TOM RODRIGUEZ SHIFTS ACTING PRIORITIES FOR SON WITH NON-SHOWBIZ PARTNER

FOR TOM RODRIGUEZ, love shouldn't be complicated.

- NATHALIE M. TOMADA

"Love should be simply love. Of course, yung life natin completo recados. We can't avoid it...I mean, no one is immune sa putik ng buhay (to the mud of life). But that love between partners, dapat di nawawala. You should be each other's advocate. That part shouldn't be complicated," he said.

"As long as it's possible to fight for it, you should fight for it. Of course, if you are venturing through life together, you should be each other's advocates."

Tom got to share his thoughts on love and relationships in response to The STAR's question during the recent premiere night of Joel Lamangan's romance drama "Huwag Mo 'Kong Iwan," which rolls into cinemas tomorrow, Nov. 27. The movie, which stars Tom with Rhian Ramos and JC de Vera, explores a love triangle that doesn't have a traditional antagonist or kontrabida. Tom plays a determined attorney, Edwin, who takes up the case of Lara (Rhian), a probinsyana who lands in a big city jail after a series of unfortunate events. JC, on the other hand, is Lara's loving musician-fiance Joseph.

Sans spoilers, what one can learn from the film is that at times, it's life's challenges and complicated circumstances that can bring two persons together or pull them apart. And despite the messy situations that they are in, the act of loving itself can be free of unnecessary drama.

"It has a very human and relatable ending na walang kontrabida talaga," said Tom of the premise of "Huwag Mo 'Kong Iwan," adding that in real life, there will always be those "bittersweet endings."

"Nothing is truly black and white in life. Ang sarap makita yun on screen," he added.