Rachel Aiza traverse Avenue Bee

Although they both grew up under the glare of klieg lights and the watchful eye of the public, Rachel Alejandro and Aiza Seguerra got close only last year, when they both did the hilarious adult play, Avenue Q. A few months back, they both won their respective millions as contestants on the ABS-CBN musical game show, The Singing Bee, where they both displayed their knack for singing the correct lyrics of songs and emerged millionaires. Rachel took home a total of P1.3-M, while Aiza bagged a whopping P2-M in cash.

Hence, sharing the stage anew, this time in a musical concert, did not turn out to be surprising for both Rachel and Aiza. Tonight, they are joining forces onstage in a show aptly titled Avenue Bee, at the Metro Bar along West Ave. in Quezon City.

The title of the show, according to Rachel, was inspired by the play they did together and their successful stint as contestants on The Singing Bee.

“Aiza and I became friends when we did Avenue Q together,” Rachel grants. “It was during that play’s run when Aiza and I (and the other cast members) started hanging out together and ended up being so close to each other. At the end of it, we were supporting each other’s shows and going to places together. We watched Aiza one time in one of her gigs at the Hard Rock Café and that being my first time to do so, I was blown away by her talent. I know she is a good singer, but how she connects to her audience is also so commendable. It was after that show when Aiza and I actually thought of doing something together.”

Rachel and Aiza will display their musical chemistry in Avenue Bee, which they are also bankrolling through their winnings in the musical game show. Rachel’s manager, Girlie Rodis, also offered a helping hand in putting the show together, which they plan to tour in other music bars and hopefully in bigger concert venues in the coming months.

“We’d like this one to pull through gracefully first before we concretize the rest of the plan,” Rachel says. “In the meantime, we are inviting our friends and fans to share with us a night of good music, to hear songs that they love given a different arrangement using guitars, percussion and violins, and even to jam with us.”

The venue, Metro Bar, is a setting which they call “different yet comfortable for both the audience and us,” Rachel admits. Both performers will be seen together onstage almost 90 percent of the time in Avenue Bee. Aiza will dish out her own hits, along with some new songs that are included in her new acoustic album internationally released in Singapore. Both artists have picked songs from the ’80s and the ’90s, to be given a new twist.

“We promise to give everyone a good time, let their hair down and enjoy our kind of music,” Rachel says. “This is also an opportune time for Aiza and I to share a bit about our lives with an intimate audience. We will also have fun in the show as we do a mock-up game of The Singing Bee which will require audience participation.”

Rachel and Aiza who undoubtedly carved their respective niche in the business, no longer need to prove anything when it comes to their talents. Of course, Rachel is the daughter of Hajji Alejandro who inherited her father’s musical genius but has moved out of the shadow of her dad. Aiza, as most everyone knows, started out as a child actress after she emerged as runner-up on Eat, Bulaga!’s Little Miss Philippines talent contest, but later proved her singing talent by charting one hit after another.

Both have charted a clear course for themselves in the local entertainment scene. They’ve had their share of hit records, well-received and successful concerts, great raves in musicals. Talent oozes from every vein in their body and their versatility is simply remarkable.

Their love for singing hasn’t abated, only increased. One thing that keeps their bond alive is their musical artistry and their respect for each other’s talent. “An artist must not stop discovering new things to enhance her talent,” Rachel maintains. “I guess that’s what Aiza and I have been constantly doing because we both love to perform.”