“There are about 100 kids here but the others are absent,” says Alden. “They’re not really orphans, some are streetkids but most come from very poor households where the parents do not have the means to feed them or give them proper education, so dinadala rito. Last year, dito ko rin dinaos ang birthday ko so second time ko na with them. My way of giving back.”
Alden sang “Haplos”, the hit song from his debut album, to the kids and the kids then performed some dance numbers for him and his guests. One girl also led the prayer of thanksgiving before we all had dinner, courtesy of his sponsors: Dr. Vicki Belo, Folded & Hung, Zagu Pearl Shake, Minute Burger and Tous Les Jour bake shop.
So how’s it working with Marian in “Carmela”? “Masaya siyang katrabaho. Starstruck ako noong una. Naiilang sa kanya kasi this is my biggest break with a really big leading lady. But she’s the one who went out of her way to make me feel comfortable. Noong una, Ate pa ang tawag ko sa kanya, but she said if we’re going to make our team up work, dapat Ianne na lang ang tawag ko sa kanya, so ngayon lagi na lang Ianne, Ianne ako. No more walls, no more inhibitions. I’m also now psyching myself up para sa love scene na gagawin namin. Kasi now na start pa lang ng story, puro light pa lang ang scenes namin. My heavy drama scenes are with Ms. Jacklyn Jose as my mother na iniwan ng dad ko kaya inaalagaan ko. Siya naman as Carmela, ang mother niya, si Ms. Agot Isidro na isang pokpok. Pinalaki siya sa bundok, malayo sa mga tao. Inosenteng-inosente siya, hanggang dumating yung pagkakataong kailangan niyang bumaba sa town. Doon magbabago ang buhay niya.”
Is he aware some Marian fans are against him being paired with her? “Yes, hindi ko naman sila masisisi kasi nasanay sila kay Kuya Dingdong (Dantes.) But our team up has his blessing. Naging close ako kay Kuya Dong when I played his brother in ‘My Beloved’. Marami siyang binigay na good advice sa akin.”
What can he say that their show will be up against ABS-CBN’s “Legal Wife” starring Angel Locsin? “Sabi nga sa amin. Well, di naman natin maaalis ang competition in this business. Basta magtutulong na lang kaming lahat para mas mapaganda ang aming show at nang kami ang subaybayan ng viewers.”
Which show do you think will be better? Angel Locsin's Legal Wife or Alden Richards' and Marian Rivera's Carmela? Leave your comments below.
