Rachel: Love can be a ‘hassle’

Curtain-raisers:

• Did you know that a young actor and the younger actress rumored to be his new love (no, they haven’t "admitted" anything yet) shared Room No. 32 when they shot some episodes of their soap starrer at a scenic province? This piece of news comes as a little surprise because the actress has pretensions of being, ehem, wholesome.

• Aspiring female models at least 5’8" tall are needed for a mini-fashion show of the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines (FDAP) in October. The show is conceptualized by fashion designer and makeup artist Fanny Serrano, and directed by beauty queen Alma Concepcion. Previous modeling experience is not a requirement. Applicants are requested to call Bibsy Carballo at 724-1742, 726-7164, 721-0801 or 0917-8991823.

• Could it be true that a currently jobless bold actor is badly in need of a rich gay benefactor? You see, according to the Funfare DPA, "he bought two new expensive cars and he’s worried that he might not be able to shoulder the monthly installments." The actor’s previous (ex?) gay benefactor lives in Europe where he (the actor) would take a bakasyon grande every now and then.

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For somebody who sings about love and who is perceived not to survive without love, it’s unthinkable for Rachel Alejandro to be loveless for two years now.

"Yes, I am," admitted Rachel during a one-on-one with Funfare after a mini-presscon to announce her "presence" which hasn’t been felt by people back home for quite a spell because she has been preoccupied with concerts (and pleasure trips) abroad.

"And I’m happy. I feel complete. You know, love can be a ‘hassle’ sometimes especially if you’re concentrated on your career, which I am now."

Her last relationship was with Lee Robin Salazar, lasting for six years. Rachel knew that some of her relatives, especially her (paternal) lola, frowned on the relationship but you know how people in love are, they listen more to their hearts than to their heads; it’s emotion over reason.

"When we broke up," recalled Rachel, "my Lola was so happy that she cried. Tears of joy."

But she and Lee have remained friends. Lee has been leading a new life in San Francisco and, according to Rachel, he would volunteer to show her around and/or fetch her to and from the airport. But that’s as far as they would go – mere friends now. As Pops Fernandez said when she resolved to split from Martin Nievera, when it’s over, it’s over.

"There’s no second time around for me," stressed Rachel, vowing not to fall in love so easily (when she falls, she falls really hard; it’s all or nothing at all, all the way or no way). "I don’t want to waste precious time on the wrong person," she added. "Do I prefer a foreigner? Okay lang if he’s okay. Otherwise, it doesn’t really matter what his nationality is. What’s important is how I feel about him."

Rachel came home recently after doing a series of concerts in the US and Europe (and in Bali, too). She has been away for so long that she said she was worried that people back home might forget her. In fact, many people back home invariably ask when they bump into Rachel, "Kumakanta ka pa ba?" She would tell them, "Oo naman!"

To make her presence felt, Rachel is doing a series of shows here: On Sept. 24 at Ratsky Malate, tomorrow and on Sept. 28 at Ratsky Tomas Morato, Sept. 29 at 19 East Sucat, Sept. 30 at Intercontinental Hotel and Oct. 19 at Dish, with her cousin Niño Alejandro (and his band, The Force) as co-performers. (The bar tour is sponsored by Circulan and supported by Myra 300E and Tokyo Tokyo.)

She’s also recording an album aptly entitled Alone (but not lonely).

"I’ll be very busy," said Rachel, "and not only with my career."

She and her sister Barni are soon opening a branch of their Sexy Chef Café and a food kiosk called Stuffed de Sal (tel. no. 726-3330) at Market Market, which will serve their own Lola’s recipe of pan de sal "stuffed" with a palaman of your choice. The main branch of Sexy Chef Café is at St. Ignatius Village, Quezon City, and Sexy Chef is becoming known for its South Beach Diet (call 911-8881 or 0917SXYCHEF for further information).

"We have a special diet for diabetics and cancer patients," said Rachel who, you guessed it, is South Beach dieter. "We offer a wide array of cuisine, with less sodium content and some sugar-free, from Japanese food to Vietnamese, Korean, Italian, Chinese and Filipino."

Once finished with her commitments, Rachel will fly back to the US (she has an "exceptional ability visa" and a greencard) for R&R. She has her own place in the States where she can be alone...loveless, all right, but not lonely. She’s self-contained, with no "hassle" in her life.

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