Body Talk with Gerald Anderson

By Ricardo F. Lo
The Philippine Star 07/08/2006 (Funfare)

• Full Name: Gerald Randolf Anderson Jr.
• Nickname: RJ
• Birthday: March 7, 1989
• Zodiac Sign: Pisces
• Color of Eyes: Black/brown
• Color of Hair: Black
• Shoe Size: 11"
• Pant Size: 32"
• Height: 5’8"
• Weight: 156 lbs.
• Nationality: Fil-Am/Hottie (Amboy)
• Parents’ Names: Gerald and Evangeline
• Siblings: Ken, Jen and Darling
• Birthplace: General Santos City

FAVORITES
• Food: Pizza, hotdogs, Chicken Curry
• Color: Red
• Drink: C2
• Book: Dictionary
• Movie: Coach Carter
• Actors: Tom Cruise and Joross Gamboa
• Actress: Eva Mendez
• Band: Rivermaya
• Songs: So Sick, Yo, Run It, Crazy 4 U and 241
• Singers: Neyo, Chris Brown, Usher and Gary Valenciano
• Hangout: Mall
• Game: XBox
• TV Shows: A.S.A.P. and Love Spell
• Gadgets: Cellphone and iPod
• Subjects: History and P.E.
• Pastime: Sleeping
• Cartoon Character: Superman
• Candy: Chocolate
• Holiday: Christmas
• Get-up: Jeans and T-shirt
• Magazine: Sports Illustrated
• Sports: Basketball, football and baseball
• Basketball Teams: Cavaliers, Sixers and Heat
• I like girls who are: Beautiful, sexy, funny and with long hair
• I don’t like girls who are: Plastic, noisy and with "poor hygiene"
• Best Friends: Mickee and Fred
• Hidden Talent: Dancing
• Phobia: Snakes and failing
• Bad Habits: Biting my nails and sleeping
• My Biggest Splurge is: Car
• The first thing I notice in a girl: Her face
• The last time I cried: When I was at an acting workshop
• The last time I laughed: When I was with my friends
• In my CD player right now: Neyo’s So Sick
• Prized Possession: Basketball, jersey

Oh, well, need I say more?

By now, this basic information about Gerald Anderson, second runner-up to Kim Chiu on ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition, must have been recorded for posterity in the minds of the legions of teen fans Gerald has won while he and 13 others were inside Big Brother’s house.

But, wait. Did you know that Gerald, who spent part of his childhood years (from age three to 14) in Missouri, USA, was a back-up dancer of Joross Gamboa? He was discovered in Gensan by movie writer Jun Reyes, Joross’ manager and now Gerald’s, who recruited him for PBB.

No wonder Universal Records lady boss Kathleen Dy-Go promptly signed up Gerald for the album Gerald’s Dance Picks (GDP, to be launched tomorrow, July 9, on ASAP Mania) which contains 10 global hits, including as carrier single Dale Candela which has a music video (showing for the first time at 12 noon tomorrow in MYX) where Gerald co-stars with Pink Butterflies and the Focus E Dancers.

Now you know why Gerald is now known as the Dancefloor Heartthrob.

Other selections on the GDP CD include Out of Touch (a Top 10 chart-topper in UK), Billy Crawford’s Know You Wanna (a certified hit in Europe), Y-Not’s Blah Blah Blah, Scooter’s Shake That, Raghav’s Can’t Get Enough featuring Iceberg Slimm, British rapper/producer Jaimeson’s Bounce, Vinylshakerz’s Club Tropicana, Global Deejays’ Clap Your Hands and DJ Bobo’s Pirates of Dance. (Note: The "52 Facts About Gerald" reprinted as opener for this article are part of a promo-poster for Gerald’s CD. Buy the CD and you get the poster for free.)

Meanwhile, let’s get to know Gerald better via the Body Talk.

What have been the changes in your life since PBB?
"Well, I’m busier now with two shows, Love Spell and Aalog-Alog (both on ABS-CBN). I still can’t believe all this is happening to me. I used to be just a kid from Missouri, you know. And, yes, I am sleep-deprived."

How much sleep do you get per night?
"Not much these days. Like yesterday, we started taping at 7 a.m. and we finished at 9:30 this morning."

So, hasn’t your nightlife been affected?
"I don’t really have a nightlife. My only nightlife is with friends – you know, istambay lang kami sa harap ng bahay."

Hasn’t it gone to your head?
"No, I don’t think so. I’m still the same guy I showed everybody when I was inside Big Brother’s house – playful, corny, makulit, lahat! I still want to be a basketball player. I haven’t stopped my studies. I’m on the home-study set-up."

What sort of diet do you follow?
"None. I don’t go on a diet."

Showbiz is so stressful. How do you cope with stress?
"Stressful? I don’t feel it! Come on, what 17-year-old boy wouldn’t want to be in my shoes? It’s exciting, not stressful at all. I’m having lots of fun!"

What about your love life?
"I don’t have any. I used to have one. But now, I hardly have time for a girlfriend. Why, I don’t even have enough time for myself!"

Do you work out?
"I don’t. Kasi if I work out, baka tumigas ang katawan ko and I might not be able to dance as well."

What part of your body is your favorite?
"My eyes."

What part of your body do you think needs some improvement?
"My 32-inch waistline."

What’s the last thing that you do before you go to sleep?
"I pray. I’ve started praying even harder after I got out of Big Brother’s house."

What do you usually pray for?
"For my family, for everybody in (the ABS-CBN) Talent Center, for my manager, my PBB housemates. My prayer is usually very long because I have to mention so many people."

And the first thing that you do when you wake up.
"Aside from brush my teeth? When I was inside Big Brother’s house, I put on my lapel. Now, I pray."

What’s something you can’t do without?
"Wallet? No, I always forget my wallet. Hmmmm. Let me see. I guess prayer. I never leave the house without praying."

Are you vain like most good-looking guys?
"Inside Big Brother’s house, there were mirrors all over. I’m energetic and I was always moving around, so I would look at every mirror that I passed by. They thought I was vain but I am not."

What’s your favorite sleeping wear?
"Bench shorts."

How long does it take you to fix yourself?
"Fast. Very fast. I take a shower for five minutes especially when I’m racing with time. And I dress up just as fast."

Do you apply anything on your face?
"No, I don’t. That’s why I have a lot of pimples."

Favorite perfume?
"Cool Water. Or Avon Sticks."

Any role model?
"Gary V. Inside Big Brother’s house, he sang for us and gave us inspirational words. When he performs, he does so not for himself but for other people. I’ll never forget the (piece of) advice he gave us: As long as you can make even just one person in the audience happy, you’re good enough."

Who’s your favorite fantasy, somebody you would love to be stranded on an island with?
"Eva Mendez! She’s sexy, she’s beautiful and her skin is, wow, delicious!"

Name three women you think have nice bodies.
"One is Eva Mendez, of course. There’s also Angel Locsin. And Mariel Rodriguez (co-host of PBB Teen Edition)."

And three men...
"Dwayne Wade (the basketball player). Zanjoe Marudo. Richard Gutierrez."

Using body language, how would you make a girl know that you admire/like her?
"I keep smiling at her. Does it work? Sometimes!"