After Heartbreak & Healing, Carla Abellana Found Her Way Back to Her ‘First and Last Love’
CARLA ABELLANA – Kapuso actress Carla Abellana surprised fans after revealing that the love she once shared in high school ultimately became the love she chose for a lifetime.
Actress Carla Abellana described her love story with doctor Reginald Santos as a rare “full circle” moment—one that began in their teenage years and found its way back to where it truly belonged. From high school sweethearts to husband and wife, Carla called Reginald her “first and last love,” marking a deeply personal milestone that resonated with fans.
“My first and last. A love story over 20 years in the making. Two lives coming full circle. This is our story. – Dr. and Mrs. Reginald Santos,” Carla wrote on Instagram, sharing a glimpse of the journey that led them back to each other.
Carla Abellana looked radiant as she walked down the aisle in a Rosa Clara wedding gown during their intimate wedding on Saturday, December 27, held in Tagaytay. The ceremony was kept private, adding to the emotional weight of the occasion, especially since Carla had kept Reginald’s identity away from the public eye until their wedding weekend.
Their same-day-edit wedding video by Mayad Studios revealed how their story unfolded over two decades. During her vows, Carla reflected on life’s unexpected turns and how heartbreak can lead to something meaningful. “Sometimes the bad things that happen to us in our lives put us directly on the path towards the most wonderful things that will ever happen to us. Who would have known it was still going to be us in the end. Just when I stopped looking for anything and anyone, life surprised me in the most unexpected way. It felt familiar. It wasn’t messy or uncertain. It was real. It was healthy,” she shared.
Carla’s past relationship with actor Tom Rodriguez ended in a highly publicized separation, while Reginald also went through a period of uncertainty in his own life before reconnecting with her. In his vows, Reginald fondly recalled their beginnings. “Hi, my love. You’re beautiful, as always, it is that same beauty that captivated since I first laid eyes on you, I can still vividly remember we were in high school. We were young back then, we fell in love, and then life had other plans for us,” he said.
Carla agreed, noting how she once read that a great love story sometimes requires letting go before finding your way back. As Reginald pursued medicine and Carla rose as one of Philippine television’s most admired actresses, time passed, and paths diverged—until fate intervened again.
“You were as I remember, kind, loving, selfless, God-fearing, we reconnected at the perfect time we are now the best versions of ourselves,” Reginald added.
Carla admitted how deeply their reunion changed her life. “I’ve never laughed so good, eaten so much, slept so comfortably, learned a lot about life, communicated well, been taken care of this way and so much more before you happened again,” she said.
For the couple, rediscovering each other brought clarity and peace. For Carla, Reginald became the “clearest answer” to her “painful whys,” while for Reginald, every step leading back to her was “worth it,” declaring that he is “home at last.”
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