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Writer's pictureRed Flagged
Jan 10, 20223 min read

UNPROVEN: Facebook post claims Marian Rivera to star in biopic on Dr. Fe del Mundo

Updated: Jan 21, 2022

Fact-checked by: Marian Galvan

 


Red Bullets:

  • Claim: A Facebook post claims that Marian Rivera will star in a film depicting the life of historic Filipina doctor Fe del Mundo, with filming to begin on July 22.

  • Rating: Partly False (Unproven)

  • The truth: No official sources, including Marian Rivera, and her media company, GMA Network, have announced the actor’s casting as Dr. Fe del Mundo. Moreover, no official sources have confirmed the production of a film about the doctor.

  • Why fact-check: The post’s comments show that people are already anticipating and praising the film return of Marian Rivera and the film adaptation of Dr. Fe del Mundo’s life story. More people could start anticipating it as well, given the Facebook page’s large following. Because the film project is unproven, people, specifically supporters of the actor and renowned doctor, could be let down.


Red Totality:


On Dec. 16, Facebook page Pinoy History published a post claiming that Kapuso actress Marian Rivera was set to star in a film about renowned Filipina pediatrician and scientist Dr. Fe del Mundo. As stated in its cover photo, Pinoy History features content on “History, Politics, Philippine Cinema & Television” and “Trivia, Important News and Filipino Culture,” and has 895,316 followers, as of writing.


The post included an image of Rivera juxtaposed with that of a young Del Mundo, both dressed in traditional Filipiniana attire. The text on the image read: “Marian Rivera will portray in a film the life of Dr. Fe del Mundo, her story full of obstacles and heroism, a woman who chooses to serve children in the midst of the Japanese occupation of the country.”


The post was also accompanied by a caption: “According to the source, said filming will begin July 2022, [sic] Gloria Romero, Glaiza de Castro, Roxanne Barcelo, Gabby Concepcion and Raymond Bagatsing will be part of the cast. [sic] del Mundo was the first woman and the first Asian admitted in Harvard Medical School’s history, She even sold her own house to built [sic] the children’s hospital in the country. She was also named the first Filipino female scientist and the most awarded pediatrician in our history. In 2011, she died at age of 99.”


As of this writing, the post has some 5,200 reactions, 219 shares, and 53 comments.


This claim is partly false, specifically unproven.


GMA Network, and the Kapuso actress herself have not made any official announcements on the actress’ casting in a film. Rivera reportedly turned down GMA series “First Yaya” at the onset of the pandemic, and has only announced on Aug. 25 a return with husband Dingdong Dantes. In an Instagram post on Dec. 17, Dantes announced an upcoming documentary that would feature Rivera and reigning Miss Universe Philippines Beatrice Luigi Gomez. This would be Rivera’s first confirmed onscreen project during the pandemic. During her hiatus from television, she ventured into theater by taking part in an online play produced by Tanghalang Ateneo, an adaptation of “Oedipus Rex.”


Likewise, no media or film production company has announced the production of a film centered on the life of Del Mundo. There are also no documentations or adaptations of the doctor’s life story in any local popular media forms, including film. To date, only the American feature film by David O. Russell, Joy, has celebrated Del Mundo alongside other female inventors from around the world.


Still on Rivera’s film projects, rumors have circulated about her casting in the Korean film Sad Tropics, starring Korean actor Kim Seon Ho. To date, there has been no confirmation from Rivera’s camp regarding her casting in the said film.




References:


Facebook, @PinoyHistory,” December 16, 2021



Instagram, @dongdantes, December 17, 2021




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