Rising Kapuso actor Alden Richards was chosen by the Department of Health as one of its "Pilipinas Go4Health" ambassadors. He is against smoking for personal reasons: her mom passed away 5 years ago because of pneumonia.

The Department of Health (DOH) recently launched the “Pilipinas Go4Health” campaign to prevent lifestyle diseases specially among the youth. Among those invited by DOH to become “lifestyle champions” for this campaign are Senator Pia Cayetano, Miss Universe 2011 3rd runner-up Shamcey Supsup, “Misibis Bay” star Daniel Matsunaga, the San Beda Red Lions and “Mundo Mo’y Akin” stars Louise de los Reyes and Alden Richards.

“Bagong campaign ng DOH promoting ‘eat right, exercise.’ Nagpunta po kami sa launch sa Binondo po ni Louise and then may mga kasama rin po kaming mga basketball teams, kami po ‘yung ambassadors na artista po,” Alden told the entertainment press during a pocket presscon at GMA Network on June 25.

Alden is one of the few young actors today who can proudly say that he doesn’t smoke, drink nor do drugs.

“Masyadong tumaas ang guard namin when it comes to vices. ‘Yung paglabas-labas ‘yung drinking, smoking, e ako naman po hindi ko naman po ginagawa ‘yun, I never smoke, I don’t drink and of course I don’t do drugs po,” he said.

“Health conscious po kasi siyempre ambassador ka ng DOH so kailangan itsura mo healthy ka, fit ka, so it adds more pressure pero yun nga in a good way naman po”

“Ang tawag po kasi sa mga ambassadors nila ‘champions,’ so kung pwede raw po maging one of the champions for the campaign, we have to tweet at least once a month or twice a month for the campaign and then promote healthy living,” he added.

For Alden, being chosen for this cause hits home. His mother died of pneumonia 5 years ago because of smoking.

“Sobrang laki talaga ng grudge ko when it comes to smoking specially sa girls. My mom passed away 5 years ago because of that,” he said.

Aside from the “Pilipinas Go4Health” campaign, Alden also wants to become an ambassador for Red Cross someday just like Marian Rivera.

“Red Cross po parang si Ate Marian po. Gusto ko pong makatulong sa may sakit talaga. Bottomline gusto ko pong maging isang instrument para sila gagaling kasi po yun po yung magiging way ko of giving thanks sa lahat ng mga blessings na dumarating sa akin. I really want to help, my utmost specially sa charity po, sa lahat ng pwede pong tulungan. Anything for charity I’ll do it for free, walang bayad po,” he said.

[Attention Philippine Red Cross]

As a role model and lifestyle ambassadors, what are the things that Alden do and doesn’t do in public?

“So ngayon po since lumuluwag na po ang schedules ko I really go to the gym as often as I can. Sa public naman, I eat healthy foods para lang makita nila that I’m living a healthy lifestyle”

“Ako kasi I admit I drink occasionally but I don’t drink to get drunk po, di talaga. Di naman po maiiwasan ‘yun sa industry natin kasi it’s for social purposes pero don’t drink to get drunk and don’t smoke, talaga ‘yung smoking ‘yung no. 1,” he answered.

Speaking of fitness, in my earlier interview with Alden, the young actor shared his take on going sexy in a film, TV series or in a magazine.

“I take acting as a craft, it’s an art. So as long as what the role requires of me, I’ll give it a hundred percent pero siguro to the part siguro, nudity, hanggang underwear lang ako siguro, hanggang dun lang. Not to the point of butt exposure, frontal exposure, di ko pa kaya”

“Pero for the sake of, kasi, if it will make the scene beautiful, if the script kapag binasa mo siya hindi naman bastusin, hindi naman mapapansin ng tao ‘yung ay wala namang katawan si ganyan, ganda ng eksena very romantic. Of course when you say naman ‘nudity’ it involves bed scenes with your partner,” he said.

As for going sexy in a pictorial, Alden already went topless in a campaign for Folded & Hung, an apparel that he endorses. However, he hasn’t tried doing underwear yet.

“Siguro to this point let’s wait po muna siguro two to three years kasi parang, if I let it out now, parang there’s nothing na to expect from me parang wala, lahat na nagawa ni Alden, wala nang aabangan, ok na ‘yan”

“‘Yung, what do they call this parang, ‘pambitin’ para abangan nyo maghubad si Alden for underwear soon…ABANGAN nyo ko mag-brief!” he joked.

Finally, for those who wants to make it in showbiz or to succeed in any of life’s endeavors, Alden has this advice based from his own experience:

“Sa dreams po when it comes to dreams, work hard for it. Talagang ilagay mo siya sa puso mo, sa isip mo. Kasi ako po talaga dumating po ako sa point na umayaw na po ako. Ayoko na siyang ituloy kasi sobrang unfair na po sa side ko ang dami nang nawawala, ang dami nang nasasayang na oras, pera, pagod, pero at the end of the journey, magugulat ka na lang ibibigay na lang sa ‘yo ni Lord ‘yan ng walang kahirap-hirap so just strive hard and just keep on trying and trying. Walang mawawal kung susubok ka nang susubok you just have to give it your all and work hard for it. Just do a good deed everyday and do good to other people, sila kasi ang magpu-push sa ‘yo e.”

Alden Richards is currently seen on GMA Network’s primetime drama “Mundo Mo’y Akin” which is set to air its shocking finale soon. The young actor is also promoting his self-titled debut album from Universal Records featuring the hit single “Haplos” which topped MyMusicStore’s OPM chart recently.

Alden is also in the running for Breakthrough Actor of the Year in the 2013 Yahoo! OMG! Awards. To vote for Alden, proceed to the following link:

http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/omg-awards/breakthrough-actor-of-the-year/