Alden Richards (foreground) hopes his upcoming drama film with Coco Martin (behind) will be part of Metro Manila Film Festival 2024.
PHOTO/S: courtesy of Sam Sanciancgo (main image); @cocomartin_ph on INstagram (inset)

Alden Richards values loyalty and “utang na loob.”

So, when asked about the rumored offer to transfer to a “malaking kumpanya,” Alden proclaims: “Diyan po tayo sa GMA until the last day. And Sparkle.”

Also, his close ties to Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, a.k.a. TVJ—now the main hosts of TV5’s noontime show E.A.T.—might have been the reason why he dilly-dallied about promoting his Metro Manila Film Festival entry A Family Of Two on Eat Bulaga!

But Alden can bend a little.

Earlier, during his Thanksgiving Party at Stardust restobar December 17, 2023, the actor clarified: “Yun nga po yung sinabi ko before, bago pa lang nangyari sa Eat Bulaga! na paglipat sa TV5.

“If I have to do promos with all the shows, siyempre, I will not deprive the project that I’m working with, with the opportunity to promote it to different shows po, especially mga noontime shows natin.”

Meantime, TVJ was not making any case against Alden’s proposed appearance on Eat Bulaga!

Tito Sotto told Gorgy Rula, veteran showbiz reporter and member of the PEP Troika: “Contract star ng GMA si Alden, alangan namang hindi siya mag-promote dun? No problem with that at all.”

Besides, in the case of promoting Alden’s film, Family of Two, the schedule of the lead star, Sharon Cuneta, had to be considered as well.

At the time of the interview, Alden said: “Right now kasi, parang wala pong schedule na napag-agree-han regarding the guesting, kasi ang gusto nga po, dalawa kami ni Sharon lagi na mag-guest.

“So, ako po, naghihintay lang naman ng permission… Inaayos lang po yata yung schedule po. Eventually po, matutuloy po iyan.”

With the Eat Bulaga! guesting up in the air, Alden reaffirmed his loyalty to the show’s original Dabarkads: “ang laki ng natulong po sa akin talaga.”