After hurdling anxiety, Gerald thrilled to resume taping for ‘A Soldier’s Heart’

Anderson (in white shirt) with members of the Philippine Coast Guard

As an effect of the pandemic, most production outfits these days resort to utilizing a lock-in set to protect its cast and production crew from getting infected by the deadly Covid-19 virus.

Such is the case of the Gerald Anderson-starrer, “A Soldier’s Heart,” which is currently in production in Tanay, Rizal, where they are expected to stay for a month.

“To do this is very difficult. To work on the series means we will be away from our loved ones for a long time. Plus, the living conditions on our set isn’t very comfortable. We will be staying in a field,” Gerald told Inquirer Entertainment a day before he left for taping. “But this is our way of coping with the pandemic. We all have to adjust big-time. I just hope that everyone will be OK.”An ABS-CBN series, “Make It With You,” featuring Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, had been discontinued because of the health crisis. Another program, “24/7,” starring Julia Montes, Arjo Atayde and JC Santos, has also reportedly ceased production.

“I’m not sure what made the network decide to push through with the production of this particular show, but I’m very thankful that it chose to do so. As for me, I’m all for resuming work. I love the show,” Gerald said, adding that the story “was just about to peak” when the government first imposed an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and other parts of the country in March, which resulted in work stoppage in TV networks and production companies.

“I’m excited to go back to work. I’m motivated because I want to be able to entertain people during these difficult times,” Gerald pointed out.

When asked what his expectations of work are, especially since a vaccine for Covid-19 has yet to be developed, the actor replied: “I really don’t know. I never imagined these things will happen to us—not just the pandemic, but also the (network) shutdown. When I get there, I will adjust to whatever situation I will be presented. I will still do my best to come up with a good show.”

Lockdown look

Just like most of us, Gerald also had to adjust to being forced to stay indoors during ECQ. “It was disorienting during the first few days because I was used to being on the go. I had been very busy prior to the lockdown, then all of a sudden, I wasn’t supposed to do anything,” he recalled. “I’m just lucky that I have my own gym (Th3rd Floor Gym). Since it’s also within Quezon City (where he resides), I get to go there to work out and check on my staff.”

Gerald also spent a lot of time helping the front-liners. Along with the Philippine Coast Guard, where he has been a lieutenant auxiliary guard since 2016, the actor participated in raising funds and eventually building emergency quarantine facilities for Covid-19 positive patients, as well as for doctors and nurses who needed to undergo self-quarantine after duty.

The actor admitted to have experienced anxiety during the last stages of the lockdown. “We all thought it was just going to be a short while, but it dragged on and the number of infected cases just won’t go down. We didn’t know what was happening out there,” he explained.

Gerald said it helped that he was never alone in his house (he lives with a sibling), that he had people to communicate with regularly, and that he had ample space where he could exercise.

“I can only imagine those living in condos, those who have very limited space and couldn’t really go out for almost three months,” he pointed out. “The isolation is no joke. The lockdown really had a psychological effect on all of us, what with the feeling that we were imprisoned in our own house. It’s really important to communicate with friends and family, as well as to find a way for us to remain productive.”

On the set of “A Soldier’s Heart”

Meanwhile, he said the two-month-long ECQ should have been the perfect time “if you want to learn a new skill. We don’t know yet, but that might be the only time in our lives when we could say we really had nothing to do. It’s an advantage if you had wanted to try out something new, like learn to make wine or something,” he said, laughing.

Speaking of self-improvement, Gerald said he spent his free time reading “all about physical fitness and learning about what other businesses I can venture into after the lockdown.” He also did some movie binging by watching Netflix. “It has also served as preparation for when I get back to work,” he pointed out. “After being idle for two months, I know I’d need to warm up first. I made sure to watch different genres of movies and series.”

These days, Gerald said he would often pray for unity. “With all the issues we’re facing these days—the lockdown and shutdown, watak-watak ang mga tao. We have different opinions and are all expressing them on social media in total disregard of whether we would offend or hurt the feelings of others,” he stressed. “I pray that we won’t forget that we’re all Filipinos; that if one Filipino is suffering, then we’re all suffering, too. I pray that this will be our mindset.” INQ