In 2022, Kapuso actor Tom Rodriguez shocked fans when he announced that his marriage with actress Carla Abellana had officially ended. Their love story, which many admired, came to a surprising and heartbreaking conclusion.

That same year, Tom released a statement addressing their separation, revealing that Carla had chosen to give up on their marriage despite his efforts to make it work.

The love story between Carla and Tom didn’t start with a spark of instant attraction. It was a slow burn that began as they worked together on various projects. Initially, they enjoyed each other’s company as colleagues. According to Carla, it took a year and several collaborations for their feelings to develop into love.

Their journey as a love team started in GMA-7’s groundbreaking primetime series My Husband’s Lover in 2013, where they portrayed a married couple. The twist? Tom’s character was secretly gay. In 2014, they starred in the romantic film So It’s You, where they revealed they had already become a couple in real life.

The pair continued to work together on multiple projects, including My Destiny (2014), No Boyfriend Since Birth (2015), I Heart Davao (2017), and Love of My Life (2020). Each project seemed to strengthen their bond.

In 2014, Tom openly admitted he was courting Carla, employing a traditional approach to woo her. He frequently visited her, brought food, gave flowers and chocolates, and spent time with her family. He often spoke of seeing Carla as his future and someone he couldn’t imagine life without.

Rumors of their engagement surfaced in 2019 but were denied. However, in 2021, they officially announced their engagement and tied the knot in October of that year. Their intimate wedding was held at San Juan Nepomuceno Parish Church in Batangas. Carla looked stunning in a Monique Lhuillier gown, while Tom was dashing in a Francis Libiran suit.

Just months into their marriage, rumors of trouble began circulating in January 2022. By June 2022, Tom confirmed their divorce. According to Carla, their split was due to issues of trust and respect, though she clarified there was no third party involved. Speculations online suggested financial problems stemming from Tom’s failed business ventures may have played a role.

In his defense, Tom addressed the public, saying:

“A lot has been said against me, but in the end, only Carla and I know the truth. Our relationship wasn’t perfect, but we both loved each other deeply. While I may have made mistakes, I never harmed Carla in any way.”

He admitted to losing his savings to a scam but emphasized that he respected Carla’s decision to move forward.

“This will be a lonely, painful journey,” he said. “But I have my family in the U.S.s who love and support me unconditionally. I wish Carla finds the happiness she is searching for.”

On her birthday in June 2022, Carla posted, “My birthday wish is to be happy.”

The couple had been together for seven years before their marriage ended just five months after their wedding. Following their separation, Tom moved to the U.S., while both he and Carla slowly rebuilt their lives and careers.