GERALD ANDERSON IS one of the most exciting young male stars today. Isang panibagong hamon na naman ang kanyang kinakaharap ngayon sa bagong teleserye na Budoy which tackles the lives of mentally-challenged people. Gerald plays Budoy who is suffering from Angelman syndrome which delays his intellectual development.
In a recent interview with Push.com.ph, sinabi ni Gerald that he went out of his way to immersed himself in his new character. There was a time when he had to wear fake teeth para masanay siya rito. “Pati iyong ngipin ng character ko, mahirap suotin pero nasasanay na ako. Inuuwi ko nga eh, para masuot ko kapag natutulog ako. Medyo mahirap lang, kasi ang laki ng ngipin,” he said.
In his recent trip abroad ay sinubukan daw niyang umarte gaya ng kanyang role para tingnan kung kapani-paniwala siya. Natuwa naman siya dahil pinagtitinginan daw siya ng mga taong nakakasalubong nila roon.
This only proves that Gerald is very professional and passionate in his craft. Patuloy niyang pinatutunayan that he is a versatile actor na puwede mapa-action, comedy, romance, o drama. He has evolved into a ser-ious actor gaya ng kanyang pinatunayan sa Tayong Dalawa, Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla: Tiagong Akyat, Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo, at ngayon sa Budoy.
Isa pa sa kanyang ginawang paghahanda sa kanyang role ay ang masusing pag-aaral tungkol sa special children. “Nagpunta kami sa isang school for special children sa Montalban. Habang nagkaklase sila, nag-o-observe ako sa loob ng classroom. Tapos iyong iba, kinakausap ko. Pati nanay nila, kapamilya at kahit iyong mga yaya nila, tinatanong ko kung iba ba sila sa bahay at sa labas.”
Gerald must have deve-loped a special bond with the special kids kaya naman he is planning to organize a celebrity basketball tournament for the benefit of some of the children he met during his immersion trips. “Iyong pinuntahan naming school, napakaraming students pero tatlo lang ang teachers. Kaila-ngan nila ng tulong. Kaya next month, may gagawin akong basketball event, lahat sila manonood. ASAP versus Star Magic artists.”
Budoy is one of Ge-rald’s most memorable characters. “Physically and emotionally challenging siya pero ang sarap niyang gawin kasi kapag pinanood ng tao, alam mong kahit papaano may mai-inspire ka.”
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli!
Points of Boy
by Boy Abunda
