Carla comforts Tom in his time of grief

MANILA, Philippines - Moments of grief are the acid tests of relationships. They tell you just how far a couple can stand together when one of them is in mourning.

Tom Rodriguez and Carla Abellana’s relationship went through this test a few months back, when the actor’s American father, William Albert “Bill” Mott, passed away in the US.

Carla was miles away. But she was always with her boyfriend in spirit.

“I would always ask him how he is,” Carla said after the presscon of I Heart Davao, hers and Tom’s new romcom under the Kapuso network (it premieres June 26).

Carla showed how much she cared for Tom even more when he arrived in the Philippines after the Rodriguezes put their patriarch to rest. She knew he was stressed out, not only due to the tragedy, but because his luggage got misplaced.

She wrapped her arms around Tom and tried her best to cheer him up.

“I make him laugh when he’s quiet and all alone. I sit beside him. Kinukulit ko siya.”

It’s in times like this that Tom realizes how lucky he is.

“It’s great to have this partnership. You can face things together,” he said, not taking his eyes off Carla’s face.

Seeing the Rodriguezes draw strength from each other made Carla admire her boyfriend’s family even more.

“I learned more about them. I admire their closeness, their beautiful family dynamics. Each member has a role to play. They help each other,” observed Carla.

Thanks to his family, Tom found the strength to move on and set an example in facing trials with courage. Yes, there came a time when all he wanted was to lock himself up in a room. But he pulled himself together for his family.

“It was such a heavy feeling. But my family needs me. We have to be there for each other.”

Tom was there for his US-based cousins who took comfort in his words of advice about dealing with a family member who has Alzheimer’s Disease. Tom played an Alzheimer’s patient in the recently-concluded Someone to Watch Over Me, and grabbed the chance to share what he learned from the role.

Little did Tom know that he’ll come face to face with the illness when he renewed ties with his US-based paternal aunt, who is suffering from the disease.

Today, Tom describes his work as “pieces of a puzzle” helping him feel whole again.

Carla, of course, plays a big role in making Tom feel complete.

In his eyes, Carla can do no wrong.

“I have to learn how to be organized from her. I’m trying my best to emulate her. Watching her organize everything — her scripts, her notes — is a joy,” gushed Tom.

Carla protested that she’s an OC (obsessive-compulsive), but Tom shushed her.

She returned the compliment.

“His thirst for knowledge is one of Tom’s best traits. He wants to learn so many things in science, math, the arts. He’s forever a student. It’s good to know that he’s getting even smarter as he matures.”

So what’s keeping them from getting married?

Carla spoke up for herself and Tom.

“Work and obligations.”

Tom, she added, wants to explore a lot of non-showbiz related fields — visual effects, robotics even.

“I want to work for fun, not survival,” Tom piped in.

His girlfriend doesn’t mind waiting for Tom to be ready before settling down. She knows he’s been nurturing those dreams for years, and she’ll be the last to burst his bubble.

This early, however, the 30-year-old Tom (Carla is a year older) assures his girlfriend he need not fulfill all his dreams before popping the question.

He’ll go down on his knees and propose as soon as he feels the time is right.

Besides, their respective families are letting them think many times over before taking the plunge.

Meanwhile, TomCar fans can go on dreaming of a romantic wedding — on a chapel by the hill, the shore of a sun-kissed beach, anywhere — until their idols decide it’s time to take that plunge into a world they’ll share forever.