RACHEL ALEJANDRO – Filipina singer-actress Rachel Alejandro talked about Hollywood challenges.

Rachel Alejandro, a renowned Filipina singer, actress, and entrepreneur, is celebrated for her significant impact on the Philippine music scene, owing to her upbringing in a musically inclined family. Her father, the acclaimed Filipino singer Hajji Alejandro, notably influenced her artistic journey.

Emerging as a prominent figure in the 1990s music landscape, Rachel gained widespread recognition with her eponymous album “Rachel Alejandro” in 1991, which featured chart-toppers like “Mr. Kupido” and “Paalam Na.” Her magnetic stage presence and formidable vocal prowess endeared her to audiences across the Philippines.

Recently, Rachel Alejandro has been stationed in Manila for nearly a month, participating in various performances, including a memorable collaboration with her father titled “Awit ng Panahon: Noon at Ngayon” at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City.

Based on a report from Inquirer, Rachel’s relocation to New York was partly prompted by her husband’s profession as a Spanish journalist there. Reflecting on her time in New York during the pandemic, Rachel highlighted the global absence of work for singers, which led to a ten-month stay in the city. Despite this, she found herself drawn to the opportunities available in the US post-pandemic, albeit with the sacrifice of missing out on potential engagements in Manila.

During her Manila visit, Rachel’s focus primarily focused on auditions, particularly for pilot TV shows in Hollywood. She expressed a keen interest in exploring these opportunities while they remain available, humorously referring to it as catching the wave before it subsides.

In discussing her experiences in Hollywood, Rachel acknowledged the challenges of starting afresh in a new industry and country, especially as an Asian actress. While there has been progress in Asian representation in American media, she noted the specificity of roles and the prevalence of stereotypes, particularly for Filipino actors. Rachel questioned the absence of Filipino representation in certain roles, such as medical dramas, despite the significant presence of Filipino healthcare professionals in the US.

“We’re not complaining, I’m grateful that at least there’s still representation for Filipinos in Hollywood. Sadly, the roles, up to this day, are still very stereotyped to play certain kinds of roles. It’s always as a domestic helper—not that there’s anything wrong with that. We’ve had fantastic performances, but I’m just confused that with all the nurses in the US and all the medical drama shows being produced, why is no Filipino actor in the cast? They haven’t thought of this? That’s strange,” she said.

According to the report, the actress-singer said work “has been kind of slow moving. In fact, because I’m already a SAG (Screen Actors’ Guild) member, there are a lot of projects I cannot do anymore because they’re non-union. So far, I’m lucky that I’ve done a few commercials, more on print ads, because aside from the acting, there’s also modeling.”

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