Kim Chiu gets Gerald Anderson’s mother’s approval
Napoleon Quintos ( ABS-CBN Interactive ) 03.03.09

At the birthday party organized by StarStudio Magazine for Gerald Anderson last February 27 at the Fiamma Bar in Makati, ABS-CBN.com interviewed Gerald’s mom Evangeline Opsima about the changes she had seen from Gerald since he became one of the hottest teen idols of today. “Nakita ko sa anak ko na nag-mature siya. Hindi na siya ‘yung dati na parang baby. Noong 15-years old ‘yan katabi ko pa matulog pero ngayon hiwalay na siya. Bigla din siyang naging responsible sa buhay niya. Pero marami ding nawala simula noong maging artista si Gerald. Dati madalas niyang sabihin ‘Ma, can you cook me this?’ ‘Ma, can you buy me that?’ Ngayon hindi ko na naririnig sa kanya ‘yun. Ang sinasabi na lang niya, ‘Ma, can you come here to Manila and stay with me?’”

After becoming a finalist in the Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition in 2006, Gerald moved from his hometown in General Santos City to Quezon City to focus on his work. He is now close into having his dream house finally built, and Mommy Evangeline is very happy to see his son achieve so much at a young age. “Nakita ko na ‘yung bahay and in fact we’re supposed to have the house blessing this March 7 kasabay ng birthday niya kaya lang hindi pa tapos ‘yung construction. Baka sa March 9 or 21 na lang sabay na ng birthday celebration. Smart na bata ‘yan. Hindi ko inakalang in three years niya sa showbiz magkakaroon na siya ng sarili niyang bahay. Responsible na talaga siya. Hindi lang siya parang 20 years [old], tingin para na siyang 30 years old.”

Mommy Evangeline was also asked on how she finds Gerald’s ka-love team Kim Chiu, and she had nothing but good words for the young actress. “I love Kim. Boto naman ako sa kanya. Hindi ko rin naman mahahadlangan si Gerald sa kung sino ang magustuhan niya. Kim is a good person. Ang nakita ko sa batang ‘yan noon pa is maalalahanin siya at responsible din. Alam naman natin na lumaki siya na malayo sa ina pero sa nakikita ko she can handle herself very well. Wala siyang arte sa katawan.”

But Mommy Evangeline doesn’t think that Gerald and Kim are already having a serious relationship other than their going strong on-screen partnership. “Dumating ako sa 18th birthday ni Kim last year at tinanong ko siya kung sila na ba talaga ni Gerald ang magkakatuluyan. Hindi pa naman talaga sila dahil mga bata pa sila. Pero in the future kung sila talaga, bilang ina ni Gerald I wish them well. Ang wish ko para sa love team nila is to ‘keep it going.’ ‘Yun ang lagi kong dasal. But as a mother, I have to watch over them kasi mga bata pa rin sila.”

Now that Gerald is about to turn 20, Mommy Evangeline has only one piece of advice for her son when it comes to love. “Ang lagi ko lang advice sa kanya, kung sino man ang dumating sa buhay niya, just be sure kung siya na talaga ang babae na gusto mong makasama habang buhay. Pag-isipan niyang mabuti.”