Rachelle Ann Go now lives in a four-bedroom house in London with husband Martin Spies.
She calls owning the house an "answered prayer."
The West End star tells PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), along with other reporters, that it took her and Martin a year to find the perfect home in London, where they intend to build a family.
"Hindi yun katulad ng Pilipinas na house from scratch," an obviously excited Rachelle Ann says. "Buy na agad, kapag nakita mo."
Explaining house ownership in the major European city, she says: "Ako yung nagri-research during the morning. Yun ang pinagkakabusy-han ko for a year.
"Hanap nang hanap ng bahay. Tapos kapag may maganda, I will show it to the husband.
"So, when we saw this house—we viewed it on a Sunday—sabi niya, 'This is the one. This is it.'
"Ramdam mo yun, e. Parang [pagpili] sa future husband, ramdam mo."
Recalling what they had been looking for in a dream home, Rachelle Ann says this house is more than what they had ever prayed for.
"Actually, gusto namin two-bedroom house, para kung meron kaming families visiting, they can stay with us," she says.
"Hindi yung nasa sahig natutulog. Kasi, usually pag Pinoy, sa sahig na lang, banig pala.
"Pero itong house na ito, four bedrooms—three bedrooms and a study room.
"Naka-bonus pa kami! May garden, which is actually his priority, kasi he's South African and he loves to grill. Mahilig sa barbecue ang mga South African."
Another thing they both love about the house is that it is in a quiet suburban neighborhood and yet has easy access to the city center.
"Very family area!" Rachelle Ann exclaims. "'Tapos, mahirap pala bumili dun because of Brexit as well. Ang daming paperworks na kailangan."
Brexit is the new political reality in England, after the country took itself out of the European Union.
"Pero, ang prayers talaga sobrang powerful," the Filipina singer-actress goes on.
"Sobrang bait ni Lord. Hindi ko akalain na makakabili ako ng bahay doon kasi mahirap talaga maghanap, and nakatiyempo talaga."
It was July 2019 when Rachelle and Martin first saw the house in Greenwich, London, which is 20 minutes away from West End, another big bonus.
Rachelle is, after all, in the 2020 cast of West End's Les Miserables. The long-running, acclaimed musical-drama starts its run in March and ends in April, and then has another run in July until the end of the year.
Rachelle Ann had also topbilled the West End production of Hamilton, from 2017, when the critically applauded American musical opened in London, until November 2019.
MOVING INTO THEIR dream HOME
Rachelle Ann says that she was actually in Manila when Martin first got the keys to their new house, and moved in, on December 1, 2019.
The effervescent talent adds, "Ang lungkot, di ba? Sabi ko, 'Ay, naku, nasa Pilipinas ako.' Sabi niya, 'No, you have to go home. I can manage all these.'"
She recalls that it was Martin's idea for her to spend time with her family in Manila after her long stint in Hamilton ended.
Of her husband, she says, "Ang bait talaga kasi, pag-uwi ko dun, naka-ready na yung bahay."
She gives a picture of the moment: "Umuwi ako sa London ng December 15. Nanginginig ako pagbukas ng pinto. Ganun pala ang feeling.
"Isang malaking achievement for us, as a family... building a family rin. Regalo talaga ng Panginoon. "
Rachelle Ann has yet to show pictures of her Greenwich home.
Asked what the interior looks like, the international theater star answers that she and Martin are still working on it.
"Yun nga, wala kaming gamit! Hahaha! Coz we were renting.
"The company has been providing housing for me. For the past five, six years, na-spoil po talaga ako. Wala akong gamit.
"Dito kami matututo ngayon—what to buy, how to budget, dahan-dahan."
The first furniture they bought is a couch.
Now that she is again in Manila, Rachelle Ann says she and Martin are constantly communicating with each other about what else to get for the house.
"Nakapili na kami ng dining, tapos sa bed. Pagdating ko, andun na yun, ide-deliver na.
"Importante—dining room, bedroom, living room. Yung tatlong areas na yun matapos mo lang, you're good."
She also plans to furnish the house with accents of wood to give the place a farm-house feel.
"Gusto namin when we get home, yung chill talaga. Yung vibe parang farm house, parang pa-countryside, may fireplace."
COOKING FOR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES
If her husband is excited about grilling steaks in their garden, Rachelle Ann is excited about taking over the kitchen.
In the last five or six years that she has worked abroad, the singer-actress says she has learned how to cook her own meals to save money.
She also thought of cooking Pinoy dishes as a way to build relationships with the people she meets at work.
"And, I love hosting people!" she trills. "Ang sarap i-share yung kultura natin at yung pagkain natin sa kanila.
"Nakakatuwa kasi, sa Hamilton, we do two shows every Thursday and Saturday. In between shows, meron kaming potluck. Hindi uso sa kanila iyan, e. Sa atin lang uso magdala ng sariling pagkain.
"Pinauso ko iyan nung rehearsal pa lang. 'O, dala tayo ng kanya-kanyang putahe. I'm gonna bring a Filipino dish.' Yun nga, adobo. 'Tapos yung iba, curry. Iba't ibang dish mula sa iba't ibang lugar.
"Naging parang ritwal na namin once a month. Ang request nila palagi sa akin, yung adobo."
Rachelle Ann cannot wait to throw intimate get-togethers once she is back in London.
She is currently in Manila for her Valentine concert, on February 14 itself, at the Marriott Grand Ballroom of Resorts World Manila.
Martin, a South African who is a U.S. citizen, has been living in London with Rachelle Ann since they were married in April 2018.
He used to work at the New York office of a luxury fitness center, but retained his position as general manager when he got the transfer to the company's London branch in July 2018.
As Rachelle Ann hears often enough on stage: "All is well that ends well."