He'll catch a grenade for you

MANILA, Philippines - The Richard Gutierrez I know is all about intensity. So in-tense that to prepare for a role, Chard, as he is called by friends and family, will disappear into his own cocoon just to become the character. Right after Survivor, he had a short window of time to be able to hang out with friends, then shortly after, he disappeared. He only came out of his hiatus when the project Captain Barbell was about to be launched. He admits to have gained some weight after his Survivor stint, so he focused more on fitness, and lost 20 pounds in the process.  And so a leaner, meaner Chard was what we saw, ready to get into that suit and fly as high as he can, as Mars Ravelo’s prized superhero.

 It’s not easy being GMA Network’s primetime king and ultimate leading man. Pressures abound, tongues always wag, dirt always thrown  but the superhero in Chard somehow always pulls through. Maybe we don’t see the sensitive Chard, as he is often busy with projects  so busy that despite people’s perception that he is taken, Chard is as eligible as any eligible bachelor can be. We just don’t know if he has the time to date. Superheroes are usually cursed hopeless romantics  just look at Superman.

 Intensity 2011

 We all know local television is filled with dated-looking costumes and dialogue, but that’s where the Gutierrezes come in. Chard, along with his twin brother Raymond, made sure this superhero take was going to be as modern and contemporary as the show can be, despite the fantasy format. Who says “datapwat, subalit,” among a host of other words these days? It’s not that we Filipinos lack talent. It’s just that we sometimes like to be stuck in a time space warp (borrowed from Shaider). So I guess it’s time for a new generation superhero. We’re hoping and predicting at the same time, that Chard’s Captain Barbell will be it.

 Captain Barbell’s costume was made in Hong Kong, a city known for its high sartorial standards. “Perfection is not easy, but we must nonetheless aim for it,” is how I think Chard lives by. Despite the baby face, you can see it in his eyes that he is driven to succeed. Team Supreme was there, at Veteran’s Hospital to be exact, as Chard’s Captain Barbell was taking flight. We’ve taken countless iconic images of this man, through every incarnation, and we are glad to say that he has not changed in terms of humility and compassion.

 If there’s one thing that has changed about Chard, it’s his passion. It has gotten deeper  his concern for the environment, his dedication to his craft, his love for family. A week ago, we saw him host a documentary, Anatomy of a Disaster of which he was very much personally involved in from the brainstorming to the creative team, he makes sure that his voice is heard, not just as an artist, but also as a citizen of the world he cares about. This coming April 10, he is leading the Kapuso run to benefit the GMA Kapuso Foundation.

 Run, fly, survive  looking at Chard, it makes you realize that yes, we can all be superheroes. Intense, right?