Inspired at nakapag-recharge na si Tom Rodriguez sa kanyang pagbabalik sa Pilipinas upang muling magtrabaho matapos ang dalawang taon na paninirahan sa Amerika.
Matatandaan na pansamantalang nagpahinga si Tom sa showbiz matapos silang maghiwalay ng kanyang ex-wife na si Carla Abellana noong 2022.
Pero looking good man si Tom ngayon, ikinuwento ng aktor sa Fast Talk with Boy Abunda na hindi rin naging madali ang mga pinagdaanan niya sa mga nakalipas na taon.
Ano nga ba ang nangyari kay Tom noon kung bakit ang dapat sana'y dalawang linggo lamang na pananatili sa Amerika ay umabot ng dalawang taon?
Paano siya nakabangon at sinu-sino ang mga taong tumulong sa kanya? Alamin sa gallery na ito:
Kuwento ni Tom Rodriguez, natutunan niya na muling mamuhay nang simple nang mamalagi siya ulit sa Amerika kasama ang kanyang pamilya.
Aniya, “Meron kang parang simpleng routine. Hindi katulad minsan sa showbiz na medyo fast-paced at maraming nangyayari. At any moment, pwedeng may trabaho kang ganito, pwedeng may ganyan. Doon, 'yung routine mo parang plantsado, paggising mo, ito gagawin mo. Hanggang sa pagtulog mo sa gabi, alam mo kung ano na 'yung [gagawin mo]. Oo, alam ko, simple ang buhay pero maasarap, like I said.”
Inamin din ni Tom Rodriguez na dumaan siya sa maraming adjustment sa pamumuhay niya sa Amerika dahil matagal na rin siyang hindi nanirahan doon.
“It took a while for it to get there. Like I said, 13 years that I spent here sa Philippines, medyo naiwan ko rin 'yung buhay ko dun. So, when I went back, I had to reestablish myself -- relearn how to drive, get a driver's license, open up a phone line, open a bank [account], start to build my credit there again. So, it took a while. And especially, my own personal growth din,” ani Tom.
Proud din na sinabi ni Tom Rodriguez na nagtrabaho siya bilang isang freelancer upang kumita habang nasa Amerika.
Kuwento niya, “I did Freelance na mga work with programming. So at least, nagamit ko kahit papa'no 'yung passion ko din don.”
Hindi na idinetalye ni Tom Rodriguez kung bakit humaba ang pag-stay niya sa Amerika. Pero inamin niyang tila nawala din lahat ng mayroon siya nang manatili siya roon.
Aniya, “Lahat ng akala ko importante sa kin, Tito Boy nawala, my finances, lahat, lahat ng 'yon. So, when I was going there, I was really starting with nothing.”
Nagpapasalamat naman si Tom Rodriguez na hindi siya pinabayaan ng Diyos at unti-unti rin siyang nakapag-adjust noon.
“The universe always provides. God always provides. Somehow, I'm able to eat. To sustain myself daily with what I had. Of course, at first, you rely on your family, [with] the help of others. Pero eventually, you're able to stand on your own two feet, at ang sarap ng ganun. You don't need that much. Iba ang buhay doon,” ani Tom.
Naging bukas din si Tom Rodriguez na marami siyang iniyak noon dahil sa emotional struggle na pinagdaanan niya.
Aniya, “A lot, lalo being there and seeing my mom struggle even more with me, seeing me in that condition. At that time, I felt like I was starting at a negative. 'Cause a lot of things that I thought meant a lot to me disappeared.”
“It was really dark that I thought I was gonna do something to myself that was irreversible,” ani pa ng aktor.
Nakatulong daw kay Tom Rodriguez ang pagmamahal niya para sa kanyang pamilya upang tulungang makabangon ang sarili.
“A moment that flashed in my mind was what would my nephews think? If they go through a hardship, they go through a hard time, 'Oh, Tito Tom was able to do this, I can do it too,'” ani Tom.
Dagdag pa niya, “And I thought I owe them more than that. And now, I owe my younger self that too. That you can go through the hardest, unos, bagyo, kahit anong dumaan sa buhay mo, as long as you find that integrity within yourself again. You build that trust within yourself, that love for yourself, and those who matter the most to you, and you can get through it.”
Sa kabila ng lahat ng kanyang naranasang pagsubok, grateful pa rin si Tom Rodriguez sa kanyang buhay.
Aniya, “In that lowest moment, you have a lot to be grateful pa rin pala, Tito Boy. You have a lot to be thankful for.”
Nakatagpo na rin umano si Tom Rodriguez ng kanyang bagong pag-ibig pero pinipili niya munang isa-pribado ito sa ngayon.
“Like I said when I went through that healing process, that wasn't even in my mind but I do believe that love does find you when you are ready for it, and when it found me, I thought my doors would be closed forever. Hindi pala. Because I am experiencing it again now,” ani Tom.
Sa kanyang pagbabalik-Pilipinas at pagbabalik-showbiz, aminado si Tom Rodriguez na marami pa siyang dapat aralin muli para ma-refresh siya sa kanyang trabaho noon bilang artista.
“I felt like medyo kailangan kong gumapang muna uli bago ako makalakad at bago ako makatakbo. So, I'm glad na sa Magpakailanman din nabigyan ako ng chance to act again,” sabi ni Tom.
Sa pagbabalik ni Tom Rodriguez sa bansa, muling nasubukan ang kanyang galing sa pag-perform nang sumalang siya muli sa GMA variety show na All-Out Sundays.
Excited na rin si Tom Rodriguez sa kanyang comeback project na gagawin para sa GMA.
“Actually, Tito Boy, after this, I'm gonna be meeting with the GMA Creatives for a brand new show. So I'm really excited. I have no clue, idea, what it is yet. But if I'm gonna base it on previous work that I've done for GMA, lalo na 'yung huli kong project na ginawa for them, which is The World Between Us, kasama sila Alden, Jasmine, Sid Lucero. That was such a fulfilling and meaningful project for me.
“All I know is I have to be ready for it. Because I know, GMA has never done me wrong. They've always given me very good material.”