Alden Richards Overworked With 'Ilustrado', 'Bet Ng Bayan' & 'Cain And Abel', But He's Not Complaining

AFTER THE START of “Bet ng Bayan”, Alden Richards will be seen again in another new show, “Ilustrado”, the so-called bayaniserye about our national hero, Jose Rizal.

“I cried tears of joy when I was informed na ako ang napiling gumanap na Jose Rizal dito,” says Alden. “Napanood ko noon sina Albert Martinez, Joel Torre at Cesar Montano as Jose Rizal in three different Rizal movies at naging dream come true for me na ako naman ang mabigyan ng chance to portray him. I’m honored and flattered dahil I wasn’t even asked to audition for the role kundi kusang binigay sa akin. Pero siempre pressured din ako kasi ayokong mapahiya sa pagtitiwalang ibinigay sa akin ng GMA to lead this kind of project na ginastusan talaga in terms of costume, production design and other production values.”

He’s so overworked these days because he’s also hosting “Bet ng Bayan” every night and shooting the movie “Cain at Abel” with Mark Herras. “There are times na from one set, walang tulog, I go to another set. I’m not complaining kahit pagod ako kasi ang gaganda ng projects na ibinibigay sa akin. Panay na lang ang dasal ko na huwag akong magkasakit dahil sa pagod sa trabaho.”

“Ilustrado” will have only 20 episodes and will run for only one month as a special GMA project. It chronicles the childhood of Rizal then his travels to Europe. Also in the cast are Kylie Padilla as Leonor Rivera, believed to be the first love of Rizal and the model for Maria Clara; Max Collins as Consuela Ortiga, a Spanish woman involved with Rizal; and Solenn Heussaff as Nellie Boustead, the French woman Rizal almost married. There’s Eula Valdez as his mom Teodora Alonzo, Ricardo Cepeda as his dad Francisco Mercado, Freddie Webb as Rizal’s uncle Don Jose Alberto, Marco Alcaraz as his brother Paciano, child star Jhiz Deocareza as the young Rizal, JC Tiuseco as Antonio Luna, Lucho Ayala as Jose Alejandrino, Bryan Benedict as Juan Luna and Jak Roberto as Maximo Viola.

The first bayaniserye also introduces fictional characters personifying the villains in Rizal’s life including Jaclyn Jose as Conchita Monteverde, Polo Ravales as Venchito Monteverde, Lito Legaspi as Padre Amado, Sean Ross as young Venchito and Rhen Escano as Isidra Monteverde. Get to know more about the life, love and sacrifices of Jose Rizal in the world-premiere of the first-ever bayaniserye on primetime television “Ilustrado” on Monday, October 20 on GMA.