Rachel Alejandro says RBF got her into trouble with Dolphy

(From left) Rachel Alejandro and Dolphy. Images: Instagram/@racheljalejandro, FILE PHOTOS

Rachel Alejandro admitted there was a time in her career when she had been misunderstood by the late actor-comedian Dolphy as being disrespectful, owing to her emotionless expression.

Sitting down with Boy Abunda in a “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” interview aired Thursday, April 18, Alejandro said being “so driven” with her work had resulted in her being misunderstood by some of her colleagues, including Dolphy himself.

Abunda asked Alejandro if there was ever a time in her career when some veteran stars took it negatively, to which the latter admitted some were indeed “offended.”

“[It came] to the point na unfortunately, may legends in the industry na minsan nadadaanan ko sila sa hallway tapos hindi ko napansin dahil I’m thinking about my lyrics. Na-offend sila,” she said. “Si Tito Dolphy, nagalit sa’kin. Sabi niya, ‘Iyang si Rachel Alejandro hindi marunong magbigay ng respeto.’”

(It came to the point that unfortunately, there are legends in the industry whom I pass in the hallway, then I wouldn’t notice them because I was thinking about my lyrics. They got offended. Tito Dolphy got mad at me. He said, “Rachel Alejandro doesn’t know how to show respect.”

“Medyo na-misinterpret nila ‘yung seriousness ng face ko (Some misinterpreted the seriousness of my face). As they say, resting b**** face,” the singer-actress told Abunda. “I was so driven. And I’m always thinking of what I’m going to do, hindi ako pwedeng magkamali (I can’t make a mistake).”

Alejandro immediately made sure to make up to the late screen veteran, saying, “Tapos talagang ‘Tito Dolphy!’ talagang apologies (I really said, apologies, Tito Dolphy). ‘I didn’t see you.’”

This incident eventually taught Alejandro to be more aware of her surroundings, especially when it comes to a professional setting. She said that now made it a point to greet everyone wherever she goes.

“That would happen before, but it doesn’t happen anymore. Kasi as an older person in the room, I have to greet everyone, I have to smile. Kasi alam ko na hindi ganu’n ka-friendly ang mukha [ko] so kailangang [ngumiti]. Automatic na siya sa akin,” she said. “Hindi pwede ‘yung nakangiti lang o nakatanga because it will be misinterpreted.”

(That would happen before, but it doesn’t happen anymore. As an older person in the room, I have to greet everyone. I have to smile. I know my face doesn’t appear to be friendly so I have to smile. It comes with me automatically. I can’t simply smile or stare into the distance because it will be misinterpreted by others.)

Now based in the United States, Alejandro is currently in the Philippines for a month, as she capped off the “Awit ng Panahon: Noon at Ngayon” concert with her father Hajji.