THE RIGHT MOVE
The road to redemption is said to be the longest road. Many forms of art including literary and visual arts have revolved around the theme of redemption or simply put, regaining what is lost. One of the most celebrated movies the past week is the Filipino movie, “Dollhouse” starring Baron Geisler, a Filipino actor known for his impressive portrayal of antagonists in the movies and television. For those who have not yet seen this much talked about film on Netflix, Dollhouse shows both the literal and introspective journey of a rockstar in search of a relationship with his long lost, or to describe it better, once forsaken daughter as he lived his life in squalor and darkness.
While most Filipinos love the story of a bad boy finding his way back to the road of redemption, critics, other showbiz personalities and fans alike have been captivated with Dollhouse as they personally rooted for its main actor himself, Baron. Baron’s life is an open book with his colorful past, but for someone like me who met him when he was a child actor beaming with talent and grace, the movie became a much more powerful depiction of healing and redemption.
In a phone interview, I talked to Baron and more than the recent accolades he has received for his film, Dollhouse turns out to be more than just a project. The success of his film is now serving as a gateway for him to have a wider reach for causes that create great impact to his community. Being an advocate whose own experiences from his childhood have shaped his view and desire to be a beacon of light to children living in darkness, and as a parent to a beautiful child named Tali, Baron and wife Jamie have dedicated much of their time to CURE Foundation, a Cebu-based organization which has been fighting against child abuse including child pornography.
According to CURE Foundation, Cebu “has among the highest incidences of child trafficking and sexual abuse including internet pornography.” Partnering with local law enforcements and other NGOs, CURE has been providing a safe haven for girls rescued from sex traffickers. Despite the difference of circumstances how and why Baron and these girls had been put on their roads to recovery, they share the same process of healing. They share the struggle of bouncing back from their ordeals and to find their way back to achieving hopes and dreams.
“Recovery is a lifetime process so it really is a daily struggle. There is no cure for the disease of addiction but there are ways to manage it,” Baron said.
He added how important the support of his family and friends has been in this continuing battle. “Tough love was integral but I deeply appreciate the genuine compassion that went along with the support from my family and friends. My wife always reminds me to stay grounded and grateful, and through the years, I learned to value family and relationships even more. They make me want to be a better person every day because I do not want to disappoint the people I love and who love me.”
Giving back to the community has likewise kept him on the right track, and this track is now rebuilding and even fortifying itself to cross bridges outside Cebu. As more people learn of his advocacies, opportunities are opening for him to create service work in other regions in the Visayas and Mindanao. Baron is hopeful that through the recent success of Dollhouse, he can be instrumental in carrying out even more community outreach programs and promote greater access to health and education not only to children of abuse.
“Teaching children the fundamental fact that they are architects of their destinies and that every action has repercussions gives them the tools they need to take back the reins of their lives. With God's help, I was able to recover my life and my family, and I have this wonderful sense of duty to pay it forward,” Baron said.
He shares, “There is nothing I will change with my past because it has helped me build my character now. Moving forward, my goal is to be a better person.”
Moving forward. With these two words, Baron has encapsulated what people on the road to redemption need to believe in, so that despite the process of healing and recovery being lengthy and arduous, they would find the confidence and faith that achieving the end goal is worth it. As Baron has been resilient in trudging this path, not only just for himself or his loved ones but for greater communities, he is living up to his name – a true baron by definition who is proving to be important in the industry of show business.