Arzen Rose Dulzura

Gerald Anderson has no regrets doing 2011 series ‘Budoy’: ‘I get emotional about it’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>After finishing the first teen edition of <em>Pinoy Big Brother</em> as second runner-up to grand winner Kim Chiu and first runner up Mikee Lee, Gerald Anderson has definitely come a long way as an actor. During his recent interview with Luis Manzano for the latter’s YouTube channel, Gerald shares his experience accepting the unprecedented lead role of a special child in a primetime series during that time. </p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DG74G2tTWOC/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A4063928.4%2C%22ls%22%3A1360301.5%2C%22le%22%3A1360601.2000000002%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="823" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Before accepting the role in <em>Budoy</em>, Gerald admitted it was unorthodox to see an actor in that kind of role, especially since he had come from the hugely popular love team, Kimerald, with Kim Chiu.</p><p>“Sa formula ng showbiz, eh leading man tayo eh, kung gaano nila inaalagaan yan, yung image mo, Star Magic, Star Cinema, yung TV prod, they take care of you di ba? Pero eto, binali ko talaga. Because that was kind of the end of the era nung love team namin. So I knew I couldn’t just be a leading man. I have to bring something else to the table. I have to be unique,” he admitted. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2018/7/27/fresh-scoops/gerald-anderson-on-balancing-showbiz-and-sports-47692"><strong><u>READ: Gerald Anderson on balancing showbiz and sports: ‘Pag gusto mo laging may paraan’</u></strong></a></div><p>Preparing for the show was something Gerald took seriously because of the delicate subject matter which involved him doing a lot of research and immersing himself with a lot of people with the similar mental conditions as Budoy. </p><p>“There was a responsibility because it would b the first show in showbiz history na ang bida ay isang special child. So there was the pressure and responsibility of that. And you want to do it right kasi hindi naman siya comedy eh. So everyday research, observe, I stayed there, I slept there kasama sila. Kasi after a couple of days of me going there everyday, na-na-narrow down ko na, ito yung quirks, ito yung charm, ito yung love. I had a specific peg. I would just work on it. Even during taping, I would work on it.</p><p>&quot;It was challenging but I always say pressure is a privilege eh. So when you feel pressure, there’s a reason for that, there’s an expectation. I always find it as a challenge. Pag na-cha-challenge ako that’s when my best work (happens). Or when someone says you can’t do it, laban ka dun eh,” he told Luis during their interview. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2021/11/30/fresh-scoops/gerald-reveals-his-number-one-goal-as-an-actor-197156"><strong><u>READ: Gerald Anderson reveals his number one goal as an actor</u></strong></a></div><p>After the show wrapped up, Gerald shared that he could not be any prouder to see the effects of the show on the Filipino audience, here and abroad. He shared two standout moments that proved to him it was worth all the effort he put into making the character of Budoy so believable and relatable. </p><p>“I don’t want to sound na nagyayabang, but when I was taping, everything was super natural. Second nature na because of the work I did before. Nung kinuwento pa lang sa akin na may potential show ako, I was already working on myself. And then sa awa ng Diyos natuloy. But because of that work, dedication, and discipline, and the respect na binigay ko, not just sa mga special children but yung mga magulang nila or caretaker nila. Ang hirap nun. The blessing behind all of it was after nung show na yun or even during nung show, yung social awareness na nabigay niya,</p><p>&quot;I had a TFC show in London, ang daming special children na pumunta sa show ko. Yung mga magulang nila hindi na nahihiya, or wala ng stigma. I’ll never forget this, nasa Rockwell ako, they came up to me (and said), ‘Thank you, thank you.’ I get emotional about it kasi yung social awareness, the impact of what we do, we have responsibilities. Totoo yung sinasabi ni Spider-man eh, with great power comes great responsibility. Totoo yun. That’s why so many people resonated with that. And we have to take care of that.” </p>

<p>Gerald Anderson looks back on his first solo lead series in 2011 that had him playing the role of a mentally-challenged child. </p>

Gerald Anderson looks back on his first solo lead series in 2011 that had him playing the role of a mentally-challenged child.