Rachelle Ann gets tips from Saigon veterans

Rachelle Ann Go, who is playing Gigi in the revival of West End's production of "Miss Saigon," is getting a lot of support from Lea Salonga, Isay Alvarez, Jinky Llamanzares and Joanna Ampil, who starred in earlier versions of the hit musical.

Lea, who played Kim in the original Miss Saigon, advised Rachelle to learn the British accent.

"Napakadami niyang tips about living in London. Sabi nga niya, when it comes to singing and acting, wala raw siyang maiaadvice sa akin kasi yung director na ang bahala sa akin doon. Ang tips lang niya ay yung mga accent doon, yung kailangan kong aralin. Kasi masyadong malalim ang kanilang British accent," Rachelle said in an interview at the pictorial for her sendoff concert “Miss Rachelle.”

Two-piece jitters

If there's one thing which worries Rachelle, it is wearing a two piece for the plum role of Gigi the bar girl. She consulted her parents and even her church about it.

“Alam naman natin lahat na sexy yung role na iyon. I told my mom about it. Eh si Mama, wala naman siyang idea kung ano yung suot doon. Then si direk Bobby (Garcia of Atlantis Productions) and yung Viva. And yung church namin, 'Okay lang po ba ito?' Positive naman lahat. Nag-go naman silang lahat. Naging at peace na rin ako after hearing everyone. Of course, I prayed about it na kung para sa akin ito, magiging smooth lahat.”

Isay Alvarez, who played Gigi for years, advised Rachelle not to fret. If getting fit is Rachelle's concern, Isay said she doesn't need abs to do so.

"Kung kinaya ko mas kaya mo!I was a MADIR already wen I first did it n 2x a MADIR wen it ran here!IKAW pa!Enjoy but nt 2 much,” Isay tweeted Rachelle.

“Si Miss Isay Alvarez, she congratulated me on Twitter. She told me to enjoy. Si Miss Jinky Llamanzares, who played Gigi in Canada, tumawag siya sa akin,” Rachelle said.

Personal growth
Knowing Rachelle will get homesick, former Miss Saigon actress Joanna Ampil wants the Kapuso artist to try other things in London, like attending classes for personal growth.
Rachelle plans to study business or fashion in London.

“Baka raw magsawa ako sa gagawin ko na role. Everyday, pare-pareho yung songs. Mag-school raw ako. Kung gusto ko, dance or acting. Gusto kong business. Gusto kong ituloy, gusto ko rin ng fashion dahil designer yung brother ko. Sana magkaroon kami ng business pagbalik ko.”

Rachelle is looking forward to experiencing new things and maturing as a person, since she’ll be on her own in London.

She will surely miss her family, friends and work.

“That's very different from what I'll be doing in Miss Saigon. Iba yung mundo ng teatro.”

Slater Young

The singer-actress admitted dating former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Slater Young. But she’s not in a hurry to get into a relationship because she’s leaving for London.

“Ako kasi focused muna ako doon sa gagawin ko. 14 months rin iyon. Mahirap magsalita kasi andoon yung focus ko sa trabaho. Lagi ko naman sinasabi na kailangan focused ako doon. Kung may nagpupursue man sa akin dito, dapat maintindihan niya iyon. At makapaghintay kung sino man iyon.”

Is she expecting Slater to watch her perform in London the way her friends will?

“Basta dapat andoon siya,” Rachelle said in jest.

Rachelle’s sendoff concert will be held at Meralco Theatre on Saturday, February 22.
She flies to London in March, and will stay there for 14 months.

By Karen Valeza | Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom

Jennylyn cherishes time spent with Luis

While saying she’s now “content” and “happy,” Jennylyn Mercado seemingly hinted still having feelings for her ex-boyfriend Luis Manzano.

In an interview on “Startalk TX,” Jennylyn was asked by host Heart Evangelista if she still loves her ex-boyfriend.

“May expiration ba ang pagmamahal,” responds Jennylyn, adding that she always gives everything into a relationship.

The actress acknowledges that Luis was a special part of her life and she values the time they were together for more than two years.

Notwithstanding their fall out, Jennylyn has no gripe nor regret about it. No one is to be blame for their breakup, saying that they both share “responsibility” for it.

“Wala akong pinanghihinayangan, wala akong pinagsisisihan. Kasi sa isang relationship, two way iyan eh. ‘Pag pumasok ka sa isang relationship, kumbaga couple kayo and kung magkamali ang isa sa inyo, may responsibility ka rin... Give and take,” she said.

Despite marriage rumors in the past, Jennylyn clarified that she and Luis never talked about settling down.

“No, hindi kami nagkaroon ng time na pag-usapan ‘yung mga ganong bagay. Ang importante naman, naging masaya kami. Espesyal siya sa akin at naging part siya ng buhay ko,” she said.

After giving everything to the relationship, Jennylyn says she now wants to prioritize herself more than anything else.

“Siguro mas una ko nang mamahalin ‘yung sarili ko. And that’s very important. Sa lahat ng taong minahal ko at lahat ng taong dumaan sa buhay, grabe. Halos binibigay natin ‘yung lahat.
“Kailangan kong mahalin at unahin ang sarili ko bago ang ibang tao,” she shared.

Out of respect to Luis’ family, Jennylyn opts to keep mum on details of their breakup. The 26-year-old single mother claims that she’s now a “matured woman” that limits what she publicly shares.

--Manila Bulletin

Maja dismisses comparison to her mistress role

Upon release of the trailer of the drama series “The Legal Wife,” several memes circulated online likening Maja Salvador to her mistress role.

Appearing on “Buzz Ng Bayan,” Maja distanced herself from the character she plays named Nicole.
“Ang layo ng karakter ko sa kung ano man ’yung nangyari sa akin sa totoong buhay,” she said.
Maja is the girlfriend of Gerald Anderson, who happens to be the ex-boyfriend of her erstwhile best friend Kim Chiu. Still, this fact did not hinder Maja from accepting the job.

“Hindi ako nagdalawang-isip kasi para sa akin po, artista ako eh. Ang ganda nitong project na ibinibigay sa akin. Bakit ko tatanggihan? Hindi ako du’n sa kung ano man ’yung sasabihin ng mga tao,” the 25-year-old actress explained.

While she values and understands people’s opinions, Maja said she is tired of persistent accusations of those who cannot accept her relationship with Gerald.

“Tao lang naman po ako. Nakakapagod din na marami kang naririnig na alam mong hindi naman ikaw ’yun. Kahit na kilala mo ’yung sarili mo kung sino ka talaga, naapketuhan ka, kasi tatanungin mo, ‘Bakit may mga taong kaya nilang sabihin ’yun kahit hindi naman nila alam,’” she said.

Out of respect to the negative sentiment, she opts to keep quiet about it.

Meanwhile, Maja was brought to tears in relating the agony her mother feels over continued criticisms being hurled at the actress. Her mom makes up for it by expressing support for and belief in her.
“Sinasabi niya kung gaano niya ako kamahal, na kilala niya ako, kilala niya kung sino ’yung anak niya, na kahit anong sabihin ng iba, hindi importante ’yun kasi nakita niya ako kung paano ko mahalin ’yung mga tao sa paligid ko at kung paano ko sila pahalagahan,” Maja said.

Forever With Gerald

Maja believes that her relationship with Gerald is for keeps. She said they are both working out their romance to remain successful.

“Sa bawat relasyon naman kailangan paniwalaan mo at pagkatiwaalan mo ’yung relasyon na ’yon,” she pointed out. “Sa lahat naman, para maging successful ka, dapat meron ka talagang pagdadaanan at parang mahihirapan ka. Hindi naman lahat madali.”

With trust, she said, they can surpass all challenges.

-- Manila Bulletin