Tom Rodriguez the 2015 Sergio Santibañez

MANILA, Philippines - Tom Rodriguez is ready to take on the “trophy-boyfriend” role of Sergio, which was originated by Eduardo Capetillo for Televisa’s MariMar and portrayed by Dingdong Dantes for its first Filipino adaptation on GMA 7.

The Mexican Sergio and the Filipino Sergio had piqued the fantasy of female audiences, which contributed to the telenovela’s success.

This is the outright challenge for Tom, the 2015 Sergio Santibañez, for playing such a popular role, especially the same network will air it beginning tonight at 7:45. Again, Tom is up for it in (re-)defining the masculine appeal of Sergio and deviating from the shadow of the previous actors.  

“I think that’s the most challenging part of it — all the expectations that come with it,” says Tom of having been tapped as Sergio to 2013 Miss World Megan Young’s Marimar. “It could be perceived as a positive challenge to yourself, just like everything we do. I had the same hesitation and the same doubts to myself (when I did My Husband’s Lover) if I could even do it. That’s the challenge. If I don’t try, I won’t learn. I know I am very young in this industry. I have so far to go, ang dami ko pang-kailangang kaining bigas, ika nga, at ang dami ko pang-kailangang tahakin. I’m growing and I’m learning to do (new things). I won’t get to do any of that if I don’t try.”

What’s clear to Tom is, MariMar, based on the Mexicanovela Filipinos adored in 1996, will come new and fresh, perhaps updating some parts of it for the social-media savvy televiewers.

“We all know the characters, we all know the material… I think we have progressed… our sentiments have changed from 1996 to now, 2015. I think that’s a huge gap,” he says. “If you juxtapose these two together, you’ll see some definite changes. Iba na yung Filipina ngayon. That’s how the material is being updated — mas relevant, mas contemporary. I think it adds a different flavor to it.”

Among these changes is that Señora Angelika Santibañez (Jaclyn Jose) will have a daughter named Antonia (Lauren Young) and her presence makes for an interesting love triangle, of course, between Antonia, Sergio and Marimar.

As for Sergio, the character still carries his old self, but with a dash of new endearing traits. “He lives in affluence, he is carefree,” says Tom. “He likes to seek things that are thrilling and exciting to him. Hindi siya yung tipo ng tao na gusto mag-settle down o nasaisip niya ang ganung bagay, and yet inside him, there’s still the maternal love for his mom. It is even present with his relationship with Tiya Corazon. There’s an endearing side of him. Hindi siya yung Sergio na tignin mo na mayabang, ma-ere, na ang feeling na lahat ng babae ay mahuhulog sa kanya. If you look at it (his true self), he doesn’t see himself that way. He is very unassuming and he has a good heart. His heart is in the right place.”

Asked if Tom might fall for Megan, the way Dingdong did for his Marimar, Marian Rivera, he replies, “We don’t know what’s gonna happen. The only thing I could say about that is, I don’t think the two were mutually exclusive. I mean this is our work. Siguro may nagkakataon na some people do end up together. We can’t help that. Pero that’s not something now you can think of na mangyayari. That shouldn’t be something you think of when you go to work.” After all, love should come naturally, the same way many actors approach their every role.

Tom recalls that he and Megan worked already on a few projects back in 2011. They had a one-day familiarity workshop for MariMar, making themselves at ease as actors and working on their onscreen chemistry, which is evident now. Megan exudes that America’s Sweetheart image, while Tom is everyone’s All-American Golden Boy.

What are Tom’s fondest memories of Thalia’s Marimar?

“I was still in the Philippines then, the time Marimar was being shown here,” shares Tom. “My sisters would religiously follow it, nakikipag-agawan ako ng TV at tumatakbo ako sa kapitbahay kasi Dragon Ball Z na. Yung dalawang TV sa bahay ay nakatutok dun, nanay ko, tatlo kong kapatid na babae at mga pinsan namin. All I could think of is how beautiful Thalia was. Hanggang dun lang yung thoughts ko when it came to that and the latter half of my life was spent in the US.”

Aside from its romantic and family-oriented storyline, MariMar is also banking on the sexiness of some of its characters. Thus, Tom is working on his eight-pack abs.

“I’m doing my best. I don’t count and I base it aesthetically. If I base it on numbers, it is misleading at ang daming factors, na kapag-isipin ko, mas hindi nakakatulong lalo, ma-stress ka lang. I would base it on how it looks and I’m doing my best. If I couldn’t achieve it at the start, hindi ako bibitaw till the end.”

With regards to the possible intimate scenes between him and Megan as Sergio and Marimar, Tom has this to say: “I’m preparing for it. Kung yun naman ang kailangan, I have to deliver.”

(MariMar is directed by Dominic Zapata and also stars Zoren Legaspi, Alice Dixson, Nova Villa, Tommy Abuel, Carmi Martin, Ina Raymundo, Dion Ignacio, Ricardo Cepeda, Cris Villanueva, Jaya, Candy Pangilinan, Frank Magalona, Ashley Cabrera and Boobay.)