Gerald Anderson: Boy oh boy! From healthy to sexy, from boy to man

In a city marked by billboards rather than architectural masterpieces, it’s easy to become desensitized by these giant images. But once in a while, a billboard jumps out at you with its freshness and energy. 

I was on my way home one quiet night, when I noticed a billboard of Gerald Anderson, and it almost felt as if he was going to jump off the structure, right onto the street. Then while watching TV, I saw him dancing, and the screen split into two, and from an all-gray office, he was in an airy loftlike space. Then the very next day, I got the call confirming my interview with him to launch him as the endorser of Century Tuna Loaf. This series of fortunate events culminated in a brunch at Members Only, the exclusive club at The Fort. I had never ever been to Members Only in the daytime, and though the sun was as bright as can be, it was perpetually nocturnal inside the club. While I waited for my turn to chat with Gerald, I found out that he had just arrived from the US that very morning. So perhaps it did him good that there was a night-like ambiance in the interview venue, because he was certainly showing absolutely no signs of jetlag. 

As we observed Gerald’s interview with other writers wind down, a friend whispered to me, “Wow, I can’t believe that press people still get excited to meet stars and pose for pictures with them.” With as much jaded and blasé knowingness that I could muster, “Well, they don’t get excited for everyone. Just a chosen few.”

When it was my turn to sit with Gerald, I reminded him that at our last chat, he had named the Cleveland Cavaliers as his favorite team, presumably because he is a Lebron James fan. But in the time between that interview and the publication of the write-up on him, Lebron and his friends Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh made a controversial move to the Miami Heat. Gerald says, “Yeah, you should have changed my team since Miami na ako.” Clearly, talking about basketball energizes him and he knows the ins and outs of Lebron’s transfer. It’s an easy segue from sports to health and how he changed from the Amboy of Gensan of Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition to the Action Drama Prince.

PHILIPPINE STAR: The tagline for Century Tuna Loaf is “from tuna to loaf, from healthy to sexy.” So, in essence, it’s about transformation. In the past four years, your transformation from boy to man has been quite dramatic. Would you say that it was intentional?

GERALD ANDERSON: People say that to me all the time, ‘Mama ka na,” (you’ve become a man) and I really don’t know how to take it. Compliment ba yun? But if you think about it, when I became an artista, I was 17, and so even for any guy, that time between 15 and 21, you will really change a lot. I have to say that it was only lately that I made conscious effort to really change, especially with my working out. 

What do you think will be your next transformation?

Let’s see, let’s see... But I’m really the kind of guy, you don’t know what to expect from me, you’ll never know what I’ll do next.

You are now called the Action Drama Prince. But if you had to choose just one genre, which one would it be?

You know, when I first heard that (title), I was really very overwhelmed, I really don’t know how they thought of it. But I have to say, both. Both talaga. Hindi puedeng just one. With drama, it’s all about being raw, being truthful. With action, well, it’s every boy’s dream, and really I’m just a regular boy.

Part of your childhood was spent in the States, and you have an American dad and a Filipina mom. But would you say you are more American, or more Filipino?

Pinoy. Pinoy na Pinoy ako. When I was living in the States, that’s when I felt that I’m more Pinoy.

You’re from GenSan, and it’s a place associated with tuna, so have you always loved tuna?

Oh, yes. If you’re from GenSan, and you don’t like tuna, it’s like being a Pinoy who doesn’t love to text. In fact, when I lived in GenSan, I lived near the Century factory.

But do you like to cook?

Ay, no, I’m more into eating than cooking.

To make tuna into a tuna loaf is quite unexpected. What would you say is something unexpected about you that you can share?

Well, maybe when people watch me on TV, they might think that I’m the kind of person who has had so many experiences, who knows so much about life and the world. That’s so far from what I really am. But at home, I’m really just a regular boy. A normal boy who still gets pimples, who just wants to relax, play video games, hang out with my family.

In the commercial and in the billboard, you do a lot of jumping around. In your real life, what is it that can make you jump for joy?

Success, of course, and being able to share it with my loved ones and my friends. Ang sarap maramdaman that my family can be part of all the hard work that I do, that they can enjoy what I’ve worked for.

It’s well known that you love basketball, and lately, working out in the gym. What are the other sports you want to try out?

There are so many sports that I still want to try out, so many. But I’m really curious about arnis. That’s our national sport, did you know that? I will really try that out. But as I said earlier, I like to do what’s unexpected, so you never know, right?