Carla is happy where she belongs

MANILA, Philippines - Carla Abellana remains a Kapuso as she inked last Monday another three-year exclusive contract with GMA Network, proving the naysayers wrong that she will transfer to another network after her contract expired last month.

Present at the contract signing were GMA chairman and CEO lawyer Felipe Gozon, president and COO Gilberto Duavit Jr., GMA Entertainment TV SVP Lilybeth Rasonable, VP for Entertainment TV Marivin Arayata, VP for Drama Productions Redgie Acuña-Magno, AVP for Drama Productions Cheryl Ching-Sy, Senior AVP for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara and Carla’s manager Arnold Vegafria.

“I’m happy that I’m still here; that GMA renewed my contract,” said Carla, who has been part of the GMA family for six years now. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Kumbaga, I really belong here. Ito talaga ‘yung home. I’m happy, very happy.”

Besides, Carla doesn’t see any reason to jump to another network. Her working relationship with GMA executives and the whole production team have been smooth-sailing since her first acting project, Rosalinda. It is heartening to see the same happy faces while at work, Carla added.

Aside from her weekly sitcom Ismol Family, Carla is hoping that cameras will start to grind this summer for her new drama series in time for its scheduled airing in mid-year. She, too, revealed that the Kapuso network is coming up with a new show under the News and Current Affairs that she will host.

But the 28-year-old actress cannot tell yet if her leading man in the soap would still be perennial screen partner and now constant date Tom Rodriguez.

“I’m not sure yet; we’ll see because anything is possible. Ako naman, I’m open to working with other actors.”

Speaking of Tom, Carla confirmed that they are going out on dates. However, until now she is not putting any label to their relationship. “Para walang pressure. I guess, for me, to be sure that it’s not something that I would take lightly. We see each other when there’s no work and through that at least I can get to know him more off-cam.”

Still, Carla is not prohibiting Tom from dating other women. “Of course, he can still date other women. It’s up to him. I mean it’s his life and I’ve no control over that.”

What is certain, Carla added, is that she is not the type who would date several guys at the same time “even in the past, I’ve never tried dating guys ng sabay-sabay.”

Asked what it is about Tom that she likes most, Carla replied, “Tom is very caring and he’s a very simple guy, ‘yun bang alam mo that he was raised well and that at a young age, he learned to be very independent. He’s also very responsible; you see he’s working here for his family abroad. Mabait s’ya sobra.”

Even her grandmother, Delia Razon, is seemingly in favor of Tom. “The first time they met, halos di mo na sila mahila dahil pareho silang makwento kaya kwentuhan talaga sila,” Carla recalled.

Apparently, Tom had said in an interview that he would like to get married two or three years from now. Is Carla also willing to settle down by that time?

“I am not thinking about it yet. If you ask me now (my answer is) no but we’ll see kasi two years from now pwedeng iba na naman (answer). It’s just too hard to tell now na uunahan ‘yung panahon; it’s possible to say yes now then tomorrow no na naman.”

Before buckling down to work, Carla will spend Holy Week in her Tagaytay resthouse with her family. She is not sure though if Tom can go with them. “I don’t know yet if he will go home (to the US) or his sister will fly in here.”