After formally signing with the Kapamilya network last month, Tom Rodriguez is looking forward to working on his first project for the year, Precious Hearts Romance presents: Mana Po, which also stars his former Pinoy Big Brother housemates Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco. The series is going to be launched late next month on ABS-CBN. 'This is my first project for 2011. I just came back from a vacation. I worked on Christmas so after that I took time off to relax from December 30 to January 5. Now I'rsquo;m back and ready to work,' he shared in an exclusive interview with Push.com.ph.

The Fil-am hunk admitted he was especially looking forward to working with familiar faces again. 'I'rsquo;m very excited for this project. It'rsquo;s a romantic comedy. There'rsquo;s some drama involved but there'rsquo;s going to be some comedy aspects. I was very excited lalo na nung nalaman ko na si Melai at si Jason yung makakasama kasi magkakasama kami sa Bahay ni Kuya so andun yung pang mini-reunion feeling na may sarap factor para sa akin,' he admitted.

After working on projects with other networks, Tom said there was a comfort in coming back to his home network, especially when he gets to go inside the Pinoy Big Brother house again for rehearsals and other projects. 'Ang weird nga eh na nakakapasok ulit ako dito sa bahay dahil nakikita ko na kung ano yung nangyayari sa likod. Sumilip ako sa likod. Sorry Kuya! (laughs). Pero may halong nostalgic feeling na lahat ng memories, 'lsquo;pag naalala ko, 'lsquo;pag sobrang tagal na, feeling ko lahat magaganda. Overall 'lsquo;pag iisipin ko, those were the good old days. Mas na-a-appreciate ko yung mga nangyari 'lsquo;pag tumagal na, so maganda pa rin, parang may marker. Para pagtingin ko kung anong iba sa buhay ko since last year, ayun yun. Ang sarap din isipin na ganun nga, heto kami na magkakasama ulit. The same people, but at the same time, we'rsquo;ve been through a lot in one year,' he said.

Tom said that even though they are all celebs now, nothing has changed much since he last saw Melai and Jason. 'Close pa rin kami. Kanina kulitan, tawanan, parang yung dati lang nung nasa loob lang kami ng bahay ni Kuya. Pareho pa rin naman sila. Of course iba na yung trabaho namin ngayon dahil showbiz. Pero kami ganun pa rin naman, wala akong napansin talagang bago,' he told Push.com.ph