For Tom Rodriguez, the saying, “When you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,” truly holds water. 

At the height of his controversial marital break-up with Carla Abellana, the Fil-Am actor packed his bags and moved back temporarily to California. Now that the heat has died down, Tom is back in town to resume his interrupted showbiz career. 

He has signed up for a film, Huwag Mo Akong Iwan, opposite Rhian Ramos and JC de Vera. There are talks about Tom and Dennis Trillo being sweet-talked to co-star in a sequel to My Husband’s Lover, the first locally produced gay-oriented TV series in the Philippines.

By the way, Dennis and his wife, Jennylyn Mercado, are looking forward to retiring in the US in the distant future. The couple has purchased a big house in Nevada.

Immigrating to the US has been common among actors who feel they have exhausted all possibilities locally. As early as the 70s and 80s, movie personalities have been moving to the United States following their retirement here. 

PASSERBY:

Another sequel in pre-production stage is part 2 of Hello Love Goodbye, the blockbuster first team-up between Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards. Heard that the film will be shot in Canada, also to be directed by Cathy Garcia, and intended for the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival in December.

Another major star, Jericho Rosales, is awaiting his ‘date’ with Kath as a partner in a future film. Kathryn, bless her, has been flooded with endorsement deals following her break-up with Daniel Padiilla. She’s also looking sexy. 

Just like the Main Building of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, the Main Building of the UST extension campus in General Santos City features a blue cross atop it. UST-GenSan is now operational. The country’s oldest university also has an extension campus in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. I found it amusing that a faculty member commented that UST-GenSan’s athletes shall then be known as UST Tunas.