Kapuso star Alden Richards has not yet decided to level up his friendship with singer Julie Anne San Jose to courtship.
“Kasi po marami pa po akong priorities,” Alden, who is Richard Faulkerson, Jr. in real life, told Bulletin Entertainment in an interview during the press launch of his newest project for GMA-7, “Mundo Mo’y Akin,” held Thursday in Quezon City.
“For me kasi, once you get into a serious relationship, start na po ng distraction ’yan eh. Ang focus ko po talaga ngayon ay mapagtapos ’yung kapatid kong babae sa college then matulungan din ’yung family ko,” he said.
Although he admitted he really considers Julie Anne special, “wala pa po sa courtship (’yung status namin ni Julie Anne) and actually wala pa namang commitment pero siya talaga ’yung pinaka-close ko na girl. Kumbaga, kung may itatangi akong babae, siya na ’yun.”
Since his mother died of pneumonia in 2008, Alden has taken over in helping his father provide for their family. This took a toll on his studies (he is taking a Business Administration course at De La Salle Canlubang). “But I will definitely go back to school once my sister finishes college,” he said.
The 20-year-old breakthrough star, who earned the moniker “Pambansang Dimples,” spoke of life’s hardships as inspiration that drives him to become a more effective actor.
According to Alden, playing the role of a poor man has been easy because “ganoon kami before at hindi kami mayaman. Mas madali i-personify ’yung character kasi naranasan ko na before maging mahirap.”
With “Mundo Mo’y Akin,” Alden revealed that he is pressured to at least match what his former teleserye “One True Love” has achieved – especially since he considers his new series as dramatic as the latter.
He nonetheless hopes that “mabigyan ko ng justice ’yung role ko. Aim ko na maipakita ang different attack with every role that I play para at least hindi nakakasawa panoorin.”
“Mundo Mo’y Akin” reunites him with onscreen partner Louise delos Reyes, and counts newest Kapuso Lauren Young as a third wheel – a first for their tandem.
He explained, “It adds challenge po. Nasanay kasi kami ni Louise na kami lang ever since ‘My Beloved,’ ‘One True Love,’ ‘Tween Academy,’ kami lang po talaga. Walang third party. Well, I have one small team-up with Julie Anne in one episode of ‘Maynila’ but si Louise talaga all the way.”
Expect a more mature Alden and Louise this time, the young actor said. “Okay na kaming tatlo (ni Louise and Lauren). Wala na pong workshop. Sabak agad kami sa taping.”
“With Lauren now in the picture, it’s more challenging, more fun. We’ll put something new na kaming tatlo. It’s a learning experience for the both of us ni Louise also. Exciting po na may madi-discover kaming bago sa mga sarili namin,” he added.
Alden is confident that his and Louise’s fans will also welcome Lauren. “Based naman sa mga reactions ng fans, okay naman po. They’re looking forward sa love triangle. Kumbaga, it’s a new flavor, eh.”
“Mundo Mo’y Akin,” also starring Sunshine Dizon, Angelika Dela Cruz, Jolina Magdangal-Escueta, Jaclyn Jose, Gabby Eigenmann, among others, will replace “Pahiram Ng Sandali” on GMA Telebabad, March 18.
