Director Mae Cruz Alviar has witnessed Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera’s chemistry both in front of and behind the camera, but it was the couple’s simple acts of care for each other while filming Remember in Canada that particularly touched her.
In an exclusive interview with LionhearTV, the award-winning director shared heartwarming behind-the-scenes stories that revealed how the real-life couple continues to nurture their marriage despite their busy careers.
According to Alviar, the affection between Dingdong and Marian is not limited to the romantic scenes audiences see on screen.
“It’s not just one moment it’s kasi marami… some are tiny, some are quiet, some are big,” she said when asked about the off-camera moments that made her appreciate the couple’s relationship.
One particular incident involved an unexpected illness, a trip to the grocery store, and a comforting bowl of homemade tinola.
Alviar recalled that while the cast and crew were filming in Quebec, Canada, Dingdong experienced an allergic reaction after being bitten on the head by a small insect known as a niknik. The actor was not feeling well and suddenly craved tinola, a traditional Filipino chicken soup. Marian immediately took action.
“So yung asawa niya, tumakbo sa grocery across the apartment namin mag isa at bumili ng ingredients. Nagluto ng tinola para may sakit na asawa,” Alviar shared.
For the director, Marian’s gesture demonstrated how naturally she cared for her husband, even while they were working far from home. But the thoughtful gestures were not one-sided. Alviar recalled another occasion when Marian was the one feeling unwell.
Instead of waiting for someone from the production team to inform her, Dingdong personally sent the director an early message about his wife’s condition.
“Tapos ito (Dingdong) naman nung may sakit naman si Yan, ang aga paggising ko meron ng message from Dong. Sabi, ‘just to give you a heads up, masama pakiramdam niyan.’ Ay! Nag manager na!” Alviar said, laughing at the memory.
She explained that witnessing these moments gave her a deeper appreciation of the couple’s relationship.
“After how many years of marriage, parang it’s very refreshing to see that yung dynamics nila as a couple… off screen makikita mo kung paano nila alagaan at mahalin at paano yung concern nila for each other.”
For Alviar, these everyday gestures help explain why Dingdong and Marian continue to captivate audiences as a love team.
“Those are just a few of what makes them work, what makes them nakakakilig, or what makes them as a couple strong,” she added.
She also recalled Marian joking about their enduring popularity as a couple.
“Sabi nga ni Yan, ‘naku peg na tayo ng pagkaloveteam, kasi hanggang ngayon solid pa tayo.’”
Beyond the couple’s off-screen relationship, Alviar also discussed the significance of filming ‘Remember’ in Quebec. The director revealed that the Canadian province was not the production’s original filming destination.
“Originally it was a different location, but because of the war we had to shift gears,” she explained.
The production eventually settled on Quebec, where the team discovered a meaningful coincidence. The province’s official motto is “Je me souviens,” meaning “I remember.”
“Kasi very metaphoric yung Quebec sa kwento… what it stands for. Kasi Quebec, ang motto niya is, ‘Je me souviens’, which is ‘I will remember’,” Alviar said.
The discovery was particularly significant because the film had already been titled Remember before the location was finalized.
“And then we found Quebec, then turns out yun ang motto nila. So parang how much more perfect is the place dun sa film.”
For Alviar, the unexpected change in location felt almost destined.
“Minsan may mga plano tayo pero hindi natutuloy yung mga plano. Dinadala tayo kung saan tayo meant,” she reflected.
While Quebec’s scenery provides a visually striking backdrop, the director believes its deeper symbolism makes the location an important part of the film’s storytelling.
Alviar previously directed Dingdong and Marian in ‘Rewind’, the blockbuster drama that became one of the highest-grossing Filipino films of all time. Although ‘Remember’ reunites the same lead stars and director, Alviar emphasized that the new film delivers a different emotional experience.
“Yung Rewind kasi heartbreaking… yung talagang iiyak ka for them. Dito naman sa Remember… this more family talaga. I think yun yung isang malaking difference,” she explained.
The upcoming movie follows an estranged couple who pretend to be together again for the sake of their daughter, whose memory is fading. As the characters revisit their past, the story explores how love, family, and memories can help people find their way back to one another. For Alviar, the film’s central message is especially relevant at a time when many people are experiencing uncertainty and difficult circumstances.
‘Remember’ is a collaboration among Star Cinema, APT Entertainment, AgostoDos Pictures, and Regal Entertainment. Asked what this partnership says about the Philippine film industry, Alviar pointed to the changing landscape of local movie production.
“Well, nag change na talaga siya. Kasi dati parang bihira ‘to mangyari, pero now akalain mo there are a lot of players now,” she said.
The director believes that collaboration among production companies can help strengthen the industry by bringing together teams with a shared creative goal.
“And I think pareho ang goal ng mga producers, is to come up with a good film regardless where you’re from.”
While ‘Remember’ explores the challenges of family relationships and fading memories, Alviar hopes audiences will leave the cinema feeling optimistic rather than overwhelmed by sadness. For the director, the film is an opportunity to offer viewers a moment of encouragement amid the difficult issues dominating everyday conversations.
“Is the feeling of hoping again. Kasi ngayon parang ang conversations natin ay politics, kaguluhan, etc. Yung paglabas mo (ng sinehan) parang ‘Oy! I wanna believe again. I wanna hope again and then I felt good about that film,’” she explained. “Sa dami ng kaguluhan and kadiliman parang we need that ray of sunshine, we need that ray of hope.”
She hopes moviegoers will carry that feeling with them long after the credits roll.
And for Alviar, the behind-the-scenes moments she witnessed between Dingdong and Marian reflect the same qualities the film hopes to celebrate: love expressed through small gestures, genuine concern, and the willingness to care for one another even during difficult moments.
‘Remember,’ starring Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera and directed by Mae Cruz Alviar, opens in Philippine cinemas on November 11, 2026.