ALDEN RICHARDS TURNS 15 IN SHOWBIZ WITH FAN EVENT, OUTREACH TOUR

ALDEN RICHARDS HAS BEEN IN SHOWBIZ FOR 15 YEARS, but for him, the most important highlights aren't really the big projects or box-office awards.

- By NATHALIE TOMADA

"I think the most pivotal ones are the lives that I was able to touch and kaya siguro ako nalagay dito sa sitwasyon. I think my mission is to be a vessel, and give out all the blessings that are coming in my way," shared Alden, who established the education focused AR Foundation to support students in need.

He added, "Iba kasi yung joy and happiness that I feel whenever I'm able to help in my own small way sa mga taong nangangailangan, especially in terms of education. I think yun yung maibibigay ko sa kanila - something that cannot be stolen and that they can carry with them until they grow old."

Alden's AR Foundation has grown steadily over the years. In 2022, when this writer first interviewed the actor-businessman about it, there were 17 scholars.

"Right now, we have 27 and five of them are already college graduates po," he shared.

On the levels of education supported, Alden explained, "There's highschool and elementary, of course. There are college students as well. But the way we hand out help po kasi with the foundation is quite hybrid.

"So, of course, they have to submit a letter of intent to us if they wanna be scholars, and then we look into it kung ano ba yung pwedeng help na maibibigay namin sa kanila.