Regine wows Hollywood

Philippine Post Mag
February 2002

The mixed crowd was simply ecstatic. Regine Velasquez's star showed no signs of dimming as Asia's songbird proved to be still the top favorite of Filipino and non-Filipino fans when she practically turned the crowd wild with her performance at the First Annual Lunar Parade and Festival on Hollywood Boulevard last Sunday, February 17.

After an unexpected six songs, the throngs of spectators noticeably dominated by Filipino audiences, clamored for more. Regine's "free concert" was made possible by KSCI-TV 18 and the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel , whose law firm have made it a tradition to give back to the Filipino community and their "kababayans". KCSI - TV 18 will air a delayed telecast of Regine's concert, the parade and festival from 1:30 pm to 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22 and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 pm on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Braving the cold breeze of L.A. winter, Regine proved to be a fitting finale to the festival, attended by thousands of visitors who came from as far north as San Francisco, and as far south as San Diego. Twenty two year old Filipino-american Raymond Butiong, who drove all the way from San Diego with friend Christopher Cabuco to watch Regine, was among the throng who danced to Regine's songs. For 22 year old Christopher, the cooking galore featuring Asian dishes such as teriyaki and sushi specialties proved too enticing. "There are also foods and festivities in other affairs but this one was different as it showcased truly delectable Asian cuisine. We don't have anything like this in San Diego," Christopher noted.

Even Caucasians who attended the festival were quite impressed. "Those who didn't come missed all the food and fun," said Todd Hassell, an avid Asian fan from Van Nuys.

Michelle Gerez, a new immigrant from the Philippines, said she couldn't be more proud to see an official Asian festival in the entertainment capital of Hollywood. "It's about time we showed off the best in our cultures," she said.

Philippine Consul General Edwin Bael, said the festival organized by KSCI-TV 18, is a good vehicle to muster Asian unity. "This has proven to be a good venue for uniting Asian Americans," said Bael, who was seen strolling around the festival ground from Orange to La Brea with wife Betty.

Alfredo Palma, 23, and his friends had a good time singing along with Regine who was herself stunned to see thousands of Filipino Americans watch her perform since her successful comeback concert here and in San Francisco last September.

Earlier, thousands of spectators including throngs of Filipino fans, watched Regine as she descended down Hollywood Boulevard on a Philippine float that depicted the peculiar Filipino fiesta setting. The float was also sponsored by Attorney Michael G. Gurfinkel, the same lawyer who resolved Regine's complicated immigration case last year.

The float, as expected, was a big hit with Regine, splendid in her white terno, surrounded by young, beautiful Filipinas similarly attired in our native costumes. The very Filipino setting was supplemented by a Filipino male consort in native Barong Tagalog. The barrio setting, complete with swaying coconut trees made many Filipinos nostalgic of their native land.

Celia de Fato of the Kultura Philippine Folk Arts choreographed the Filipino dance. Although Regine was the culminating artist of the festival and the parade, other Asian talents also graced the affair; Jolin Tsai, Keiko Agena, Basco Brothers, Caroline Hsu, One Voice, Tamlyn Tomita, Asia 4, Kieu Chinh and At Last, among other artists.

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.

Untouched 'Reginity'

By J. Hanzel M. Villafuerte
Star Studio Magazine
April 15, 2000

After 15 years in the business, Regine Velasquez has very little left to prove except perhaps, that she can find the right man at last.

After watching a Coco Lee show in Hong Kong, a Filipino journalist remarked: "She (Coco Lee) is good, but Regine is a much better performer. If Regine wold only be given the same breaks, she could definitely make it in the international scene."

A Filipino journalist saying that about a Filipino singer? Perhaps taken with a grain of salt, yes. But no matter what anyone says, Filipino or not, Regine Velasquez is definitely a talent to reckon with. After 15 years in the business, she has very little left to prove.

She is one of the country's most popular female singers, a known hit-maker, concert artist, TV host, and actress. She has recorded more than a dozen albums, some of w/c chalked sales abroad. Her last two albums, 1998's "Drawn" and 1999's "R2K" copped platinum awards within months of their release.

She is popular concert performer both here and abroad, and is one of the few Filipino artists who have set foot in the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York. Her concerts here are sold-out affairs; any free concert she stages (like her recent Valentine's Day show at the Glorietta) draws hordes of people. And her forthcoming major concert this year at the Araneta Coliseum, produced by Viva Concerts, set on April 7 and 8 will most likely set a new record in the local concert scene.

She is also a trendsetter and trailblazer. She was one of the first local artists to try and direct her own concerts and videos. She's also one of the first to produce her own album "R2K." It marked the first album by a local artist to have a companion VCD (video compact disc) with videos of six songs from the album, including the carrier single "On the Wings of Love," and its own full-color magazine with photos of Regine taken by the country's noted photographers like Pancho Escaler, Jun de Leon and Ronnie Salvacion.

Moreover, Regine is one of the few singers who have successfully crossed over the acting arena . Regine's entry into the movies sealed whatever gap there was between her and the masa. She has done several movies with some of Philippine cinema's most talented actors for leading men-the likes of Drama King Christopher de Leon and Aga Muhlach. Being a singer, she is most at home with musicals, but her cheerful, happy personality makes her a natural for comedies and light romance-dramas such as "Wanted: Perfect Mother" (with Christopher de Leon and "Dahil May Isang Ikaw" (with Aga Muhlach).

But perhaps the most amazing thing about the phenomenon that is Regine is her staying- all 15 years of it. Starting as a 16-year-old ingenue a decade and a half ago, she has truly come a long way. Originally known as a belter, Regine has learned to control her powerful voice to be able to interpret songs that require sensitivity and vocal artistry.

Regine believes in the adage that when you stop being better, you stop being good. Whether it's her music, acting, concertizing, or recording, she never does anything half-heartedly. If there's a way of doing anything better, trust that she'll do it that way. "I think that's the artist in me," she says. "I love to do things, to create and to make things happen. I'll try anything at least once. I guess that's why I've lasted this long in the business."

Neither will she rest on her laurels. Her plans include writing songs and producing albums for other artists, starting with a song she is planning to write for young singer-actress Antionette Taus. She also has in mind her younger sister Cacai. "I see this as the next logical step after producing my album," says Regine. "After proving to myself that I can do it, I want to try something else naman also because I'm not getting any younger."

For Regine, it's all about sharing her talents. "I'm very blessed to have been given so much. Through my singing, I've gained so much that I feel I have to help others as my way of giving back what I have received."

Inevitably, the subject turns out to her love life for as she herself says she's "not getting any younger." With a blank stare she replies: "Next question, please."

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.

Regine Velasquez: Celebrates 15 showbiz years

By Ruby V. Asoy
Mirror Weekly
April 3, 2000

This year is a momentous year for singer Regine. As she turns 30 this month, she is likewise celebrating her 15th year in show business.

She's making those events with a concert dubbed "R2K The Concert" which will be held at the Araneta Colisuem on April 7 & 8. The concert is also a celebration of the success of her album R2K, her 10th and the first she produced, which has turned platinum.

Regine herself will direct this concert (which she also conceptualized), in cooperation with musical director Mark Lopez and stage designer Jo Tecson. Directing and conceptualizing shows are not new to Regine. She has also directed her previous concerts "Drawn" and "Retro" and other events, like "Isang Pasasalamat." But "R2K The Concert" makes her jittery because for the first time she's holding it in a venue w/ a capacity of 17,000.

In this concert, she'll be supported by sister Cacai, the SOP co-stars Janno Gibbs, Ogie Alcasid, along w/ hunky rap artists KC Montero and Gabby Eigenmann, plus, the Hotlegs dancer.

Regine relates that the concert is not only a feast for music lovers but fashion aficionados as well. Noted fashion designer Rajo Laurel has done a marvelous set of post-modern outfits for her for the concert. Spectators are expected to see Regine metamorphose from a sexy seductress in black leather cat suit to a hip and cool trendsetter in a psychedelic miniskirt over a netted blouse. She will also wear sophisticated gowns that exemplify both elegant and high style. The concert will veritably appear like a fashion show for Asia's undisputed songbird.

A gigantic billboard featuring a sexy and sassy and hip Regine (the very first of its kind) which now stands along Guadalupe corner EDSA in Makati, serves as one of the concerts promotional strategies. The billboard affirms that she's the premiere trendsetter in the entertainment industry.

Regine has learned to show off some skin in her manner of dressing partly on the advice of designer Louie Mamengo, who taught her to be more fashionable. "With my age I should be over my pa-sweet and pa-cute image." she says.

Regine appears amenable to receiving and advice or two regarding clothes but as far as makeup is concerned she does it all by herself. She does her own makeup and maintains a traditional ritual in keeping her skin smooth and flawless. She applies Lana (an oil extract from a young coconut) during weekends. And if you think she frequents the salon to maintain her look, you're in for a surprise, because she does all her beauty regimen at home. "I prefer doing it at home so I can feel comfortable and not to be obligated to dress up. Another reason is that I don't want to hear any chismis." This way, she says she is free from the prying eyes of other people.

Longtime Dream

Becoming an international star has remained her longtime dream. Slowly, she's working on that. If it will push through that would be heaven, but if not, she has still a career here to keep busy with.

"It's really hard to make it there. A face and talent could not guarantee you can make a foothold in that market," she says. "As it is, it's not easy to make it here also. I'm hoping that at least, I could record even one international album and I would be happy if it happens.

Having established a name for herself, Regine has decided to manage herself. She used to be managed by Ronnie Henares, whom she conceives as his second father up to this day. "As far as decision making, I know I can already handle it. But I also hired people to work for me on a per project basis. What they do is that they talk to producers and other concerned individuals," she tells.

In a way, managing her own career has worked for her advantage. It makes her knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the business.

"I consider it as part of my growing up process. Eventually, I hope to master the ropes of the trade. The past two years hat I tried it on my own I have been learning a lot," she explains.

Temporarily, Regine has put her movie career on hold. Her first priority has been her singing career. The last movie she did was opposite Aga Mulach (Dahil May Isang Ikaw) under Viva Films. She relates that the original plan was for her to do two movies a year. But with her busy singing commitments, she couldn't finishes two pictures a year. "But that's good enough for me so I won't be over exposed," she says.

Hopeless romantic

As far as love life is concerned, Regine doesn't want to be pressured just because she will be turning 30. "There's no rush really," she says. "I don't know, but guys are sort of intimidated by me. But if I want to do it my way, I want my relationship to start in friendship."

She admits she's not really missing out on anything. What more can she asks for if she's living a fulfilled life?

"My career is doing good. I have a very loving and supportive family. I have friends...But real friends? I can count them in my hands. Real friendship needs proper nurturing, like taking time and effort be with one another."

Regine has been living in a condominium unit in Quezon City for two years now with her younger sister, who she has hired as production assistant. She used to live in her hometown in Bulacan with her family.

She has lost her privacy she says, because of her job. "But you know, I've sacrificed little compared to what success has given to me," she intimates. "Because of my career, I've helped my family and we are now living a comfortable life. I was able to travel for free. I don't have any complains at all.

"What I have become has surpassed even my expectations. I've never expected that I would last this long, that I would continue singing up to this day. I've no regrets at all. My career has been running smoothly. And if I decide to retire, my songs will always be there - my legacy to my fans and supporters. But I'm not ready to slow down. Not yet. I'll continue to test the waters," she concludes.

Summer's Child

by Calvin Murphy Neria
Mr. & Ms. Magazine
March 21, 2000

It's summer and just when people are hitting the beach or heading cooler climates, guess what Regine Velasquez is doing?

She's working. With her next big concert less than a month away, Regine - one of local music's a most workaholic artist - is busy rehearsing for the show she will not only be staring in, but also directing. The show is called R2K - The Concert after the double platinum album that she produced herself and released under Viva Records. By the time this article sees print, Regine will probably have her triple platinum award.

But Regine, for all her workaholic tendencies also knows how to have fun, especially during summer. She remembers with fondness the summers she spent as a kid growing up in her hometown of Balagtas, Bulacan. "I was such a tomboy. Kapag summer lagi akong nasa labas, that's why I was so dark," she laughs. Her favorite place to play was the house of a neighbor that had a big backyard with various kinds of fruit-bearing trees. She and her friends would run around and climb trees, "Kaya laging may sugat ang tuhod ko!"

Of course, the way she spent her summers started to change when she became famous. Being a diva brings fame and fortune, but that doesn't come without a price, and for Regine, that price is the loss of privacy. Right now, there is probably no place in the Philippines that she go without being recognized, whether it's down in Boracay or all the way up to Baguio, and that's one thing she misses about the summers she used to have when she could wallow in anonymity and enjoy summer. And these days, more often than not, she is usually busy with a concert, an album, interviews and pictorials that it leaves not me to just laze around, which is what people normally do during summer.

So Regine has learned to improvise by turning each work trip board into a vacation, especially when she finds herself travelling abroad during summer. In the 14 years that she's been in the business, Regine has been all over the world - to the U.S., Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, even Europe. For instance, during the US tour of Power of Two to San Francisco and New York, Regine managed to relax between shows by going shopping. She and Kuh Ledesma wold scour flea markets, shopping malls and boutiques, enjoying the privacy that they could never have here.

Sometimes, Regine travels with her family. During one concert in Australia, she took her only brother Jojo - who had never been to Australia before - with her, getting work and vacation in at the same time. "I am glad that I can do things like this for my family," she says. "I think that one of my biggest achievements is that I have been able to provide a comfortable life for the people who matter the most to me - my family."

But make no mistake about it - Regine loves summer. In fact, she was born at the height of summer almost 30 years ago. Regine's birthday is on April 22, which makes her Taurus. Taurus is an earth sign whose number-one characteristic is the love for nature. Taureans love everything about nature: the sea, mountains, blazing sunsets and flowers blooming in colorful profusion. It always seems that they can never get enough of it, though. They also love the so-called "earth colors" - all shades of brown, green, blue and white.

Regine is no different. She used flowers and plants to decorate her townhouse in Sikatuna Village, Quezon City, and loves driving to their house in Bulacan when she can. Being in Bulacan brings her back to nature and lazy summers, and those are some of the most relaxing moments of her life.

And in Regine, you see the truth of the saying that you can 'take the girl out of the probinsya, but never the probinsyana out of the girl." She may have acquired an outward veneer of sophistication, but when it comes to her values and her love for nature and summer, you can see the small-town girl in her. And that small-town girl will always be there, come what may. All the fame and fortune in the world could change the person that Regina Encarnacion Velasquez is.

This is not to say though, that Regine does not love her career. She often tells journalists who interview her that "My career and my life are one." Regine started in the business she was just 16 years old - a dark, skinny probinsyana who didn't know a thing about fashion and whose only asset was her powerful voice that seemed too mature for someone her age.

After 14 years in the business she is about to celebrate her 14th anniversary in showbiz and her 30th birthday that are happening at the same time - Regine has learned to love what she does. Her career is now part of her. She is grateful because it gives her an opportunity to do what she does best, which is to sing. She has even developed a style all her own, whether it comes to fashion or the way she delivers her spiels onstage.

But it is the way she sings that has really touched the people. Her voice has matured considerably from her single, Urong Sulong to her latest recording, the album R2K Regine considers her latest album to be one of the highlights and milestones of her career.

"It's memorable for me, because it was my first time to produce an album and I lost a lot of weight because of it! says Regine. "Talo ang Bangkok pills!" Though she has recorded a lot of albums, doing R2K was different because as a producer, she was responsible for the whole project from beginning to end. She chose the song, whether it was acoustic jazzy or soft, and to top it all, she had to record each song. Regine's personal manager Patty Mayoralgo remembers how they would find themselves in the recording studio until 3 AM just working on the album!
On April 7 & 8, Regine's involvement in R2K: The Concert at the Araneta Coliseum. Believe it or not, Regine has never done a concert at the Big Dome before and kept putting it off because she was nervous and wondering whether she could actually fit Araneta Coliseum which has a seating capacity of 17,000 for a concert.

"I decided that finally, it's time - but that doesn't change anything, kasi kinakabahan pa rin ako," says Regine, and I reply with an incredulous look on my face. I ask her, "You? You still get frightened by things like this?"

The reply comes quickly, "Of course I still get frightened. I've done Folk Arts Theater, CCP before, but Araneta is the biggest venue I've ever done, tapos two-night concert pa! This will be the biggest concert I have ever done in terms of venue, the concert and production-wise," says Regine who has come up with a concept into four major segment, each dealing with a different aspect of her life and career.

As the concert date draws near Regine is starting to feel the pressure. Then we talk about summer and she wishes she could escape for a while go back to those easy, lazy days when she wasn't so busy and life wasn't so complicated. It is a wish that she just might fulfill one day - in the meantime, concert stardom awaits.

Divas and Friends

By Tinna Bonifacio-Mauricio
Channels Magazine
February 2000

Kuh Ledesma was watching Penthouse Live when she first caught sight of a promising young singer named Chona Velasquez.

Kuh: I saw her sing on TV, and I called Sandra (Chavez, her manager back then). I told her, "Di ba naghahanap ka ng bagong talent? Buksan mo ang TV mo, manood ka ng Penthouse-may bagong singer na kumakanta ngayon, Chona Velasquez ang pangalan. Magaling siya, mukhang may potential.

Because Regine lived in Bulacan, Sandra didn't get to her fast enough. Ronnie did, though. The next thing Kuh knew, Ronnie had signed Regine up to a contaract and was introducing her s the next big thing to hit the local music business. Eager not to be beaten to the draw, Kuh produed Regine's first major solo concert, Regine at 17, at the Grand Ballroom of the Mla. Midtown Hotel.

Regine: When Ronnie told me that Kuh wanted to produce a concert for me, umiyak ako! Na-tense ako e! I kept saying, "Ayoko, ayoko..." Then I found out that Leo Rialp was going to direct the show-lalong ayoko, kasi nabalitaan ko na mabagsik siya. I was so afraid, kaya ang bait-bait ko. Everything Leo told me to do, I did. He'd tell me to go there sing this, move this way-I memorized everything sa sobrang takot ko. Hanggang ngayon, dala-dala ko 'yon. I still have this tendency to do everything my directors tell me.

Regine was intimidated bec. she had always considered Kuh someone to look up to. Kuh was already the Pop Diva when Regine was still an aspiring amateur singer. Regine used to sing Kuh's songs and had no clue that Kuh would not only be producing her concert for her but singing onstage with her one day.

Regine: The first time we performed together was in Awit a la Carte sponsored by OPM. I was only 16. Umiyak na naman ako kasi I was supposed to wear this certain outfit, but the designer didn't deliver on time. I remember Kuh telling me, "Huwag ka na umiyak...just go out there and sing" The other singers helped me. Joey Albert lent me one of her gowns. Ivy Violan lent me a pair of stockings. Ayun, awa ng Diyos, nakakanta naman ako. Buti na lang Kuh was so encouraging.

Kuh encouraged Regine bec. she knew from the start that the young singer would go far.
Kuh: From the time I saw her that first time on Penthouse, na kulot pa ang buhok niya, I knew that she would make it. And look at her now, she's really doing well.

Regine: Ako naman, I've always admired Kuh. Besides that, I consider her a friend. you can talk to her about anything. As a performer, I can't question her talent. I've been idolizing her since I started.

Today, Kuh and Regine are considered two of the country's top female singers, deserving of the lofty title "diva". One is called the "Pop Diva". The other used to be known as "Asia Songbird", but since that monumental seven-minute performance broadcast to the world last Dec. 31, she's become known as the "Millennium Diva".

How do you feel about being calle dby those titles?

Kuh: I've been in this business for 20 years. It feels good and flattering to be called a diva, but I also attribute to a lot of hard work on my part.

Regine: Ganoon din. I feel pressured, but it's very flattering. Actually, that song I did for the Global Millennium Day broadcast, I did it for free. It was my contribution to the celebration of the millennium. Ewan ko nga kung saan nanggaling ang balita na binayaran daw ako ng 500,000 pesos para sa isang kanta na yon-wala talaga akong bayad.

But more than just "divas", they are friends too. When Kuh was conceptualizing "Power of Two" concert series, Regine was her first choice for a partner. The series was so successful that it went on an extended 12-week run and a tour of major US cities like Reno and San Francisco. The two have many fond memories of being abroad together.

Regine: Twice na kami nag-US tour. And it's been really fun. During the last tour, she (Kuh) ws in the middle of fixing this place (The Republic of Malate). So tuwing lalabas kami, ang hinahanap niya lagi, furniture and antiques. Wala na kaming pinapagusapan kung hindi ano ang biblhin niya para dito-tapos pag-uwi, kahon-kahon ang dala niya!

Kuh: I remember this one time, we were in New York and I lost my wallet in the dressing room. It was open and a lot of people were going in and out. Kaya siguro nawala. When we get back to the hotel, Regine knocked on my door. She had this really serious look on her face. Makikiramay daw siya sa pagkawala ng wallet ko. I was so touched.

Regine: Over ka naman! (Laughs!). Kuh's also very thoughtful. Almost every birthday, she sends something to me. Minsan card, minsan flowers. Sometimes she sends a gift. My favorite gifts are a skirt from her and laminates for my hair. Alam niya kasing mahilig ako mag-ayos ng buhok, e!

Kuh: It's easy to remember her b-day bec. she shares the same b-date (April 22) as my daughter Isabella.

Their most recent project was Regine's latest album, R2K. It was recorded at Bravo Records, the studio owned by Kuh based at her home in Pasay. There is talk that after a Valentime concert at Fort Santiago that they will both be starring in this month, the duo's next project will be another album by Regine, this time, of Kuh's hits, to be called Velasquez sings Ledesma.

Regine will be reviving Kuh's hits, among w/c is a song called Wakas, her favorite of Kuh's song. (Kuh's favorite song of Regine is "You are my song"). The project is still being negotiated, but if it pushes through it would definitely be a coup. It would be the 1st recording of its kind, bringing together two of local music's divas who would normally be considered rivals for the same market.

Kuh: I've never considered her as a competitor. If I do, it becomes unhealthy. If we have that kind of attitude, we're not going to be happy. We should just support each other, knowing that we were created with individual talents and that her voice is different from mine.

Regine: Actually, it was my idea. Once, I told her, "I want to revive your songs-are you interested in producing it (the album?) We're talking about it, but we both have such busy schedules. But we both want to do it. On the point of our being considered competitors, it doesn't really matter. People will always have something to say. I'm just concerned about doing a good record.

Perhaps the talk about being rivals has to do with the fact that last year, both divas released thier own revival albums-Regine her R2K and Kuh's Akuhstic. Both released by Viva Records as part of its Viva's Divas collection, the albums both ride on the popularity of old hits. It was actually Regine who started the current craze when she released her first revival album, Retro in 1996.

Kuh: I love doing revivals. They've always been a part of my repertoire. The audience always relates easier to songs they are familiar with. I decided to revive If I Could Reach You because I used to hear that song a lot. It's nice and easy to remember, and a favorite of one of my very good friends.

Regine: It's not that we're not interested in doing original songs anymore, but it's hard to find good songs these days. We need new talents (in composers). ANd revivals are really popular. I did an album (1997 Drawn) that was mostly all-originals, and it had very good sales, but it didn'' do as well as R2K is doing. But I have nothing against original songs. In fact my next album will be all-original songs, to be produced by Ryan Cayabyab. I've always wanted to work with him.

Their lives in and out of music have run along similar paths. Kuh has ventured into other things besides singing with her Republic of Malate-a three-in-one complex that houses a Chinese restaurant (The Good Earht Tea Room), a watering hole-cum-bar (Survival Cafe) and a dance club (Republika). Regine began working behind the scenes by diecting her own concerts and music videos. Pretty soon, she intents to start producing songs for other artists.

(some quotes from Kuh not relating to Regine were omitted)Regine: It's a nice place. At masarap ang pagkain dito ha! (Regine says this while digging into a plateful of crab). Ako naman, I'm into producing. I produced R2K w/c we recorded at Kuh's studio. I did everything, from the concept to talking to the arrangers and telling them what I wanted. I hired the musicians. It was taxing, but very challenging. But for my next project I'll be working w/ Mr. C - it's also good to bring other people in nce in a while bec there are some things I can't see when I'm so close to a project. At saka maganda yung may ibang point-of-view, diba? That's why I got Louie Ignacio, my director on SOP to direct my videos for R2K. But there's something I'm really excited about, w/c is producing for other artists. I'm going to produce a song for Antonette Taus.

All throughout the pictorial, Kuh and Regine act like sisters. They laugh, they joke, they swap fashion and beauty tips-and they talk about men. They do that a lot, they say, especially when they're on concert tours abroad. Despite this, unkind rumors that more than friendship exists between them have persisted.

Kuh: Ay naku, the more we say something the more people will accuse us of being defensive. And it's ridiculous.

Regine: I can vouch that she's not gay. Alam mo ba, she advises me to go out and meet people, make more friends. She advises me pa nga to have boyfriends and not to be afraid of taking chances in love.

Kuh: Just look-she has become a better singer since (she broke off w/ Ariel Rivera). So I keep telling her, she should fall in love again! Kaya lang naman laging may tatay na nakabantay! (Looks at Regine's father, Mang Gerry, who is seated nearby, puffing away on a cigarette, oblivious to the conversation).

Regine: Hay naku, siter tama ka diyan! I agree 100% Mas nagkaroon ako ng personality (after I fell in Love).

The easy rapport is due to the fact that despite our perceiving them as rivals in the business, they consider each other friends.

Regine: Kuh is one of the most sincere persons I've known in this business. I've learned a lot of things from her, at enjoy na enjoy ako pa nagkukuwneto siya-kasi nakakarelate ako, especially when she talks about her beginnings as a singer.

Kuh: Ganoon ka rin naman, eh ! (Smiling at Regine). We're not naman super-close enough to call each other friends. And we work well together.

Regine: We can tell each other things too. Kinukuwento niya sa akin ang lovelife niya!

Kuh: Para mainspire ka at magkaroon ka rin (Dissolves into laughter).

Finally the photo shoot is over. As Regine gets ready to leave, she hands Kuh her belated X'mas present. Handshakes and hugs are exchanged, make-up kits and gowns are packed away and Kuh and Regine go back being wha they really are: two divas who just happen to be friends.

Regine Through The Years

by Hansel Villafuerte
Miscellaneous Weekly
April 29, 1996

Regine started out conservative. But Regine Velasquez starts fashion trends. She is not beyond experimenting with her hair or wardrobe. Her music has grown and matured. Hansel Villafuerte
compares her then and now.

Even she is amazed at her transformation. In the ten years that have passed since Regine Velasquez made her debut in showbiz, it's more than just her name that has changed.

Back then, Regine who used to go by the rather old-fashioned nickname of Chona was a simple girl from a small town in Bulacan, utterly lacking in the sophistication that people now associate with her. She admits that when she was just starting out she didn't know any better, especially when it came to clothes. "I didn't know how to dress up, and my taste was very conservative. I was always wrapped," she says.

Her hair style was as conservative as her clothing: she either wore it hanging loose straight down to her shoulders, or tied it back with a ribbon that made her look much like a little girl.
Now, she has matured and become more adventurous. She wears a tattoo around her ankle and reads a lot of foreign fashion magazines like Vogue and Elle to keep up with what's in abroad as far as fashion trends are concerned. She is not beyond experimenting with her hair or wardrobe; in fact, it was Regine who started the trend of wearing ankle-high boots with formal gowns which she does in most of her pictorials and concerts.

She also has acquired a certain independence when it comes to fashion. If her habit of pairing boots with gowns doesn't sit well with other people, Regine couldn't care less. "I like experimenting with clothes. As long as I know I can carry a certain outfit, I'll wear it no matter what people say," she explains.

Through the years, Regine's music has also grown and matured. From very pop-flavored, youth -oriented songs like her first hit, "Urong-Sulong" (which she sang when she was 17 years old), she has gradually expanded her repertoire to include all sorts of music. She has also learned how to take control of her voice, and not let her high notes nor her tendency to belt each and every song rule her.

I've changed a lot in terms of my music, my taste and my personality although as a person, I'd like to believe that I'm still the same," says Regine, who is turning a year older on April 22.
"I used to be known as a belter, but now that I've grown older, that changed," she continues.

Today, Regine, a veteran of singing contests - including the Asian Broadcasting Union (ABU) Song Festival - can sing songs that don't call for her to belt. She used to do a lot of belting songs like "The Greatest Love Of All" and "Somewhere," but now she also sings a lot of gentle love songs like those of her idol, Barbara Streisand. "What's nice about that is even if I'm like that, the people still accepted me, which liked so much." It means that my music has grown, and I've grown up too." says Regine.

Changing her image from that of a province from Bulacan to a sophisticated urbanite from the big city wasn't easy. Acquiring a new name was only the first step. Even her manager, Ronnie Henares, thought in the beginning that Regine, a name suggested by his wife Ida (who took it from her real name Regina Encarnacion Velasquez being her paternal grandmother's name) was a bit too pretentious for a person who came from the province. But as far as Regine was concerned, image and packaging were the two least important things.

The most important was her singing. "I said before, it seems so saucy - the name Regine. I thought it didn't fit me." she says. "Now I realize how important those things are, but before, I just didn't care about my image. I just wanted to perform or sing."

But obviously, her manager knew better then, so Chona the probinsyana became Regine, the music industry's fast-rising star. With the help of friends like Bernardo Bernardo (in whose music lounge she got her first big break), Nanette Inventor, Ivy Violan ( who would lend her clothes, shoes and sheet music for her shows), Freddie Santos (her very first director for her shows who taught her a lot about emoting onstage, doing spiels and voice projection), Fanny Serrano, Gina Rodriguez and Dobie Aranda of Kirei, glamour photographer Pancho Escaler, the late Bert Marcelo and Pilita Corrales, Martin and Pops and Gary V. (who were among the first major starts to guest Regine in their RV shows among concerts) and the press, the transformation was completed.

Now there is hardly an outward trace of the probinsyana that she was, although Ronnie says that even now, there are times that show that Regine really is till a probinsyana at heart. Sometimes, says her manager, Regine (while dressed in a formal gown) will suddenly stop dead in her tracks and squat on the ground, the gown between her leg and say: "I'm tired!"

Regine knows that she owes a lot to these people. "It's a team effort," she says. "But maybe the biggest part I owe to my parents, especially to my dad (the ever-present Mang Gerry, who accompanies Regine on all her activities) because she pushed me and gave me encouragement."

Her manager Ronnie is another one to whom she owes a lot. Ronnie has been with her through the years, from the time she started. But now that her career is taking her to foreign shares, she has a new manager in the person of Florence Chan, who is based in Hong Kong "Ronnie and I are a team," she states. "There's a lot of rumor, but I'm very happy where I am and I have no intentions of changing my manager. The reasons for these rumors is because I have a different manager who handles me outside the country. Ronnie handles all my bookings in the Philippines, and Florence handles me abroad. I just felt that since he was from here and his connections are here, I needed someone to handle me outside the Philippines, which is Florence's role."

Frankly, says Regine, she doesn't see any reason why she should leave Ronnie and Primeline. "Why should I?" Ronnie literally managed my career and gave me the image. As a manager, he respects my father and he respects me. We're always together, especially when it comes to major decisions. That's what I like about him."

One of her biggest coups was doing a duet with international singing star Paul Anka. When she found out that she was scheduled to do a duet with him, "I was shocked," recalls Regine.

"Because I know him, and he's something of a living legend when it comes to singing. But he's a really nice guy." She has also recorded a duet with Hong Kong music superstar Jacky Cheung, which also hit it big on overseas charts.

So now Regine is a star not just in her own country, but also out of it. Despite this, she abhors the trappings of stardom. She still lives in Bulacan with her parents. She tend s to shy away from her showbiz functions. "If I don't have any work, I stay home," she says. She enjoys being with her three sisters and only brother, and they're about as closely knit as you can possibly get.
As the eldest of the five Velasquez siblings, Regine has a position of responsibility in her family.
"She's a kind child. I have no problem with her," says her father. She helps them with whatever they need, and now that her younger sister Cacai, 23, is following in her footsteps and seems interested in a singing career, Regine (whom everyone in the Velasquez household calls "Ate") ("Sister") is helping her out by arranging for Cacai to guest in her provincial and campus tours.

Last April 20, Regine gave of herself by staging a free concert at the U.P. Sunken Garden grounds at 7 p.m. Dubbed Isang Pasasalamat, the concert was Regine's way of saying thank you to all her supporters and friends in the business, people who stood by her through the years.

"The purpose of the concert was for me to say thank you to these people and my fans for being there for me. I wanted to give back something I've been very blessed and the only way I can give them something back is through music."

Regine was supported by her friends in the industry, like Louie Ocampo, Ryan Cayabyab, The Tux, Janno Gibbs, Nanette Inventor, Ivy Violan and Bernardo Bernardo. Martin Nievera, on whose show Penthouse Live she first guested and her ex-boyfriend. Together, they performed on the show. How did she get him to guest? "I just asked him, and he said yes," says Regine.

Besides, there's nothing to worry about, since the affair is already a closed book.

Regine has made through her years in the music business. And there will, no doubt, be more as more years pass. Truly, this young woman has been very richly blessed.

Regine and Ariel

February 14, 1995
Mr. and Ms.

Ariel Rivera fell in love with Regine Velasquez and Regine fell in love with Ariel…now is falling in love such a crime? Maybe. Maybe not. The point is they did…fall.

Hesitant to delve in his relationship with Regine because of his abrupt parting with actress Gelli, Ariel has been issuing short, clipped, one-sentence, one-word answers to questions from reporters pertaining to his and Regine's very controversial romance.

They should be given a fair trial rather than being adjudged. It's unfair. "We can't say anything about it because it's their opinion. I mean, I can't change that and no matter what I do, that's how they feel. I can't do anything about it. Right now, I'm just keeping quiet 'cause I don't want to say anything…first of all, I've nothing naman against them," Regine reveals, a bit misty eyed.
Ariel mutters, "I think it will just die down naturally."

In the studio of Jun de Leon, Ariel and Regine would rather be somewhere else than being interviewed. Their voices were close to a whisper. Hesitant.

Regine starts, "Actually, it has something to do with music also…doon nag-start, when we worked together, got to know each other." "Nung one time, nag-show kami, yung Two Hearts, One Beat…we had to talk, of course. Kaming dalawa yung magkasama. And yung show kasi was like a play, a love story so siyempre kailangan talagang may rapport," says she.

Ariel adds, "During the show, we had to almost show true emotions so that the people can believe…" "That we're in love…only acting, of course." Regine butts in. "Basta paggising ko nalang isang umaga…ah okay 'yun na pala yun," relating how she realized she was already in love with Ariel. "We started out as friends…we didn't know it would turn on this way. Basta it did."

"What I like about him?" she muses. "First of all he's very mature. I like that kasi parang I haven't had any experience about, you know, relationships, and life in general. I mean I would like to think that I'm mature, but I'm not that experienced in life and somehow he is. He's gone through a lot already so that's what I'm looking for." "Isa pa, he's very malambing, very caring, very very good person. And also, the biggest thing I like about him is the way he treats his family. I love my family and when I see him, actually I see my father."

"My ideal man is my father, he's my idol. The reason why I didn't have any boyfriend is because I tend to compare men to my father, 'caue he's a super great man. I've been looking for that, which I saw in Ariel. " she reflects.

Ariel on Regine: "I like her simplicity, her outlook in life…her childlike qualities, her bubbly personality, her respect for her elders."

He whispers, "I love her lips. Everytime we're doing a concert, she always gets mad at me because everytime we sing together, I always stare at her lips, she always looks into my eyes, well ur supposed to look at the eye, but me, I look at her lips and she gets conscious." Ariel reveals.

Regine and Ariel common little things: He says, "We're very similar in our upbringing although I grew up in Canada…it's basically the same, how I've grown, how she's grown. We're both very, very close to our family, whatever we do, we consider our family first, that's our basic similarity.
But does he still communicates with GELLI? "LET'S NOT MENTION ANY NAMES," he requested.

"With me, I want to be friends first and be developed to lvoe and we'll go fine together. When you're friends you'll get to know the person unlike when courting all the good qualities are brought out and are only shown," she says. "There comes a time when u want to get hold of ur life, I just want to be happy." Ariel says.

"I call him Ariel, what else should I call him?" Regine says laughing. 'Honey' is one suggestion, 'Sweetheart', 'Babes'…I call her Reg," he reveals.

"Our priority is our careers. Just because we're together doesn't mean we have to be attached all the time. That's overdone." she enthuses. "That's where the efforts come in, the schedules, we have to try harder." "What's important in a relationship is communication 'coz it's base on trust." Regine replies.

Ariel and Regine have fallen in love at the wrong time, but one thing is for sure as they left the studio with hands entwined, both looking at each other, undoubtedly, caught up in each other's spell. They're madly in love. And that's that.

Regine, Naturally

by Rai Bihis
Woman's Home Companion
November 23, 1994

I have an appointment for an interview this afternoon. I still have to try on my dresses tonight's show. And I still have to test the sound equipment. Busy, busy, busy. Time seems to runs so fast. I hate being late. Recordings, concerts, TV appearances, tapings...a maddeningly hectic schedule. But I don't lose my direction. I go about things with a big smile. I feel terrible when I'm bitchy.

I follow a very simple rule: I just want to be peaceful and happy, and make others happy; I go along with the wind-harmony more than opposition. I don't trust people too easily, but I am deeply loyal to my friends. I also believe that one ought to be polite, even to one's enemies. Making yourself happy is done by pouring out your soul, your efforts. That is why I'm trying very hard to open up, mingle more with people. I know that I can't live in a box forever. For me to know people, they also have to know me; so I must share myself.

So when I perform, I make sure I give 100% effort, 110% if possible. I owe it to myself t be the best that I can be; to my family who has led me to where I am now; most especially to my fans who deserve nothing less than the best.

When I sing, it is very hard for people to believe that it is really I singing. They cannot believe how such a lean, petite frame can yield so much power, so much energy. They can't believe my age either. I'm told that I'm too young to be true. It comes as naturally as my instincts; I simply want to sing. I just think of all the bursting joy in my heart that I want to share with people, from the thoughts of my family and my home that is ever so close in my heart. Those beautiful thoughts lead me back to my early childhood days when my father used to bring me to the sea each day to sing with the raging waves and the powerful wind. My family thought ahead; and they have supported me throughout. My hone in Tabang, Bulacan is always fresh in my mind.

My memories never allow me to forget who I am. I am Regine Velasquez. Not quite a long way from wanting to help out my family though the amateur contests I joined in as a kid and a young teenager. Bagong Kampeon was the last one; Penthouse Live gave me my first appearance. And I won my first international award at the Asia Pacific Songfest in 1989. Primeline, Inc. has launched me as a professional singer since then.

I could not believe my ears when I heard my first recording; nor my eyes when I saw pictures in publicity materials. I have always wanted to sing; and I was just so overwhelmed, and thankful for the breaks I got. I know that there are so many talented artists, so many talented Filipinos. However, only a few are given a break. I am so lucky; I prayed and God replied with answers greater than I imagined.

Indeed, I am enjoying showbiz life; it's such fun. It's just that I feel uncomfortable with the recognition factor. I guess fame has not gotten into my head -- and I don't think it will. That's why I don't want to be segregated from the public the way superstars ought to be; I'd like to have a normal life outside of showbiz work. I feel flattered when fans approach me; but just like anybody else, I also want to go out with my family and friends, without having to attend to other matters. Sometimes, I need to be on my own, to have my own privacy.

I am not perfect, I also make mistakes. When I have concerts, my shoes somehow keep on slipping high in the air to the cheers of the welcoming crowd.

I'd like to believe that I am now established in showbiz so somehow, I must really be talented. But the better, and harder, part of show business is the fact that I constantly have to learn a lot of things. I try to sing different types music and keep using alternative styles. I can't be stagnant; I have to grown and find out what more I can do, what more I can share. I try not to make the changes drastic, but I make sure that I improve one way or another. One day, I will come up with a style that's my very own, a Regine Velasquez original innovation.

Showbiz, you see, is exciting but fast-paced. If you don't leave room for improvement, you become obsolete. There are some constant factors brought about by tradition, but the rest changes whether you like it or not.

Success comes with change. Success comes with timing. Each man has his own time; changes and improvements will have to be done in accordance with the proper time. Until such time when all things pass and the natural process of fading occurs. Fading, mind you, is not a failure at all. It's another phase of change, of moving to another stage, to another area. It's the next chapter of this exhilarating novel that is life.

I know I won't be around forever. So when the time comes for me to step down, I wish to do it gracefully. Others need a break, too.

One must be carefully successful even in ascending and descending from the throne. That is why it is important to keep oneself together, not to let success and fame get into one's head. Don't give up either. Those are two of the points where failure begins. And failure eats you up chunk by chunk without your even knowing it. I should know, I've felt it so many times, although I've never really been able to exactly define failure is. Trials and misfortunes may make us, to teach us to swim and struggle. failure is when you give in. You have to keep moving on. As long as you're alive, hope is there. There's always another chance to change; learn from your mistakes.
You'd better be dead if you lose hope or stop trying or refuse to learn from your mistakes.
This is why even if I am given the power to change anything in the world. I'd still want to go through the same experiences all over again just to be where I am now, to be who I am now.
I still want to be the same Regine Velasquez who feels somewhat starstruck or excited when I get a chance to perform with or meet my idols (especially Gary V., Martin Nievera and Janno Gibbs).

I still want to be the same Regine Velasquez with a handwriting like possess my seven demons.
I still want to be the all-natural Regine who admits it when she's wrong, then really apologizes to the people concerned.

Five or ten years from now, I hope that I'll still be singing, that I can establish myself in the whole Asian region. Or start a business of my own. I also would like to have more time for myself. I hope to be married, too; but I don't know how I'll do that just now because I am interested in my career at the moment more than anything else.

Speaking of marriage, before I settle down, I've already thought about my Prince Charming. First, we must have chemistry; more importantly, the man must be my very good friend (couples ought to be good friends, too , so they can understand each other easily), trusty, and dependable, someone loyal and devoted, someone who'll defend me and be proud of me, rather that be jealous.

Hopefully, he'll look like Mel Gibson.Yep, just like everyone else, I also get excited when I see my crushes. I'm also afraid of certain things at times. I'm as human as everyone else, stage glamour or not. And I'll always be Regine Velasquez...naturally.

What other artists say about Regine

Regine Velasquez was only 14 when she won first place in the amateur singing contest on television's Bagong Kampeon in 1984. She shed tears of triumph as she sang her winning song, "In Your Eyes," at the end of the show. It was the culmination of all the years she had spent joining and winning singing contests in remote barrios and provinces, and the start of her showbiz career.

On July 14, Regine celebrates her sixth year as an entertainer with a concert at the FAT.

Columnist Larry Henares once described Regine as "a voice unbounded that soars and lingers and lights up the world, with so young and so pretty face."

What do her colleagues say about her?

"The ultimate singer. I said it once, I'll say it again. She's the best singer in the country, maybe even the world." - Martin Nievera.

"I know talent when I see one and again my instinct proves me right with Regine. She' got talent and sincerity in her craft. I wish her all the best in her upcoming concert at FAT." - Kuh Ledesma.

"When I had my Birthday Blow-Out concert at the ULTRA in 1987, I guested her because I believe that among the new breed of singers she has what it takes to make it big. I was right. After giving birth, I did 'Bakbakan' with her and the series "String Fever." The nicest thing about Regine is her attitude towards her singing career. Walang maraming arte dahil alam niyang kaya niya kahit ano but you could see the humility that is very evident." - Joey Albert.

"Regine is one very good singer. She has a powerful voice. Tamang-tama lang yung timing ng pagmamature niya sa kanyang career. For her age, it is quite unusual na ma-reach niya yung peak ng kanyang singing career compared to her contemporaries. And we are very sure that she is going to maintain her status as Class A singer." - Apo Hiking Soceity

"As a person, Regine has a captivating child-like quality about her. As a singer, she's at once delicate and powerful with a voice that lingers long after the song is over." - Jose Mari Chan

Regine at 20: Out There On Her Own

By Lani T. Montreal
Sun. Inquirer Magazine
July 8, 1990

She was 15 when I first met her on board a ferryboat bound for Calapan, Mindoro. She was a wisp of a girl, so thin and pale I was half-afraid she would break, like a fragile China doll.

Yes, she said, she was the girl who had won that singing contest on television the year before. She was on her way to perform in a stage show at a school gym somewhere in Mindoro, she explained in a tiny, quivering voice. She was scheduled to sing two songs for a talent fee of P1,500 and she was excited. Her hair, done in outdated curls, framed her made-up face and her loose, nondescript clothes overwhelmed her petite figure. She looked like a very old 15-year-old.
Her almond eyes squinted into slits as she looked out into the open sea like an expectant lover. She was alone in that corner of the deck, but nearby stood a scraggly, dark-complexioned man of about 40. Her father, someone said. He taught her how to sing, another commented. I wanted to hold her steady lest she will fall into the water or the strong wind blow away her tiny body. But her father beat me to it by reminding her not to stay too close to the railing. On the opposite of the deck, Janice de Belen Roderick Paulate and some other celebrities were engaged in small talk.

In Mindoro, my friends and I found ourselves staying in the room next to her in a cheap, elevatorless hotel. We invited her to join us and teasingly urged her to sing. Without much ado she obliged, and soon, her melancholy voice, no longer small and unsure filled the cramped hotel room.

"All at once, I looked around and found that you were with another love," she sang the Whitney Houston number, cautiously at first, sounding like a wind song. There her voice rose to an awe-inspiring crescendo. "Ever since I met you, you're the only love I know." A rap on the door rudely interrupted our mini-concert. Her father peeped in. "I heard someone singing, was that you, Chona?" he asked. "Hindi po, Siya po," she lied, pointing a finger at me. But Papa knew better. "Kailangan i-conserve mo ang boses mo para sa show mamaya," he scolded her. She fell silent, her head bowed in embarrassment. "Sige, ha," she bade us goodbye in a voice we couldn't reconcile with that of our impromptu entertainer.

The next time I met the girl named Chona was at a decent sing along bar along West Avenue in 1986. Her voice effortlessly glided through the difficult notes of the EDSA revolution song "Mag-kaisa." The show was a regular stint for her, her father said. Commuting from Bulacan to Manila had been a problem initially, but they mad friends with a taxi driver to whom they became suki. They paid him P200 pesos for waiting and taking them home to Bulacan every time Chona had a performance.

The next time I saw Regina Asuncion Velasquez she was performing at a small, art decoish cafe/bar. She was no longer Chona but Regine. A singer/TV host had re-christened her, saying her nickname sounded too parochial for someone so young.

The shy provinciana, now a year older, felt burdened by the high-sounding moniker. She must act like a Regine now and leave chokingly boring Chona behind. Her new manager, Ronnie Henares, who had discovered her in that sing-along joint, felt that her repertoire and general appearance should change along her name. Her outmoded clothes were thrown into a baul (native chest) and sweatshirts, high-cut rubber shoes and jeans became her regular fashion fare.
Her straight, shoulder length hair was left as it was, with no spraynet to hold it in place, while she danced to more upbeat songs. She was a teenager, for heaven's sake, no matter that she was the breadwinner for a family of six.

Gone was the dark colored eye shadow she used to put on her narrow lids, that mad her cat like yes look bruised and heavy. No more cheekbone highlighter that gave her an emancipated look. The new light make-up emphasized rather than hid her small face. The girl was beautiful, after all.

She was also gaining quite a following. The young habitues of the cafe and a sprinkling of yuppies and middle-aged music lovers filled the place to standing room capacity. The entrance fee had been raised - a sure sign of her growing celebrity. Mang Gerry, her father, remained zealous guardian. "From manager to alalay," he said, laughing away his demotion.

"I've got a crush on you," she belted out on a disco number, her wiry limbs, camouflaged by thick clothing, gracefully maneuvering the stage floor. I didn't know she could dance so well. Between songs she gave spiels in Taglish contorting her face when someone from the audience commented or grunted a request. She hated having to talk, but "Regine" sounded like the name of a glib-tongued girl.I did not just "see" Regine the next time, I sought her out for an interview. She was 17 by then, and among her fans was Larry Henares, who immortalized her in his column. She had just recorded her first single, "Urong Sulong," which was thinking of going back to school the following year.

It was Mang Gerry who did most of the talking that time. Regine, surprisingly, still had much of the reticent Chona in her. One thing brought a glow to her eyes though the second hand Toyota car she had just acquired. "I bought that with my sweat and blood," she proudly says.

It's been three years since that last interview, but the girl who greets us as we alight from Primeline's delivery jeep is still pale and thin. "Magandang tanghali po," Regine says, her naked face made even more startling by her cropped crown. The gamine charm shows through the maong jeans and handpainted T-shirt. She looks more 15 than 20. But more Regine now than Chona.

We have come all the way from Manila to San Juan (Balagtas, Bulacan), a barrio by the river where Regine has spent most of her growing-up years. If not for her accommodating townmates who led us from one narrow thoroughfare to another, we would not have found her house. A gray Hi Ace is parked outside her studio type apartment across the family's house. The receiving area, separated from her bedroom by a makeshift wall, bears much of her provincial character. No one would suspect that a celebrity lives in this carelessly trimmed house. It looks more like the house of a movie fan with its mounted faded posters of Regine's past concerts intermingling with inexpensive paintings of nature. The concert posters have documented Regine's metamorphosis, so to speak. In one, for instance, she seems naive and uncaring. She transforms into a sensuous young lady in another. And from pastel-colored attire she graduates to a more intense black and red.

A red Sto. Nino statuette stands atop an old piano. The sala set, flower printed and brightly colored is the ultimate assault on a modern decorator's sensibilities.It's been a year since Regine moved into her own place, for no special reason, but just so she would have enough space for all her growing number of things wardrobe, appliances and friends. But there seems to be no effort to make the apartment look more stylish and sophisticated, or at least presentable.

On a magazine shelf she has a cheap photo album of showbiz stars Randy Santiago, Janno Gibbs, Bing Loyzaga, Lilet and an autograph of Maricel Soriano on a small piece of paper, among others. A stack of foreign fashion magazines -Vogue, Elle, Mademoiselle looks out of place among the albums and clippings. In those magazines lies the secret to her new found sophistication in fashion.

Atop the improvised divider are her trophies, most of which still bear her old name: Chona Velasquez. There are 67 of them, including her latest, the Asia Pacific grand trophy which she won in Hong Kong last month. "I joined 200 contests but won first place in only 67," she blurts out unexpectedly. Recently, the Lions Club of Hong Kong honored her with a three foot high trophy in ruby red and gold. "My father had a hard time carrying it," she says while putting on make up for the pictorial.

She has just returned from that Hong Kong trip and has barely unpacked. She is bothered that she wasn't told about the pictorial because she could have fixed herself before we arrived. "Sana nag-Easy Call kayo," she reprimands her PR. But there's actually very little on that face that needs covering, and she finishes jiffy .

"Can we have her pose by the river where you used to submerge her?" the SI photographer asks Mang Gerry. "It wasn't here where I used to submerge her but in Leyte, where my wife was born," Mang Gerry clarifies. "We moved to Bulacan only when Chona was already 10."

The Velasquezes led a mobile lifestyle in the early '70s. Mang Gerry's job as a constructor estimator required him and his family to move from one province to another. With the children's schooling interrupted so often, it is a wonder that Regine finished high school at all at St. Lawrence Academy in Bulacan. She attributes her good English diction to her years at St. Lawrence and to her favorite foreign singers, to whom she listens carefully. "I told her never to get the lyrics of the songs from song hits. Listen to the original singers and capture every word correctly," says her omnipresent singing coach.

"Si Chona!" a little girl excitedly says upon seeing Regine walk toward the ancient camachile tree for the pictorial. The child runs to her mother when I begin asking her about Regine. "Ninang niya si Chona, e," says Aling Leonila, Regine's neighbor and distant relative."Hindi naman nagbago yang batang 'yan. Gustong-gusto siya rito. Lahat nga yata ng bata rito ay inaanak niya," she continues.

Regine's neighbors remember when their mornings were not complete without hearing little Chona, then about 10, vocalizing. "Palagi niyang kinakanta nuon yung kay Eva Eugenio at kay Imelda Papin, they recall with amusement. Of course now she rehearses in air conditioned studios, although her barriomates are still occasionally treated to free mini concerts whenever she practices in her apartment. Right now she's more into jazz music.

Regine has never thought of moving to Manila. Not even now. She has all the love she needs in San Juan. And that, to her, is the most important thing. Certainly it couldn't have been by coincidence that almost every female in this rural neighborhood, whether young or old sports Regine's daring, boyish do. "I feel I have matured a lot since I started six years ago. Marami na akong na experience, Regine intimates. "That Hong Kong trip for me was a big deal. It contributed a lot to my growth.

"You see, I was scared at first of going there to compete. I felt I wasn't that good. Beside, it's like I've gotten tired of competing. All my life that was what I did. I was tired of the pressure," she says. It took her good friends and mentors Nanette Inventor and Ivy Violan to convince her. "They said, 'You were chosen by Channel 7 of all singers. That means they believe in you. That did it."

Before the contest proper Regine had been obsessed with winning. "I didn't think of anything else. I didn't realize that the reason I was there was no t just to compete but to interact with the other competitors who were from other countries, to make an impression of my country on them. When I got there, I forgot all about the contest and making friends with the other foreign contestants became a bigger challenge. At first it was difficult because some didn't even know how to speak English. Now two have already written me."

It was in that contest that she rendered what she considers the most difficult song she has ever sung: "I'm Telling You' from the Broadway play Dream Girls.

A mongrel comes along and waits for a pat on the head. "This is my dog Askar, Regine says as she runs her skinny fingers through the dog's tan-colored hair. "Askar means Asong Karaniwan."

It is only now, she confides, that she is able to savor the fruits of her labor. "Before, I always had to think of what was needed first before I would buy what I wanted. Now, I can get both. Ang pangarap ko ngayon ay ang mapatapos ang mag kapatid ko."

Her sister Maricar, 19, is a business administration student at St. Paul College, Manila; brother Jojo ,16, high school senior at La Consolacion, Bulacan; and twin sisters Dianne and Deca, 13 are in first year high school at La Consolacion. "They make lambing to me whenever they need something in school or maybe want something," Regine says, stressing the difference between "need" and " want" .

She has no regrets that at 20 she has felt neither the throbbings of passionate love nor the pain of unrequited love. "I think my maturity came from the experiences I had with my family," she says confidently. "I'm still very young. Love can wait. For now, my concerns are my family's needs. I might go back to school when Maricar graduates and is able to help in sending the other children to school."

Regine still dreams of enrolling in a fine arts course someday. When not singing on TV or concertizing, she indulges in her favorite pastime...sketching. She's hand painting shirts now, and explains that she herself did the t-shirt she was wearing when we arrived. She fetches the tee and shows the painting of a woman's face whose long hair sensuously covers her left eye. She colored the hair orange and lips neon pink. "I like sketching and painting women's faces. The contours of the eyes and lips are just beautiful. They're so nice to draw," she explains.

She tells the story behind her new haircut: "I had it shortened to ear length on my 18th birthday. I was supposed to have a concert then but a foreign band, The Jets, came over and I was advised against staging my concert on the same date which was my birthday. In rebellion, I cut my hair, which was already down to my chest, very short."

But after that act of rebellion came, the stories in the tabloids and movie columns that her face had undergone cosmetic surgery. So why didn't they make your nose better, I kid her. She laughs."You've seen me before, do you see any change?" Oh, but I don't mind those intrigues. I try to tell them it's just my make up, that now I already know how to blend with colors or enhance my features but then they say I'm being defensive.

Inside her room clothes are strewn here and there, the improvised shelves over her bed are stacked with encyclopedia volues and innumerable little stuffed dolls. She plans to clean all the dolls for Christmas and distribute them to orphanages. "Not that I've outgrown my love for them. Actually, they're so precious to me because they were gifts from my good friends. But doesn't that fact make the dolls more special and worthy of being given as gifts to orphaned and abandoned kids?"

Regine disputes rumors that she is auditioning for the role of Kin in Ms. Saigon. "I'm afraid I might not be able to endure the rehearsals. I developed nodules in my throat before and they had to be taken out by surgery. And with my hair, I might be considered for the part of soldier," she says, laughing at herself.

We keep quiet as she teats us to an a capella rendition of her favorite song, "On My Way To You" by Barbara Streisand. Softly, at first, like a wind song but full of intense and emotions. I remember that day in Mindoro when she sang that Whitney Houston song, except this time, her father doesn't interrupt. He listens as intently as we do.

Mang Gerry's girl has definitely grown up. And how!

People: Regine Velasquez

Asiaweek
March 2, 1990

Just 19 and raring to go, Regine Velasquez wants it all. "I want to make a hit song, a hit movie, and more LPs. - in that order," she declares. "I want accomplishment soon." Not that her achievements to date are anything to sneeze at. Trained from the age of 6 by father Gerry to sing lustily while immersed up to her neck in the sea, Velasquez has already made a sizeable splash in the Philippines. She has cut two albums and matched against finalists from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan and New Zealand, walked away with the Grand Prize at the recent Asia-Pacific Singing Contest in Hong Kong. After sharing a Feb. 14 concert billing with mega-star Jose Mari Chan, the mermaid who came in from the cold senses that she is just hitting her stride: "That kind of success is what I've been dreaming of. Now, I want a bigger concert in a bigger venue." What about the Pacific Ocean?