Tom Rodriguez, the sizzling hot Sergio on GMA's Marimar reboot, continues to surprise.
At the Love Local by Bench book launch, the actor, who arrives in a crisp blue suit, tells PEp.ph (Philippine Entertyainment Portal) that despite his busy schedule, he continues to find time for his other love: art.
"I bring my gadgets, I bring my tools with me lagi whenever, even now I've gone back to as simple as paper and pencil, back to pencil drawings."
He keeps his art supplies in a small folder; and for his digital drawings, he uses his tablet and phone to do his coding and programming on the side.
Tom says he started bringing more of his Pinoy roots into his art work.
"I have a series na I am trying to do, parang Filipino mythology, and another one touching on Filipino superheroes.
"We have our plethora, our pantheon, yung mga Bathala, Magwayen, so maybe a graphic novel when it comes to that.
"And I wanna do a series of paintings about Filipino heroes."
A photo posted by @akosimangtomas onJul 24, 2015 at 12:49am PDT
CARLA ABELLANA. Since he arrives in solo at the book launch, PEP asks him about his rumored girldfriend, Carla Abellana.
Tom flashes a bedimpled smile, "I know she's at work and may taping siya usually when it comes to Tuesdays."
The pair are filming a movie together entitled No Boyfriend Since Birth, which will be released in September.
How are they doing?
"We're great, I enjoy working with her, and I enjoy hanging out. We still find time to at least have time for each other."
Just a week ago, Carla plugged Tom's ongoing project Marimar with a lengthy message on Instagram.
Part of what she said was: "At bilang isang tunay na tagahanga, ibibigay ko ang buong suporta ko sa kanya, ano man ang karakter niya at sino man ang makasama niya. Simula ngayong gabi, pagkatapos ng 24-oras at gabi-gabi hanggang sa magwakas ang Marimar, ipagdadasal kong mas marami pa ang manood, matuwa at humanga sa kanya."
ESSENCE OF PAGKA-PINOY. About Love Local, he appears on a full-page glam shot opposite fellow actor and My Husband's Lover co-star Dennis Trillo.
He says, "I love how our country has the best food in the world."
Tom is proud to be part of this undertaking that promotes love for country and all things Filipino through the words and photos of 100 famous personalities, politicians, businessmen, ordinary folks, and more.
"Siyempre, yung Pilipinas masagana sa kayamanan and our riches come from the people and the type of people we have here—mapagmahal, we're all very friendly towards each other, and even our material...we have such a great abundance of natural resources.
"The Philippines has so much to offer that's why I'm happy na we are starting to see sort of a Renaissance when it comes to being a Filipino, the essence of being a Filipino."
Of the latter, he adds, "pagka-Pinoy" will become more evident if we "love local."
"Whereas before parang konti lang yung mga ano. Ngayon, nag-e-export na tayo.
"Look at big companies rin all throughout the world that are using Philippine products. E, tayo pa ba, hindi pa ba natin gamitin?"