Regine Velasquez: 14 Years of Memories

By Mich Velez
Vanity Magazine
April 5, 2000

After 14 years in the business, Regine Velasquez has built up plenty of beautiful memories. But she says that the best is yet to come.

"I have a lot to look forward to, and that's definitely a good thing," says the lovely singer who, incidentally, is turning 30 this year. And one of the things she has to look forward to is her biggest production ever-her first concert at the Araneta Coliseum on April 7 & 8, billed "R2K, The Concert."

It's her biggest show ever. For the Rajo Laurel costumes alone, Viva Concerts, which is producing it, spent between P250,000-300,000. For the huge billboard along EDSA near Guadalupe, they had to shell out half a million pesos. And dig her guests -a handful of stars led by her sister Cacai Velasquez, Gabby Eigenmann, DC Montero and the Hotlegs, will be there too. Viva is obviously sparing no expense to make this a special concert.

Finally, it is her biggest production in terms of venue. But would you believe that Regine, who has conquered every stage from New York's prestigious Carnegie Hall to the venerable CCP, was afraid of doing a concert at the Araneta because she was afrad she couldn't fill it? "I usually do a concert at venues like Folk Arts, at laging okay ang turn-out," says Regine. "I've been avoiding Araneta for the longest time because I always thought it was too big. Imagine 17,000 seats o fill per night - I didn't know if I could do it."

Well as they say, there's no turning back. With barely days to go before the concert. Regine - who conceptualized and is directing herself in this show - is going crazy trying to assure herself that everything will be okay. She's breaking out into rashes from the nervousness she feels.

"How am I feeling?" she asks. "It's everything combined basically. I'm nervous worrying if everything is gonna be okay at kung mapupuno ko ang Araneta. I've never thought I could do one night at Araneta. Imagine, now I'm doing two nights! I'm very excited especially since it's going to be a celebration of my 14th year and my 30th birthday."

Regine is 14 years in the business have been very fruitful. She has many special memories of those 14 years, starting with the time she met her former manager, Ronnie Henares. Ronnie and his wife Ida were instrumental in giving her new sophisticated image. "We all know naman why Ronnie is one for the people whom I consider important to my career. He saw the potential in me. A lot of people were discouraging him from trying to manage me kasi I was thin, dark and unsophisticated. Pero ipinaglaban niya ako. Ronnie was the first person who believed in me." explains Regine.

She has cut her ties w/ Ronnie but they remain good friends. Today, in managing her own career, Regine applies many of the lessons she learned from Ronnie. They helped a lot, especially when she was producing her latest album, "R2K." It was Regine's first time to produce an album, but she was vindicated when the album did so well (it's nearing the triple platinum mark) and when Viva decided to produce a concert inspired by it. "It was my first time to produce, I was so tensed!" laughs Regine. "I lost a lot of weight dahil sa tensyon - daig pa ang Bangkok pills! I became more critical because it was my album and I wanted it to be perfect. It was my baby. Kaya pinagisipan ko talaga bawat kanta. I had to explain to the arrangers exactly how I wanted each song to be done."

Regine says she wasn't out to prove anything by trying to produce her own album. "It was just an artistic thing. I also wanted to fulfill a dram and it's what I wanted to do. I'm very happy at the way the album turned out."She feels a great deal of satisfaction over how her 14 years in the business have turned out. Through her career she has been able to provide for her family. "I think it's my biggest reward," says Regine. "More than all the awards, what makes me happy is seeing the fruits of my labor and being able to see my family na comfortable ang life and with no worries."

Regine herself doesn't have much to worry about these days. Her place in the industry is secure. She counted right up there with Kuh Ledesma, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Jaya, Lani Misalucha, Vernie Varga, Sharon Cuneta and all the other divas. Nearly every album she has recorded has turned gold platinum. Her Asian albums, "Listen W/o Prejudice, My Love Emotion, and Retro" were international hits, which led to her being dubbed "Asia's Songbird." She is the only Filipina singer to have dueted with Hong Kong pop superstar Jackie Cheung, and American superstars Paul Anka and David Hasselhoff of Baywatch fame.

The latest feather on Regine's cap was when she was chosen to perform composer Danny Tan's historic millennium song last December 31 on the rooftop of the Peninsula Manila Hotel, with her seven-minute performance broadcast to the entire world. She is multi-awarded, and has played to SRO audiences in the Philippines and abroad.

When she looks back to where it all started, Regine can't help but be nostalgic. "I have fond memories of those times. For instance, I remember joining the Asia Pacific Singing Contest in Hong Kong way back in 1989. That was my first international contest, and my first contest in a long time," recalls Regine. "It was also my first time out of the Philippines. That contest was five years after I won Bagong Kampeon, and I was already starting to make a name for myself, that why I was so pressured. Napapansin na ako. So sabi ko, "What if I lose?" Nakakahiya! But the thrill of representing my country was enough to make me want to go and try, bahala na if I win or not."

Regine sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "And I am telling You." The contest was so nerve-wrecking that when her name was finally called as the winner, she couldn't believe it. It was a "Miriam Quiambao" moment for her, so one that she'll never forget. Dalawang kanta lang yon, pero ibinigay ko lahat, so at the end of it, felt like a two hour concert...I'll never forget that tired feeling in my life," says Regine. "After my song, I was so drained and so tired that my father practically had to carry me offstage. You should have seen me - halos gumagapang na ako. But when I won, ang sarap ng feeling. Parang nanalo ka ng Ms. Universe!"

What made the victory doubly sweet was that the contest was held in December. By the time Regine and her entourage got home, it was Christmas Eve. "It was such a nice Christmas present for me and my family," says Regine. "Ang saya-saya ng Noche Buena namin." Another "memorable moment" from her 14 years in the business is when she recorded her Asian albums, "Listen Without Prejudice" and "Reason Enough". Both hit the top of the Asian charts ang gave Regine gold and platinum awards. "It was nice, because I never thought that other people to me was amazing."

There have been, and will be more moments to remember for Regine. It has been a good 14 years, and she's looking forward to more. That's why this concert at the Araneta Coliseum - her biggest - ever is a milestone for her. I'm very much overwhelmed by everything's that's happened to me in 14 years," says Regine. "I'm very lucky and very blessed. Not everyone has been given the chance I've had. There's a lot of pressure now, and people will be expecting a lot, but there's a good side and a bad side to that. I'm just going to try my best.

Regine doesn't believe that the all-out support being given to her means she is being treated any more special by Viva that the other divas it has on its roster, namely Kuh, Jaya, Sharon, Zsa Zsa, Pops and Lani. "At first ganon ang reaction ko, but then I realized that we're all being treated the same. In a way, ako rin ang humingi ng tulong from Viva to produce this kasi ang hirap mag-concert ngayon because of the economic crisis. And Boss Vic has been saying na the next time I have a concerts, sa kanya ko na daw ibigay. Matagal na kasi siyang hindi nagpo-produce ng concert. All out talaga sila." she says.

And why not, as she is one singer who definitely deserves it. For 14 years, she has brought her audience untold joy through her music, and this will be an occasion to celebrate that joy.