Tom Rodriguez shifts acting priorities for son with non-showbiz partner

For Tom Rodriguez, love shouldn’t be complicated.

MANILA, Philippines — “Love should be simply love. Of course, yung life natin cumpletos recados. We can’t avoid it … I mean, no one is immune sa putik ng buhay (to the mud of life). But that love between partners, dapat ‘di nawawala. You should be each other’s advocate. That part shouldn’t be complicated,” he said.

“As long as it’s possible to fight for it, you should fight for it. Of course, if you are venturing through life together, you should be each other’s advocates.”

Tom got to share his thoughts on love and relationships in response to The STAR’s question during the recent premiere night of Joel Lamangan’s romance drama “Huwag Mo ‘Kong Iwan,” which rolls into cinemas tomorrow, Nov. 27. The movie, which stars Tom with Rhian Ramos and JC de Vera, explores a love triangle that doesn’t have a traditional antagonist or kontrabida.

Tom plays a determined attorney, Edwin, who takes up the case of Lara (Rhian), a probinsyana who lands in a big city jail after a series of unfortunate events. JC, on the other hand, is Lara’s loving musician-fiance Joseph.

Sans spoilers, what one can learn from the film is that at times, it’s life’s challenges and complicated circumstances that can bring two persons together or pull them apart. And despite the messy situations that they are in, the act of loving itself can be free of unnecessary drama.

“It has a very human and relatable ending na walang kontrabida talaga,” said Tom of the premise of “Huwag Mo ‘Kong Iwan,” adding that in real life, there will always be those “bittersweet endings.”

“Nothing is truly black and white in life. Ang sarap makita yun on screen,” he added.

Given the reaction of the audience to his character during the premiere, the film could re-establish or remind fans of his place in showbiz as romantic leading man after a two-year break. Although Tom said, “I didn’t look at it that way. I was very fortunate and happy to be part of this one. It was the first time for me to work that long again since my hiatus.”

He continued, “I’ve been away for two years. I was so nervous. I felt like I was getting rusty. The only project I had done at that time was ‘Magpakailanman,’ which only had two days of shooting. This one had a lot of taping days, and I didn’t know how I would approach it. That’s why being a romantic lead wasn’t on my mind. I was just praying that I’d be with good people, where I would feel safe and free to express myself in my craft.”

As he resumes his acting career, Tom said that he’s now opting out of sexy or daring projects.

“Hindi pa namin napag-uusapan ni Popoy (Caritativo, talent manager) but for a personal reason, in this stage of my life… sabi ko, dati palang, nung sini-search ng mga pamangkin ko yung pangalan ko, mga Bench (underwear pictorial) naglalabasan. It’s hard to explain to them,” he shared.

“That’s why, for my baby, I want to do other kinds of roles to cover those (things). So when my child searches about me online (in the future), those won’t show up. So, maybe, we’ll see, right? I have discuss this with my manager. But for now, personally, it feels like… I’m taking a time out. Because things have changed. My perception is different now.”

Expounding on the kinds of roles he’s willing or unwilling to take on nowadays, he said, “Not exactly dad roles. For example, too torrid kissing, too sexual, maybe for now, hindi pa kaya. Kahit nasa kondisyon ako, iniisip ko, dahil lang ba hindi ako naka-kondisyon ngayon? Kung naka-kondisyon ako, ganun pa rin ba ang magiging resolution ko? For now, my answer is yes. But let’s see. It can change.”

During an earlier presscon for the same film, it was Tom himself who announced that he’s already a father of a four-month-old baby boy with his US-based non-showbiz partner.

Opening up more about his son in this follow-up interview, he explained why he named him Korben.

“In a way, (it’s) biblical. One name for him is parang consecrated gift to God. Then Korben is also raven, yung unang ibon na pinalabas ni Noah,” he said.

“But for me, the covenant of David with the Lord, with God, was his broken soul. Then when he gave his broken soul to God, ibinalik sa kanya ni God ng buo. That’s why Korben is ‘broken’ na anagram. So yung broken soul ko rin, ibinalik ni God sa akin nang buo.”

Tom definitely feels complete with the arrival of his son. “I don’t know if I’m allowed to share but Tita Coney (Reyes) was so nice to introduce me to Pastor Paolo Punzalan. He would check on me in the States. There was a time when he told me about (the Biblical story of) Nathanael, when he was (seen by Jesus) under the fig tree,” he said, sharing that what he realized in his own journey of faith is that “He’s there the entire time, He doesn’t turn His face away from you.”

“And your struggles, and your troubles, everything is for a reason and andun Siya talaga. I’m glad and I felt like I grew from all of the experiences that I’ve been through. If what I go through results into what I have now, I think it’s a very worthwhile (experience).”

Meanwhile, he said he’s not yet ready to introduce his son to the public. “Hindi naman sa pinagdadamot sa lahat. Privately, I show him, but in public, gusto ko sa akin muna. Kamukha ko? Sobra.”

Directed by Joel Lamangan from the screenplay of Eric Ramos and produced by engineer-businessman Benjamin Austria of BenTria Productions, “Huwag Mo ‘Kong Iwan” also stars Rita Avila, Pinky Amador, Jim Pebanco, Lloyd Samartino, Simon Ibarra, Felixia Crysten, Nella Dizon, Mygz Molino and King David. Among the celebs who showed support during the premiere were Allen Dizon, Michelle Dee, Royce Cabrera, Prince Clemente, Yasser Marta and Sam Verzosa.