Ken in the footsteps of his Kuya Gerald

MANILA, Philippines - Had it not been for the irresistible lure of showbiz, Ken Anderson wouldn’t mind spending the rest of his life soaring through the clouds, piloting his trusty Cessna 172 as he literally looks at his world from a different perspective.

Blame it on his dad, a retired US Navy officer who exposed him to the joys of flying at a young age. Despite the strict upbringing typical of military patriarchs, Ken revealed an uncanny fascination for planes, guns and other conventional “war toys” during his growing-up years.

Following in the footsteps of elder brother Gerald Anderson, Kenneth Alex Anderson seeks to soar to even greater heights as he tries out his luck in showbiz under the stewardship of new manager Arnold Vegafria.

Faced with his new challenge, the 22-year-old, 5’10” hunk is level-headed enough not to ride on the coattails of his now-famous brother.

“It’s inevitable,” Ken admits unabashedly. “People will always be comparing me to Gerald.”

But rather than skirting the issue, Ken gladly welcomes it.

He adds, “It’s an honor to be compared to Gerald because he has achieved so much since he’s been here in the Philippines. But I know that it’s only a matter of time before I create my own niche and eventually move out of his shadow.”

Born in Subic Bay to an American dad and Filipina mom, Ken, the youngest of four siblings moved with the whole family to Texas when he was two, and later on moved to Springfield, Missouri where he spent most of his formative years.

Though he would occasionally shuttle to Manila for a quick stopover back then, Ken recalls very little of Pinoy showbiz and pop culture. “The only time I became aware of it was when I came over to visit one time after Gerald’s Pinoy Big Brother stint. We went to this mall, and I saw how almost everyone knew who he was. I was like, ‘What’s going on?!?’”

Right after high school, Ken enrolled in aviation school and earned his private pilot license (PPL) before taking on an assortment of odd jobs including lifeguard, cook and lumberjack.

A few years short of a commercial pilot license (CPL), Ken looks forward to the day when he joins the pro ranks of the country’s top flight carriers.

Surprisingly, for someone his age, Ken confesses to being drawn to the glitz and glam of the Roaring Twenties, as portrayed in the F. Scott Fitzgerald-inspired flick, The Great Gatsby.

“I kinda wish I was born then,” he muses. “It was so unique — the lifestyle, the look. I’m also a big fan of (notorious outlaw) Al Capone.”

Aside from Robin Padilla, Coco Martin and Jake Cuenca, he also admires Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Josh Hartnett and Marlon Brando.

As he gears up for his showbiz debut, Ken keeps himself in shape through gym workouts, swimming and basketball, at the same time immersing himself in acting workshops and working double-time on his Tagalog fluency.

Through it all, Ken remains level-headed and pragmatic as his showbiz career takes flight.

He confesses, “Right now, I’m nervous, but also excited. This is no joke, this is the real deal. You got to give your best, take care of the people around you, and have a good attitude. I mean, anything can happen. You could be famous today, but tomorrow no one knows who you are.”