The Kapamilya actor renewed his commitment to remain a solid Kapamilya, during his contract signing last November 17.
Recalling how his journey in showbiz started via the first teen edition of the popular reality show, Pinoy Big Brother, in 2006, General Santos City-native, Gerald Anderson, remains overwhelmed and in disbelief, by how far he has gone in his career.
Anderson finished third in his batch, with Kim Chiu emerging as the first Teen Big winner of the competition. It can be said, however, that although the 34-year old star did not win the competition, he is undoubtedly one of the show’s most successful alums, and he remains today as one of the biggest stars of ABS-CBN.
During his new contract signing, he recalled how he got overwhelmed by the influx of work that he had fulfill, right after exiting from the Pinoy Big Brother house. He recalled his first show with Chiu, an episode of then top-rating weekly fantasy-romance drama anthology, Love Spell.
“Sunday, pinalabas ‘yung unang episode ng Love Spell, mataas po ang ratings. So, on the set, magtetake na kami, biglang pinauwi kami. ‘Yun pala gagawin na kaming bida sa sarili naming teleserye, ” he shared, recalling how he and Kim landed their first ever lead-starring roles in a teleserye. Sana Maulit Muli, as most can remember, is a top-rating primetime series starred by Anderson and Chiu, and aired on ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida block in 2007.
Anderson admitted that the abrupt change in his life, overwhelmed him.
”Okay naman ‘yun di ba? Pero, syempre, imaginin nyo po 17 years old, galing Gensan. Nag-stay lami lang kami nang saglit sa loob ng PBB, paglabas, ginawa na kaming bida agad sa teleserye.So, hindi ko alam ang mga nangyayari. So, sige lang, go with the flow lang, ”
“Ang taping namin noon, ‘yun yung ‘Sana Mauli Muli’, first teleserye namin ni Kim. MWF ‘yun, and then may biglang pumasok na movie, ‘First Day High’, yung Rexona sumasayaw kami. TThS naman ‘yun, Tuesday, Thursday at Saturday. Noong time na yun, kailangan namin mag-ASAP, so every Sunday nasa ABS-CBN kami, ” he told the press, enumerating his first projects, which he confessed took a toll on his emotional health.
”Naalala ko siguro pang-ilang buwan na, doon sa dressing room namin sa isang building. Pumunta ako sa likod, kasi parang may taguan doon. Umiyak ako. ‘Yung parang nag-breakdown ako, kasi parang… frustration, hindi ko alam ginagawa ko sa trabaho, ang bano-bano ko! Tapos, pagod, and then may commercial shoots in between. So, nag-breakdown ako, ”
Anderson, nevertheless, persevered and fought through his frustration and weariness, and reminded himself of why he pursued PBB, in the first place.
”So, ano lang. Tinanong ko lang sarili ko: ‘bakit ka nandito? Bakit ka unang pumasok sa PBB?’ Honestly, kasi, kaya ako pumasok sa PBB kasi gusto kong tulungan ‘yung nanay ko; gusto kong bilhan ng bahay nanay ko.
He added that it was pure dedication and hard work, that ultimately allowed him to last 17 years in the industry. “’Yun yung tumatak sa akin. So, kahit anong pagod ko noon, kahit anong pinagdadaanan namim, kahit umuuwi lang kami ng bahay para maligo, ano…laban lang. So, hard work talaga, ”.
Anderson is set to star in upcoming projects on television and in film. During his interview, he said that it is his hope to work alongside fellow Kapamilya star, Richard Gutierrez, in an action-drama. Gerald’s most recent project under ABS-CBN, is the primetime series, A Family Affair, with Ivana Alawi.
