If Marian Rivera wasn’t a celebrity actress, she might have a career as a costume designer. That’s because the mom of two — Zia, 7, and Sixto, 3 — has unapologetically been the hands and eyes behind the bongga Buwan Ng Wika costumes of her kids.
Now that school is back, the festivities have returned, too. We list 13 of Marian’s very competitive (and undoubtedly beautiful) costumes for her kids. Mostly they are of Zia, but Sixto is getting to that age when he gets to play dress up for school, too!
Mommy Marian's Best Filipiniana Attires
1. Sixto as "Yapu-Yapu"
Sixto recreated the adorable version of the fierce Filipino hero, Lapu-Lapu, during his most recent Buwan Ng Wika school activity. The Visayan warrior-leader costume includes Pintados traits -- the pre-Hispanic tattoos that symbolized social status and bravery -- as well as the regal colors of red and gold.
2. Zia as Binibining Pilipina
A pre-pandemic (and pre-Sixto) Zia dressed up in traditional baro't saya for United Nations Week in 2018. Her baro had the signature butterfly sleeves found on the iconic terno, paired with a silk bandana in floral prints that match her saya, or long skirt.
3. Zia in Terno Filipiniana
That same year, Zia wore a terno set complete with a shawl for Linggo Ng Wika. We're not quite sure if she has a pink lipstick on or if those are just her natural kissable lips!
4. Zia in an Indonesian Kebaya
We had to double check what Zia was wearing because, as much as it looks like Filipiniana, it's actually an Indonesian traditional dress. The Kebaya is made of a sheer material with floral embroidery. It's originally from Javanese culture which, with the proximity of the Java island to the Philippine archipelago, shares many similarities with ours. The batik, for example, is among traditional Indonesian clothing, too.
5. Mom and Zia in Native Weaves
Here's a bonus OOTD with Mommy Marian herself. While it's not a costume, it gives a glimpse of the celebrity mom's passion to dress up in native weaves and fabrics.
Zia Dantes' School Costumes And Holiday Outfits
If you're looking for some holiday costume inspiration, like Halloween and Christmas, we're sure you'll find something here.
1. Old Hollywood Glam
It looks like Zia's school loves to play dress up, because even their school anniversary has a reason to have a costume theme. This is the school activity from which Marian flaunted her Best Costume Award, with hashtags that said: #MasExcitedPaAkoKesaSaAnakKo #PagbigyanNiyoNaAngNanay #ParangAkoAngNagkaAward!
2. Darna, Like Her Momma
How adorable is Zia as Darna? It may take a couple of decades before we find out who did it better, if Zia takes on the iconic role one day as well.
3. Take 2: Zia As Dyesebel
In a PhilStar interview, Marian said that Zia watches her shows. No doubt Zia has seen Dyesebel, a show where her dad Dingdong Dantes also plays a starring role.
4. Aloha, Zia!
Here's another school activity. This time, Zia is in a beautiful hula skirt that's a perfect fit for a luau.
5. A Halloween Princess
In 2020, Zia donned the iconic Disney Princess Jasmine's exotic attire. Paired with her cuteness, it was a hit, for sure.
6. Scary, But Still Cute
Count on a Dantes kid to make a freaky, creepy, and even recycled costume of a clown look good. It looks like Zia used black garbage bags and old balloons for this dress. The ingenious construction bagged her yet another Best Costume Award, and we're not surprised anymore!
7. Pocahontas Cuteness
We were trying to find the occasion for this Pocahontas costume, but by now, it's clear that the Dantes squad doesn't necessarily need a reason to dress up.
RELATED: Learn about the benefits your kids get when they play dress up
8. A Sleepy Little Elf
For a Christmas school activity, Zia dressed up as one of Santa's little elves. It looks like she got a taste of tiis ganda as she sleepily stared off into nothingness while getting dressed and ready as early as 6:30 a.m.!
9. Halloween Villains
The joke's on everyone. Here is yet another full production by Zia, Marian, and Dingdong, who dressed up as Poison Ivy, Joker, and The Riddler for Halloween in 2018. We wonder what they'll all dress up as with Sixto this year!
RELATED: Take a look at Sixto's PJ Masks Birthday Party!
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