Clad in a suite of unconventional color, Alden Richards arrived at the restaurant on 17th floor of GMA Network Center to meet with the members of the entertainment press who were there to witness the unveiling of the sneak peak for The Gift, his latest television project, and to congratulate him for signing another contract with the network.
“Hello, thanks for coming,” Alden greeted everyone in his sweetest demeanor with his bedimpled cheeks fronting all the camera and smartphone lenses that were raised to capture the moment.
Now dubbed as the Asia’s Multi-media Star Alden 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.”