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Alden still finds it hard to celebrate Christmas without his mother

Christmas will never be the same for Alden Richards, who lost his mother to cancer four years ago. The pain and loneliness still linger especially during this joyous season.

“Honestly po mahirap pa rin. Kahit ano pong gawin ko na i-divert ko yung attention ko sa ibang bagay, meron pa ring kulang. Mom ko ang kulang. I miss her everyday,” admits Alden.

It was his mom's wish, when she was still alive, that Alden joins showbiz.

“Siguro naman po kung ano yung nararating ko ngayon I'm sure my mom is very happy wherever she is,” he quips.

In fact, it was his late mom's advice and words of wisdom that Alden has always followed ever since he entered showbiz.

“Sabi niya na pag artista na ako, ang pinakamahalaga po sa lahat ay yung pakikisama po sa mga tao. ‘Yun ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat. Sabi niya kahit pagod na pagod ka na hindi mo pwedeng i-dahilan ang pagod mo sa ugali mo. Kasi mahirap po yun. Isa pa, dapat wag kang late sa work mo,” shares Alden.
 
Hard work and determination

Hard work, determination plus his mom's advice are helping Alden advance in his career. He is one of the most sought-after actors of GMA Artist Center. GMA Network is grooming him as a leading man.

“I'm very blessed. Hindi ko ma-imagine na nangyayari sa akin ang mga ganitong bagay kasi kakasimula ko lang at wala pa nga akong isang taon sa showbiz. ‘Yung mga achievements ko at mga narating ko dahil sa GMA-7 at dahil sa Diyos. Ang bilis and very greatful ako sa mga nangyayari. Sana po magtuloy-tuloy lang,” remarks Alden, who recently bagged Enpress’ Breakthrough Actor Award.

In less than a year, he was cast as a lead actor in the afternoon drama-fantasy series “Alakdana” and was included in youth-oriented “Tween Hearts.” Next year, Alden will star in the romance-drama “My Beloved” with Rhian Ramos and Dingdong Dantes.

He made his movie debut in “Tween Academy: Batch 2011,” followed by a role as a young psycho killer in “The Road.”

Alden plays the warrior Gubli in Sen. Bong Revilla Jr.'s “Panday 2.”

“It's really a big deal for me to be cast in ‘Panday 2.’ Not all newcomers in showbiz are given this opportunity,” Alden says.

How does Alden feel that he was cast to replace Aljur Abrenica in “Panday 2?”

“I have no problem with that po. Nakapag-usap kami ni Aljur and he was happy that I got his role. Gustong-gusto niya ‘yung role pero di niya kayang pagsabayin lahat ng ginagawa niya,” Alden replies.

If Alden has no qualms accepting any role or being a second choice, it is because he believes that as an actor, he must give what's required of him.

He cites as an example his role in “The Road,” where he plays a killer for the first time. The challenge for him was to give a believable performance as a young psycho killer. Alden says part of his preparation involved research, his director's (Yam Laranas) guidance and internalizing his role.

In playing a killer, Alden said he had to internalize his role “kasi para sa isang baguhang katulad ko, bihirang mabigyan ng ganitong project. Sa tingin ko natuwa naman sila sa trabaho ko.”

Not choosy with roles

Money is another reason he is not choosy about roles. Alden stll commutes back and forth from Sta. Rosa, Laguna to Quezon City. Alden admits he still has to save enough money to buy his own place in Metro Manila.
 
“Laguna pa rin po kami nakatira kasi nandun po ang comfort zone ko and sanctuary ko po. Wala pa po akong budget. Anyway, nasanay na rin naman po ako na nagbibiyahe araw-araw kung may schedule,” he says.