Gerald Anderson’s way of giving back

GERALD Anderson has a foundation for kids’ welfare and environmental preservation. Richard Reyes

GERALD Anderson has set up a foundation that will help children with cancer and mental disability, promote the preservation of the environment, as well as participate in search-and-rescue operations in calamity-struck areas.

“The Anderson Foundation is being formed as we speak. It will also involve my brother, Ken (who is also an actor), and the rest of my family,” Gerald told the Inquirer. “I thought of this because I wanted to join the military before joining show business. This will fill my life with more passion and meaning.”

According to Gerald, the foundation’s first project is a canine-aided search and rescue unit. “Our dogs will help look for missing people in areas struck by calamities, like Tacloban. I own one of the dogs. I named him Fredo after my character in ‘Dyesebel.’ My brother has two. We are currently a six-man team.”

He added: “Ours is the only group of its kind in Asia—a team with privately-owned dogs trained for search and rescue. This will not be just for the Philippines. If we’re needed in places like Nepal (where an magnitude-8.1 earthquake struck in April), we will go there, too.”

The actor said there will also be projects to benefit kids with special needs. “This is my way of giving back. I also plan to tie up with Ocean Adventure for other projects.”

Gerald was recently named Ocean Adventure Subic Bay’s first brand ambassador. “They first saw me when I brought the Cancer Warriors (a group of young cancer patients) to the theme park.”

He added: “As part of the campaign, I got to play with the dolphins and sea lions. I was so thrilled by the experience! Before that session, I was only able to see them as an audience. It was my first time to spend time with them. The park has other exciting shows with animals that no one thought were even trainable. Imagine being able to make chickens do tricks. It’s amazing!”

Gerald said he learned a lot from the experience. “Humans are not the only living species in the world that can be taught. It’s sad because I was told that our country is the third in Asia with the biggest number of plastic wastes in our bodies of water. I hope we could change our ways before it’s too late.”

Gerald told the Inquirer: “People who are greedy and selfish make me angry. It’s sad that the funds supposedly for the rehabilitation of Tacloban after Supertyphoon ‘Yolanda’ were not used appropriately. I know I’d get into trouble for saying this, but these officials are so greedy that they felt no remorse taking what weren’t theirs.”

Asked whether running for public office has ever crossed his mind, the 26-year-old actor said: “Never. In my own little way as an artist, I am already able to help and inspire people. I think I am able to do more for others than some people currently in power.”

On the possibility of endorsing a presidential candidate for the 2016 elections, Gerald said he would first sit down with a political aspirant “and try to find out how he would be able to help the masses. They are the ones who are most affected if a politician steals from government funds.”

Gerald, who is a registered voter, admitted that he hasn’t had the chance to vote in past elections. “This is why the coming election is special to me,” he added. “Everyone should think not just of their future, but of our would-be children’s. We should elect someone who will bring change to the country!”