ALDEN Richards takes time off his busy schedule to finally show his acting mettle in “Magpakailanman.”
The actor takes on the challenge of portraying varied real-life characters, showcasing his versatility and acting prowess in four special episodes of GMA’s award-winning drama anthology.
Tomorrow, August 5, Alden takes on the role of a dedicated runner whose life is turned upside down by cervical dystonia, a debilitating neurological disorder that derails his personality, strains his familial ties, and hinders his professional growth in the episode titled “A Runner to Remember: The Jirome de Castro Story.” Alden immerses himself in the character, embracing his mannerisms and life philosophies to shine a light on the inspiring story of Jirome de Castro.
Following that, Alden takes on the role of Richard in “Epal Dreamboy: The Richard Licop Story.” This is a relatable story about an influencer bashed for being “epal” and “mayabang” for flaunting his material possessions online. The episode will explore Richard’s journey from being a poor boy with big dreams to becoming a vlogger and content creator.
Next in line is an action-drama episode “The Lost Boy” about Allan, a young man taken in by Leo, only to be pushed into a life of crime. As the storyline delves into the complexities of loyalty, morality, and survival, Alden’s performance promises to reveal another side of his acting talent.
Finally, “Sa Puso’t Isipan: The Cantillana Family Story” is a special episode that addresses mental health awareness. Alden will portray Andrew who must juggle the roles of a son, a brother, and a primary caregiver to his mentally-ill parents. The episode tackles sensitive issues with depth as Alden gives his most sincere take on the challenging role.
Of his many roles, the 31-year-old said his favorite is the truest. When at home, away from the trappings of fame, he is Richard “RJ” Faulkerson, Jr.
“Sinasantabi ko si Alden Richards. I’m just being RJ. I don’t consider it a role, kasi ‘yun na talaga ko,” he said.
“‘Yung showbiz personality, iniiwan ko pag walang kamera. It’s also a way of keeping my sanity dahil our job, our task as an actor is really difficult lalo kapag you don’t know how to manage your emotions.
“Minsan totoo ‘yung nadadala ang character sa bahay, lalo po usually … when you are a good person, may sense na e-enjoy mo ang pagiging masama. That’s my opinion. Parang na e-enoy mo pagiging masama, nadadala mo kahit tapos na ang trabaho, at ang dami kong stories about that,” he confessed.
“Your job as an actor is to create boundaries for your emotions and to not let your emotions consume you.
“Because acting is a performance, a job. So it’s your obligation to manage that. People can guide you, but at the end of the day, it’s always you who has the command.
To de-stress, Alden said there are two things he indulges in – a good massage and playing computer games.
“Yun lang po,” he added. “Ok na ok na ako kahit gaano pa kapuyat or week long of work. Mabigyan lang ako ng one day to do those things, pwede na po ako ulit. Laban na ulit.”
“Magpakailanman” airs every Saturday at 8:15 p.m. on GMA-7.
