Man with a Mission

 

WHEN the bright lights are out and the cameras are switched off, it’s time for Gerald Anderson to step into his comfort zone. Nine fruitful years in show business but he’s still a regular guy.
“Hindi ko inisip na mangyayari sa akin ito. Pinangarap ko lang talagang maging successful. A guy from down south… not everybody can get out of our city sa GenSan,” he says. “Sobrang blessed talaga ako.”
Anderson has transformed from a dashing teener inside the Pinoy Big Brother in 2006, to essaying a very important role as Budoy in the hit primetime series, before going hard-hitting and grimy in the acclaimed Erik Matti opus “On The Job.” Apart from dedication to the job, the  26-year-old Film-Am actor believes that the secret to surviving the industry  is to always evolve—to always give your best, if not your all.
No cameras this time, Gerald also has found time for a worthy cause. In the coming days, he is set to full gear with his canine search and rescue training.
Despite his highly publicized breakups, the guy refuses to fold. Fresh from Star Cinema’s  recent blockbuster hit “Everyday I Love You” with the popular loveteam of Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano—he is set to prove that he’s just more than eye candy.
It’s his humility, yes, but also his clear vision, really, that now renders him as the man with a mission. (NRG)
Tell us about your role in the film “Everyday I Love You.” Was it challenging?
Actually, oo! It’s all about this guy who went through a coma and woke up seeing things have changed right before his eyes. Tinanggap ko itong role na to with all of my heart and soul. I did a lot na like action, romantic drama, romantic comedy, horror and it’s a role like this na hindi ko pa na try. I did it because it’s something na alam ko na may matutunan ako.

How is Liza Soberano as a leading lady?
Sobrang saya siya katrabaho. Looking at her now at the age of 17 parang sobra na ang pinagdaanan niya. Couple of times tinanong ko talaga siya: Totoo ka ba? Are you just 17? Hindi ako makapaniwala dahil nung 17 ako, kalalabas ko lang ng PBB (Pinoy Big Brother) house nun at yung first TV show ko was “Love Spell,”sobrang sakit ng ulo ang ibinigay ko sa director ko because me and Kim (Chiu), bago ang lahat sa amin; we were newcomers. And ‘yung tipo ni Liza na everything seems to be natural to her. I would be turning 10 years in the business next year and she really stood her ground to actors like me who are ahead in the business. She can hold her own at the age of 17 so sana ‘yung ugali niya would not change kasi she is really motivated.

How about Enrique Gil?
He is my brother. Kapatid ko kasi siya sa “Budoy.” It started from there na we were always on tour, palagi kaming nagba-basketball sa ibang bansa. So nung nag shooting kami it was just ordinary for us. In the movie we may not be in agreement pero ang sarap tingnan ng scenes namin—yung batuhan ng lines namin was for me quite a highlight.

How are you after your breakup with (actress) Maja Salvador?
Okey naman. Siyempre ganun talaga ang buhay. We move from it tapos we just learn from it and be happy with the moments that you shared with each other. Of course you just can’t dwell in the past. And wala talaga tayong magagawa, tapos na ‘eh.

Would you be ready to do a movie with her?
Oo naman. It would be an honor para sa akin because isa siya sa pinakamagaling na actresses now and masarap kasi siya panuorin. Ba’t naman ako tatanggi? Hindi po ako ganun na tao na kesyo ex ko ang makasama ko ay tatanggihan ko na ang role. I don’t hold grudges.

Even if it’s a project with both her and Kim?
Grabe naman! Pero gaya nga ng sinabi ko importante sa akin ‘yung role, kung maganda ‘yung project. Also if the project is interesting and whether makaka-relate ba ang audience nito and mag-i-improve pa ako dito as an actor as well as a person. It really won’t matter if I will work with an ex—the role to me is much more crucial. Produce natin yan next year! Hahaha!

After going through several breakups, how do you define love now?
Love is important. It lives with us every day and ‘yun ang purpose natin sa buhay ‘eh. One day magkakaroon din tayo ng pamilya pero bago tayo magkakapamilya siyempre you have to be in love with your wife, and then come the children. ‘Yun ang purpose ng buhay para sa akin—-love.

How do you move on from a break up?
Depende. I just try to keep myself busy and iniiwasan ko ang mga bad memories kasi mangingibabaw talaga sa akin ‘yung good memories. ‘Yun lang. Just be thankful for that. Always cherish those moments kasi  ‘yun na ‘yun ‘eh. Because if you think about it lahat naman ng relationships dumaraan naman sa challenges. So basically you just have to improve yourself as a person. Kung anuman ang mga mali na nangyari, you just have to learn from it.

What is the biggest lesson love has taught you?
Masakit pero mas mangingibabaw ‘yung inspiration, ‘yung purpose of life, as well as the self-goals na you will meet halfway with your loved one. It’s a work in progress. Hindi ibig sabihin na if in-love ka everything will be just be smooth sailing and pleasant. Kailangan both of you really have to work for it.

Relationships come and go and somehow the word “love” has become an abused word. Do you easily give out your “I love yous”?
Actually totoo ‘yun.  Minsan we say that sentence pero we don’t even mean it. It’s so easy for us to send it through text, you go to dinner and instead of the usual conversation what happens is nasa cellphone tayo nag i-instagram or nasa social media. Grabe ‘yung technology natin ngayon that it has affected our personal relationships and it’s just easy to say I love you. Wala na yung nagsusulat ka ng letter or pupuntahan mo siya.

What are your coming projects?
Katatapos ko lang ng “Nathaniel” weeks ago. So after “Everyday I Love You,” medyo magpapahinga muna ako a bit. There are scripts or movie projects na gusto ko na ako mismo ang mag produce. I want to do different things this time so sana next  year makapag-produce ako ng movie. And there are personal stuff na gusto kong gawin like with the K9 Search and Rescue Team that I want to establish. I want to do it as my contribution to keep the community safer.

Can you elaborate this personal advocacy? How did you get into this?
Bago pa ako mag artista pangarap ko talaga ay maging sundalo. It’s one of those things na pangarap mo talaga na hindi mo nagawa. Pero sobrang blessed lang talaga ako na nasa posisyon ako na I can help others or sa sitwasyon ko mas madali. Itong K9 Team nag start ito nung na-expose ako sa bagyong Ondoy. Nakita ko talaga ‘yung mga tao na wala talagang nakakatulong sa kanila and I want to create a team na if may mangyayari man dito or sa other countries, isa kami sa makakarating or maka-respond. I don’t want to sound selfish pero it’s a different kind of fulfillment na makukuha mo dun na makakatulong or sana maka-save ka ng lives.

Who will make up this team?
Ako talaga ang nag-isip lahat. Meron akong mga makakasama from Subic na ex-military na K9 din and na base din sila in Afghanistan and Iran at tinutulungan talaga nila ako. So this is a quality team na well-trained talaga. So hindi muna ako tatanggap ng mga projects because we will start na with our intense training. Kasi hindi talaga natin alam—we have earthquakes, typhoons and if ito lang ang konting contribution sa mundo well then I will do this.

What’s your dream role? How do you see yourself as an actor in years to come?
Ang dami ko pang gustong gampanan na roles. I want to portray  a gay guy. I want to know their struggle and basically know their journey as a person.
I also want to portray an IsIam in Mindanao. Or maybe a politician who has a good heart who eventually turns out corrupt. Angdami! I have been in the industry for 10 years and when I fell in love with acting I realized that Ireally want to be a good actor. The fame, the money hindi ko po ‘yan madadala sa hukay. What I need are the meatier roles that I will leave something as a legacy.

Is there a dream project that you have in mind?
Ang dami pero there’s this one inspirational basketball-themed movie about a coach and a player. Wala kasi tayong ganun na mga movies, a sports drama. Isa na ‘yung gay movie. Abangan niyo na lang because I think 2016 will be a busier year for me.

If you were to choose actors for the roles you mentioned, who would they be?
Sa gay movie, Tom Rodriguez, Dennis Trillo or Paulo Avelino. And for the sports drama, I will be the player and coach ko si Aga Muhlach.

How about Kim Chiu as the leading lady?
Pwede!

Would you want your younger brother to join showbiz as well?
Okey naman. There are many facets to showbiz naman both good sides and the bad. Gusto ko sana na pumasok siya sa military like I would have loved too pero that will be too selfish. Nung 17 ako, nung lumabas ako ng PBB hindi ko inisip na mangyayari sa akin ito. Pinangarap ko lang talagang maging successful, a guy from down south and not everybody can get out of our city sa GenSan. Sobrang blessed lang talaga ako.

 

Special thanks : Josie Pereyra (JSP Ads and Promotions)

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