Alden Richards
Having worked nonstop the past couple of years, Alden Richards feels it’s about time he focused on his personal life. And by that, he meant finding love.
“I’m happy with everything that has been happening. Maybe this time, I can devote more time for myself, maybe find a partner soon,” he told reporters at his recent launch as the new brand endorser of Embassy Whisky, a product of the liquor company Tanduay Distillers.
“It will happen eventually. But I don’t want to force it, baka para naman tayong kumain ng kanin [na biglang iluluwa lang kapag napaso]. I don’t want my potential relationships to be that way,” pointed out the GMA 7 star, who had a similar wish at the beginning of 2019.
But one thing’s for sure, Alden added: “I’m giving it time this year!”
While he doesn’t have a romantic prospect yet, some fans have been linking him to Catriona Gray, after noticing that the actor regularly interacts with the beauty queen’s posts on social media. “I think they’re ‘shipping’ us. I follow her on Instagram, I like her photos … But we have never met each other yet,” he clarified.
The year 2019 was a landmark period in Alden’s show biz career: He had regular television shows, like “Eat Bulaga!” and “The Gift;” endorsements were aplenty; and most notable of all, he costarred in what ended up being the highest-grossing Filipino movie of all time, “Hello, Love, Goodbye.”
Richards
“Last year was full of blessings and opportunities. I have very good people behind me to give me advice. There were a lot of learnings. There were hardships, too. But the fans, supporters and my family kept me going. They inspired me to do more, be better. And I’m hoping for more of that this year,” he said. It was also last year that Alden fully realized the importance of contentment and its relation to happiness. “Be grateful for what you have, always. The more content you are, the happier you become. The less you expect, the more is given to you. Don’t dwell on the things you don’t have. Because despite everything you achieve, it’s what’s lacking that you will always see,” he related.
All things considered, Alden really can’t ask for more. If he were to wish for anything, it wouldn’t be for himself, but for his fellowmen. Earlier this year, he trooped to Batangas and extended help to the victims of Taal Volcano’s recent eruption.
“I made sure to go there because so many of our countrymen are in need of aid. I did it also because I wanted to inspire other people to do the same. Regardless of how busy we are, we can still devote a little of our time to help and care for those who are in need,” he pointed out.
But despite his and other celebrities’ efforts, some online users still find something to harp on. They get called apathetic when they don’t post their relief efforts. And if they do, they’re dismissed as mere publicity stunts.
“Social media is a free space. But I no longer respond to those things. I won’t base my actions on the bad things people tell me,” he said.
Alden is known for his wholesome image; a lot of his fans are young or plain young-at-heart moms and grandmas. And so, him touting liquor may come off as a surprise. “Of course, we won’t be promoting the product to those group of people,” he said.
Besides, at 28, he’s already of age to do so. “We’re not getting younger,” he quipped. “I think it’s alright to be a liquor endorser as long as you advocate for responsible or moderate drinking. I sometimes host small drinking parties with close friends. It’s OK to have fun, but not to our detriment. Chill lang.”
Does this endorsement also signal a change in Alden’s image or the type of roles he will play in the future?
“It doesn’t necessarily mean that all my roles will be more mature from now on. I’m not closing my doors to the kind of projects people are used to seeing me do,” Alden said. “But I’m also keeping my doors open for new experiences.”