After choosing to get married to Carl Sta. Maria in her late 30s, singer and actress Rachel Alejandro looked back on her decision with no regrets.

“It’s not something na puwede mo iplano eh. I think dumadating talaga sa buhay natin. Some people find someone that they want to live the rest of their lives with at an early age. Like my parents got married at 19 yata eh. So I would say, you’re still growing up. You’re basically a kid. So ako, okay na okay sa akin yung ginawa ko na I got married in my late 30s,” she told PUSH in an exclusive interview. 

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The 50-year-old artist, who was last seen in the ABS-CBN 2022 series The Broken Marriage Vow, admitted she would not recommend her decision to couples hoping to start a family.

“Although I think hindi ideal yun for people who want to start a family. Kasi if you want to start a family, I think good idea to start in your early 30s at the most, para if you intend to have a few kids sabi nga nila, sabi sa akin ng OB-GYN optimum age for childbirth is hanggang 36 lang (laughs). I didn’t have kids anymore. Nagsara na ang karinderya as they say.

"I’m happy naman with my decision kasi I was older na and more mature. I’ve been married now for 13 years and I’d say if that’s any indication na it would be maybe a decision based on as a more mature person, parang you’re more likely to really get to know the person kesa pag bata ka. When you’re so young, it’s really just about the feelings. You have to consider kasi talaga everything. At sska maganda rin na magkakilala kayo ng mabuti before you make that big decision,” she explained. 

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Rachel admitted that she does see the value in bringing children into the world even if she chose a different path in life.

“I’d have to say that there’s a little bit of regret there two years ago na parang sana pala I did this, sana prinioritize ko. But it’s okay kasi yung husband ko at saka ako we’re so busy and he said, ‘See? How would it be kung may anak tayo? Eh yung aso nga lang ang hirap (laughs).’ I’m pretty happy naman. Siyempre when I see the kids of my siblings, I’m happy kasi at least I see na lumalaki na yung mga pamangkin ko, ganyan. Pero siyempre iba pa rin yung sabi nila na sarili mong anak. But that’s an experience that I missed out on and it’s something that I have to live with I guess, parang ganun,” she admitted. 

Known for her enviable figure on stage, Rachel also shared the secret to her youthful looks.

“I’ve been working out kasi since I was in my 20s so it’s just really more about consistency. I don’t look at it kasi that you go to the gym para maging sexy or pumayat or anything like that. i think of it as, hindi ko magagawa yung mga things na ginagawa ko, yung energy ko sa show, if not for that. In fact, nung pandemic nawala yung mga concerts and all that, pinilit ko talaga kahit na walang wala talaga akong gana, pinilit ko talaga na kahit papano, once a week man lang. Kasi nung pandemic nawalan ka ng motivation. At that time, I felt a little bit out of shape pero as soon as nagbukas ulit yung mga gym, I was the first person there. Kasi part of my lifestyle na talaga eh,” she revealed.