DEREK Ramsay does a Star Cinema movie with Bea Alonzo and Paulo Avelino despite being a TV5 contract artist. Last week, Derek was seen within the compound of ABS-CBN for the story conference of "Kasal" together with Bea Alonzo and Paulo Avelino.
"It’s very strange being here, walking through these hallways. Ang tagal na, it’s been years pero it’s nice to reminisce. I'm really excited about this project kasi parang complicated ng mga characters namin dito. Alam ko na lagi naming sinasabi na this is something new, but this one, something new to another level. Very matured, very sexy pero yung sexy, di yun ang excitement ng istorya. We cannot give details for now, pero grabe yung complications ng characters dito sa pelikulang ito. Grabe, yung mga experiences ko kay Bea, unforgettable. Nag-One More Chance kami, nag-And I Love You So. Sa TV nagkatrabaho din kami sa Magkaribal. One of the biggest reasons I accepted the project, besides its beautiful script, is to able to work with Bea and Direk Ruel Bayani. Si Direk Ruel, nagsama kami sa No Other Woman, I mean to be paired again with these guys is such an honor and a blessing."
Derek was suppose to be in the movie "The Mistress", with Bea, John Lloyd cruz and veteran actor Ronaldo Valdez.
"The Mistress? Nag-umpisa kami but something happened, it was unfortunate. Pero ang tagal ko nang gustong makatrabaho uli si Bea. Ang kagandahan sa pelikulang ito, one year na ito, e. Dapat nag-umpisa na kami one year ago. Schedules namin ni Pau, ni Bea, di magtugma. So they have all the rights, all the reasons, to replace all of us kasi di nga nag-aayos yung schedules namin. Pero pinaglaban talaga nila na kami ang gumanap ng characters dito sa pelikula. It’s meant to be and again I have the opportunity to work with such big stars, very intense team of young actors I've been wanting to work with."
Is this a sign that Derek is returning to ABS-CBN?
"Di ko pa alam. You know I’m still under contract, that’s my responsibility. Siyempre, I won’t entertain anything first for now, kasi may kontrata pa ako. TV5 has been great to me. So we’ll see."
However, Derek doesn't close his doors of returning to ABS when his contract with TV5 expires.
"Closing doors? No, no, of course not. But, of course, my priority is TV5. I’ve been there for six years, going six years and they’ve been very, very good to me. I know it’s in my character, I have to show my respect."
Currently, Derek is finishing his 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) movie entry titled "All Of You" with Jennylyn Mercado.
"Yes, second time namin na magkasama sa pelikula. Yung English Only Please was a very cute rom-com. This movie that we’re working on right now is more matured, so kakaiba siya sa una."
It wasn't a big deal for Derek if he's a second choice in this movie which was first offered to Jericho Rosales.
"I'm blessed to be given work. Unfortunately, if things didn’t turn out for Jericho to do this movie, I’m sure he has his own reasons kung bakit di niya nagawa ang pelikulang ito. It’s been handed to me, I know I was not the first choice. It’s not a problem."
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Singer, stage actress, and entrepreneur Rachel Alejandro explains why she and her Spanish husband, Carlos Santamaria, have shelved their baby plans for good: "Wala na yun. Gone na yun. It doesn't fit in our lifestyle anymore."
The couple tied the knot in 2011.
Rachel explained, “Wala, we decided not to have, kasi pareho kaming flighty.
“Too many things happening at the same time. It was a mutual decision. He's younger than me. Siguro nung una, hindi pa niya alam, pero since ang dami niyang plano na gusto niya ng ganito, ng ganyan...Gusto naman niya ngayon, mag-PhD.”
According to Rachel, she had already accepted the reality that they won't be having kids.
She affirmed, “Wala na yun. Gone na yun. It doesn't fit in our lifestyle anymore. Let's just say, even if it's puwede pa, medyo hindi na talaga kasya sa lifestyle. We love to travel kasi din. Tapos, ang maganda pa doon, si Nino Alejandro, my cousin, and my sister, the chef, yung anak nilang parehong babae, sobrang parehong magiging singer din. Sila yung magiging next. As in, para na rin akong nag-anak. Kasi ang gaganda nila, ang lalakas ng loob, ang gagaling kumanta."
To begin with, Rachel clarified, she never really thought about having babies when she got married.
She continued, “Wala naman. Sometimes, iniisip ko na, 'Am I gonna regret this someday?' Siyempre, parang maiisip mo, 'Bakit hindi ko 'to ginawa, yung mga ginagawa ng normal na tao?' Sometimes, I asked myself that, but it never came to a point na parang mag-decide na mag-baby. I’m glad kasi it turned out na yung asawa ko, gusto niya palit nang palit ng isip, kung ano ang gusto niyang gawin. Gusto niya lumipat sa ganito, ganyan. Mahirap yun kasi bitbit mo lahat ng family mo. Buti na lang pala.”
Rachel also admitted that her personal life isn't really smooth-sailing now that she's also busy with her business. She and her sister Barni Alejandro-Rennebeck own The Sexy Chef is Manila, a diet and healthy food delivery service.
“Of course, lahat naman tayo, may current struggle kumbaga na gusto na mangyari. Right now, ang challenge naming magkapatid, sa business na. Medyo lumalakas yung business, staffing na yun, finding the right kind of people that we can trust. Yun ang struggle namin dalawa. Actually, it’s more on her [sister Barni] kasi siya yung nagma-manage ng day-to-day. Ako, more on marketing ako, e. Parang more or less, like you said, talagang nalihis doon yung atensiyon ko. Hindi naman ako lagi-laging may singing gig. In a month, hindi naman gano'n kadami. Ngayon lang nagkasunud-sunod lang because I’m promoting my album.”
Rachel laughed when asked how she rates herself as a housewife.
She pointed out, “Wala! Walang housewife! Walang tao sa bahay. I'm always out and about. He’s always also at work. Ang bago ngayon, he wants to be a professor daw in the U.S. Nandito siya ngayon. We’ve been living here for five years. Prior here, nakatira siya sa Bangkok and New York. I was kinda back and forth nung time na yun. Itong last five years nandito kami. Mainipin siya, e. Gusto niya laging nag-iiba—nag-iiba yung work niya, yung environment niya. Six years na kami.”
We asked her how Carlos is as a partner and husband.
Rachel said, “Ayun, non-stop arguing. Sobra kasi kaming night and day. Somehow, we still look at each other kasi we always...Mas madalas yung not-together kasi he’s always also at work. Kadalasan pag uwi niya, meron rin akong something. He works for ADB [Asian Development Bank] now, sa communication. He used to be a journalist. Dati kasi, when he was here, he was working as a journalist. In fact, nag-Rappler pa 'yan for a while ng isang taon. From there, nag-ADB na siya. He’s at work the whole day and yun nga, minsan-minsan lang...pag weekend. Ang gusto talaga namin, we love to do talaga is to travel. Kaya nga ang hirap pag may bitbit ka na mga kids.”