Gerald Anderson was ecstatic when he accepted the Outstanding Performance by An Actor in a Drama Series trophy at the 2012 Golden Screen TV Awards by the Entertainment Press Society of the Philippines or ENPRESS, held March 1, Friday, in Teatrino in Promenade, Greenhills, San Juan. Gerald won the award for his performance in his teleserye
Budoy after besting fellow Kapamilya stars Piolo Pascual, Coco Martin, Jericho Rosales, and Richard Gomez and other actors from the rival network.
Gerald admitted that the award made him feel more inspired. “Sobrang inspired. Kung kanina 99 percent, ngayon 150 percent,” he said. The actor still had a taping for his upcoming teleserye right after the awards show.
The press took the opportunity to ask him about his romantic involvement with Maja Salvador and about Kim Chiu and Sarah Geronimo (both were previously romantically linked to him). Gerald had previously kept mum about the issue, but he finally opened up to the media after the awards night.
He first clarified that he was not avoiding anything. “Wala ako dapat iwasan. Pero kumbaga marami tayong ups and downs sa buhay natin. Pag down ka, stay calm. Pag up ka, like tonight, stay humble, di ba?”
A member of the press asked Gerald why he did not mention Maja in his acceptance speech. Gerald replied, “Kumbaga wag tayong magmamadali. There’s always a right time for everything. Sa ngayon, kumbaga, I just want to talk about and celebrate ‘yung ibinigay n’yo sa akin [na award].”
Another reporter asked for his reaction about Kim and Sarah sharing a hug and with the latter appearing to comfort the former. “Wala na po ako do’n… pero let’s just be happy for it, for each other, para sa lahat. Kumbaga ang dami ngang gulo sa buong mundo tayo-tayo pa [ba]?” he pointed out.
He didn’t deny that he was affected by the negative issues hounding him, but he said he is well aware that controversies come with being a celebrity. “Kailangan ko ring tanggapin, eh. Ito ‘yung trabaho ko, eh. Part ng trabaho ko ‘yan. Like I said andami kong kailangang i-prove bilang isang artista, pero bilang isang tao, wala akong kailangang i-prove kahit kanino,” he said.
He added that he has no regrets with the decisions he made in the past. “Dapat ganon, e; right or wrong, mali o tama, panindigan mo ‘yung desisyon mo. Kung mali, learn from it. Kung tama, be happy.”
With all these intrigues, Gerald said that he has a very strong support system to back him up. “Lalo na po ‘yung pamilya ko, malalapit na Star Magic family, handler ko, ‘yung mentor ko, lahat… I’m just very thankful.”
As for his love life, Gerald clarified that he is not yet in a relationship with Maja and that he won’t deny it if he is already committed. “Kumbaga artista ako, eh. Ang trabaho ko I’m acting, di ba? Hindi po ‘yung itatago ko kung may girlfriend ako, kung may mahal ako. Kapag meron ���di ko itatago sa inyo ‘yon.” Then he added, “Yes, nagsa-start na akong mag-date. Wala namang masama don.”
Gerald and Maja are reportedly enjoying each other’s company now and last Valentine’s Day, the actor supposedly gave the actress a memorable date by renting a helicopter which took them to a luxurious restaurant in Tagaytay. This gesture fueled speculations that the two were already a couple.
“Di naman. Kumbaga dumaan muna kami sa… paano ba? There’s always a right time. May tamang lugar, may tamang time para sa lahat. Wala po akong itatago sa inyo. She’s very special to me, pero sa akin na ‘yon.”
Gerald also spoke up about the negative comments about his grand gesture. “Tao rin ako. ‘Yung mga napapanood ko sa movies ‘yung ginagawa kong rom-com, ‘yung mga ano… siyempre gusto ko ring gawin ‘yon sa totoong buhay. Bakit naman di ko pwedeng gawin ‘yan?”
As for his decision to pursue Maja, Gerald said that he has been single for a long time already. “And I found someone na gusto kong makasama; gusto kong makilala pa; masaya ako pag kasama siya. Bakit ko ipagkakait [ang] sarili [ko] sa ganon? Like I said, artista ako; ang trabaho ko is um-acting pero hindi ‘yung itatago ko ‘yung relasyon ko.”
Gerald admitted that he aside from drawing strength from his family and friends to face controversies, he has also been getting support from Maha. “Hindi lang po sa kanya (Maja), sa lahat po ng kasama, pamilya ko, mga malalapit sa akin. Sa kanya, we just have to be strong for each other and show na happy ka. Kasi kumbaga gusto ko smile! Kung masaya ka sa ginagawa mo, masaya ka sa kasama mo…”
Gerald also took the chance to clear up the misconception that he is a heartbreaker and a player. “Alam ko ang totoo, alam ko na nakakagawa rin ako ng mali sa buhay ko. I’ve made mistakes, I’ve learned from it…” he said.