Fifteen years into a career defined by blockbuster projects, viral milestones, and a spotless reputation as one of local entertainment’s most bankable leading men, Alden Richards is finally speaking about the battles he once kept to himself. In a rare and deeply personal conversation with GMA Integrated News’ Nelson Canlas, the Kapuso star peeled back the layers of his public image and revealed a fear that only recently began to weigh on him.

“Siguro my fear is… wow. I might grow old alone,” Alden admitted. “Minsan kasi wala na talaga akong pakialam sa sarili ko eh, mas ‘yung mga importante muna. So ngayon lang siya dumating sa akin. Just now. And I said it. That’s my fear. I might grow old alone and I don’t want that to happen.”

At 33, the actor—celebrating his fifteenth year in showbiz—said the realization hit him unexpectedly. For someone who has spent most of his twenties and early thirties prioritizing work, family, and responsibilities, the thought of loneliness hadn’t crossed his mind until now. And acknowledging it, he said, felt both startling and liberating.

A Quiet Battle With Burnout

Beyond fear, Alden also confessed that the weight of his career once pushed him close to quitting. The perfectly polished persona audiences see on screen, he admitted, concealed months of emotional fatigue.

“I’d like to consider that as a mild burnout already na hindi ko lang ina-acknowledge. I just look at it na parang, sabi ko ‘Teka, saan na ba ako papunta talaga?’” he shared.

At the height of that exhaustion, he began contemplating stepping away from the spotlight and returning to school—an alternative path he had quietly dreamed about even while juggling work.

“Then, I wanted to go back to school, siyempre ‘yung dilemma, ‘yung push and pull when I reached the point of giving up,” he recalled.

But, as he emphasized, he was never truly alone during that struggle.

“Di ako nakakalimutan lagi ni Lord talaga to bring me back again to my feet,” Alden said, crediting his faith for steadying him in moments of uncertainty.

A New Creative Era: Actor, Director, Storyteller

Despite the internal battles, 2025 became one of Alden’s most ambitious years yet.

He made his directorial debut with Out of Order, a project where he served not only as director but also as actor and producer. The film went on to premiere at the Da Nang Asian Film Festival and later screened at the Jagran Film Festival in India—an achievement he describes with both humility and pride.

But as he looks toward the future, Alden wants to take a more focused creative leap.

“I’d like to do a project na director lang ako, I think that’s my next — that’s my priority para totally focused ka lang sa storytelling, how you want the characters to be,” he said.

And he already knows whom he wishes to direct first.

“Oh my God, baka masyadong ambitious. Sana si Kuya Dong tsaka si Yan. I’ve always looked up to them,” he said of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera.

“With Kuya Dong and Yan, I just want to see them in the eyes of a director rather than a friend and a co-actor on a project. Iba rin ‘yun.”

A Mission Beyond Fame

Even with milestones, experiments, and accolades, Alden believes success is meaningless if celebrated alone—a sentiment that mirrors his reflections on love, companionship, and legacy.

“There’s no fulfillment with a success that’s being celebrated by just one person. Being able to be here and be a platform of inspiration to make people feel like their lives are getting better everyday with the things that you do. I think that’s my higher calling,” he said.

For Alden, leadership in entertainment isn’t just about stardom; it is about serving as a source of hope.

A Milestone Celebration for a Career Built on Heart

As he marks his fifteenth year in the industry, Alden is preparing a special gathering for the people who have been part of his journey. His fan meet, “ARXV: Moving ForwARd – The Alden Richards Ultimate Fanmeet,” will take place on December 13 at the City of Santa Rosa Laguna Multi-Purpose Complex.

It will be a thanksgiving celebration, a reunion, and—perhaps most importantly—a moment for Alden to stand before the supporters who have grown with him through every transformation.

From navigating fear and burnout to embracing new creative pursuits and reaffirming his life’s mission, Alden Richards enters his fifteenth year not with certainty, but with clarity—a reminder that vulnerability does not weaken a star; it humanizes him.

And Alden, now more than ever, is choosing to be seen.