Regine: I’m only human

Boy Abunda

Philstar

Is Twenty Regine Velasquez’s last major solo concert in Manila?

It’s an idea that has actually crossed the mind of Asia’s Songbird. Since 2000, Regine says that criticisms – most of them silly and baseless – scathed her to the point that she had to go into hiatus from doing solo shows.

"I’m not complaining, but I’m only human!" she says. "Even when I try so hard to please as many people as possible when I do shows, someone will always find something negative to say about anything, from why I wore this dress to why I chose to sing a particular song. Must everything be analyzed? And must I subject myself to nasty scrutiny year after year?" she asks.

Usually, Regine laughs these criticisms off except for some really unfair ones. An example is when a critic says she went flat or sharp on a note. Another is when people say a concert of hers did not do well commercially or she sings too much of her songs – or too little! "

The worst part is hearing these from people who don’t know how to sing, who did not even watch the show or who conveniently forgot what the concept of a show was in the first place!" She adds: "Once, someone wrote, ‘Why didn’t Regine sing this original hit song of hers in the show?’ Eh, hello, Songbird Sings Streisand nga kaya yung concept ng show! Besides, I can’t be singing Narito Ako all the time."

The Songbird wants people to know the hard work invested in each and every show she does. A Regine Velasquez show is always well-conceptualized; brought to life by the best people in the industry including Regine herself.

In Twenty, Regine will turn the Big Dome into a Roman Coliseum with a grand staircase built on stage that extends all the way to the upper box gallery. She, too, had a song about her beginnings especially written for her by her sister-manager, Cacai Velasquez and concert director (who also used to manage Regine) Ronnie Henares.

Another special song Regine will launch in Twenty is The Gift Inside of You, a commemorative song for the 2006 National Week For The Gifted where she is accompanied by Wyeth Progifted Kids. No less than six musical directors (Gerard Salonga, Mon Faustino, Mark Lopez, Louie Ocampo, Raul Mitra and Prof. Arturo Molina) were tapped to conduct the Manila Symphonic Orchestra II for some special pieces.

The Songbird will do almost all of her hits including a medley of duets she had done with Jose Mari Chan, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs, Paul Anka, David Hasselhoff and Jackie Cheung. Regine and her team have meticulously chosen the repertoire which was revised at least thrice.

Indeed, Twenty sounds like her biggest production to date. But will that shut critics up?

"It doesn’t matter," says she. "It’s my 20th year in the business and surely, there’s more than enough reason to celebrate. God has been so good to me, giving me things that, to this day, I still could not believe I have. I was just a girl who wanted to sing. This show is for those who have stood by that girl all these times; the ones who have always believed that Maria Encarnacion has what it takes to be a Songbird."

Asked to enumerate at least 20 of them, Regine rattled off names that extend way back, proving the Songbird is where she is now because she knows how to give credit to whom it is due. "Bert Marcelo, Pilita Corrales and Dominic Salustiano who was musical director of Bagong Kampeon, the TV singing contest where I was discovered," she says. "My nanay and tatay... Cacai… Ronnie and Ida Henares… Wilma Galvante and oh, Coca-Cola!" The beverage company?

"Yes. It was because of them that I was able to buy my first car," she explains. "Who else? Pops Fernandez who had me guest in Penthouse where Ronnie saw me… Bernardo Bernardo who got me to sing regularly in his BB Inn at West Avenue where Ronnie dropped by to watch me perform live… Boss Vic del Rosario… Janno Gibbs, Ogie Alcasid, Jaya, Ryan Cayabyab my best friend Grace Reyes, Channel 2, Channel 7 and so much more… and Ariel Rivera."

"I remember nuong naging kami, I couldn’t imagine life could be that happy. Sure, I got hurt but, as one of my songs goes, that only made me a stronger person," she says.

So will Twenty be her last major solo concert in Manila? "No," she says. "I owe so much more to people I love and who have believed in me. Besides, singing has been and will always be my life. I was born to sing so that’s what I’ll keep doing."

The girl who just wanted to sing is now an icon, a fighter, a survivor and a winner. The girl who just wanted to sing, at 20 years in the business, reigns supreme as the one and only Songbird. Long live the Queen of Songbirds!