Rachel is hoping her current epicserye, “Indio” on GMA-7, where she plays the Diwata ng Buwan or Moon Goddess, would have wrapped up by May. “Kasi mahihirapan ako kung sabay ang taping at rehearsals namin,” she says. “We tape on location in Pagsanjan, Bulacan and Subic at inaabot ng madaling araw ang taping. I need more energy kasi the songs in ‘Tarzan’ will be more demanding and difficult than those of my first theatre outing, ‘Little Mermaid’.”
Rachel just won the best actress in a musical award for her performance as Ariel in “Mermaid”, given by Broadway World.com, where she defeated even the foreign actress who played Christine in the CCP staging of “Phantom of the Opera”. Among the songs she’d sing in “Tarzan” are “Waiting for this Moment”, “Like No Man I’ve Ever Seen”, “Strangers Like Me”, “For the First Time”, “Two Worlds” and the iconic “You’ll Be in My Heart”. Also in the play are Ima Castro and Calvin Millado as Tarzan’s parents, Eugene Villaluz as Jane’s dad and Jeffrey Hidalgo as Tarzan’s best friend Terk.
Rachelle admits she’s more pressured with “Tarzan” than with “Little Mermaid”. “The material and the songs are more mature. And I have to speak with a British accent kaya nagno-nosebleed na ko. I talk sa bahay in English to practice at pinagtatawanan nga ako ng mga kapatid ko. They think I’m crazy. Also, I’m paired with a real Broadway actor who has appeared in ‘Rock of Ages’ and also in ‘Glee’, so I’m thinking his expectations of me might be quite high. But with the help of our director, Direk Chari Arespacochaga, I’m positive I’d be able to meet the challenges of my role.”
About her love life, she says it’s still zero. Her past three BFs, Christian Bautista, Gab Valenciano and John Prats, have all moved on and had other girlfriends, but she remains unattached. “I prefer it that way. Dahil meron na sila, kailangan bang meron din ako? Ayoko ngang madaliin. Kung meron na silang bago, okay lang. I'm happy for them. Basta I’m very happy to be single. I can’t explain in words why sobrang happy ko with my work, my family and friends.”
When she had a duet with Christian in “Party Pilipinas”, the response was so positive. “Yes, that’s true. Maski kami, nagulat din. But we’ve remained friends naman and we’ve worked together before so comfortable na kami sa isa’t isa. May rapport na.”
How does she feel when some folk suggest their love affair might be rekindled? “Sorry, no spark at all. I feel uncomfortable kasi everyone knows may girlfriend na siya ngayon, si Carla, and I don’t want to appear so mean na mang-aagaw pa ako. In love naman ako ngayon, e. Kay God. I can never thank Him enough. He really gives me so much personal joy in my life.”
What happened to her audition with the revival of “Miss Saigon”? We heard she’s in the top 6 finalists. “I haven’t heard anything. Basta kung makukuha ako, I’d grab the chance. But I don’t want to expect anything as of now kasi ayoko ring ma-disappoint.”
