Tom gears up for new show with Carla after 'My Husband's Lover'

MANILA, Philippines - “For me it's a welcome blessing,” Tom Rodriguez said about his new project with Carla Abellana.

The GMA-7 actor first worked with Carla in the 2013 gay-themed drama series “My Husband's Lover,” wherein they played a married couple. The show, his first as a talent of the Kapuso network, became Tom's breakthrough role in showbiz after a few years of working with ABS-CBN.

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Now, the two will work again in the upcoming soap opera “My Destiny.”

“As far as on-screen partners go, she's been one of the best. She's such a pleasure to work with,” Tom added.  â€œAng laki ng naitulong niya sa akin as an actor sa 'My Husband's Lover.' So I'm so happy and privileged that I'll be sharing the screen with her again.”

The 26-year-old actor admits there is pressure for his partnership with Carla to attain the same success received by his on-screen tandem with Dennis Trillo, who played his gay lover in “My Husband's Lover.”

“Part of me really wishes for success in my partnership with Carla, but I wish for that in every project that I do naman, na if we just do our best it will be successful,” he said.

Tom further explained, “But we don't control everything. As long as us as artist we do what we can and we've done our best, that's all we can hope for.”

“Yung ibang external factors, ipagpapasa-Diyos ko na lang. Basta sa akin, gagawin ko ng maayos ang trabaho ko.”

Is it time for fans to let go of the Tom and Dennis tandem? Not just yet, said Tom. The actor said he enjoys this stage of his career where he is “ not stuck in just one area in my career.”

“It's just an amazing feeling for me... I have all these avenues where I can express myself, all these avenues where I can grow as an artist,” he shared.

Tom is part of the PhilPop 2014 song-writing competition as one of the interpreters, along with singers such as Nikki Gil, Kris Lawrence, JayR, Young JV, and Kyla, among others. He will record Langit Umaawit by Ronaldo Sorioso. 

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“It's so overwhelming and it's such an honor,” Tom said of his experience with PhilPop. 

“Parang nararamdaman mo yung overflowing talent ng mga songwriters, yung parang lumalangoy ka sa talento. Iniisip ko, sana mahawahan ako ng talento. So I'm really excited.”