Gerald Anderson returns to primetime with another action-packed role, this time playing a Maranao character for the first time.
In an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, the action-drama star shared how he prepared for the role to ensure an authentic portrayal.
“Sa personal time ko, nagpupunta ko ng mga advisors and consultants, imam, dun sa office ko. I had a session with them para mas marami information ko makuha,” he revealed.
According to Britannica, an imam is the one who leads Muslim worshippers in prayer and is also sometimes used to refer to the head of the Muslim community.
Gerald previously starred in the 2020 series A Soldier’s Heart, which also explored Islamic themes and followed a character torn between his Moro biological family and his adoptive parents. This time, however, he takes on his first role portraying a Muslim character raised within the faith.
The actor added that he has long been exposed to the culture while growing up.
“I’ve always been exposed sa kultura ng Islam and Muslim. Ang aking assistant ko has been my friend since I was 14 years old. Isa siyang Maranao. Parang it's always been a topic na nakahiligan ko, ang Islam and learning about the faith,” he shared.
During the media conference for Blood vs Duty, Gerald revealed that his character’s name, Jalil, was inspired by this friend.
“Itong pagganap ko kay Jalil ay isa sa kung hindi pinaka-dream role ko because bata pa lang... Taga-Mindanao kasi ako so it's very close to my heart. Fun fact, yung character ko ay is named after my assistant na isang Maranao na Muslim na si Jalil. It just shows how close the JRB family and production is kasi talagang kilala rin nila si Jalil and they named it after him,” he shared.
Gerald continued sharing that he actually fasted during Ramadan while filming. “Nag-start kami ng taping sumakto pa sa buwan ng Ramadan and sinabayan ko rin siya. Nag-fasting na rin ako.”
The premier leading man also assured viewers, especially the Muslim community, that they are approaching the project with responsibility.
“Napakalalim po ng kuwento. We are taking on something very sensitive, pero we take it with full responsibility,” Gerald added.
Catch Blood vs Duty, airing weeknights at 8 p.m. on ABS-CBN via ALLTV2, A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL). Advanced episodes are also available for streaming on iWant and Netflix.