One is never left shortchanged when on an interview with Rachel Alejandro. Her mile-a-minute answers to questions are filled with candor and ease, exuding confidence and maturity. This multi-awarded daughter of Hajji Alejandro has managed to do everything, from recording, singing live, doing movies, hosting, and theater, and remains spirited and excited about the journey. The lady who has weathered many a storm both in her personal and professional life is shaking her hair in the wind, enjoying the ride.

Brimming with life and excitement, she unabashedly shared her insights on what’s been keeping her busy, her “Greatest Hits” collection (due to hit leading record bars any day now, so watch out for it!), the three awards she bagged in the World Championship of the Performing Arts, her flourishing food business, and the love that is keeping her sane and rooted to the ground:

Q: Heard you’re coming out with a CD of your “Greatest Hits.” That must be exciting. What can your fans expect from this new compilation?

Rachel: It is. It will be released under Alpha Records, and the “Greatest Hits” comes in 2 CDs, which has my original songs from the 80’s and 90’s, and the bonus CD holds choice cuts from 80’s concert I had last year, and also has a very special trio with the two vocalists of South Border, Duncan Ramos and Vince Alaras . The three of us recorded a Jay Durias arrangement of one of my old songs, “Kay Tagal.” We’re giving the people more value for their money with the two CDs, so I hope that they’d check it out.

Q: You’ve always said that you’re more of a singer than an actress. Do you think your Greatest Hits CD showcases your capacity as a singer?

Rachel: It was definitely my all when I recorded it at that time, although I feel I’m nowhere near accomplishing all I can , musically. There’s no end to fully exploring one’s musical capacity…as long as you have your voice, your instrument, it’s a never-ending process.

Q: Apart from this new CD collection, we also caught wind of your winning in the World Championship of the Performing Arts, which is like the Olympics for singers and dancers and performers just this August, in Los Angeles.. (Note: Jed Madela won in thevery same competition last year over all the contestants). Tell us about that. You’ve won many awards in the past. How was this triumph any different?

Rachel: The competition has been in existence for about 10 years already. There are a lot of categories to compete in. I didn’t compete in the Pop Category, as some people might have expected. I sang “Sweet Child of Mine” for Rock, “Home” for Broadway, and one of my unpublished compositions entitled “The Rain” for Original Works. I was pitted against people in my age-range, with over 4000 contestants. In the Senior Category, the girl from USA bagged the overall prize, but I was able to win Gold for the Rock Category, Silver for Broadway (the girl who went on to win the Grand Prize got the gold), and Gold for Original Works. It was a great experience, I was able to see for myself that the Filipino talent is truly what people say it is…

Q: A lot of people might be wondering why you actually took part in such a competition, when you’re such an established artist back in Manila. What had been your goal in joining?

Rachel: It wouldn’t have mattered if I got a gold or not. I felt that I just wanted to know where I placed. I wanted to see how I fared next to my counterparts in other parts of the world, I wanted to see how other people reacted to Filipino talent, especially without the hype and preconceived notions others may have of typical artists. I wanted to see if the Filipino talent is really all that it’s cracked up to be, or are we just imagining it…

Q: And did you get your answer?

Rachel: Yes! Aside from the judges giving me Golds and our team winning so many golds, I had people coming up to me, and to the Filipinos competing in our group, and asking, “Where is that voice coming from?’” A lot of the time, people there were saying that the Filipinos are just so professional. I felt proud because I wanted to get that validation, and also to expand my network by getting to know a lot of people working there.

Q : You’ve done it all… recording, movies, touring, hosting, theater…Is there anything else you’d still like to do, but haven’t done?

Rachel: Yes, there is…I have something in the works with my good friend, Geneva Cruz. It’s an artistic pursuit, although we don’t want to reveal the details just yet. It’s about being together, working together as friends. It’s actually more of a fun thing for both of us, to stretch ourselves and what we can do. It’s not at all competitive, we work as a team. Collaborating on this project doesn’t mean that we won’t have our own individual projects to pursue. We’re in the process of exploring material. There were some obstacles in the way in the past, but thankfully are now resolved. It’s a surprise, so people should watch out for it!

Q: A “Greatest Hits” album is always a milestone. There are a lot of artists and bands doing tribute albums. Which of your songs do you feel would be a great song to be revived by another artist?

Rachel: I’ve actually heard revivals of “Nakapagtataka,” “Paalam Na” and “Kay Tagal…” For me it would be really interesting to have someone do a completely different version of “KSP (Kulang Sa Pansin)”…To modernize something that sounds dated! Hahaha!

Q: You not only have a passion for music and family, but also for food. Is the Sexy Chef, your food business, an extension of this passion?

Rachel: Yes. The Sexy Chef (which has been servicing clients with the South Beach Diet meals for the past two years) has been running quite well, and what I’ve realized is that in anything you always have to evolve. I spoke with Barni, my sister who is the Chef in our business, and told her to come up with a “non-diet system” that just focuses on eating healthy, a sensible approach to nourishing our bodies.

My friend Ricky Rivero weighed 334 pounds before, and now he has lost 165 pounds, he didn’t think of a diet, he was just tired of having people worry about him, having headaches…He was a catalyst that made me suggest that people should be eating just enough to nourish our bodies, that a healthy lifestyle is a combination of sensible eating and working out.

The Sexy Chef is in the process of coming up with FIT MEALS. These are meals that you can order, that you can eat all the time, made up of wholesome, low-fat, lean and whole grain ingredients, that remain affordable. It’s going to be available in November and December. It goes hand in hand with a healthy lifestyle. I mean, how can you make a workout regimen work if you eat unhealthy food?

Q: I’m guessing that you practice what you preach, and are an advocate of living and eating healthy.

Rachel: I would admit that I do have my weaknesses…I mean, don’t we all? I love vegetables and tofu, but I also crave for pizza…that’s high on my list! Haha!
And fried shrimp tempura…my sister Barni and I enjoy an occasional drink, like a glass of red or white wine. I’m one of the lucky ones who never really thought about dieting. I think I’ve been battling with losing and gaining weight all my life! But yes, I generally follow a healthy lifestyle, and would encourage others to do the same thing. I really believe that we shouldn’t drive ourselves crazy with dieting. Most people already know what’s good for them. With our FIT MEALS at the Sexy Chef (09177992433), we will be letting them know what’s in their food, inform them about the nutritional value of it, but still make food they enjoy. And you know, the healthy food we serve is really quite tasty!

Q: Your love for food is evident, and it shows! It’s also been written about, how much you love music, and the how much you love and express your love to people you care about. What are your thoughts on the love in your life? And what have you been doing to keep love alive in it?

Rachel: I think that it’s no secret, what I’ve been doing, which is going on an adventure. It’s really about that, what’s behind the door that I’m trying to explore. I’ve had my heart broken so many times, both in my career and in my love life. But after each mistake, I realize that ‘that was not the way to go,’ and I just cross that out, and move on. I’ve never been one to just let things happen to me. I never want to be a victim of circumstance. We can never control what happens to each of us, we can only control our reactions. On the whole, I think I’ve managed to bounce back. A lot of people, I think, are playing their lives very safe. But so far, for me, I think it’s been a great adventure.

Q: Do you have any new influences in your personal and professional life that are making everything more of an adventure, as you say?

Rachel: My boyfriend…we’re very happy. You see, I tend to be a planner…my biggest fault is that, being a dreamer, my head is usually in the clouds, so much so that I lose a lot of stuff, I forget a lot of stuff…I often miss out on the simple and mundane things, but my boyfriend, he brings me back to earth. He’s a ‘moment-to-moment’ kind of guy. My Mom says he’s the anchor, and I’m the rudder. On the professional side, I’m still kind of in the process of looking for a new sound, so I’m excited about the new people I’ll be meeting in the coming months. I’ve been researching on the people who have made it in the music industry in the States, and I find that we’re not really all that different from other artists…The stories are different in some ways, but often the same in some.

Q: You’ve been shuttling back and forth from place to place…New York and then back to Manila, and globe-trotting must influence your artistry, fashion sense, and style a lot…

Rachel: Oh, definitely. Being exposed to all kinds of music rubs off on you, and it contributes so much…If you were to look at my wardrobe, it’s so eclectic, there isn’t just one style in there…haha!

Q: It looks like music is your major preoccupation right now. Any plans to get back into television any time soon?

Rachel: It’s really just the music right now. Much as I’d like, it’s hard to get into anything permanent right now since I travel back and forth, New York and Manila …If ever I’d get back into television, it would probably be related to food. It’s another facet to me that people may not know. Sexy Chef may also be part of the show, but maybe not totally…it’s all still being planned out.

Q: What can your fans expect from you, now that there are so many things on your plate? What has changed the most, and what has remained in Rachel Alejandro?

Rachel: The truth is, I’m ever-evolving, I’m never static. I don’t want to waste my time doing things or endorsing something I don’t believe in. I’m more myself than I’ve ever been. I’m not about packaging, or trying to be anything other than myself. The only things that remain unchanged are my love for family, food, and music that speaks to the heart.

Q: That’s good to know. Any messages for your loyal followers/fans? You’ve come a long way, and still are steering your own course, come hell or high water. What can you share with those who want to enjoy their lives just as much?

Rachel: You just have to be you…listen deep inside to what you really want to do. I’ve been lucky enough to do what I’ve really wanted to do. A lot of the time we put ourselves into a box, or are sometimes too afraid about what people will say. I think you’re only accountable to yourself. I’m shocked that I’ve been in this business for so long…I think that one should be completely honest about what he or she wants to be. Create your own jam!

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At this point, one discovers that Rachel Alejandro has a lot going on in her career, business, and personal life, but still believes in exploring and learning and growing. The lady behind the hits “Paalam Na,” “Nakapagtataka” and “Kay Tagal” is still treading the high seas, paying no attention to the fearful ones on the shore. She is obviously busy chartering her own course, doing what she wants to do, making the most of life, and, as she suggests, “creating her own jam.” She’s enjoying her swim. Whether the beats she hears are actually the pounding of the waves, or the smallest ripples in the sea, she is following her own rhythm, the beat of her inner drum. And there are no signs of her throwing in the anchor. She’s having a grand time, and she encourages each of us to do the same, in the adventure we call life.

(Rachel is represented by Girlie Rodis of Global Resource Creative Exchange and may be contacted at 7224757 or 7227223 or at email mjrodis@yahoo.com.)

(http://www.rachelalejandro.com)
(http://www.myspace.com/rachelalejandromusic)
(http://www.grcreativexchange.com)