Gerald Madrid: Seriously now

He showed early promise in films like Sana Pag-Ibig Na and Batang Pro. Despite that, people have never really taken Gerald Madrid seriously as an actor.

Part of the reason is Gerald himself chose to lie low when he started getting offers to go sexy on screen. Lest people brand him a hypocrite, Gerald clarifies he’s not scared of baring his flesh; in Sana Pag-Ibig Na directed by Jeffrey Jeturian, he exposed half of his behind in a scene lasting a few brief seconds. The problem was after that–and after he agreed to do the movie Pedrong Palad–all the offers he got were for sexy films with pumping scenes. Says Gerald: "I don’t do pumping scenes. Back then, if I ever did love scenes, gusto ko, nasa ibabaw ang partner because I didn’t want prolonged butt exposure."

Gerald, the son of a dentist and doctor, also felt he needed to protect his parents. So he willingly faded out of the scene, making people wonder why a promising actor would disappear so suddenly.

Then Alma Moreno came into his life. The two met when Gerald ran for Parañaque councilor in the last elections. They started out as friends, but when rumors of a romance started making the rounds, the movie press vilified Gerald. There were allegations that he had walked out on his wife and three kids because of Alma, and people made up there minds to think he was the bad guy without giving Gerald the chance to defend himself.

Now–as he prepares to make a comeback–Gerald attempts to explain what happened between him and Alma. "Down na down ako noon. Not only did I lose in the elections, I also had no offers and my showbiz career was down. Even if I wanted to make a comeback, I didn’t know if I had a career to return to. My wife Maricar and I were also having problems. Eventually, it came to a point where we separated. "

Then Gerald met Alma. Because they spent a lot of time together on the campaign trail, they became very close. In Alma, Gerald found a shoulder he could cry on. "Nagka-hingahan kami ng problema," is how Gerald puts it. "The situation was very complicated, and I only had Ness (Alma’s nickname) to talk to."

There is no need to go into all the details of what happened next, since these had already been discussed again and again in the media. Suffice it to say that Gerald went into the relationship without really stopping to think what it could mean for him, his family and his career.

"At first, I didn’t think about what will happen. But since it was already there…" he says, trailing off with a pensive look.

The relationship has been good for Gerald in the sense that it made him want to shape up – literally. Only 26, Gerald gained a lot of weight during his years of inactivity. He looked older than his age beside the youthful-looking Alma.

Finally, one day, after he appeared on The Buzz (during which he finally admitted he and wife Maricar had indeed separated), I offered to help him. "If you need help, just give me a call," I told him.

I found it such a waste of talent for an actor as promising as Gerald to be languishing in the freezer when he could be making movies and doing TV shows again.

So when I got the call from Gerald, I was not at all surprised. Today, he is part of the official stable of Backroom talents. Much slimmer now after a strict diet and exercise regimen, he is back in front of the cameras, doing what he loves best. He recently taped an episode for Magpakailanman, and bookings and offers are starting to pour in again.

His personal life is in a good place as well. Finally, he is at peace with the world.

It’s a good feeling, says Gerald. The excitement in his eyes is obvious. Now, he intends to be totally serious about his career. "I learned my lesson the hard way," he says.

And what lesson is that? "If something is given to you that easily, you tend not to value it too much. I’m grateful I’ve been given a second chance. Now, I intend to be totally serious about my career," says Gerald.