Alden Richards: Pambansang Bae

• Name: Alden Richards
• Full Name: Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr.
• Date of Birth: January 2, 1992
• Place of Birth: Quezon City
• Nationality: Filipino
• Education: 
• Colegio de Santa Rosa
• Paco Catholic School
• De La Salle Canlubang (undergrad)
• Occupation: 
• Actor
• Television Host
• Ambassador
• Recording Artist
• Endorser
• Producer
• Entrepreneur
• Years Active: 2010–present
• Agent: Sparkle GMA Artist Center (2013–present)
• Height: 1.8 meters  (5 feet 11 inches)
• Weight: 77 kilograms
• Shoe Size: 10.5 (US)
• Parents:  Richard Peralta Faulkerson, Sr. and Rosario Reyes

Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr., more popularly known as Alden Richards, is a multifaceted Filipino talent, best recognized for his roles as an actor, television host, ambassador, recording artist, endorser, producer, and entrepreneur. Born on January 2, 1992, in Quezon City, he has risen to the pinnacle of fame, earning the monikers "Primetime Prince" and "Pambansang Bae" (National Bae) in the Philippines. With a height of 1.8 meters (5 feet 11 inches), Alden Richards stands tall both in stature and in his achievements.

Early Life and Background

Alden Richards' journey to stardom was not without its challenges. He was born as Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr., the second child of Richard Peralta Faulkerson Sr., a native of Ermita, Manila, and Rosario Reyes, originally from Pampanga. He comes from a loving family with three siblings: an older brother and two younger sisters. Notably, Richards's paternal grandfather had American heritage, a part of his family's diverse background.

Growing up, Alden harbored dreams of becoming a chef. However, it was his mother who recognized his potential in acting and encouraged him to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Tragically, his mother passed away, leaving him with the responsibility of supporting his family and fulfilling her wishes for him to become an actor.

To provide financial support for his family and honor his mother's aspirations, Richards took on various roles, participating in male beauty pageants in Laguna and working as a part-time commercial model. He gained recognition by winning titles such as Ginoong Sta. Rosa in 2009 and Ginoong Laguna in 2010. Despite facing some initial setbacks, including unsuccessful auditions for reality television shows like StarStruck and Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash of 2010, he persisted in his pursuit of an acting career.

Richards also ventured into commercial modeling, appearing in various advertisements for companies in the Philippines, including telecommunications, clothing lines, fast-food chains, and multivitamins. He completed his high school education at Colegio de Santa Rosa de Lima and briefly began a Business Management Degree at De La Salle Canlubang in Laguna, although he did not complete the degree.

Acting Career:

Alden Richards' acting career began to blossom in the early 2010s. His breakthrough came when he successfully auditioned for a role in the GMA Network's afternoon soap opera, "Alakdana," where he played the character Joma. In this series, he was paired with lead actress Louise delos Reyes.

In 2011, Richards made notable appearances in the teenage series "Tween Hearts" and its film adaptation, "Tween Hearts: Class of 2012." He also showcased his talents on GMA Network's Sunday variety shows "Party Pilipinas" and "Sunday All Stars," as well as in the comedy-horror show "Spooky Nights." His performance as a psychopath in the film "The Road" garnered praise, earning recognition for his acting abilities.

By the end of 2011, Richards had the opportunity to replace Aljur Abrenica's role as Gobi in "Ang Panday 2," an entry in the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival. This change occurred due to scheduling conflicts, and Richards re-shot scenes originally performed by Abrenica. Entertainment writers began predicting that he would be the next big star of GMA Network.

In 2011, Richards received the distinction of being the 1st Filipino Amazing Male Newcomer in the first Yahoo! OMG! Philippines Awards. The same year, he won the Best New Actor award at the Golden Screen Awards. Notably, he invited Sam Pinto, who was named FHM Sexiest of 2011, for a date on national television. Although she accepted the invitation and went on a cruise date with Richards in Manila Bay, it was revealed that their outing was just a friendly get-together.

In 2012, Alden Richards played a supporting role as a thief named Rico in the primetime series "My Beloved," which was headlined by Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes. He also appeared in the Holy Week special "Tanikala," in an episode titled "UNOS" (Calamity). In "One True Love," a prime time TV series that premiered on June 11, 2012, he played the lead role, "Tisoy," paired again with Louise delos Reyes. According to Richards, this series marked his most significant breakthrough in the entertainment industry.

His role as young Simeon, a character originally portrayed by Bong Revilla, in the historical drama "Indio" in 2013 was a source of pride for Richards. This period in his career included the dramatization of his life in a 2013 episode of "Magpakailanman," where he portrayed himself. Richards and delos Reyes once again joined forces in the GMA Network melodrama series "Mundo Mo'y Akin," alongside actresses Sunshine Dizon and Angelika dela Cruz, which earned him another nomination at the 5th Golden Screen TV Awards.

In October 25, 2013, Alden Richards signed an exclusive contract with GMA Network, solidifying his ties with the network that had played a significant role in his rise to stardom. He debuted as a singer through the #SummerCrush episode of the Sunday noontime show, "Party Pilipinas" in April 2013. This marked the release of his first single, "Haplos," a revival of Shamrock's hit song, which was released on April 5, 2013, under Universal Records. Subsequently, his self-titled debut album, "Alden Richards," was released on May 26, 2013, under Universal Records. The album featured tracks like "Di Na Mababawi" and "Sa Aking Tabi," which were used as theme songs for popular Filipino-dubbed Korean dramas. "Haplos" earned Richards a nomination for "Best Performance by a New Recording Artist" at the 27th Awit Awards. The album itself received recognition, including a nomination for "Album Cover Design and Concept of the Year" at the 6th Star Awards for Music.

In 2014, Richards starred alongside Marian Rivera in the television series "Carmela," and the song "Naaalala Ka" from his self-titled album served as the ending theme for the show. He also appeared in a short film titled "Kinabukasan" with veteran Filipina actress Nora Aunor. Further expanding his portfolio, he hosted "Bet ng Bayan," a talent search television program on GMA Network, alongside Regine Velasquez. Towards the end of 2014, he appeared in another GMA News and Public Affairs production, the historical drama "Ilustrado," where he portrayed the role of Filipino patriot José Rizal. This role garnered Richards his first Best Actor award from the 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television, a significant milestone in his career. Notably, he was the only nominee from his home network competing against a field of respected actors from rival networks.

In 2015, Alden Richards became a part of the Philippines' longest-running noontime variety show, "Eat Bulaga!" He played a significant role as a host in the segment "That's My Bae." It was on July 16, 2015, during an episode of the "Juan for All, All for Juan" segment, that Richards was unintentionally paired with his "Eat Bulaga!" co-host Maine "Yaya Dub" Mendoza. This unexpected pairing marked the beginning of a love team that would become known as AlDub, instantly capturing the hearts of Filipino viewers. Their incredible popularity led to the creation of a mini-series for AlDub, labeled "Kalyeserye." In this series, Richards portrayed different roles, including a fictionalized version of himself and the character Anselmo.

On August 6, 2015, Richards signed a four-year film contract with APT Entertainment, the film outfit of "Eat Bulaga!" producer TAPE Inc. In the same month, he also signed a recording contract with GMA Records. His second album, "Wish I May," was launched on October 17, 2015, at SM City North EDSA Cinema 11. The album contained two original songs and several renditions. The first single, "Wish I May," became an instant hit and topped iTunes Philippines song charts. The title track was also used as the theme song for a television series of the same name.

In September 2015, his self-titled debut album received recognition from the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI), earning a gold record award. The album ranked number 10 on Billboard's World Albums Charts. Universal Records released a special edition of the debut album in October 2015, which included the AlDub theme song "God Gave Me You" by Bryan White. The album "Wish I May" received a platinum record award from PARI in the same month. In November 2015, his debut album "Alden Richards" achieved platinum status. The subsequent album, "Wish I May," received various accolades, including double platinum, triple platinum, quadruple platinum, five times platinum, seven times platinum, and eight times platinum awards.

Alden Richards contributed his talents to the GMA Network Christmas station ID theme song, "MaGMAhalan Tayo Ngayong Pasko," in 2015. He appeared in the station ID music video alongside Maine Mendoza and the Kalyeserye's lolas (Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, and Paolo Ballesteros). In December 2015, Richards and Mendoza starred in the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival entry "My Bebe Love#KiligPaMore," headlined by Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas and directed by Jose Javier Reyes.

In 2016, Richards and Maine Mendoza starred in "God Gave Me You," a Lenten season drama special of "Eat Bulaga!" They continued their on-screen partnership with the film "Imagine You and Me," released in cinemas in July 2016. The film marked their first collaboration as lead actors and celebrated AlDub's first anniversary, delighting their fans and earning significant box office success. Richards also expanded his portfolio by releasing a book, "Alden Richards: In My Own Words," under Summit Media.

While hosting "Eat Bulaga!" and "Sunday PinaSaya," Richards made television appearances in 2016 that included participating as a contestant in "Lip Sync Battle Philippines" and guest-starring in the television series "That's My Amboy," where he portrayed himself.

In September 2016, Richards joined the reboot series of "Encantadia" as Lakan, a Mulawin character. His appearance in the series generated substantial public interest and became a trending topic on social media. He renewed his contract with GMA Network in the same month.

In February 2017, Alden Richards took on the lead role in "Destined to be Yours," his first television series opposite his love team partner, Maine Mendoza, which was shown on GMA Network.

Alden Richards further showcased his acting prowess in the docudrama "Alaala: A Martial Law Special," where he portrayed real-life activist Bonifacio Ilagan. This role was one of his most challenging, and the special earned the silver medal in the docudrama category at the New York Festivals television and film awards.

Richards and Maine Mendoza headlined an "Eat Bulaga!" produced television film in October 2017 titled "Love Is..." directed by Adolfo Alix Jr.

In 2018, he played the titular role in the Philippine television drama action fantasy series "Victor Magtanggol." After a movie hiatus of nearly three years, Richards returned to the big screen in 2019. He was paired with Kathryn Bernardo in "Hello, Love, Goodbye," directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina. The film became the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time, surpassing "The Hows of Us," which was also starred by Bernardo.

In 2020, Richards joined as the lead host and one of the performers in the musical-comedy variety show "All-Out Sundays," following the cancellation of its predecessor, "Sunday PinaSaya," where he had previously co-hosted.

In March 2023, Richards returned to "Eat Bulaga!" after a year-long hiatus, focusing on other projects, including the TV series "Start-Up PH" in 2022. He is set to host the Miss Universe Philippines pageant, held on May 13 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Additionally, Alden Richards is starring alongside Julia Montes in the film "Five Breakups and a Romance," a collaboration between GMA Pictures, Cornerstone Studios, and Myriad Entertainment Corp. The film explores the complexities of romantic relationships and is currently showing in Philippine cinemas nationwide.

In June 2023, Sharon Cuneta announced her collaboration with Alden Richards in an upcoming film. Initially titled "Swipe Right, Ma," the film has been renamed "Family Of Two (A Mother and Son’s Story)" and is produced by CineKo Productions, with a screenplay by Mel Mendoza-Del Rosario.

Business Ventures

Alden Richards has expanded his portfolio into business ventures. In 2022, he established Myriad Corporation, a company that organized the reunion concert of the iconic rock band Eraserheads, titled "Huling El Bimbo." Richards served as the co-producer of the concert, showcasing his versatility and influence in the entertainment industry.

Ambassadorship and Philanthropy

Alden Richards has also taken on roles as an ambassador for various causes and initiatives. In July 2020, he was chosen as an ambassador of Bida Solusyon, an informative campaign formed by the Department of Health to raise awareness about health protocols for preventing the spread of COVID-19. He is also the ambassador for the Philippines of End Tuberculosis, a campaign formed by the USAID.

In addition to his entertainment career and ambassadorships, Alden Richards actively engages in philanthropy. He became an ambassador for Habitat for Humanity Philippines in 2014 and has been involved in building homes and outreach programs for those in need. He has also contributed to relief efforts in the Philippines, especially in the aftermath of natural disasters. Richards has been part of various charity events, benefit concerts, and outreach programs to support children and families facing challenging circumstances.

Awards and Recognition

Alden Richards' career has been marked by numerous accolades and recognitions. He received several awards in the early years of his career, including the title of "1st Filipino Amazing Male Newcomer" at the Yahoo! OMG! Philippines Awards in 2011 and "Best New Actor" at the Golden Screen Awards in the same year.

Throughout his career, he has been nominated for and received awards from various organizations and magazines. Some of these awards include:

• 2012 and 2013: Nominated as the "Breakthrough Actor of the Year" at the Yahoo! Philippines OMG! Awards
• 2013: Nominated as "Love Team of the Year" at the Yahoo! Philippines OMG! Awards, alongside Louise delos Reyes
• 2012: Top Fashion Forward Celeb (Male) at the MEG Top Choice Awards
• Male Celebrity of the Year at Inquirer Bandera's 1st Bet ng Bandera Awards
• 2015: Nominated for Awesome OOTD King at the PUSH Awards by ABS-CBN Interactive
• 2016: People of the Year (People's Choice Award) by Stargate PeopleAsia magazine, alongside Maine Mendoza
• 2014: Favorite Young Actor at the 5th OFW Gawad Parangal
• 2016: Trinitian Awardee for Most Valuable Male Advertising Endorser at Platinum Stallion Awards
• 2016: Makabatang Alagad ng Telebisyon (Child-friendly Artist on Television) seal by Anak TV
• 2016: Nominated for Darling of the Press award at the 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies
• 2016: Male TV Star of the Year and Male Stylish Star of the Year for 2016, as well as Best PEPTalk episode at PEPList Awards Year 3, given by Philippine Entertainment Portal

In addition to his individual awards, Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza achieved a Guinness World Record for generating 40,706,392 tweets during the "Tamang Panahon" event at the Philippine Arena.

Personal Life

Alden Richards, known for his charming personality, is deeply rooted in his Catholic faith. He credits his paternal grandmother, Linda, with instilling his religious beliefs. During Lent, Richards follows various religious traditions, such as visiting seven churches, reading the epic poem "Pasyon," and watching Christian-themed films like "The Passion of the Christ," "The Ten Commandments," "Jesus of Nazareth," and "The Gospel of John."

Richards resides in Santa Rosa, Laguna. In a Fast Talk segment with Boy Abunda, he mentioned that he almost dated actresses Winwyn Marquez and Julie Anne San Jose in the past.

The Future

Alden Richards continues to be a prominent figure in the Philippine entertainment industry, with a diverse portfolio spanning acting, hosting, music, and entrepreneurial ventures. He remains dedicated to his craft, while also using his influence for philanthropic causes. As his career evolves, fans can expect to see more of Alden Richards on both the big and small screens, and he will likely continue to be recognized for his contributions to the entertainment industry.

The release of "Five Breakups and a Romance" with Julia Montes and the upcoming collaboration with Sharon Cuneta are clear indicators of his enduring appeal and the anticipation surrounding his future projects. His dedication to philanthropy and ambassadorship for important causes also reflect his commitment to giving back to the community and making a positive impact.

Alden Richards, also known as Asia's Multimedia Star, has achieved remarkable success in the world of Philippine entertainment. From his early days as a part-time commercial model to becoming one of the most recognized and awarded talents in the industry, Richards has consistently demonstrated his talent, versatility, and charisma. He has captured the hearts of Filipinos and remains a beloved figure who continues to inspire and entertain audiences across the nation and beyond.