TIME was when Tom Rodriguez would repeatedly intone, “I’m not getting any younger!”
Where his oft-abused line was coming from stemmed from the fact that he was raring to sire a child.
Tom’s years of US stay shortly after his marriage to Carla Abellana ended on a bitter note, however, had yielded a positive aftermath.
It’s in the proverbial land of milk and honey where he met the woman who would later become the mother of his baby boy.
For all his showbiz exposure, Tom would choose not to drag the child’s mom to his world.
Instead, the actor is proud to introduce his four months-old Korben who he describes as “my new source of inspiration.”
“Before I would always say na tumatanda na ako [I’m getting older]. But when Korben came, I started to feel younger, more vibrant and happier!” Tom shares.
Admittedly, Korben has changed the actor’s life perspective. Tom confesses to being always excited whenever he comes home with Korben in sight.
As for basic dad duties, Tom has skillfully mastered changing Korben’s diapers.
His vivacious aura can’t lie. His be-dimpled grin reflects his paternal happiness, which makes Tom all the more inspired to take on showbiz jobs.
Silently — without a doubt — Carla can’t contain her joy for her ex-partner.
It’s just that Fate wasn’t on their side.
* * *
AN equally proud first-time dad is Zanjoe Marudo.
Very much unlike Tom who refuses to introduce Korben’s foreigner mom, Zanjoe isn’t about to expose his newborn with Ria Atayde on social media. Not yet.
But rest assured that Zanjoe won’t deprive eager-beaver netizens of their joy to catch even a cursory glance of their baby.
Christmas, the actor says, would be the best time for posing for a family picture — and make the rounds of social media.
In fairness, even Zanjoe’s mom-in-law Sylvia Sanchez would not give any tip-offs as to how her grandchild looks.
But asked to describe the latest addition to the Atayde family a bit: “Hati ang features ng baby, eh [The baby got both of his parents’ features]!”
After some incessant prodding, Zanjoe made the press visualize what their baby boy looks like: “He’s mestizo who got his eyes from Ria. But he and I have the same birthmark in the arm! Also, the baby’s mouth looks like mine!”
Like Tom, being a father now makes Zanjoe more purpose-driven in terms of work.
In fact, he finds time to take fatherly respite as he recently began shooting for the film “How to Get Away from My Toxic Family” slated in January next year.
An out-of-the-box film, Zanjoe says he has been hankering to do films like this “for a total change.”
Produced by Ogie Diaz’s movie company helmed by Lawrence Fajardo, Zanjoe has specially requested to undergo acting workshop to better essay the role of playing middle child in an otherwise hellish social unit.
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