One-on-One Interview with Alden Richards in Cebu (Part I)

Alden Richards traveled to Cebu last  October 2, 2015 for a Kapuso Fans Day in Gaisano Island Mall. An estimate of 15,000 fans were there to see the Pambansang Bae and that's how popular he is that some of his fans came from Bohol to Cebu just to see him.


Same routine with other artists who had a mall show in Cebu, they met with some members of the press and talked about their plans and career.




Here are his interview with the press published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 05, 2015.

PART 1:  AlDub split-screen romance: Real or fake?

Question (Q): How did you start in Eat Bulaga?

Alden Richards (AR): Well before po kasi, after Illustrado and Bet ng Bayan, there were four consecutive months that I have not been seen on television. Parang lull moments so my manager po, GMA Artist Center, talked to TAPE (Television and Production Exponents Inc. that produces Eat Bulaga) because TAPE doesn’t accommodate hosts anymore. They don’t need host na eh. It’s the longest noon time show and solid na yung Dabarkads. Hindi na nila kailangan ng (they don’t need) additional hosts but fortunately, in God’s time, TAPE allowed to have me as guest me for a month before I left for the States to do a US concert for GMA Pinoy TV.

Q: What was your first day with Eat Bulaga like?

AR: Naku ang laki-laki po ng pressure kasi of course coming in, you are a newbie. They’ve been together for so long. Solid na yung foundation ng Dabarkads. So you have to adjust in terms of how they do the spill. How to be spontaneous. Meron na silang rapport so I have to gauge myself. Pero the good thing about the Dabarkads is they helped me a lot to be a better host. They gave me advices.

Di sila mahirap ka-trabaho (They’re not difficult to work with). Walang contest inside Eat Bulaga eh. Everyone’s a family.

Q: About Maine (Mendoza), did you know that she has a crush on you?

AR: No. I didn’t know. It all just started when Eat Bulaga asked me to just sit down at the studio and watch Juan For All. Sabi ko, ‘sige po’ (So I said, ‘okay’)... And so I watched. Then she was doing her regular “dubsmash” and then the camera was on me and she got distracted. So the emotion was very genuine. And that started it all.

Q: Is it true that your split-screen romance is now real?

AR: Well ako po, I want to know the person first. And siguro, after this, tamang panahon (the right time), which is coming very soon. I would really love the chance to get to know her personally, to get the moment to talk to her, ask her the things she likes, the things she doesn’t like. Her favorite color or food.

Q: At this point in time, what are your feelings?

AR: Masarap yung feeling eh (I feel good). I am very happy. Becase this started as kilig-kilig (a Filipino slang that doesn’t have an English translation).

Q: Is it possible you and Maine will have a date here in Cebu through Kalyeserye?

AR: Why not? Kasi po Kalyeserye pwede pang ganapan sa kalye, sa mall, whichever (Because Kalyeserye can be done on the street, or mall, whichever). That is how big it is.

Q: Do you have apprehensions being cast with Maine?

AR: No. I am good with it because I am very happy with what is happening. We are really getting a lot of good feedback from the people. There are no apprehensions.

Q: Do you communicate with Maine? Texts? Calls?

AR: As of the moment, wala (no). It’s so weird. Our first meeting and our first conversation were on camera. Nothing happened off camera.

Q: Why? Is it not allowed?

A: It’s not na hindi pwede (that it’s not allowed) but parang it is how we maintain the magic of Kalyeserye. No one is forbidding us, actually. But come to think of it, parang ang sarap pa rin na (it feels so good that) the only chance you get to see her is through the screen and we just talk through (written words). We surprise each other. Kasi mawawala yung kung nag-uusap na kami (We will lose that if we talk) off cam. Kilala ko na siya. So yun talaga ang parang nagiging acting (If I get to know her, it becomes acting). So what’s happening at Kalyeserye now is just natural.

Q: What characteristics are you looking for a girl?

AR: Number one, she has to be understanding. And sense of humor really counts. Of course, you get attracted to a person on the physical form eh. That’s the first thing, reality-wise. At saka mabait (And nice).

Q: So far, do you see these characteristics in Yaya Dub?

AR: Yes. Yes.


Next:
One-on-One Interview with Alden Richards in Cebu (Part II)