Regine Velasquez: Music and Memories

By Tinna Bonifacio-Mauricio
Woman Today, May 17, 2000

Summer has always been a special time for Regine Velasquez for two reasons: one is her b-day, which falls right smack in the heart of summer, on April 22; the other is her anniversary in showbiz, which she recently celebrated with a successful two-night major concert at the Araneta Coliseum-her first in 14 years to be mounted in a venue that seats 17,000 people.

Sure, producing her triple platinum album R2K (which was also the title of the show) became a major source of stress for her, but it was nothing compared to her concert at the Araneta Coliseum. While working on the album, Regine lost a lot of weight. Preparing for the concert, meantime, gave her allergies and sleepless nights; after all, she was not just the star - she was also the director of the show.

This was one of the most triumphant moments of her career. Contrary to her fears, the venue was filled , and the show was successful. It was a triumph for her both as a concert star and as a director. "It was my baby, and I was very happy at the turnout," said Regine at a party held later to celebrate her triumph. "I was very tense and pressured, but it all turned out for the best."

Now that it's all over, Regine can heave a sign of relief. By the time you read this, she may have already returned from a well-deserved trip to Hong Kong. Several weeks before the concert, she talked about going to Hong Kong to celebrate her b-day and Holy Week there.

Hong Kong is one of Regine's favorite destinations, being a haven for shopaholics like her. A real fashionbug now, she also likes Los Angeles (particularly the Melrose area) and enjoys combing its boutiques for bargains - she once bought a Prada gown on sale for the incredible price of $50!
It's enjoyable seeing how Regine has changed from the simple hometown girls she was 14 years ago to the sophisticated, well-traveled singer she is today. "That's why I say I have the best job in the world," she says. "I get paid to do what I love, which is sing, and I get to travel for free." In the course of her career, she has bought her family a house, had their old house in Bulacan fixed, sent all her brothers and sisters to school and even taken them traveling.

Their most cent trip was to the States, which was their first time to travel as a family. Individual members of the family have been with Regine o her trips to do shows outside the Philippines - like the time she, Cacai and their twin sisters Deca and Diane went to the states about four year ago and when their brother Jojo accompanied her on a trip to Australia. This was the first time though that they all traveled together.

On this trip, they went to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, visiting places like the San Diego Zoo. "It was really fun," says Regine. "I've always wanted to take them abroad, for them to see what I've seen. We've also been to Hong Kong together. Those are really good times for me!"

These are the moments Regine treasures the most. In fact, throughout her career, she has made sure that her family is always close by. Her two sisters, Deca and Diane, act as her personal assistants while a long-time friend, Patty Mayoralgo, is her road manager and was associate producer for her R2K album.

Her father, Mang Gerry remains a fixture in her pictorials, interviews, press conferences, concerts and album launchings. Mang Gerry is a delight to have around, especially during interviews. His anecdotes of Regine prove invaluable in understanding who she really is.

Regine, of course, has always admitted she is a "Papa's girl"; in fact, she recently guested on an episode of Today with Kris Aquino entitled, "Daddy's Little Darlings". The show delved on fathers and daughters, and the other guests-besides Regine-included Maegan Aguilar, Ciara Sotto, Rufa Mae Quinto and Gladys Reyes, all talking about themselves and their fathers.

Regine's other treasures are her two pamangkins, Hanaah, daughter of Cacai and Raul Mitra, and Tristan Troy (affectionately called Titot), son of her sister Diane. When Regine is at home and not busy, she takes the time to play with them. "Hanaah is so girly-girly," she laughs. "Girly-girly, pero maharot-parang ako noong bata. Si Titot naman, barumbado-lalaki talaga. Ang likut-likot! But they're both very malambing."

Regine herself, however, has yet to consider marriage. While she has just turned 30, the thought is far from her mind. She admits that l'affaire Ariel Rivera greatly affected her life--- "I don't know if it is bad or good, I can't really say" - but it's all over. Now she looks forward to what is yet to come-be it a new love (who knows?), international success as a singer or something else that she'' been wishing for all her life. One of her wishes is to finish her studies. Her brother Jojo will graduate dentistry course next year, so maybe it will be Regine's turn to study. "Gusto ko rin naman na may matapos ako, so that when I have kids, I can tell them to finish their studies and point to myself as an example. I want my kids to be proud of me."

It would be good if she did that. Nevertheless, her family has always been very proud of her. In her 14 years in business, she has achieved things beyond her wildest dreams, "I've never dreamed of being a singer," she says. "It just happened."

She has many fond memories of those 14 years, like the time she won the Asia Pacific Singing Contest in 1989, when she was just starting out. It was her first time to represent the Philippines abroad and her first contest in a long time since Bagong Kampeon days. It was actually five years since she won on Bagong Kampeon. "I was already a professional singer back then. Napapansin na ako, nagkakaroon na ako ng pangalan. So there way already pressure. sabi ko, 'Kaya ko kayang panindigan ? I was so nervous. Isa lang ang kinanta ko, but it felt like a two-hour concert. Pagod na pagod ako after the song, pero noong tinawag ako as the winner, parang Ms. Universe ang feeling!"

It was, again, a cause of celebration in her family because her victory coincide with Christmas. "Kaya ang saya saya ng Noche Buena namin."

Doing that concert at the Araneta Coliseum last April 7 & 8 brought back memories of her first major concert in her career at the Folk Arts Theater, held in 1990, a full decade ago. All Regine remembers of that show is that she kept crying in the end, when the audience gave her a standing ovation-again a first in her career. "Ang weird pero iyak ako ng iyak kasi natuwa ako," laughs Regine. "Natuwa ako dahil ang dami ng tao. I couldn't believe it, especially when they gave me a standing ovation!"

There will doubtless be more standing ovations for her as she goes from success to success on the concert stage. As they say in the music business, the show has just began. there will be many more songs for her to sing-the songs to her life.