Tom, Carla hint at ‘near-future’ wedding

MANILA, Philippines — Age does matter for people eyeing to end up happily ever after, especially for celebrities whose lives reside in the watchful eye of the public.

Showbiz reel and real couple Tom Rodriguez and Carla Abellana consider age as a crucial factor in feeling the pressure of getting themselves tie the knot sooner than later.

During the recent 65th anniversary event (held in Makati) of canned fish industry market leader Ligo where the couple was featured as brand ambassadors, they got teased by the attending press about wedding plans, to which a wide-smiling Carla responded with clarity, “Napag-uusapan na namin ‘yan (We’ve been discussing about that) and we believe it’s part of our near future.”

She expounded, “Malapit na po (ang kasalan) pero depende kay Tom ‘yan kasi syempre siya ang mag-pro-propose (It’s about to happen but that depends on Tom since he will be the one proposing).”

The celebrity figure behind the success of the Lami Ligo campaign in Mindanao, Tom jocularly knelt down in proposal stance as Carla spoke about their anticipated matrimonial decision.

Yet quickly, the famous dimpled gentleman who apparently helped popularize Odong noodles with Ligo sardines seriously expressed why they seem to sound rushing their wedding date to happen.

“It’s the age. We’re not getting any younger,” he reasoned, noting in part that most of their contemporaries have been settling down.

The couple became a hit when they starred in GMA 7’s nightly soap My Husband’s Lover some years back. While many credit the intriguingly gay theme of the series, critics also acknowledged that the chemistry between Tom and Carla was a key ingredient to the triumph of the teleserye. Them becoming a real couple immediately looked strongly possible even in the minds of the viewers.

The actor hailed for his good acting chops noted that there’s another reason why they’d rather get married as soon as possible. Thanks to their fans and the showbiz community in general egging them on to do it. He pointed out, “I find it flattering that at least, we can feel that people want us to end up together.”

The Ligo event, which brought together brand partners and media friends, featured a big surprise in the introduction of Carla as its newest ambassador, ensuring that a project featuring her and Tom had been canned.

The Ligo brand likewise unveiled new product variants: Calamansi, Fried Sardines in Oyster Sauce and in Portuguese Style, and Tuyo.

Ligo VP for advertising and promotion Macky Tung, in relation to the new products and the beloved lady endorser, said, “The brand welcomes new members, products and variants to its family as Ligo still stays true to the promise it made 65 years ago: To provide quality sardines that will continue to become a Klasik in every Filipino household.”

On working with Tom, Carla expressed, “It feels great and amazing having an endorsement together. When working with loved ones, parang hindi trabaho (it’s not like work). You just enjoy.”

The celebration featured a Klasik Museum set-up where guests are reminded of the brand’s glorious past, including its variants, old commercials and print ads. Ligo VP of production Mikko Tung shared, “We are proud to be part of the household of many Filipino families here and abroad. As we move toward our seventh decade in the industry, we are excited to bring new innovations and products that will be part of the memories of future generations.”