She has just finished shooting “Larawan”, the film version of the stage musical based on the late National Artist Nick Joaquin’s acclaimed play, “Portrait of the Artist as Filipino”, where she and Joanna Ampil play the lead characters, Candida and Paula, with Paulo Avelino and Sandino Martin, under the direction of Loy Arcenas, who did the acclaim indie films, “Nino” and “Requieme”.
Rachel is also all set to do a Back2Back concert with her cousin Nino Alejandro and brother Ali Alejandro on drums at 12 Monkeys Music Hall and Pub at Century Mall, Makati on Tuesday, October 20.
“I’m so excited to perform again,” she says. “I devoted one year in making ‘Larawan’ kasi ang tagal naming ni-rehearse lahat ng song numbers for the movie. Hindi uso sa pelikula ang mabusising rehearsals na ganyan but we did it just to be sure that we are giving justice to the material and the songs of Maestro Ryan Cayabyab. Now na natapos na finally ang madugong shooting, I’m so happy to focus once again on doing concerts and other singing engagements.”
Aside from doing “Larawan”, Rachel also got busy coming up with “Eat Clean Love”, a healthy lifestyle cookbook she wrote with her sister, Chef Barni Rennebeck. The 168-page full color volume published by Summit Media is their follow up to their best-selling “The Sexy Chef Cookbook” and is now available in bookstores.
“My sister and I are so happy to be part of the health revolution going on in our country through healthy eating,” she beams. “Pero siempre, singing and performing pa rin ang first love ko and I’m thrilled to do a show with Nino, who’s a finalist in The Voice of the Philippines, and my brother Ali who’s really a whiz on drums.”
What can the audience expect from their gig at 12 Monkeys? “Siempre kasama lahat ng hit songs ko as people look for them, but we’ve come up with a fun repertoire that include songs we enjoyed while we’re growing up, plus current hits. Nino and Ali will also sing original songs from their own bands, including one composed by Nino and Ogie Alcasid. Magiging masaya ito so we hope to see you all at 12 Monkeys.”
Nino is a regular performer at Resorts World’s Bar 360 with his band NATF. He will also appear in the Atlantis Productions new musical, “Bridges of Madison County”, with MIgs Ayesa and Joanna Ampil, that will run at RCBC Theatre Makati from November 20 to December 6.
