ASIA’S Multi-media Star Alden Richards is right where he deserves to be – on top of his game.
The Kapuso homegrown talent is one of the country’s premier actors, a top celebrity endorser, a successful businessman, a highly-talented host, an award-winning performer, a chart-topping recording artist, and a record-breaking box office star. But it is his genuine dedication towards excelling in his craft that sets him apart.
Recently, Alden received the ‘Asian Star Prize’ from the Seoul International Drama Awards 2019 at the Kyunghee University in South Korea and the first-ever ‘Celebrity Icon Award’ from the Okada Manila 2019 Icon Awards – two more accolades added to his growing list of accomplishments in the industry.
Despite all his feats, Alden remains an inspiration to the people around him and his legions of fans for his humility and passion in acting. As he renewed his contract with GMA Network yesterday, September 3, Alden attributed his success to his home network for almost a decade.
“Since I started in GMA up to this point of my career, sila ‘yung sumusugal sa’kin. They gave me huge projects, huge opportunities and regardless kung successful or hindi, hindi sila tumitigil. Hindi nila ako pinabayaan. They kept on believing, kahit na minsan wala ng angle to believe in. Hinawakan nila ‘yung kamay ko through ups and downs, hindi ko nakita ‘yon with others,” he said.
Throughout his years as a Kapuso, Alden has proven his versatility by portraying several formidable roles. In his upcoming primetime drama, The Gift, he is taking on another challenging role as a visually-impaired fruit vendor named Sep.
“In my nine years of stay in GMA, I keep on discovering something new about myself and my craft. Project after project, it gives me more hunger to do more and inspire more people through my works and the things that I do. Pag may lumalapit sa’kin and sasabihin nila, ‘Alden sobrang ganda ng ginawa mo, nabago ‘yung buhay ko.’ Sobra akong namo-move to be appreciated by these people by the thing I love to do most. I want projects that could touch lives – that’s my ultimate goal as an artist. Ang sarap kasi noong nakakapagpabago ka ng buhay ng ibang tao kagaya ng pagbabago ng GMA sa buhay ko. I also want to be a vessel to help others.”
Present in the contract signing were GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon; President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr.; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong; Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable; Chief Risk Officer and First Vice President for Corporate Strategic Planning and Program Support Department Regie C. Bautista; Vice President for Drama Productions Redgie Acuña-Magno; Vice President for Business Development Department III Darling de Jesus-Bodegon; Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier Cruz; Vice President for Regional TV Oliver Amoroso; Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara; Assistant Vice President for Business Development Department II Bang Arespacochaga; Assistant Vice President for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy; Assistant Vice President for Talent Imaging and Marketing Simoun Ferrer; Senior Program Managers Helen Rose Sese, Ruth Mariñas, Mae Zambrano, Mildred Natividad, Cecille de Guzman, Ian Roxas, and Charles Koo.
During the contract signing held at the Boardroom of GMA Network, Atty. Gozon expressed his admiration over the actor’s loyalty towards the Kapuso Network, “As one of GMA’s most treasured stars, we are honored to be part of your unrivaled accomplishments as an artist. Even though you are now one of the biggest stars in the country, you remain humble that’s why we are confident that you will achieve more successes. Being a homegrown talent of GMA, kami dito sa GMA ay very proud of your achievements and gratified that you’ll continue to be a Kapuso.”
Mr. Duavit, on the other hand, had nothing but praises for the Kapuso star, “We’ve always admired your dedication and commitment to your craft lalong-lalo na tuwing napapanood at nasasaksihan namin ang patuloy na pag-evolve mo bilang isang artista, isang host, at isang napakabuting tao. Katuwa-tuwa at nakakataba ng pusong masaksihan ang iyong pag-angat at pagsulong sa iyong career. Sa mga hinaharap na taon, makakaasa ka na nasa likuran mo kaming lahat.”
Rasonable, in turn, expressed her appreciation of the homegrown actor’s professionalism and good heart, “He is loved by all because mahusay siyang makipagkapwa tao sa lahat ng mga katrabaho niya. Nakikita ng lahat ‘yung seriousness niya sa kaniyang ginagawa, ‘yung effort and the passion that he pours into his work so nahahawa niya lahat ng tao sa kaniyang paligid. Throughout all these years parehong-pareho, from the first time we worked together in Alakdana until now in The Gift wala talagang nagbago kaya siya mahal na mahal ng mga tao.”
Meanwhile, Santiago-Lara admires Alden for being down-to-earth in spite of the colossal achievements he has reached in his career, “I’m proud of him, sa lahat ng achievements niya. ‘Yung passion na nakita ko sa kaniya noong nag-start kaming mag-work, it hasn’t died and in fact, lalong nakita ko ‘yung willingness and passion niya to grow. Everybody is saying na hindi siya nagbabago but it’s more than that. He likes to give back sa lahat ng napapasaya niya, ‘yung mga sumusuporta sa kaniya. Iyon ‘yung isa sa mga kakaiba sa kaniya.”
