Born on January 2, 1992 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr. or popularly known as Alden Richards in the entertainment industry celebrated his 24th birthday on “Eat Bulaga”.
The “Pambansang Bae” got a celebration that he is not expecting for his 24th birthday on the noontime Kapuso TV show.
“Eat Bulaga” started Alden Richards’ birthday celebration with EB cast members sharing their birthday wishes for the celebrant.
During this moment Alden Richards is starting to get emotional as he listens to his EB family especially when it’s Tito Sotto’s turn to speak.
“Remain prayerful, remain as conservative as you are, a good person as you are. Mahal ka ng buong AlDub Nation at higit sa lahat mahal ka ng isang napakagandang babaeng malikot ang mukha, ” Tito Sotto said. {Translation- The entire AlDub nation loves you so much but the most important thing is that the most beautiful woman with restless face loves you too.”}
During the “ATM with the Baes” segment of Eat Bulaga, host Sam YG asked Alden Richards who was the very first person that greeted him on his birthday, Sam went on saying that this person’s name starts with an “M” and at 11:59 this person greeted Alden. The birthday boy only replied by saying “secret”.
The “Eat Bulaga” Broadway Studio was filled with fan chapters such as ALDENatics, AlDub Nation, AlDub Maiden Nation and even chapters from abroad. Representative of some fan groups were given a chance to express their birthday messages during the show.
The 3 lolas- Lola Nidora, Lola Tinidora and Lola Tidora including Yaya Dub came to the studio to personally wish Alden Richards on his special day.
Lola Tidora and Lola Nidora finally got on EB stage and presented Alden Richards a surprise gift which is a song number from Yaya Dub who is wearing the familiar red dress outfit.
Yaya Dub for the first time sang live on EB stage singing a song by Roberta Flack. While singing “The Closer I Get To You,” Maine Mendoza is walking along the corridors backstage filled with old photos of Alden Richards from his childhood and early pictorials.
When Maine reached the stage she stands beside a standee of Alden Richards until she was finally singing in front of the Pambansang Bae.
After the song number of Maine Mendoza, she quickly expressed her personal message and wishes to Alden Richards. She is truly grateful and happy for what Alden has achieved in his successful career in showbiz. At this point, studio fans are all excited and shouted “kiss-kiss” but the AlDub love team still values Lola Nidora’s request that they have to wait for the right time.
So Alden Richards just kiss Maine Mendoza’s hand as a sign of respect but at the same time he tried pleasing the fans but the two are holding hands while Maine continues to express her message. Alden said “AlDub you” and Maine replied back by saying the same thing.
As the birthday celebration of Alden Richards went on, “Eat Bulaga” family cooked up a special number featuring Jose Manalo in a funny but intense dance number.
Jose is wearing an Igorot male costume or “bahag” with all the embellishments dancing to “Wild Boys” song by Duran Duran. Alden was laughing while watching this reenactment and recalled the time he was joining pageants. Alden Richards relates that the “Wild Boys” number was a performance in one the talent portion of a pageant he joined before.
It’s Maine Mendoza’s turn to give her surprise gift to Alden Richards even if she’s nervous to present it to Alden. The big surprise that kept Yaya Dub busy these days finally arrived.
Maine Mendoza’s video is being flash on the big screen inside the studio showing how she bakes a birthday cake for Alden. She aptly calls her baked masterpiece the “Mainebow” cake.
Another big surprise for the birthday celebration of Alden Richards is seeing his childhood friends, former classmates, teachers and mentors from Colegio de Sta. Rosa De Lima.
His former school guidance counselor revealed that during his elementary days Alden was quite mischievous and very active that he will even go walking around the classroom with a broom pretending to be the school janitor.
While in high school, Alden Richards would went missing during the time of hair inspection since he would rather keep his heavily gelled hair longer than what is required by the school.
Those were the good old days reminiscing with the ‘Pambansang Bae’ where his happiness in seeing his old peers is priceless.
Another exciting surprise number is about to happen when all the while Alden thought that his father is at home. Mr. Faulkerson or Daddy Bae went to stage singing a song called “Sa Iyong Ngiti” by Ronnie Liang which Alden Richards gladly join him in a duet.
Daddy Bae’s message is this “Ah.. simple lang ang message ko sa kanya, ang wish ko lang good health and yung humility wag mong tatanggalin sa pagkatao mo and all the best. I love you, we love you ‘nak.” {Translation- My message to him is very simple, I wish for good health; don’t ever lose your humility and all the best. I love you son.”}
Then Alden took Maine’s hand and introduces her to his dad.
It’s Alden Richards turn to blow his cake, the cake which Maine Mendoza baked and she calls “Mainebow Cake”.
Maine lead the signing of the birthday song while Alden is about to blow his birthday candle. After blowing the candle Alden Richards took a very deep breath and said “Di po ako nakaranas ng birthday na ganito ka special. “ {Tanslation- I never experienced a birthday this special”} He took a long pause trying to hold back tears.
“Thank you po sa lahat ng nag-isip na gawin po ito. Maine thank you, Ma’am Jenny, sa lahat ng writers. At saka Mr. Tuviera ng Eat Bulaga po. Thank you so much. Kanina pa po ako nagpipigil pero di ko na mapigilan. Thank you po. Asahan niyo po na pagbubutihan ko pa ang ginagawa kong pagpapaligaya sa inyo everyday kasama si Maine. Kasama ang Eat bulaga. At maraming salamat po sa binibigay niyong suporta. Hindi ko po inakala na mararating namin ang ganito, dahil po sa inyo yan.”
{Translation- “Thank you everyone who thought of doing this, Maine, thank you, ma’am Jenny and to all the writers. And to Mr. Tuviera of Eat Bulaga. Thank you so much. I’ve been holding back (emotions) but I could no longer contain it. Thank you. Rest assured that I will do my best to make you all happy everyday together with Maine and with Eat Bulaga. Thank you for all the support that you are giving me. I never thought that we could go his far and it is all because of you.”} Alden Richards’ sincere message of gratitude.
