MANILA, Philippines — Although what happened to him 19 years ago took a long time for him to come out in the open and disclose it, Gerald Santos felt there was really a time for everything.
Following the headline-hogging sexual abuse that Sandro Muhlach allegedly experienced last year, Gerald also bravely went public with the same thing he experienced with a veteran songwriter nearly two decades ago.
“That was not abrupt when I decided to expose what happened,” Gerald said. “Back in 2022, I also shared it in an interview with Butch Francisco. It just so happened there was a big name in the music industry that got involved in the issue.
“Because of what I went through last year, a lot of people told me I was courageous,” Gerald said. “At the same time, I felt naked in public. When I came out in the open about what happened to me nearly two decades ago, I really felt naked in public. Those two words perfectly define me.”
“When I came out in the open last year, I realized how hard it was for the victims of sexual abuse,” Gerald said. “Other victims approached me, like (singer) Enzo Almario, who experienced sexual abuse in 2008 when he was only 12 years old.
“I was the breadwinner at that time,” Gerald disclosed. “Instead of focusing on filing a complaint at that time, I opted to concentrate in making a living for my family.
“What I went through was not a good experience, but it made me a strong person. That gave me whatever wisdom I have now. So in time, I developed my strength as a person, not just because of what happened but everything that I went through.”
Gerald is willing to extend help to other victims so they can bravely come out in the open and expose what they experienced.
“As of now, we are partnering with PAO (Public Attorney’s Office) and we are extending psychological therapy to the victims to strengthen our foundation.
“I’m of age now,” admitted the 33-year-old singer-actor. “Whatever I went through in my personal and professional life, everything affected me. I was the breadwinner of the family. Everything happens for a reason. That’s my destiny.”
“But that made me who I am right now. I was even thankful for everything. I’m ready to face whatever challenges will come. I’m stronger now as a person.”
“Courage” and “Hubad” are bold words that would best describe singer-actor Gerald these days.
Courage is what Gerald decided to tag his forthcoming solo concert on Jan. 24 at the SM North EDSA Sky Dome, while Hubad is the title of his latest single. The words are what were attached to him lately.
Hubad gives Gerald the sexy, sexual feel. Since he wants to offer something new to his fans and followers, he wants to give the public a new sound.
“I have other songs I recorded which has the same theme,” he offered. “This is just my first in the new sound that I will offer.”
Gerald is admittedly “courageous” in the new songs that he will also offer. “I will sing a lot of unorthodox songs in my concert that the audience doesn’t typically hear me render,” he said.
In August last year, Gerald’s Courage concert was conceptualized following his earlier show, Grateful, which marked his 18th year in the music business after winning the grand prize in the second season of “Pinoy Pop Superstar” (2005).
Musical director for Courage is Jason Cabatoc, who also arranged Hubad, penned by Cebu-based songwriter, Feb Cabahug. Gerald’s talent manager Antonino Rommel Ramilo works at the helm of the concert.
“I’ve been wanting to offer a new song and reinvent myself,” Gerald said. “Perfect ang song na Hubad for me. Feb was even offering to pay me just to sing the song. But I told her there was no need to do that. I believe in the song.
“Sobra akong nagandahan sa song and it has the potential to become a hit, so we collaborated with the song and co-produced it.”
Gerald was earlier daunted with the title of his new single. He felt it was not appropriate. “But when I read the lyrics and listened to the demo sent to me, I thought otherwise. The song, Hubad, was well-written and not bastos.”
Joining him onstage in Courage are Erik Santos, Sheryn Regis, Aster P-pop boy band — “the new SB19,” as described by Gerald — Elish, Aliw Award Best Female Artist of 2024 and other surprise artists who will perform numbers with him.
Even before ABS-CBN lost its franchise in 2022, Gerald already secured a record deal with Star Music. “There had been songs with a similar theme like Hubad at that time,” he shared. They gave me new songs. Unfortunately, the deal with Star Music did not push through. Maybe that was not meant to be at that time.”
In time with the release of Hubad in all digital platforms, Gerald unveiled the Courage Movement to help victims of sexual abuse and harassment.
Just when he thought that his career was at a standstill and nothing was happening, Gerald got the “Miss Saigon” United Kingdom stint in 2016 and that kept him going ever since.
After conquering the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark with his performance of Thuy in “Miss Saigon,” Gerald has decided to stay put in Manila. While he made a name for himself as a Filipino performer in a foreign stage, he even gained fans abroad since 2016.
“It’s a bit lonely to work abroad,” he granted. “Denmark came even in the pandemic. I studied the language for ‘Miss Saigon,’ but if I decided to continue and pursue a career there, I had to learn more about Danish. That’s a bit hard.”
Gerald also got to visit and explore other European cities like Madrid (Spain), Paris (France) and Milan (Italy). He also decided to visit the US.
The irony, however, is that Gerald left his heart in New York, where he maintains a long-distance relationship (LDR) with his non-showbiz girlfriend, Grace, of nearly two years.
Gerald spent the change of calendars in New York with Grace. Notwithstanding the change in time zones and the long distance affair, the relationship is going strong.
After flexing his acting muscles on the big screen in such early films as director Joel Lamangan’s “Deception” (2021) and “Oras de Peligro” (2023), as well as Lester Dimaranan’s “Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told” (2022), Gerald will be seen next in writer-director Ronald Sanchez’s “Ayaw Matulog ng Gabi.”