‘Suits’ star Gabriel Macht: ‘Filipino’s generosity of spirit is a real strength’

MANILA, Philippines – Hollywood actor Gabriel Macht, star of the U.S. series “Suits,” was impressed by the Filipino people’s “generosity of spirit.”

 

In a media roundtable for the local media on Sunday, March 9, Gabriel, who was in the country over the weekend, said he was inspired to see people “getting back on their feet” after being struck by typhoon Yolanda last year.

 

The “Suits” star, who was brought by Globe Telecom via their sustainable livelihood program advocacy called Project Wonderful, visited Ormoc, Leyte on Saturday, March 8

 

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“There was a lot of devastation and I was saddened to see some of the land not rebuilt. But what struck me was there was rebuilding going on,” he told members of the press. “The generosity of spirit in the Filipino people, I think, is a real strength. I see that they’re getting back on their feet and that’s very inspiring.”

 

Project Wonderful aims to give victims of typhoon Yolanda livelihood opportunities, as well as education and shelter via sustainable means.

 

“The approach is very inspiring. They’re allowing small businesses to have the responsibility themselves to grow. I think instead of just throwing money at the problem, they’re pushing these people work themselves. That’s inspiring to me,” the actor said. 

 

Gabriel, who has already starred in movies such as “The Spirit” and “Love and Other Drugs,” said he was also struck by the children of Ormoc during his visit.

 

 

“Just their spirits, their smiles. And also not just the kids but the adults too,” he said. “You guys have such a warm nature. I was struck by, you know, maybe it was just the cameras there and stuff and the people and the fans of ‘Suits,’ but to see people smiling—that, I think, will go a long way.” 

 

The 42-year-old star admitted he had no expectations or impressions about the Philippines prior his visit. “I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t know the country, I didn’t know the history,” he said. 

 

However, his “Suits” co-star Patrick J. Adams, who was in the country last year, told him to expect “there are huge fans of the shows” in the Philippines. 

 

“He told me, ‘It’s an amazing time and you’ll just get so much love.’ And I found that to be the case,” Gabriel said.

 

In the show, which airs locally on Jack TV, Gabriel plays the legendary law practitioner Harvey Specter. Jack TV will air all-new season three episodes of “Suits” starting March 19, Wednesday at 9 p.m..

 

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“I’m super thankful to play the character of Harvey Specter. He’s the perfect character to play—he’s charismatic, he can be very harsh and quick-witted. All of these things that are a little hard, but underneath I try to infuse him with a depth of character and heart” he said. “When you look at him, underneath it all, he has a huge heart.” 

 

“It’s just that he’s been told that vulnerability is a weakness. I believe vulnerability is a strength,” Gabriel further explained, relating it to the people of Ormoc. “I see that in the town, I see these people are vulnerable. But it’s a strength of theirs. They will overcome and stand out and they’re gonna get back on their feet.”

 

What has he learned from playing Harvey? “We have some similarities that I am learning from him in that I think he will never show he has self-doubt and insecurity. I think what I learned from him is that if you push through your insecurity and you persist through your failure, you will succeed,” Gabriel shared.