Kapuso actor Tom Rodriguez is entering a new chapter in life with clarity, peace, and a renewed sense of purpose.
In a series of interviews during the mediacon of his upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival entry ‘UnMarry,’ Tom openly addressed two major topics the public has long been curious about: his new family and his reaction to ex-wife Carla Abellana’s engagement.
Tom, who is now happily married to his non-showbiz partner and mother of his child, said he has fully embraced his private life in the U.S. and now in the Philippines. Yet at the same time, he expressed nothing but goodwill toward Carla, who is set to tie the knot with a doctor.
Tom shared that he only learned about Carla’s engagement during the mediacon.
“Recently ko lang nalaman because of this mediacon. And when I heard nga, it’s an honest reaction, I wish her well. I wish them well. And, yeah, I’m glad that, you know, that everyone is moving on, I wish them well. Everyone deserves happiness, and we all deserve to be happy, and I’m glad we’ve all finally moved on,” he said.
Tom emphasized that he prefers not to revisit their past: “Gusto ko ’yung peace na meron ako ngayon. Mas doon na lang ako magfo-focus. So ’yung past, I don’t want to open it.”
When asked if he would consider working with Carla again, Tom was clear: “For me, I’m okay what I have. I’d rather not. I like what I have. I don’t need to revisit there.”
Tom confirmed that he and his partner married in the United States before relocating to the Philippines together with their child.
“Yes, I am. I won’t go into details, pero happy,” he shared, adding how much he enjoys being a hands-on father.
Without house help, Tom said they do everything themselves, allowing them to bond deeply as a family.
“I love it. Wala kaming house help, e, so we do everything na kami lang. So we have a lot of time to bond together and spend time to each other.”
He admitted that being away from his wife and child even briefly is extremely difficult: “Hindi ko kaya na hindi sila kasama. And I don’t know how OFWs do it because when I get to try it for a few months, ang hirap. Ayaw na naming magkahiwalay pa kahit sandali lang.”
Tom also addressed rumors that he is “hiding” his family: “Hindi ko naman sila tinatago. Sa akin talaga, ’yong rule ko lang, I just want to live my life privately.
“Pero we go out. We have a community kung saan kami nakatira. We just live a normal [and] simple life… We wanna live a life and at the same time we don’t wanna put it out there.”
Tom stars in ‘UnMarry,’ alongside Angelica Panganiban, Zanjoe Marudo, Eugene Domingo, Solenn Heussaff, Nico Antonio, and introducing Zac Sibug. The film, directed by Jeffrey Jeturian under Quantum Films and CINEKO Productions, follows characters navigating the emotional, legal, and personal landmines of ending a marriage.
Tom admitted he had reservations about accepting the role—partly because of public perception and his controversial past.
“There’s a lot of stuff out there about me that… well, the people close to me know isn’t true. So the public perception and the role, baka mag-blur yung line na yun.”
But like co-star Angelica, he realized this was not a project he could walk away from.
“Why would you deny a project na panghihinayangan mo? It’s a really good story. And my character is like a piece of the opposite side of Celine’s pain, na kailangan siya for the story na panghihinayangan ko.”
He added: “So if I let my own fear stop myself from being part of a project like this, mas mananaig yung panghihinayang kesa yung takot na baka isipin nila, ganyan ba siya sa totoong buhay? I have to separate that… This is a role. It’s a beautiful story and I’m very, very excited to take it.”
With a new marriage, a stronger sense of peace, and a major MMFF comeback, Tom Rodriguez is choosing the present—and the future.
His parting words sum up where he stands: “For me, I like what I have now and I’d like to keep it that way. Gusto ko ’yung peace na meron ako ngayon, mas dun na lang ako magpo-focus.”
‘UnMarry’ hits cinemas nationwide starting December 25 as part of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival.
