Rachel Alejandro at Carlos Santamaria
MATINDING “sepanx” o separation anxiety ang naramdaman ng OPM hitmaker na si Rachel Alejandro nang magdesisyon siyang manirahan sa New York City, USA.
Isa raw sa mga struggle na pinagdaanan ng singer-actress ay ang sobrang pagka-miss sa kanyang pamilya at malalapit na kaibigan sa Pilipinas, pati na rin ang kanyang showbiz career.
Sabi ng award-winning singer and performers sa interview ni Bianca Gonzalez para sa “BRGY” ng TFC, major-major adjustment ang ginawa niya sa Amerika lalo pa’t wala siyang masyadong kakilala roon.
“‘Yung wala kang network of people na kunwari magka-problem meron talagang madali lang tawagan or tutulong sa’yo, a doctor for example,” pahayag ni Rachel.
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“And of course talagang nakaka-miss ‘yung family. Iyon ‘yung pinaka…I would say pinakamahirap because hindi ako sanay na mahiwalay sa Alejandro family, the Alejandro side of the family in the Philippines,” dagdag pa ng anak ni Hajji Alejandro.
“Personally nararamdaman ko ‘yung lungkot kapag nakikita ko kapag may special occasions, kunwari katulad ng Mother’s Day, na-miss ko ‘yung Mother’s Day ng lola ko who was 91 years old. For me these occasions are precious,” aniya pa.
Naibahagi rin niya ang ilang karanasan nang mag-try siyang mag-showbiz sa US. Nag-extra raw siya sa isang TV show noong nagsisimula pa lamang siyang mamuhay nang independent sa Amerika.
“About few years ago, as in sinubukan ko talaga how it is to be a background actor which means extra. Adjustment ‘yun kasi hindi naman ako sanay na I’d never done work like that in the Philippines. It was on a TV show called The Good Fight on CBS,” kuwento niya.
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“I wanted to experience all of that and I wanted to know what it’s like to be on set with these well-known actors na talagang napapanood ko lang sa series.
“It was such a good experience kasi I learned so much from them and I was such in awe,” sey pa ng singer at aktres.
Samantala, nagbigay din siya ng advice sa lahat ng mga Pinoy na nagsisimula pa lamang ng kanilang buhay sa ibang bansa.
“Sa lahat ng mga kababayan natin who are far from home or thinking about or considering what that might be like, I highly recommend leaving your comfort zone especially at least once in your lifetime.
“If you can, if you have the means, if there is an opportunity, I highly recommend living in another country. Why? Because I think you will grow as a person. Magugulat ka sa sarili mo na kaya mo pala,” pahayag pa ni Rachel.
Noong kasagsagan ng pandemic nang magdesisyon si Rachel na manirahan na for good sa New York kasama ang asawang Spanish journalist na si Carlos Santamaria.
“When the pandemic hit, I found myself in NY because we couldn’t travel and there was no work for singers anywhere. I was there for 10 months straight. I eventually got to like it there.
“After the pandemic, all the opportunities that came my way were in the US, except (Can’t Buy Me Love, na tinanggihan niya) from ABS-CBN.
“I want to focus my attention on auditions, particularly for pilot TV shows in Hollywood with productions that got stalled because of the recent strike. I really want to give it a try,” pagbabahagi pa niya.