Our favorite Bisaya online talk show, “Kuan On One,” is finally back for its third season! And for its opening salvo, our beloved Kuantie Melai Cantiveros had an insightful and lighthearted conversation with Kapamilya actor Gerald Anderson, who is also a pride of General Santos City, South Cotabato just like her.
In this episode, Kuantie Melai had Gerald talk about his life in GenSan prior to joining “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition 1” in 2006, what were his motivations to do so, and the learnings he got from his parents when it comes to life and love.
Life before PBB and showbiz
Not a lot of people probably know that they’ve known each other even before they joined the highly successful reality show in separate editions, as Kuantie Melai claimed that Gerald was actually one of the most handsome lads in GenSan before both of them entered showbiz. But unlike her who was born and raised there, he, on the other hand, revealed that he was born in Subic, Zambales in 1989, where his parents—his American US Navy dad and his beauty parlor owner mom—met decades ago. His dad used to go to the salon owned by his mom to have his hair cut, and that was how their paths crossed.
According to Gerald, it was the destructive Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 that changed the dynamics of their family, with his Papa being reassigned to the United States, which compelled all of them to move there together. He lived there until he was 14, while his Mama kept traveling back and forth between the US and GenSan.
However, in one of their vacations here, his Mama encountered a problem with her green card after she overstayed here, which was strictly not allowed. Thus, even though it was such a huge financial blow for them if they didn’t fly, they had no choice but to stay behind and return to GenSan. Despite what had happened, he has considered it destiny since a few years later, he decided to audition for “PBB,” which has forever changed her life.
Due to his handsome appearance, Kuantie Melai conveyed that she initially refused to believe that Gerald grew up in their humble town because many people were already drawn to him even as a teenager. In fact, he was the talk of their town, with some girls joining the cheer dance competition just to catch a glimpse of one of their town’s heartthrobs.
As the host veered their conversation to the relationship of his parents back then, Gerald revealed that they’re actually among the reasons why he joined “PBB” and really wanted to win. He confessed in Bisaya, “Sumali ako sa ‘PBB’ na ang iniisip ko ay kapag lumabas ako, magkakaroon ako ng pera [at] kasikatan. Baka ‘yon ang magiging dahilan para maging okay sila.”
“PBB Teen’s” “Amboy Hottie ng General Santos City” may look like he was enjoying the fame and fortune that being in showbiz entail, but Gerald implied that he actually had a hard time transitioning from his simple and quiet life in GenSan and inside Bahay Ni Kuya to the demanding world of showbiz. Aside from the fact that their family was going through a rough patch due to his parents’ separation, he also experienced culture shock because of the new world he was thrusted in.
But did you know that prior to becoming a “PBB” housemate in 2006, Gerald had already a taste of becoming an artista? Well, he recalled being scouted by the manager of Joross Gamboa while he was hanging out with his friends at their town’s Oval Plaza and asked him if he wanted to become a celebrity. Naïve and clueless about what that meant back then, seeing Joross perform onstage had sparked Gerald’s interest in becoming a celebrity.
Besides, Kuantie Melai attested to his claim that he was already fairly known in GenSan at that time, saying that girls would squeal and get kilig even though he was doing nothing. There were even times when they were playing basketball and the fans of the opposing team would cheer for him because he was so handsome and good at basketball.
Learnings from his parents
When asked about the lessons that his mom and dad have taught him that he still carries with him throughout his showbiz journey, the “Sins of the Father” lead actor said that his Mama Vangie taught him to treat people well and to be generous to others even if he has nothing left. He went to share his Mama was too kind that even if she only had just enough money, she would still help others, the trait that he thinks he got from her.
“Hanggang kaya ko at hanggang meron ako. Isa sa malaking motivation ko sa trabaho natin na sumikat pa at magkaroon pa ng mga proyekto ay para makapagbigay ng blessings sa ibang tao,” he said in Bisaya.
At the same time, Gerald assumes that he got from his Papa Gerald Sr. is his “sense of duty.” It was actually he who inspired him to serve other people through helping them, especially in times of disasters. While it shocks other people to see him do rescue operations but he imparted that it’s just a normal thing for him since he had witnessed his dad do it in his 30 years in the U.S. Navy.
When it comes to the ultimate love lesson that he has learned from his parents, Gerald related, “At the end of the day, kahit ano pa man ang problema, kahit anong hamon pa ang dumating, kailangan ay kayo pa rin ang lulutas no’n. Kayo pa rin ang mahalaga. Mahirap talaga kapag nandoon ka na sa sitwasyon, pero at the end of the day, kayo ang magkasangga, kayo dapat ang nagtutulungan.”
Although his parents had a fallout back then, Gerald has been the glue that holds their family together and the bridge connecting his parents. That’s why, even things get tough and he already feels like giving up due to exhaustion and many people meddling in his life, he chooses to keep going and keep fighting in life—just like a true Bisdak does.