Will Rachelle Ann Go reach her full star potential as a Kapuso?

CEBU, Philippines - Jumping ship, or shall we say, returning home, has given Rachelle Ann Go the opportunity to explore her other artistic talents aside from singing, as the newly-signed Kapuso talent is set for some acting, hosting and songwriting stints.

GMA-7 has promised the 23-year-old singer a part in their upcoming TV shows, so her fans will no longer make do with seeing her once a week in the network's Sunday noontime show "Party Pilipinas." In an interview at CICC in Mandaue City, Rachelle revealed that Regine Velasquez pulled her aside backstage during the Party Pilipinas show in Cebu and asked her if she could guest in the primetime kantaserye "Diva".

"I love it! Kinausap ako ni Miss Regine so sana, sana matuloy yun," she said.

While Rachelle briefly tried her hand at acting before in ABS-CBN, her career path has been mainly focused on establishing herself as a successful recording artist. She is, after all, the grand champion in 2003's "Search For A Star", a singing contest co-produced by GMA-7 and Viva Entertainment hosted by Regine.

"One time acting lang yun sa ABS. Enjoy at masaya naman. Yun nga lang, puyatan sa taping, at puyat pa naman ang kalaban naming mga singers," said Rachelle who added that she hopes to be given roles that are just "light" and not too drama-heavy.

A sixth album under Viva Records is likewise set to be released later this year, and she proudly mentions penning lyrics for at least three songs and working on a couple of melodies. This is the first time a composition of hers will be included in an album.

"Medyo kakaibang music ang maririnig ng mga tao sa bagong album. Acoustic siya na may halong jazz. We're planning to have 12 cuts for the album at sana matanggap ito ng mga tao," she said.

Another artistic, but personal undertaking that Rachelle has on the drawingboard is to set up a shoe business with her younger sister soon.

"Yung kapatid ko kasi, designer. Siya na actually nagde-design ng mga damit ko kaya wala na akong problema. Plano namin gumawa ng shoe business, tsaka ako ang magde-design ng shoes."

Seven years after her win in that same GMA-7 contest that had Sarah Geronimo as its first champion, Rachelle found herself back to the station where it all began for her. Joining fellow former ASAP mainstay Mark Bautista in "Party Pilipinas," Rachelle disclosed that getting along with the show's artists and adjusting to her new environment has been a breeze.

"Of course they're all nice to me especially Kyla and Ms. Regine. The transition has not been hard at all since I've worked with them before for out of the country and provincial shows. May mga kabarkada na nga ako dito eh and I'm very happy na dumadami ang mga kaibigan ko," she shared.

The showdown between Rachelle and Regine in that Cebu episode, where she performed Destiny’s Child’s “I’m a Survivor", while Regine took the centerstage afterwards and sang Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter”, added fuel to talks that she is groomed by GMA-7 to be the Asia Songbird's heir apparent.

She reacted: "Hindi naman po. Ang layo ng level ni Miss Regine! Si Regine na po yan. Wala na talagang makakapantay at makakapalit sa kanya. Siya talaga din ang ina-idol ko. Natutuwa lang ako na nag-jive ang boses namin sa aming performances."

To be considered next-in-line to a Regine Velasquez is a compliment for any singer in the country, but if there's a shadow which Rachelle wishes to break away from, it would be from her fellow Viva artist Sarah Geronimo, whom she has been constantly pitted against.

Sarah —who has already achieved phenomenal success in singing, movies, television and endorsements — was presumed by some to be the reason for her transfer to GMA-7. Pundits observed that Sarah's more-favored status in ABS-CBN has hindered Rachelle's further rise as a Kapamilya star. She dispelled rumors of a professional rivalry and maintains she and Sarah are good friends.

"Marami akong naririnig na mga ganyan. Pero yung reasons ko talaga sa pag-transfer, as in walang kinalaman kay Sarah. Parang kapatid ko na yun. Lagi nga kaming kinukumpara, nakakasawa na. Lagi na lang pinapalabas na may competition between the two of us, pero wala talaga."

She added: "Siguro when we're performing on stage, medyo pareho yung music na ginagawa namin at medyo nagkasabay din kaming pumasok sa music industry kaya palagi kaming kinukumpara, pero hindi siya ang reason. Wala talagang kinalaman si Sarah sa decision mag-transfer."

So what really made her and her management decide to switch networks?

"Dahil sa trabaho. Napag-usapan nga namin ng management ko na as an artist, it's time to grow na rin. To explore other things, hindi lang sa singing. Tsaka, parang ano eh, dinadala ka ni Lord kung saan ka dapat."

She is thankful for the opportunities ABS-CBN had given her because despite their numerous artists, "nabibigyan ako ng chance sa ASAP na magkaroon ng numbers so ang sarap ng pakiramdam."  

To last for seven years in an industry that churns out new singers every now and then, more so with the proliferation of reality talent shows, is a feat for the young singer. Singing champions either fade after a few hits or get overtaken by their runners up. Rachelle, hailed as The Ultimate Champion, credits her staying power for merely loving what she does and not doing it for the money.

"Thankful ako dahil sobrang blessed ako, yung feeling na naa-appreciate nila yung talento na bigay sa akin. Gusto ko lang naman kumanta. Gusto kong mag-enjoy. Gusto kong mag-inspire ng tao," Rachelle professed.