Gerald Anderson (CDN PHOTO/EDD BUENAVIAJE)
THERE were no “maybes.” His past relationships were all “labeled.”
Actor Gerald Anderson made this confession, among many others, at a no-holds-barred conversation with the Cebu press to promote his latest Star Cinema film “Always Be My Maybe.”
Raking in P8 million on opening day last Feb. 24, ”Always Be My Maybe,” which co-stars Arci Muñoz, is helmed by award-winning director Dan Villegas, known for his “hugot” films such as “#WalangForever” and “English Only Please.”
Saying that he wants to improve himself first before getting into a romantic relationship again, the 26-year-old actor shared: ”Pag pumasok ka sa relationship dapat buong-buo ka. Relationships are… trabaho din ‘eh. Being in a relationship, dapat hindi ka selfish.”
Gerald, who started his showbiz career as a housemate for Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Season 1 more than a decade ago, has indeed come a long way from the lanky teenager from Gen San who was introduced in the reality show.
Aside from starring in numerous teleseryes and movies, he has won acting awards, the latest of which is the Gawad Tanglaw Best Performance by an Actor award for the “Maalaala Mo Kaya” episode “Class Picture.”
Add to that his advocacies, including the soon-to-be-launched Gerald Anderson Foundation, which aims to “help kids with mental disability and cancer, promote the preservation of the environment, and get involved in search and rescue operations in calamity-struck areas.”
It looks like Gerald is taking seriously what he said in a recent TV interview: “2016 is the year that I will be the man I’ve always imagined myself to be.”
Describe this film.
Sexy and rom-com drama. Parang lahat na yan nasa movie. Matatawa kayo, maiiyak, kikiligin, ma-i-in love, lahat. Tungkol ito sa relationships ngayon na minsan hindi natin alam kung ano ba talaga tayo.
Dan Villegas is known for “hugot” movies. How about you? What makes this different from your past movies?
Eto na siguro ‘yung pinaka hugot na movie ko ever!
Have you seen Dan’s other films?
‘Yung “The Break Up Playlist,” oo. ‘Yung “#WalangForever,” hindi pa.
How is Arci as a leading lady?
Bilib ako sa kanya.
Sobrang galing. Napaka professional. Gusto nya ‘yung trabaho niya. Gusto niya ‘yung ginagawa nya. Matagal na pala siyang artista ‘eh. Sa GMA at sa TV5. Eto ‘yung biggest break niya and she deserves it.
Is this your first project together?
Yes, first time namin magkakilala. First day namin doon kami nagkakilala. Walang background at wala kaming pinagsamahan. Syempre nakikita ko siya sa “Pasion de Amor” at minsan sa ASAP but never kami nagkausap. Kumbaga, pinakilala lang kami, tapos sabi ko: “Hi, ako si Gerald. Sabi ko, Wow!”
Since it’s Arci’s first time to do a leading role for a film, how did you assist her?
Hindi ko siya na- assist. Hindi naman siya kailangan ng assistance. Magaling siya. Siguro sa love scenes namin… Bilang leading man niya, importante na comfortable siya.
Bakit kayong dalawa?
Hindi ko alam, ‘eh. Pero sabi nila malakas daw ‘yung chemistry namin.
Tell us about your role and Arci’s.
Ako po si Jake Del Mundo, siya si Tintin. ‘Yung past ni Jake medyo mahirap din sa relationship, at si Tintin ganoon rin. Halos magtalo kami sa relationship. Nagkakilala kami, pag magkasama kami nag de-debate, hanggang sa unti-unti, binabago namin ang isa’t isa. Kung ano ‘yung nangyayari talaga in a modern relationship.
How were the love scenes?
Originally dapat dalawa lang, pero dinagdagan ng isa. Sobrang intense na nagka-rashes si Arci dahil sa balbas ko, ‘eh. Sobrang dikit na dikit kami sa isa’t-isa.
Did Arci have restrictions in her love scenes, considering that she has a boyfriend?
’Yun na nga, eh. About the boyfriend … di mo naman maramdaman kasi nga mahal nya ‘yung trabaho niya. At gusto niya ang ginagawa niya. Kung ano ang kailangan sa eksena, ginagawa niya. Mahirap para sa isang babae. Kasi maselan ‘yung eksena. Sensitive. Grabe, nagawa niya, so beautiful, sexy and sophisticated pa rin.
(CDN PHOTO/EDD BUENAVIAJE)
Ikaw, anong naramdaman mo?
Hahaha! Anong ibig sabihin ng naramdaman ko? Hahaha! Oo naman… Magiging honest ako. Nakita niyo naman ang itsura ni Arci. Isipin mo, halos walang suot… ‘yun ang eksena namin. Impossible na hindi ako madala. Kaya minsan, napapatigil ako… sasabihin ko na, “teka, teka, sandali. Hindi totoo ‘to.” Sobrang totoo kasi ‘yung mga eksena namin. Lalo na ‘yung conversation namin about relationships at pinagdadaanan namin. Parang nag-uusap kami na ‘di eksena (sa pelikula).
Were all your past relationships labeled?
Lahat may label. Mahirap kasi ‘yun eh. Yung ano kayo … mahirap rin sa lalaki. Minsan nag-usap kami ng friends ko… What if makakakita ka ng babaeng okay lang na magkita kayo (no commitment). Sinabi nila, ”The best yan! Grabe! Jackpot yan!” Pero ako naman, ang hirap kasi eh. Masarap kasi na sa ‘yo siya. Parang property mo sya. Ganoon din siya sa ‘yo. Hindi ko napagdaanan ‘yung walang label.
You were talking about “labeled” relationships. Why is the film’s title “Always Be My Maybe”?
Sanay tayo sa boyfriend and girlfriend agad. ‘Yun nga sa generation natin ngayon minsan walang label. Minsan wala tayong alam. Minsan nasasabi mo na “Date ba ‘to?” Ano ba? Andaming ganoon ‘eh. Hahaha! Uso yun. Sa trailer namin, ang daming nag comment at nag react na nakaka relate sila… which is good.
Speaking of relationships, how come you don’t have a girlfriend yet after Maja Salvador?
Hahaha! Gusto ko ‘yan. Direcho ‘ah. Ah … kumbaga ang dami ko pang kailangan din gawin para sa sarili ko.
But you’re hanging out?
Wala. Sa mommy ko lang. Hahaha! Siya ‘yung naging ka date ko sa Valentine’s. Wala pa talaga ‘eh. Dami ko pang dapat i-improve sa sarili ko talaga.
What lessons can viewers get about relationships from this film?
Maraming mga tanong. Sa ganoong mga sitwasyon. Iisipin mo… Ano ba talaga tayo? ‘Yung mga ganoon. Saka sa sarili mo. ‘Yung mga realizations na, daming nagawa na kalokohan. Kung ano talaga ang dapat mong gawin bago ka pumasok sa isang relasyon. Kasi ‘yun mo na mararamdaman ang sakit pagkatapos. Sa babae naman, makaka-relate talaga kayo.
Last time that you were here, you were talking about setting up a K9 search and rescue group. Any updates?
Yun! Sa March 7, ‘yung launching ng Gerald Anderson Foundation. Malalaman na po ng buong Pilipinas tungkol sa search and rescue (group) namin. Sa birthday ko mismo. Meron pong benefit dinner. Na e-excite ako. May mga kakilala din ako dito. Balang araw pupunta ako dito para sa K9 search and rescue group.
How many members do you have?
Ngayon apat kami na handlers. Kasama na ‘yung aso. Open naman kami sa volunteers.
You said a while ago that there are things you need to improve on. Like what, for instance?
Isa siguro ‘yung commitment. Kasi pag pumasok ka sa relationship dapat buong buo ka. Relationships are… trabaho din ‘eh. Being in a relationship dapat hindi ka selfish. Naging selfish ako in a way na ang dami kong ginagawa. Pag naging in a relationship ako dapat mabawasan na rin ‘yung ginagawa ko para sa sarili ko.
Your fellow Gen San-native Manny Pacquiao was in hot water lately for his comments on same-sex marriage. What are your thoughts on the issue?
Lahat naman ng tao may sariling opinion. May mga words naman na hindi maganda. Pero at the end of the day ‘wag po nating kalimutan na anong nagawa niya para sa bansa natin. We should also find it in our hearts na, ‘yun to give him another chance. Basta, respect each other. Wala din tayong karapatan na magsabi kung sino ang dapat mahalin. ‘Yun po ‘yung opinion ko.
Will you vote for him?
Kasi ako kilala ko siya bilang tao ‘eh. Hindi ko po masasagot ‘yan… ‘yung mga political (questions), kasi mahirap ‘eh.
Do you follow the Oscars?
Yes! Leonardo DiCaprio! Do I see myself being there one day? Hahaha!
John Lloyd Cruz and Piolo Pascual were in Berlinale for the film “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” …
Oo! Naiinggit ako. Among the Oscar-nominated films, gusto kong mapanood ang “The Danish Girl.” “The Revenant” pa ‘yung napanood ko. And ”The Big Short.” It’s a good film. Kaya ko naman gawin ‘yung ginawa niya doon (referring to DiCaprio). Ako minsan bilang artista, sinasabi ko … ah, sarap gawin to na movie.
DiCaprio was attacked by a bear, had a butt exposure, among other “struggles” for his film “The Revenant.” How far would you go to portray a character?
Kahit dito sa Pinas, di ko iniisip ‘yung awards, like ‘yung sa MMK. ‘Yung iniisip ko ‘yung tao na pino-portray ko. I’m sure ganoon din sya. Manalo, matalo ‘yung fulfillment ni Leonardo sa movie… okay na ‘yun! Dapat manalo siya. Kasi pag hindi pa siya manalo ewan ko if ano pa ang kailangan niyang gawin para manalo.