Rachel Alejandro & Carlos Santamaria: Historia de un Amor

Es la historia de un amor

Como no hay otro igual…

Sin tu amor no vivire — from Historia  de un Amor

East is east and west is west, and never the twin shall meet?

Rudyard Kipling would probably be surprised to know that, yes, the twin does meet especially if “east” is in love with “west,” and vice-versa.

Case in point: Rachel Alejandro and Carlos Santamaria who are getting married not once but twice — first in April in the Philippines and then in Spain also within this year.

The would-be bride needs no introduction.

The would-be groom, 30, is a journalist working for Spanish news agency EFE in Bangkok. Carlos was born in Valencia, Spain, but grew up in Madrid, the US and Switzerland before he moved to Asia in 2006. Thailand is his third Asian post as a journalist, having been stationed in China and the Philippines before.

 How did you meet and match?

Rachel: My sister and Sexy Chef Barni set us up. She introduced us during quiz night at a bar. Then the weekend after that, we saw each other by chance at Ruffa Gutierrez’s birthday party at Embassy. After the party, Carlos walked me home and asked me to have dinner with him. That was a year and a half ago and now we’re engaged!

What did you find interesting about each other?

Rachel: He’s a geek! But he’s also a fearless adventurer. He’s the embodiment of my dream sexy Spanish guy. Too bad he doesn’t have the Spanish accent which I find sexy. He sounds American.

Carlos: Yeah I am a bit of a geek, but so is Rachel with vampires! She may be a celebrity but very down-to-earth, and I just never manage to get bored with her.

What do you have in common?

Rachel: Our love for scuba diving and traveling.

Carlos: We both love movies, but Rachel thinks the pictures I like are too depressing and artsy-fartsy.

How did the courtship go?

Rachel: Most nights we would have dinner after he got off from work or if work ended late, he would come over to my place. I thought he liked going to clubs so I always suggested meeting up for drinks with some of my friends. I didn’t know that he didn’t like going out as much as I did.

Carlos: At first I thought, how come she likes to go out so much? It was a bit exhausting at first... good thing we started out on the weekend trips soon.

Is it healthy for your relationship that only one of you is in showbiz?

Rachel: I asked Carlos before if it would make any difference to him what I did for a living and he said no. Being a singer really is like any other job. I take pride and try to do my best in every show that I do. Only sometimes when we’re on vacation somewhere like Holy Week last year when we were in Ilocos, he found the attention and too many people wanting to take pictures with me a bit intrusive to our privacy. But he understands that it’s part of my job. I’m grateful that people like my work and continue to support me as an artist.

Carlos: I don’t mind at all, and she makes a lot more money than me so how could I complain?

Both your professions entail a lot of traveling. How do you deal with time away from each other considering that, they say, love makes the heart wander?

Rachel: I try to be in Bangkok with him as much as I can but most days I still find myself here in Manila doing my work with The Sexy Chef, the health food catering company I co-own with my family. Between that and my singing engagements, we’re apart a lot. It’s difficult but we manage by staying in touch on Skype. I have to admit that I’m the one who is having a harder time with it. Carlos is an honest, faithful guy. I know that I don’t really have to worry but still it’s a challenge for me.

Carlos: I knew it would be hard but so far we have managed. I keep myself busy with what Rachel calls my “boring” books and movies.

Are you close to each other’s families?

Rachel: My family is slowly getting to know and love Carlos. Tita Girlie (Rodis, my manager) who is like my second mom is closest to him. I have not met Carlos’ parents and will do so only a couple of days before the wedding in April. I’ve only spoken to his mom on the phone. Both Carlos and I are certain I will get along famously with his parents.

Carlos: I am very close to my parents and have no doubt they will get along with Rachel.

How and when did you realize that you are meant for each other?

Rachel: I’m not a believer in “meant to be.” I think we all choose our paths including the people we let into our lives. Thanks to my sister, Carlos and I found each other but from that point on, every day we chose to be together. For a while it seemed like the relationship would end because Carlos moved to Bangkok for his job. But in the end our love prevailed. I know when he reads this he will say I’m so cheesy! We both know what we have is pretty special so it’s up to us to make it work.

Carlos: That sounds kinda cheesy. I know I love her, and that’s enough for me.

The couple during Carlos’ pamanhikan in November last year, with (from left) Rachel’s dad Hajji Alejandro, her ‘Mommy manager’ Girlie Rodis, Rachel’s mom Myrna Demauro and Rachel’s grandmother Nena Alejandro

How did the marriage proposal happen?

Rachel and Carlos: It wasn’t a proposal. It was a spontaneous common decision we agreed on over a bottle (or two!) of wine on one weekend that we had a rendezvous in Vietnam.

Please describe your planned wedding.

Rachel: The Philippine wedding will be in April in Shangri-La Boracay for only very close family and friends — only 50 to 60 guests. The sunset ceremony and dinner will be on the beach followed by an after party in the ballroom. There will be special song numbers from me, my dad, Geneva (Cruz, my cousin) and many more. I want it to be as informal as possible. We don’t have a wedding coordinator as I don’t intend to have the usual traditions and organized program as some weddings do. The mayor will be officiating the ceremony.

Carlos: Then we’ll be having another celebration in Valencia, where most of my family live. For other details, ask my mom, she’ll be in charge of organizing everything. I don’t know when it’ll be possible to set a definite date.

Where will you settle down?

Rachel: Bangkok for now but I will still fly in and out of Manila for singing engagements. We are looking to migrate to the US sometime this year if all goes well.

How are you preparing for your big day?

Rachel: I want to lose about eight pounds for the wedding so I’m currently on the Pounds Away Diet by The Sexy Chef. It’s a nutritionally-balanced calorie controlled diet program created by Barni and Nadine Tengco, US Certified Nutritionist and Weight Loss Expert. The magic ingredient here is moringa (malunggay). It really helps prevent the storage of fat. I want to look absolutely perfect in my wedding gown! To try this or any of our other amazing healthy Diet Programs, book our party catering service or order meals from our new Vegetarian Menu (call The Sexy Chef at 721SEXY[7399], 0917-SXYCHEF [7992433] or log on to www.thesexychef.ph).

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