For Alden Richards, the start of the year is more than just a fresh chapter, it’s also a time for personal reflection.
The Kapuso actor welcomed 2026 with gratitude, celebrating his 34th birthday on January 2, 2025, just a day after the New Year festivities.
Unlike grand parties or lavish getaways, Alden opted for an intimate celebration in London, spending the special day with family and a few close friends.
"Sobrang simple lang," he told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press during his launch as the new brand ambassador for Specialign Clear Braces on January 8, 2026, at Terraza Martinez in Bonifacio Global City.
Read: Why Alden Richards decided to wear clear braces
The actor revealed that the celebration was so low-key, he didn’t even realize the charcuterie board he was asked to assemble was already his birthday "cake."
Alden laughed as he recalled: "I just spent time with my family. Parang nag-ano lang kami, nag-dinner lang kami sa bahay.
"Yung cake ko, hindi nga siya cake, e. Parang charcuterie board siya na ako yung nag-assemble.
"Yun pala, kaya pala siya pina-assemble sa akin ng tita ko is yun na pala yung birthday cake."
Far from feeling shortchanged, Alden appreciated the moment.
"I kinda appreciate things like that, you know.
"It makes me grounded and parang nagkakaroon akong ng chance magbalik-tanaw sa kung paano yung simpleng buhay before.
"So that was my objective actually celebrating my birthday simple lang, with close family members lang.
"And, yun. Na-achieve ko naman siya and nangyari yun sa US when I was having my vacation."
When asked about his biggest wish for 2026, Alden didn’t ask for anything material or grand.
Instead, he’s keeping his expectations low, choosing to embrace whatever the year brings and let things unfold naturally.
"Siguro for me, whatever life has to offer, maybe grab lang natin yun. No pressure.
"Ayaw kong magbigay ng concrete wish on anything kasi... sometimes kasi, coming from the past na nagpo-project ako ng certain things that I want to accomplish tapos hindi ko siya nagagawa.
"There's a certain frustration with that, e. So I just wanted, you know, na kung ano man ibigay sa akin along the way, I want to go through it, feel it, and learn from it.
"And most especially, magkaroon akong ng opportunity to really give back to the people."
ALDEN RICHARDS: REFLECTIONS
More than material things, Alden chose to focus on self-reflection.
Looking back, he considered 2025 a period that shaped his perspective and grounded his outlook for the year ahead.
He expressed: "2025 has been a year of learnings and, I should say, challenges in a way, but at the end of the day naman, it's a matter of perspective, e, kung paano mo siya tinitingnan.
"So very grateful kasi, I think, in every year since I turned... on my 30th, nag-start siya noong may thirtieth, there's been a lot of transition moments and transition stages that has been happening.
"So it's been very beneficial for me. There are a lot of first times.
"Ang dami kong experiences na ngayon ko lang nararanasan and it's very new to me. It's very not within the routine that I'm used to be living at.
"But, mas sarap pala sa feeling yung sometimes nagkakaroon ka ng experiences na hindi mo alam kung ano yung gagawin mo minsan.
"And, but I think that's where the learning kicks in, e. That's, ah, doon yung opportunity mo para mag-grow and para matuto."
Alden plans to carry these realizations with him throughout 2026—a year he hopes will become his “year of reckoning.”
He said: "I think I've already... I have reached a point in my life right now that I am so done dealing with things that will not be beneficial in my growth.
"So I think this year, I will make it to a point to stand by my decisions, stand by myself, and, kahit papaano mapanindigan ko man... mapapanindigan ko yung mga nagawa kong decisions nung mga previous years... when I entered my 30s."
WHAT'S IN STORE FOR ALDEN RICHARDS THIS 2026?
Alden is more than ready to take on new challenges this year.
The first half of 2026 is already shaping up to be packed for Alden, with three major projects lined up: Code Grey, marking his primetime teleserye comeback after the success of the 2024 period drama Pulang Araw; the second season of Stars on the Floor; and an upcoming drama for a streaming platform.
"Medyo loaded tayo this year with a lot of projects.
"I'll be doing on series with a streaming platform na malalaman niyo rin naman po eventually, this first quarter of the year
"And then I'll do, ah, I think na-launch na siya sa GMA noong GMA New Year Countdown, yung Code Grey nga.
"Balik primetime tayo ngayon because it's been a year, kasi Stars on the Floor ang isa mga nagawa ko last year and wala tayo masyadong presence sa TV because we're doing a lot of off-TV projects.
"And of course, may magba-balik ulit na show na ginawa ko for season two. Nabanggit ko na siya... Yun na yun. So Stars on the Floor Season 2, I will be doing it this year as well. "So medyo puno na yung halos half of the year."
What can viewers expect from this primetime comeback?
"Sa Code Grey po, this is the first time I'm gonna be portraying a medical practitioner, so, particularly, a surgeon.
"So this is a medical drama... medical drama-action in a way.
"First time po kasi. Medyo naging engineer na tayo, naging arkitekto, naging superhero, naging lawyer.
"So wala pa that has anything to do with the medical field. So exciting! Di ko pa siya nagawa and I'm quite excited for what's ahead."
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