Alden Richards a Fast-Rising Star Who keep His Feet on The Ground

A good read from Heidi Villafranca Ugay: Alden Richards a Fast-Rising Star Who keep His Feet on The Ground. Works at Freelance Commercial/TV-Movie Performer.



Heidi portrays Emma in Alakdana as Alden's Aunt.

MY TBT: Once again, I'm using my TBT to write about my personal encounter with a celeb who touched a soft spot on my heart. On January 2011, I played the role of Dr. Emma Santos, aunt-doc of Joma played by fast-rising young actor Alden Richards. My first encounter with him was uneventful since most of my scene was with his screen partner Louise Delos Reyes as Adana. My continuity shoot came after two weeks and the first scene that was shot was my confrontation with Alden, Louise and actress Jean Garcia. After the first take, the AD told me that our director, Direk Mac Alejandre (of Amaya, Ang Panday, etc) wasn't satisfied with my acting because even if I was showing anger and agitation, my eyes were smiling as projected in the cameras. I felt nervous thinking that I should pass the second take. Louise said, "Ganyan din si Alden noon kaya lagi siyang napapagsabihan". And Alden said, "Tita, i-blangko mo ang utak mo tapos i-build up mo yong galit mo sa akin para lumabas sa mata." I concentrated and followed his advice and thank God it was a good take! Next scene was my one-on-one with Alden so the PA told me to change clothes and have my make-up retouched back in our tent. When I returned to the set, there was no more vacant seat for me. (There are only limited chairs during teleserye tapings and they are reserved for celebs and top production peeps that even the crew when they are lucky to find a seat don't offer their chairs to talents.) Alden was already there and the lights and props were still being set up and when he saw me, he readily stood up and offered his seat to me. A very gentlemanly gesture I seldom see nowadays and considering that he was one of the main stars of the show. We shot the rest of our scenes and that was my last Alakdana raket. On September 2012 after almost two years, I accepted a raket for One True Love as a DepEd proctor. Upon arriving at the location shoot, I looked for the PA to get my lines and there was Alden at the school corridor preparing for a scene. I said hi not sure if he would still remember me. He smiled saying, "Hi tita!" then he called the AD who was standing nearby and said, "Direk, siya ang tita ko sa Alakdana." It was really so sweet of him to remember me and took time to introduce me to the AD. After our scene was shot, we had this pic taken then I left. I received more calls for teleserye raket but I seldom accept offers due to conflict of schedule but I find time to watch teleseryes and TV shows to keep me updated. And seeing Alden's rise to stardom made me happy and bumping into him last Black Saturday, April 19 made me happier. Going home to Lucena City after a tiring day at Liliw, Laguna, we made a stop-over at Kamayan sa Palaisdaan in Tayabas, Quezon to pick-up the foods we ordered thru cellphone. On my way out, I saw Alden assisting an old lady coming inside the restaurant. I hesitated whether to greet him or not, not sure if he would remember me again and knowing that he is now Yago in Carmela: Ang Pinakamagandang Babae sa Mundong Ibabaw with no less than Marian Rivera as his leading lady. He saw me and blurted out, "Hi tita, nandito ka rin pala!" I was glad he's still the same Alden I knew, "Taga Quezon ako, Alden. Dito kami nag Holy Week". We made beso-beso then he introduced me to his lola, a very friendly-looking, elegant lady, "Lola, siya po ang tita ko sa Alakdana." "Bakit po kayo nandito?", I asked. "Pumunta kami diyan sa Kamay ni Hesus, tita. Sumimba kami.", Alden replied. I was tempted to ask for a pic with them even though my family was already waiting for me in the car but I noticed a number of people wanting to ask for a pic with Alden so I said my goodbye. Last I heard him saying was, "Sige po, sige po!" to the people requesting for a photo-op. I just wish all celebs are like him, totoong may magandang asal at pag-uugali maging sa likod ng camera. ALDEN RICHARDS, A FAST-RISING STAR WHO KEEPS HIS FEET ON THE GROUND.