Not your garden-variety hunk

PAOAY, Philippines—Although he cuts the studly figure of a garden-variety hunk, ABS-CBN talent Tom Rodriguez seems determined to break the mold of the mindless, talentless macho man.

On the set of “Joey Gosiengfiao’s Temptation Island,” Tom impressed not a few people—cast members and visitors alike—with his artistic side.

Costar Solenn Heussaff, a painter herself, insisted that Tom is a gifted artist. Fellow hunk Aljur Abrenica said: “Tom showed us the drawings in his laptop. They’re beautiful.”

A graduate of the Kapamilya reality show “Pinoy Big Brother,” Tom trained as a graphic artist in the United States.

Between takes, he worked on the drawings on his laptop.

His love for the arts became all the more evident when the cast visited the Juan Luna Shrine in Badoc near the movie set in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. The cast and crew met with Gov. Imee Marcos at the landmark.

“I’m a student of Luna’s works,” he said. In Arizona, where his family moved when he was 12, he was bombarded with Western art in school. “But I really wanted to know more about Filipino artists.”

The “Spoliarium” is his favorite among Luna’s works. “Another one is a painting of a Spanish armor,” he said. “It’s very detailed.”

On the set of the Kapamilya series “M3: Malay Mo Ma-Develop,” he got a crash course on Philippine arts courtesy of lead star Aga Muhlach.

Aga learned of his interest and gave him a list of Filipino masters from Manansala to Bencab. “Magagaling ang mga Pinoy. Our artists are world-class,” said Tom.

Apart from painting and drawing, Tom also has musical talent. He cut a CD with the vocal group Voiz Boyz and composes songs on the side.

He found it unfortunate, however, that he is forever remembered for his “temper tantrum” on PBB, where he was shown punching the wall repeatedly.

“That incident was blown out of proportion and was taken out of context,” he said. “Everyone has a temper, especially if provoked.”

Costar John Lapus noted that Tom is the easiest person to get along with and is Mr. PR personified.

“He’s a good guy,” said his onscreen partner Marian Rivera.

Case in point: He is the only Kapamilya in a cast of Kapusos, but was able to blend effortlessly with the other stars from the rival network.

“I’ve made a career out of being a ‘saling pusa,’” he quipped. “I’m happy that I’m always included in ensemble movies like ‘Here Comes the Bride’ and now ‘Temptation Island.’”

Although he confessed that he got nervous when he had to shoot his daring scenes in “Temptation,” he was somewhat prepared.

“I saw it on TV when I was young,” he said.

He’s quite familiar with 1980s Filipino movies because he lived in Catbalogan, Samar, until age 12. “I can’t forget the famous one-liners and the giant chicken and ice cream in ‘Temptation,’ of course.”