The life lessons Alden Richards got from his mom and lola that he'd like to pass on to his kids one day

Before becoming the "Pambansang Bae," Alden Richards was an ordinary man who put aside his dreams of becoming a pilot to follow his mom's ambition for him.

She wanted him to become an actor.

Alden grew up seeing his mom watch soap operas on television, telling him how much would like to see Alden on the screen one day.

“Pag nanonood siya sabi niya sakin, sana one day daw makita niya ako sa TV. With a leading lady, sumasakay sa kabayo, mga ganyan,” he shared with Safeguard, for its "Pabaon sa Buhay" campaign. 

He was only able to turn his mom's dream into reality after she passed away.

“After she died, parang dun nag-change na sige, I will give this a try. We were really suffering financially during that time and opportunities were presenting itself, so kinuha ko na.” he said.

It wasn't an easy road for Alden, who joined pageants, worked long hours as a commercial model, and endured auditions just to help his family cope financially.

But he carried with him one of the lessons his mother taught him: to respect and acknowledge everyone he encounters. 

“Yung wag kang mamili ng taong pakikisamahan mo. Siguro yun yung isa sa mga ginagamit ko ngayon nanditoa ko sa showbiz. That’s why hindi ako mahirap pakisamahan because of that attitude my mom has given me,” he explained.

But what really got him through the hard times is another lesson he picked up form his lola and mom: to keep a strong faith in God.

“My mom and my lola are both very religious. So prayers, going to church, thanking God for His blessings and putting him first in all the things that we do. That’s my favorite pabaon that I got from them both, because it’s what keeps me going until now,” Alden said.

His lola did not only teach him to be kind and religious, she also taught the actor to be wise when it comes to managing his money.

"It’s really about saving money for a rainy day that I use until now. Basically, yan yung way that I handle my finances since day 1 sa showbiz. Parang in my family, no one really meddled with my financial management so that also teaches me how to deal with all my finances."

Now that he has reached success, appearing on TV and the movies with projects on end, as well as product endorsements on his plate, Alden is looking forward. 

He says these are also the lessons he'd like to pay forward to his future children, as his own "pabaon sa buhay" to them.

“Yung money management I want to pass it down to them. I also want my kids to be very religious, to be nice people, and be kind people to every person that they meet."

What a nice dude. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas, LA/GMA News