Rachelle’s new journey

Rachelle Ann Go is the latest in a long list of singers and theater actors who has been making the country proud on the world stage. Of course, there’s Lea Salonga, the original Miss Saigon, who was only 18 years old when she ventured out of Manila and into London’s West End, and eventually found her way to the Broadway stage.

It’s awesome to think that Rachelle Ann was just an aspiring talent search contestant 10 years ago, and now, there she is, in London, preparing for what may be the biggest career break of her life. What’s ironic about it is that Rachelle Ann never really thought of herself as a theater actress until she starred in Little Mermaid, and recently, she also played Jane in a local staging of Tarzan with Atlantis Productions. Now she is in London, making us proud as the bar girl Gigi in the revival of Miss Saigon where she gets to sing the solo, Movie in My Mind. The song and the role were performed by Isay Alvarez when the musical first debuted with the original cast in 1989.

The last time the public saw Rachelle Ann perform the song was at her farewell concert last Feb. 22 at the Meralco Theater. That her send-off concert was held there was auspicious because it was on that same stage that she made her theater debut. It was one of the most-applauded numbers of the show. Backstage after the concert, Rachelle Ann had the chance to talk to some members of the media and express her thoughts on her impending London adventure.

At the time, it had yet to sink in that she was going away for more than a year. Rachelle Ann, or Shin, will be staying in London’s West End for approximately 14 months. She knows it’s going to be a hard road she will travel, but she’s ready for the challenge. “Kaya talagang bago ako umalis ng Manila, I wanted to spend time with my family and friends, magpahinga, bakasyon at namnamin kung ano man time ‘yung meron pa kami together kasi alam ko na pagdating doon (London), tuloy-tuloy ang trabaho, walang bakasyon,” she said.

Rachelle Ann is lucky because she has so many people willing and ready to offer advice, from the original Miss Saigon Lea to Isay, who played Gigi in the original production. One of the first things Lea taught her was that it was important to be flexible and learn how to adjust to things other than the chilly London weather. Before she left, Rachelle Ann packed a suitcase full of winter clothes to help her cope, but the other stuff will take more effort. “Sabi niya (Lea) maraming changes sa music, sa lyrics, minsan may mga bagong kanta pa — let’s see what will happen when I get there,” said the London-bound singer-actress.

Before she left Manila, Rachelle Ann did not get a chance to talk to Isay, but the latter tweeted her to offer her congratulations. “Yun nga, nag-tweet siya sa akin, nag-congrats siya, ako naman, nagtanong ‘Kailangan ba ng abs?’ (a reference to the costume worn by her bar girl character in the musical). Ang sabi lang naman niya sa akin, mag-enjoy daw ako.”

She is living in a London flat with her roommate, a Pinay named Tanya, who is an understudy for the role of Kim. Part of the adventure of being in London — aside from surviving the chilly weather — is learning how to master most household chores, including cooking, on her own. “Walang nag-aalaga sa akin, ako lang,” says Rachelle Ann. “I tried cooking. My mom taught me how but she just laughed at my dish. I tried to cook adobo, but I failed — lasang cup noodles! Ang kare-kare ko, mukhang nilaga! Siguro, after a year pa, magaling na ako.”

Regine Velasquez gave her more spiritual advice. “Sabi ni Ate Reg, ‘wag ako mag-worry kasi hindi naman ako nag-iisa; lagi ko kasama si God.” She is looking forward to the free time that she will have when she can just read her Bible and pray. “At saka siyempre, dala ko ang mga gadgets ko dito, para lagi ako maka-communicate sa mga loved ones at mga kaibigan ko sa Manila.”

Her last thank-you message, she reserves for the fans who have supported her throughout her 10-year-journey in showbiz. “Sana pagbalik ko nandoon pa rin ang suporta n’yo sa akin.”