” marked many firsts for Dingdong and Marian, one of which was the opportunity to film abroad together. From sightseeing side quests to fulfilling long-held dreams as a married couple, Dingdong reminisced about the joy and gratitude they felt on set. 

“Ang sarap sa pakiramdam, at lalo na dahil ang katrabaho mo ay ang mahal mo sa buhay,” Dingdong lovingly said.

However, the journey was not without its challenges. Marian recalled her hesitation to pursue the project, given how it would keep them away from their children for some time. But after seeing her and Dingdong’s hard work reflected in the official trailer for “Remember”, she was satisfied knowing their sacrifices paid off. 

“Naisip ko na mahirap mawalay sa mga anak, pero worth it din pala,” Marian said. “Isa lang ang malinaw sa ‘min dito. Ang misyon namin, mabigyan kayo ng pag-asa, kung ano man ang pinagdadaanan n’yo.” 

Diving deeper into the film’s story, the fear of losing one’s memories was also brought to light. In “Remember”, the character of nine-year-old Ella is diagnosed with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a condition that causes her memories to fade.  

For Dingdong, what matters is truly living in the moment, whether it may be savoring milestones or the little joys in between. “Ramdamin mo talaga lahat nung nangyari kasi naniniwala ako na, hindi mo man maalala, but if you encounter that person, you will remember the feeling,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Marian finds that unconditional love has the power to keep memories alive: “[Magbago] man ang hitsura, maghiwalay kayo ng mahabang panahon, pero ‘yung memory ng pagmamahal, parang hindi mawawala ‘yan.” 

Keeping the thought-provoking discussion going, the cast gave snippets of soul-stirring scenes that await audiences in “Remember”.  

For Ana, her heartwarming exchange with Marian, where she reassures her that she is a good mother, left the greatest impact. More than a moment of encouragement, the scene comes across as a display of growth among different generations in one family. 

What was unforgettable for Zia was her tearful argument with Marian, where they processed feelings of disappointment and anger.  

Joseph’s mantra of “Tiwala lang” proved to be the most memorable for Dingdong. While Joseph latches onto the phrase despite his shortcomings, he learns that trusting the process also requires actively putting the work in. 

Marian then chose a piece of dialogue which captures Ria’s heartbreak as a mother best while being relatable to anyone, regardless of their background: “Masama ba ‘kong tao para parusahan ng Diyos nang ganito?” 

With every line and moment, it became clear that “Remember” won’t shy away from portraying how holding onto hope and faith is more challenging than it seems, all while reminding us of its importance in our lives.

The “Remember” cast and creators wrapped up their evening of meaningful conversations with one last surprise.  

Audiences from different corners of the world can experience all the hope that the film has to offer as it premieres in the United States, Canada, and Guam on November 13, the Middle East (United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain) on November 12, Australia and New Zealand on November 12, and soon in Malaysia and Singapore. 

With the exciting announcement came all-new international posters, along with a second poster for the film’s Philippine release.

Discover how the family of Joseph, Ria, and Ella grapple with an unimaginable circumstance through hope and unconditional love in “Remember”, starring Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, and directed by Mae Cruz Alviar. 

Co-produced by Star Cinema, APT Entertainment, AgostoDos Pictures, and Regal Entertainment, “Remember” hits cinemas worldwide starting November 11. 

Book your tickets now at myTFC.com. 

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