Alden on what he learned after his immersion with visually-impaired people: '‘Yong hope sobrang lakas'

To prepare for his role on "The Gift," Alden Richards had to undergo training with visually-impaired people, and the encounter taught him a few things about hope.

According to Alden, he first felt sad. "I got really depressed and sad upon really experiencing it first-hand. 'Lord eto pala ‘yong feeling ng mawala ang eyesight'," he told GMA News Online.

"Nasaktan ako for the blind people, yung mga nakakakita before. Nasaktan ako kasi ang laki ng nawala," he added.

After talking to different visually-impaired workers in the non-government organization Resourses of the Blind Inc., Alden learned their hope is something that's indestructible.

"I got the opportunity to talk to people, [duon sa] rehab ng mga blind people. Grabe ‘yong hope [nila]. Sobrang lakas, sobrang ramdam mo whenever you talk about hope," he said.

Alden said he will make the most out of his role to show that there's life and hope after blindness.

"Hindi ko ite-take for granted tong role na 'to. Gusto ko maipakita sa mga manunuod ['yong] pag-asang kayang ibigay ng isang disability. Na after ng disability, kung ano pa ‘yong puwede mong magawa," he said.

Alden is set to return to primetime with "The Gift," to air on GMA in September with fellow Kapuso actors Jo Berry, Jean Garcia, Mikee Quintos, Thia Thomalla, Rochelle Pangilinan and Ysabel Ortega. — LA, GMA News