Gerald Anderson on helping Filipino soldiers

MANILA, Philippines — Nothing pleases Gerald Anderson more than helping soldiers. He visited wounded military men confined at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)  Medical Center after they fought in Marawi City.

Before the ABS-CBN reality show "Pinoy Big Brother" (PBB) beckoned, Gerald wanted to follow in his father, Captain Gerald Anderson Sr.’s, footsteps by becoming a soldier himself.

Now, all he can do is haul a bag full of camouflage outfits in the trunk of his car, and imagine himself a soldier through the characters he plays.

“I got so excited after reading the storyline of 'AWOL' (an action film to be shown along with other movies at the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino on August 16 to 22),” Gerald said during a lunch break on the set.

He trained with scout rangers (who focus on anti-guerilla warfare, among others) in Fort Bonifacio and handled guns to play the role of a Special Action Force (SAF) member assigned in Mindanao.

Gerald’s character was the only one left standing in battle. So the enemy wants to wipe him and his entire family out.

The actor’s respect for the military rose after playing the movie, which depicts the sacrifices soldiers make to protect the country.

Many of them – like a soldier Gerald trained with – died while fighting in Marawi. 

No wonder the actor’s respect for military men soared while doing "AWOL."

“I know it’s not much. No one can replace a person’s life. But we’re dedicating this movie to soldiers who sacrificed so much for us,” stated Gerald.

Thanks to triathlon events where he rode his bike over smooth and rugged terrain (the latest was Cebu’s Ironman 70.3 with Matteo Guidicelli and  Kim Chiu) the actor has no problem with action scenes.

Yes, they are taxing. But Gerald can deliver. He even rode his bike going to the "AWOL" set that day because he wanted to make up for the one-week lapse in training when he went to Toronto for a live presentation of "ASAP."

“An actor must be physically fit. He needs stamina,” Gerald pointed out. A healthy diet, he added, is also part of the deal.

Gerald thinks staying fit is a duty, not just to himself, but to fans who see him on the big and small screen. It lets him chase the bad guys, leap from heights, fire away, and do other things that require strength and endurance. His figure is why Gerald’s action movies come one after another, and he feels on top of the world.

“Para akong nasa Disneyland,” Gerald’s smile was as wide as the ocean.

After all, he worked hard for it.  And he is just getting what he richly deserves.