Recently on “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” Gerald Anderson was given a plum opportunity to remind viewers of his thespic talent, when he was assigned to play a dedicated teacher whose bright career was tragically abridged by his being stricken with a rather rare form of Parkinson’s disease.
At first sight, Gerald looked too old to play a college student—but, after his character had become a teacher, that dubious piece of casting was rendered moot, and we could more pertinently appreciate the actor’s depiction of his ethically and physically contorted character.
Gerald’s new portrayal was reminiscent of his acclaimed performance in “Budoy” years ago. To his credit, he went beyond early career achievement—his recent MMK characterization was more mature not just on point of chronological age, but also in thespic insight.
Also scoring thespic points in the episode was Snooky Serna in the role of the teacher’s mother, who felt spasms of guilt when she was told that her line of the family had given her son the dreaded and debilitating disease.
Gerald and Snooky did well, but the younger actors who played his character’s siblings were less focused in their roles, which came off more like an “ensemble blur.”
Still, the episode was ultimately an inspiring and instructive viewing experience, even if it ended in a question mark rather than with a clear denouement and resolution of its harrowing central problem.
That “hanging” ending gave the telecast an element of uniqueness, because it concluded with an invitation to viewers to assist in giving the drama a happy ending—by actually contributing money to defray the cost of the expensive operation that would gift its real-life protagonist with the prospect of living a more “normal” life.
GERALD Anderson’s convincing portrayal came in the nick of time.
Unusual turn
This is an unusual turn of events in a local TV drama because it breaks down the separation between acted drama and the real-life issue or medical problem it’s been based on.
How will viewers respond to this unusual invitation to participate in solving or salving an actual problem or need? Some of the people we were watching the telecast with said it was worth a try—but suggested that the show’s staffers and cast members should start with their own donations. What do you think?
Finally, back to Gerald: His convincing portrayal in the MMK drama came right in the nick of time for him, because his acting career has been faring rather poorly these days, and viewers need to be reminded of how good he can be.
Perhaps, to further strengthen his stellar prospects, Gerald should objectively see that he looks too big and chunky these days, which makes him come off as older and thus less of an exciting lead with something dynamically new to offer.
He definitely isn’t stout or flabby, but his added heft makes him look not just older but also less sensitive, a projection that dramatic leads should have, in order to convince the viewing public that they’re deeply troubled and emotionally exposed and vulnerable, thus needing and descending to its concern and empathy.