Gerald Anderson on possibility of quitting the biz: I’ll still survive

Gerald Anderson —PHOTOS FROM GERALD ANDERSON/ INSTAGRAM

Actor Gerald Anderson, who said he learned valuable lessons from people’s collective experience during the pandemic lockdowns, has these pointers to share on how to save for the rainy days.

“Always be prepared. Make sure you have emergency funds,” Gerald began. “Try to save up, too. If you don’t really need something, don’t buy it.”

Gerald, who is an auxiliary commander of the K9 Special Support Squadron of the Philippine Coast Guard, was active in helping out people whose livelihoods were affected by the series of lockdowns since 2020.

“I realized that there are only a few things a person needs in order to live comfortably, and that some people spend so much on things that are of no use to them during the crisis. None of us expected the pandemic to happen, but now that we’re slowly recovering from it, we should all try to pick up some lessons from it,” he pointed out.

A learning process

Gerald continued: “It’s still a learning process for me. Although I’m very thankful that I still have lots to do for this industry, I also want to achieve something outside of it.” This was why Gerald invested in a commercial gym, a private resort and, most recently, a restaurant.

“They are what’s keeping me busy other than my work as an actor. I’m very hands-on when it comes to my businesses. For me, they’re the manifestation of what I envisioned in my mind. I spent my hard-earned money on them. I can’t expect other people to care for them more than I do,” he stressed.

“That’s why I have high respect for my bosses in ABS-CBN. With all that our company has gone through, they really tried to keep everyone’s livelihood afloat.”

Gerald said that, growing up, he would always hear people telling him to save up because one is never certain about what’s going to happen to his future.

Gerald Anderson

Staying relevant

“I also remember that while I was still a contestant on PBB (‘Pinoy Big Brother’), people said I would only last for six to eight months in show biz,” he recalled.

“I endured so many criticisms. I still experience them up to now. I’m also aware that, in spite of all that I’ve accomplished as an actor, everything can still be taken away from me. I want to prove to myself that when this happens, I will still be able to survive, that I will be able to take good care of my family. This is not to say I’m ready to leave show biz, I’m just saying we will all have to face challenges in life, so we have to be ready for them.”

When asked for his advice on how to stay relevant in the industry, Gerald said: “When I left the PBB house, I knew nothing about what this industry was like. I didn’t even know how to be an actor. I also didn’t know what I really wanted to do for myself, but I persevered because I had a lot of help.

“When the day ends, we’re all tired, including the director, cameramen and other staff members, but we should still treat each other with respect. We should care for each other because we’re part of one team. I’m not saying that we should just say ‘yes’ to whatever our superiors are telling us to do. What we should do is come up with good work and remain respectful at all times.”

He added: “More than telling me that I’m a good actor, I find it more fulfilling to hear that I’m kind, reliable and easy to work with. I try to be like that every single day. I think that’s the reason I’m still here.”