Regine Velasquez
Encyclopedia
Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez (born April 22, 1970), better known as Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez, is a Filipino
singer, actress, record producer and TV host. She won the 1989 Asia Pacific Singing Contest in Hong Kong
, and is widely known for possessing a wide and powerful vocal range.
Velasquez is the first Asia
n artist to stage a solo concert at the Carnegie Hall
in New York
, as part of Carnegie Hall's centennial-year concert series.
In 1994, Polygram Records produced her first Asia-released album, "Listen Without Prejudice". It is considered as Velasquez' most successful album to date, selling more than 1.2 million copies in Asia. It sold over 700,000 units in China
, making it the best-selling album in the country by a foreign artist until 1999. The album has sold over 100,000 units in the Philippines
and over 320,000 units in other Asian countries.
She has collaborated with artists such as Paul Anka
, David Hasselhoff
, 98 Degrees
, Brian McKnight
, Mandy Moore
, Ronan Keating
, Stephen Bishop
, Jim Brickman
, Peabo Bryson
, Jeffrey Osborne
, Dave Koz
, Grasshopper
, Coco Lee
, Michel Legrand
, David Pomeranz
, Eduardo Capetillo
, Fernando Carrillo
, and Billy Crawford
. "In Love With You", a duet with Jacky Cheung
, landed the top spot in MTV Asia's Top 20 Asian Videos in 2000.
In 2000, She performed the country's millennial theme Written In The Sand together with 2,000 children in the top-roof of The Peninsula Manila
, televised in 67 broadcast networks throughout the world to coincide with midnight in Manila for the BBC's
millennium special 2000 Today
.
She has also embarked on several television and film projects, receiving a Best Actress award for her portrayal of a mentally challenged
woman in a Maalaala Mo Kaya
episode entitled "Lobo". Velasquez formed IndiMusic (iMusic), a record label partnered with Bella Tan's Universal Records. She is currently managed by Aria Productions.
Today, Velasquez is the Best Selling Artist Of All Time in the Philippines. She has sold more than 7,000,000 albums in the Philippines and also in Asia with more than 2,000,000 sales.
, Philippines on April 22, 1970. Her family moved to Hinundayan, Southern Leyte
, where Velasquez studied at the Hinundayan Central School.
Music figured largely in her early development; her father always sang Frank Sinatra
songs to the children and her mother accompanied on guitar. Velasquez always loved music and even before she could read, she was singing along with the family. Her father signed her up for small local singing competitions. He helped train her voice by having her sing while neck-deep in the ocean. Her mother also helped by teaching her how to move on stage and interpret songs. At the age of six, Velasquez participated in a nationally-televised amateur singing competition, The Tita Betty's Children's Show. Her piece, "Buhat Nang Kita'y Makilala" (Since I Met You), won third place. Velasquez continued to compete in more singing competitions in small towns around the country. By nine, Velasquez and her family had moved to Balagtas, Bulacan, where she studied at Balagtas Central School. She later studied at St. Lawrence Academy, where she won Vocal Solo and Vocal Duet awards for her school at the annual BULPRISA (Bulacan Private School Association) competition.
At fourteen, Velasquez entered the senior division of Ang Bagong Kampeon
(The New Champion), a nationally-televised singing competition, hosted by Bert "Tawa" Marcelo and Pilita Corrales
. Her father suggested that she audition with "Saan Ako Nagkamali" (Where Did I Go Wrong). She won for eight straight weeks and became the first grand champion of the show. The show's musical director, Dominic Salustiano, suggested her winning piece, George Benson
's "In Your Eyes". She won a contract with OctoArts, recording the single "Love Me Again" as Chona Velasquez, her nickname at the time. She then joined the Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), an organization of Filipino singers, performing in music lounges all over Metro Manila. Members of OPM helped her out by giving her industry advice and by lending their gowns for her performances.
, Velasquez guested on the GMA
7 Variety TV show, 'Penthouse Live', on February 16, 1986. Martin Nievera
, Pops' husband and co-host of the show, suggested to Velasquez that she drop the name "Chona" and use Regine as her screen name. That year, her father resigned from his job as a construction estimator to fully attend to his daughter's blossoming career.
Viva Records signed Velasquez to a contract in 1987, releasing her self-titled debut album Regine
. The album contained the songs "Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang," "Isang Lahi, " and "Urong Sulong."
Her first regularly televised performances were musical variety shows with ensemble casts, such as ABS-CBN
's Triple Treat and the Sunday variety show Teen Pan Alley. Velasquez and Alley's Janno Gibbs
continued to collaborate throughout the years, creating the musical Kenkoy at Rosing, recording the cover song "Magkasuyo Buong Gabi," and performing duets in concert.
" were performing on that same day which was on her 18th birthday.
In 1989, Velasquez was chosen to represent the Philippines in the Asia-Pacific Singing Contest held in Hong Kong. On Dececember 23, 1989, Velasquez won the grand prize with "You'll Never Walk Alone
" from Carousel
and "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
" from Dreamgirls. After the competition, media started calling her "Asia's Songbird."
Jose Mari Chan
, picked Velasquez to do a duet for his album entitled Constant Change. The album was awarded a Certified Diamond Record Award by the PRIMA
. Gary Valenciano
penned the song 'Each Passing Night' which they sang together for his album 'Faces of Love'.
Velasquez signed with Vicor
records and released several albums, starting with Nineteen 90
. The album included t "Narito Ako" ("Here I Am"), her first Ogie Alcasid
-penned song, "I Have To Say Goodbye, " and "Promdi". Her first major solo concert, Narito Ako, was standing-room only at the Folk Arts Theater, with Gary Valenciano
as a guest performer.
Velasquez's debut United States solo concert, Narito Ako sa New York (Here I Am in New York), was held at the Main Hall of Carnegie Hall
on October 11, 1991.
Her special guest was Ray-An Fuentes. The concert was a roaring success that earned three standing ovations from the audience.
She sang "Urong-Sulong" and "Narito Ako" plus "I'm Your Baby Tonight
" "Greatest Love of All
," "You'll Never Walk Alone
," "We Can Work It Out
," "Somewhere
" and a Barbra Streisand
medley and romance medley with guest Ray An Fuentes.
She next released an album, Tagala Talaga
("A Genuine Tagalog
Lady"). It comprises her renditions of classic Filipino compositions by Nonong Pedero, Willy Cruz, George Canseco
, Louie Ocampo
, Freddie Aguilar
, and National Artists for Music Awardees Ryan Cayabyab
, Lucio D. San Pedro
, and Levi Celerio
.
First, they featured Velasquez in a duet with Paul Anka
entitled "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" which is included in her fourth album, Reason Enough, which was released in 1993 and achieved platinum album status. It featured "Sana Maulit Muli," "Babalikang Muli," and a duet with Gary Valenciano
, "Slip Away."
In November 4, 1994, Velasquez performed with Janno Gibbs
and Ariel Rivera
at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles
. About 6,100 people came. Then on November 12, 1994 they performed at Cow Palace Auditorium in San Francisco; ticket sales exceeded 8,200. On November 18, 1994 they performed at the Beacon Theatre in New York
wherein 400 standing-room-only tickets were released along with 3,000 seats sold out two weeks before the concert date.
PolyGram Records produced her first Asian album, Listen Without Prejudice. "In Love With You," a duet with Jacky Cheung
, turned platinum in Taiwan seven days after its release. In its year-end sales of 1994, Listen Without Prejudice reported sales of over 300,000+ units in Asia in three months. It was reportedly the first huge success of PolyGram
in Asia.
Velasquez' second album, My Love Emotion
, featured "You've Made Me Stronger," composed by Trina Belamide
. Velasquez said that this album was born from a live performance in Singapore
. She performed in Singapore for the Perfect 10 Music Awards in 1995. She was nominated in two categories (Favorite New Act and Favorite Performance in a song for "In Love With You") but lost. She sang "In Love With You" with a Singaporean singer and "What Kind of Fool Am I?". After singing "What Kind of Fool Am I?" Phil Buckle (the guitarist of Southern Sons
, an Australian band) congratulated Velasquez and told her that he'd like to write her a song. Phil composed "My Love Emotion," which is the title of the album. She did two videos for "You've Made Me Stronger" and "My Love Emotion" and sold 100,000 copies Asia-wide on the first month of its release. In the year-end sales of "My Love Emotion," it sold more than 250,000 units across Asia.
As a part of her My Love Emotion Japanese album launch, Velasquez was invited to perform in many concert guestings, Asian music gatherings, and festivals such as Yoshinogari
Ruins in Saga Prefecture
1994 and 1995 when she did the opening and closing numbers.
Before Velasquez participated in the Asian music scene in Manila in October 18, 1996, her third Asian album Retro
was released. The album contains re-arrangements of her favorite songs. She and Remus Choy made a video for the duet "I Can't Help It."
As a part of her Retro album promotion, Velasquez guested and performed with some of the songs included in her album at the event called The Open Concert in South Korea.
Velasquez joined Ryan Cayabyab
's musical adaptation of José Rizal
's Noli Me Tangere
at the CCP
in 1995. She played the tragic role of Maria Clara opposite Audie Gemora's Crisostomo Ibarra, directed by Nonong Padilla. Vic Del Rosario of Viva saw her performance and offered her the lead in Wanted: Perfect Mother, a movie adaptation of the Mars Ravelo
comic book series, loosely based on The Sound of Music. Martin Nievera
wrote the theme, "You Are My Song," one of Velasquez's original hit singles. The movie was her first starring role and first pairing with Christopher De Leon
.
On April 20, 1996, she did a free concert at the UP Sunken Garden
to celebrate her tenth year in show business. It was her way of thanking her country for supporting her all these years. The special guests were Ivy Violan, Nanette Inventor, Bernardo Bernardo, the Tux, Louie Ocampo
, Janno Gibbs
and Cacai Velasquez. Velasquez herself was the stage director and she conceptualized the show. The musical director was Ryan Cayabyab
. They were backed up by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
. In the same year, Velasquez recorded a Christmas album, Love Was Born on Christmas Day, her final album under Polycosmic Records. She also ended her contract with Primeline, Inc., opting to manage her own career with her sister, Cacai Velasquez.
June 7, 1997, Velasquez and Philippine Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma
staged the "Power of 2" concert in San Francisco and Pasadena
in the U.S. The show was huge with over 12,000 people in attendance. Afterwards, she had a Canada concert tour (Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary) and shows with Pops Fernandez in Italy which were all successful.
Viva Records released her multi-platinum R&B and hip hop
album Drawn, produced by Mark J. Feist
, featuring a portrait made by Velasquez on the cover. Songs like "How Could You Leave," "Never Ever Say Goodbye," and more upbeat songs like "Once in a Lifetime" and "Messin' With My Head" celebrated her vocal power, technique, and versatility. A mix of original and cover tracks with an R&B flair comprised the album. The only Filipino track in the album, "Ikaw (You)," was the theme song of her movie with matinee idol Aga Muhlach. The single "Emotions" was produced by Mark Feist, who later produced the Destiny's Child cover of the same song in 2001 with very little variation. Velasquez also developed a more sexy public image, distancing herself from her former demure one.
Drawn was the one of Velasquez best selling albums: Two weeks after its release, it turned platinum with 40,000 copies sold and ended up on 8x Platinum (350,000+ copies sold). It was considered the figure two weeks after the set of its release. Drawn was officially available on November 22, 1998 but, according to VMG advertising and promotion manager Bambi Diploma, a number of outlets sold the album around November 16, 1998.
Eventually, her star shone brighter year after year. Velasquez became an international star and released three multi-platinum albums in Asia. She toured the Philippines and other countries, captivating jam-packed crowds with her performances. She was really a crowd favorite, in large part to her charm and endearing personality. "I work hard at what I do. I try to do better all the time," she says.
a mnemonic of (Regine 2000) which consists covers of international artists. It went platinum (40,000) within 2 weeks of its release on Nov. 27, 1999, it is also the first album by a local artist to include a bonus VCD
that is available only include in the album, contains 6 videos of songs from the audio CD. In 2001R2k reportedly ended up with the certification of Octuple Platinum Record Award which equivalent in the Philippines
of 8X Platinum (350,000+ copies sold).
But in 2004 it was reportedly certified 12X Platinum (480,000+ copies sold), but never awarded by its own label.
On the evening of 31 December 1999, Christian Lanzar a Hemophilia stricken child was joined by more than 2,000 children, some who arrived as early as 10:00 a.m. to rehearse, at the top of Manila Peninsula Hotel. "I was gathering enough energy and strength to face a magnificent milestone in my life," said Christian. Velasquez joined the contingent to perform the country's millennial theme, "Written in the Sand" was beamed to 67 major broadcast networks in Asia
, Europe
, North America
, South America
, Australia
, and Africa
— reaching more than a billion of people. The first to view the broadcast were the people of the Kiribati Islands in Fiji
, and the song crossed 24 time zones, culminating in the Samoa Islands.
Two years later, Velasquez released an all-original album titled Reigne. The album included songs like "To Reach You," "Dadalhin," and "Sa Aking Pag-iisa"which had a remix version. She also worked with singer Marvi Napoles in reviving Mariah Carey
/Brian Mcknight
Whenever You Call.
Velasquez became the spokesperson for American fast-food chains like KFC
and Wendy's
in Asia. As an actress, she appeared in a number of Filipino films. In 2002, she won Best Actress from Star Awards for Television in her portrayal of a retarded woman seeking acceptance and love. She also released the film "Ikaw Lamang, Hanggang Ngayon" and received an MTV Asia award for "Best Philippine Artist,". She was named the "Box Office Queen" award the same year from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial foundation.
She also staged the Bantay Bata Benefit concert, One Night with Regine, set at the stairs of the Philippine National Museum which won Best Musical Special at the 2003 Asian Television Awards. Her MTV Asia special entitled Speak Your Mind was nominated for the UNICEF Child Rights Awards. The production was highly commended for its agenda on child welfare, documenting the plight of homeless children swarming the streets of Metro Manila, in an effort to protect and safeguard their rights.
She also hosted the amateur singing contest Star For A Night which aimed to discover new talents. The weekly show was aired on IBC-13 and was a co-production with Viva.
Velasquez became the first and second recipient of the MTV Favorite Artist Award (Philippines) in 2002. During the 2002 award ceremony held in Singapore
, she sang "Cry
" in a duet with Mandy Moore
, one of the hosts.
In 2003, Velasquez reunited with Martin Nievera
in the Martín Nievera and Regine Velasquez World Concert Tour. The concert was an artistic and commercial success. The first quarter of 2004 saw Velasquez and co-artist, singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid
in much-anticipated back-to-back concerts entitled The Songbird and the Songwriter. Velasquez formed her own record label called Songbird Music in that same year. She produced an album for Gabby Eigenmann who was her co-host in SOP. Velasquez won her MTV Favorite Artist Award (Philippines) for the second time in MTV Asia Awards
.
In 2004, Velasquez released Covers Vol. 1
, comprising cover songs including Original Pilipino Music (OPM) classics of male singers like Basil Valdez
, Martin Nievera
, Gary Valenciano
, Ogie Alcasid
, Side A, True Faith, and Ariel Rivera
. Velasquez transferred her amateur singing contest to GMA-7 and changed the name to Search For A Star.
Velasquez starred in GMA's telenovela
Forever In My Heart opposite Richard Gomez
, Dawn Zulueta, and former flame Ariel Rivera
. December 2004 was Velasquez return to major solo concert performance. She staged in a 24,000 seat Araneta Coliseum
another set of back-to-back concert performances regally titled Reigning Still. The show was triumphant amidst a series of typhoons that ravaged Manila and nearby provinces. Reigning Still wasn't a culmination of Velasquez' career, it was a bridge to a new level in her career – maturity – in performance and in work. She moved on with the event and for two consecutive nights, Regine conquered the Araneta Coliseum
again on her own. The concert was not full to its maximum capacity on the first night (considering that Manila's streets are still flooded at that time) but the second night was a real full house. Never mind since it has been declared Sold Out two weeks before the concert which means even if people didn't make it, tickets were already bought and sold. That's very important especially that Velasquez donned the hat of producer and director. The concert was a showcase of what Velasquez has learned in her craft through the years. It is a spectacle of her running concepts, ideas and style where you can see a Velasquez touch in every detail of it. The concert though was more pop in nature, high spirited, experimental and upbeat, following the trend of recent concerts by Britney Spears
, Janet Jackson
, and Christina Aguilera
In 2005, Velasquez and singer Pops Fernandez
performed a concert, Queens On Fire, later taking it on an eight-city U.S. tour.
Velasquez held the Reflections Concert series at Aliw Theatre late that year. The stage was decorated with mannequins wearing her gowns from the past decade which were later auctioned for the benefit of GMA's Kapuso Foundation. The concert featured the prodigies "Wyeth Gifted Kids" (saxophonist Jacob Sarreal, violinists Joseph Valdés and Paulina, and classical cellist Pocholo Gutiérrez). The concert featured songs by her favorite singers or the foreign female singers who have influenced her career. The concert consisted of numerous medleys of hits by Barbra Streisand
, Anita Baker
, Sheena Easton
, Spice Girls
, Mariah Carey
, Whitney Houston
, and Celine Dion
.
Velasquez hosted Pinoy Pop Superstar
(a singing competition on GMA 7 which started last 2005 until 2008) which launched the career of Jonalyn Viray
(1st Pinoy Pop Superstar Grand Champion who also competed at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood where she won five golds for Broadway, Original, Pop, R&B and Variety categories & was declared "Overall Champion Female Solo" in Broadway, Pop and Original).
She recorded the theme song "Di Na Nag-iisa" for the Darna TV series, based on the Darna
comic book character created by Mars Ravelo
. The theme song was composed by South Border's Jay Durias and the song was nominated for an Aliw Award for Best Song Made For Television. The song was also used in the movie Till I Met You
and is included in the original sound track.
's "Blue Suede Shoes
" and The Beatles
' "Come Together". All of the songs were presented with new arrangements in various musical genres. The first single was "Hold Me In Your Arms," covering the Southern Sons song.
Her Valentine concert at the Araneta Coliseum
, Forever After, co-starred Ogie Alcasid
, Rico Puno, and Ai Ai Delas Alas. She and Pops Fernandez
staged the North American leg of the Queens on Fire concert tour in the spring of 2006. The Forever After tour was staged in key US cities and at the Wembley Arena
in London.
On August 13, 2006, the Sharon Cuneta Show devoted an to Velasquez. In the middle of 2006, together with manager Cacai Velasquez, boyfriend Ogie Alcasid, and brother-in-law Raul Mitra, Velasquez launched the IndiMusic record label. As part of her 20th anniversary celebration, she staged Twenty concert, at the Araneta Coliseum
in mid-October 2006. Velasquez also recorded "Maghihintay Ako," the theme song for the sci-fi telenovela Atlantika.
In 2007, People Asia magazine's "People of the Year" honored her with the Exemplary Achievement Award, shared with three others. On March 14, Velasquez together with Kuh Ledesma represented the Philippines in the Mosaic International Music Festival in Singapore held at the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
Her movie, Paano Kita Iibigin
, opened on May 30, 2007. The movie was the first co-production between Viva Films
and Star Cinema
which is owned by media conglomerate ABS-CBN
. A soundtrack, featuring solos and duets by the co-stars, was released by Star Records, the first time Velasquez produced an album outside Viva Entertainment. The theme song was penned by Ogie Alcasid.
In August 2007, Velasquez and Alcasid started hosting Celebrity Duets
(Philippines) on GMA 7. The show pairs up local personalities with local professional singers. Velásquez also endorsed Vicki Belo's "Belo Essentials," which includes singer Zsa Zsa Padilla
and model/TV personality Lucy Torres. This year she recorded the theme song of GMA's remake of MariMar. In October 2007, she appeared on the cover of the fashion magazine "Preview".
Velasquez attended the 2007 Aliw Awards held at Palacio de Maynila and won "Best Major Concert Act (Female)" for her 20th year anniversary concert at the Araneta Coliseum. Velasquez was also awarded "The Most Successful Artist of the Year" award by Walk Of Fame Philippines on December 4, 2007 in Eastwood, Quezon City
.
Velasquez had a featured performance on Korean television KBS1 entitled Window of Asia showcasing her life.
She also starred a weekly musical variety show on GMA7 titled Songbird which premiered May 15, 2008.
The "Up Close and Personal" solo U.S concert tour started in May 2008.
A series of concerts with Lani Misalucha
started with a tour of the US and Canada in September 2008 before moving to Manila
in 2009. Also in 2008, Velasquez released her 15th studio album, Low Key, which earned a certified gold status three days after its release. In December 2008, she performed with Pops Fernandez
, Kuh Ledesma
, and Zsa Zsa Padilla in the biggest concert of the year at the Araneta Coliseum
dubbed as Divas 4 Divas.
became the first platinum album of 2009.
Velasquez also played Anna in the series Totoy Bato
, a soap in GMA-7. In March and May 2009, she went on tour in the US to stage The Divas 4 Divas US Tour; also, in 2009, Velásquez hosted the GMA singing competition, Are You The Next Big Star?
.
Velasquez did a docu-biography show which aired May 24, 2009 on GMA Network as part of her month-long birthday celebration entitled "Roots To Riches." The show featured untold stories, "going back to Regine's roots from her amateur singing days in Malolos, Bulacan up to where she is now." She also gave citation to her young rival in singing competitions, Minerva "Eva" Castillo
. They joined in one stage singing, "Ako Ang Nagwagi".
After being scheduled to perform at a concert with Charice Pempengco
, Velasquez was forced to pull out after contracting the swine flu. She has since recovered.
At the final requiem mass for President Corazon Aquino
, August 5, 2009, Velásquez sang a duet with Martin Nievera
, "The Prayer."
Velásquez held a two-night concert entitled "Regine... Most Requested" at the SkyDome, SM North EDSA, which marked her return to the Viva fold. Eva Castillo appeared as her special guest. Early December, she started her most requested concert in provincial places and early next year she is scheduled to finish her provincial tours
In August 28, 2010, Velasquez launched her signature perfumes collection via Bench with two scents available called Reigne and Songbird.
In 2010, Velasquez started the year by accepting a comic-villain role in GMA-7's Darna. She starred as Elektra The Planet Woman. At the same time, went on to conclude the provincial tour of her SRO 2009 concert series, "Regine Most Requested". Also in March 2010, she starred in the primetime-musical series offering of GMA Network for their 60th Anniversary entitled Diva.
Velasquez attended the inauguration of the 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines Noynoy Aquino at the Quirino Grandstand on June 30, 2010, performing Aquino's first campaign jingle "Hindi Ka Nagiisa" and "Bagong Pilipinas" together with other Filipino artists.
For the fourth time (2000-9, 2001–4, 2002–7), Velasquez was ranked 8th in the top 10 of FHM Philippines 100 Sexiest Woman In The World.
In November 2010, Velasquez started shooting a GMA-7 teleserye, "I Heart U Pare", set to premiere on early 2011.
Velasquez released an album under Universal Records
entitled Fantasy
, a 2-CD album containing 22 tracks. Fantasy also has two sets of packaging. Each box-set contains 10 sets of post-cards that are in color and in black and white. Fantasy was awarded a Gold Record Award two weeks after its release, and after one month it was awarded as Platinum Record Award making it one of the fastest selling albums of 2010 in Philippine albums history.
In 2011, Velasquez received a MYX Magna Award 2011 in the 6th MYX Music Awards 2011
.
In June 2011 Velasquez was nominated as Coolest Female Singer in 2011 Yahoo Philippines OMG Awards, She got 43% of the over all votes, but she lost it to Charice Pempengco
with 54% of over all votes.
Velasquez' returned to the cinema in 1996 for her first lead role in the film Wanted Perfect Mother. Also in that same year, she was one of three lead actresses in the musical comedy Do Re Mi alongside Donna Cruz
and Mikee Cojuangco. Despite being part of the movie, Velasquez' vocals were not part in recording of the movie's soundtrack, as it was an then-upcoming VIVA Records singer named Krystine, who sang vocals on her part. In the movie version, Velasquez was able to record her vocals just in time before the movie was released.
In 1998's Honey Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako, she played a ghost who died in a car accident days before her wedding day. Also, Velasquez co-starred with Aga Muhlach
in the romantic film Dahil May Isang Ikaw. Later, in 2000, she starred in Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw with Robin Padilla
. In 2001 she starred in Pangako Ikaw Lang which earned her a Box-Office Queen award from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation.
Velasquez acted in two more romantic films in 2002 and 2003; Ikaw Lamang, Hanggang Ngayon and Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka. In December 2003, she appeared in Captain Barbell.
Velasquez returned to the romance genre in 2006 and 2007 with Till I Met You
and Paano Kita Iibigin
. In June 2008, she was the voice of Urduja in the animated
film Urduja.
In 2009, Velasquez, conceptualized the story for OMG (Oh, My Girl!)
and she will appear in a cameo role as a production assistant.
Velasquez is currently filming Mrs. Recto, an indie film under the direction of Director Dante Nico Garcia. Her third reunion movie with Aga Muhlach, Of All The Things.
announced their engagement at Party Pilipinas
on August 8, 2010 after 7 years. By December 22, 2010 Velasquez had married Ogie Alcasid in Terrazas de Punta Fuego in Nasugbu Batangas.
In April 2011, She and her husband confirmed the news of her pregnancy through the same afternoon-variety show, Party Pilipinas
.
In November 8, 2011, at exactly 7:47pm, Velasquez gave birth to her and husband Ogie Alcasid's first born, Nathaniel James Velasquez Alcasid at the Makati Medical Center.
of Duty Free Philippines anti-drug campaign has an aim to fight drugs in the Philippines.
In 1995 Velasquez performed to the Singapore
's National Kidney Foundation, the HongKong AIDS Foundation, the Hong KongPhilharmonic Orchestra. The proceeds goes to the cited charitable event.
In 1999 Velasquez and the Municipality of Pasig did a fund raising event called Muling Aawit ang Pasig it was the concert were Velasquez performed, the proceeds goes to the rehabilitation of Pasig River
. Later on it was followed with another event called Piso Para sa Pasig also starred by Velasquez all the proceeds goes to the cited recipient.
In 2002 Unicef picked Velasquez as the one of their Ambassadors in Asia
. As one of her first project, Velasquez did a documentary MTV Asia special entitled Speak Your Mind which was nominated for the UNICEF Child Rights Awards. The production was highly commended for its agendum on child welfare, documenting the plight of homeless children swarming the streets of Metro Manila, in an effort to protect and safeguard their rights.
In May 2002, Velasquez staged the Bantay Bata Benefit concert, One Night with Regine, set at the stairs of the Philippine National Museum which won Best Musical Special at the 2003 Asian Television Awards.
In 2005 Velasquez sold 40 of her gowns in an auction sale launched on October 23, 2005 on the Mel & Joey talk show with the proceeds going to GMA 7's Give a Gift: Alay sa Batang Pinoy project which desires to give some needs for those in need. The auction resulted in more than P 800,000 (Philippine Peso).
In response to Thypoon Ondoy in 2009, Velasquez joined other celebreties who donated more than P 300,000 for the victims and she did a relief works in the affected areas. In December 2009, Velasquez did a Musical Special called After The Rain starring the stories of the families that has been affected by the Thypoon.
In 2010 Velasquez was named as one of the ambassadors of Operation Smile
a non-government organization, which provides medical treatment to children with Cleft palet.
Television
Notable guest appearances
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
singer, actress, record producer and TV host. She won the 1989 Asia Pacific Singing Contest in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and is widely known for possessing a wide and powerful vocal range.
Velasquez is the first Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n artist to stage a solo concert at the Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, as part of Carnegie Hall's centennial-year concert series.
In 1994, Polygram Records produced her first Asia-released album, "Listen Without Prejudice". It is considered as Velasquez' most successful album to date, selling more than 1.2 million copies in Asia. It sold over 700,000 units in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, making it the best-selling album in the country by a foreign artist until 1999. The album has sold over 100,000 units in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and over 320,000 units in other Asian countries.
She has collaborated with artists such as Paul Anka
Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
, David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff
David Michael Hasselhoff is an American actor, singer, producer and businessman. He is best known for his lead roles as Michael Knight in the popular 1980s US series Knight Rider and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the series Baywatch...
, 98 Degrees
98 Degrees
98 Degrees is an American adult contemporary boy band consisting of four vocalists: brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons. The group was formed by Timmons in Los Angeles, California....
, Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
, Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore
Amanda Leigh "Mandy" Moore is an American singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Moore became famous as a teenager in the late 1990s, after the release of her teen pop albums So Real, I Wanna Be with You, and Mandy Moore. In 2007, she took an adult pop-folk direction with the release of...
, Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
, Stephen Bishop
Stephen Bishop (musician)
Stephen Bishop is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and guitarist.-History:Bishop was born in San Diego, California, and attended Will C. Crawford High School...
, Jim Brickman
Jim Brickman
Jim Brickman is an American songwriter and pianist. He has been named the most charted male Adult Contemporary artist to date, with six of his albums receiving Gold and Platinum status. He is known for his solo piano compositions, pop-style instrumentals, and vocal collaborations with artists...
, Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina...
, Jeffrey Osborne
Jeffrey Osborne
Jeffrey Linton Osborne is an American funk and R&B musician, songwriter, lyricist, and former lead singer of the band, L.T.D.-Early life and career:...
, Dave Koz
Dave Koz
Dave Koz is an American smooth jazz saxophonist.- Life and career :Dave Koz was born on March 27, 1963 in Encino, California....
, Grasshopper
Grasshopper (band)
Grasshopper is a Hong Kong Cantopop boy group formed in 1982. The band consists of Edmond So Chi Wai, Calvin Choy Yat Chi and Remus Choy Yat Kit. Calvin and Remus are brothers and grew up with neighbour Edmond in a poor neighbourhood in Hong Kong. It was Remus who was interested in dancing and...
, Coco Lee
CoCo Lee
Coco Lee , born on 17 January 1975, also known by her official English name as Ferren Lee, is a pop singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. Coco started her career in Hong Kong but, after becoming popular in Taiwan, she was widely considered to be a Taiwan artist. She was born to a Chinese...
, Michel Legrand
Michel Legrand
Michel Jean Legrand is a French musical composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist...
, David Pomeranz
David Pomeranz
David Pomeranz is an American singer, composer, lyricist, and writer for musical theatre. He is also ambassador for Operation SmileBorn in Reno and raised on Long Island, Pomeranz expressed interest in music from an early age, singing in the synagogue choir, learning to play the piano, guitar, and...
, Eduardo Capetillo
Eduardo Capetillo
Eduardo Capetillo is a Mexican actor and singer. He was born in Mexico City, Mexico. He belongs to the Capetillo family, who have a long tradition of being bullfighters....
, Fernando Carrillo
Fernando Carrillo
Fernando Enrique Carrillo Roselli is a Venezuelan actor.Carrillo was married to fellow Venezuelan actress Catherine Fulop, whom he met on the set of Abigail, one of the most popular South American soap operas of the 1980s...
, and Billy Crawford
Billy Crawford
Billy Joe Crawford is a Filipino-American recording artist, singer-songwriter and philanthropist.Crawford is a Bilingual Filipino Singer. His second language is English and he is conversational in French. Crawford not only lived in New York City, USA, but also in Paris for five years and for one...
. "In Love With You", a duet with Jacky Cheung
Jacky Cheung
Jacky Cheung is a Hong Kong singer-songwriter and actor. The Chinese language media refers to him, Aaron Kwok, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings , with more than 60 million records sold as of 2000....
, landed the top spot in MTV Asia's Top 20 Asian Videos in 2000.
In 2000, She performed the country's millennial theme Written In The Sand together with 2,000 children in the top-roof of The Peninsula Manila
The Peninsula Manila
The Peninsula Manila , is a 5-star hotel in the Philippines. It is located on the corner of Ayala Avenue and Makati Avenue in the central business district of Makati City, wherein it is now a landmark because of its majestic fountain and falls in Metro Manila. It is located also in Barangay Urdaneta...
, televised in 67 broadcast networks throughout the world to coincide with midnight in Manila for the BBC's
BBC Television Centre
BBC Television Centre at White City in West London is the headquarters of BBC Television. Officially opened on 29 June 1960, it remains one of the largest to this day; having featured over the years as backdrop to many BBC programmes, it is one of the most readily recognisable such facilities...
millennium special 2000 Today
2000 Today
The Millennium Event - 2000 Today was an internationally-broadcast television special commemorating the beginning of the Year 2000. This program included New Year's Eve celebrations, musical performances, and other features from participating nations....
.
She has also embarked on several television and film projects, receiving a Best Actress award for her portrayal of a mentally challenged
Developmental disability
Developmental disability is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe lifelong disabilities attributable to mental or physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18. It is not synonymous with "developmental delay" which is often a consequence of a temporary illness or trauma during...
woman in a Maalaala Mo Kaya
Maalaala Mo Kaya
Maalaala Mo Kaya is a Philippine drama anthology series broadcast on ABS-CBN every Saturday evening and being hosted by Charo Santos-Concio. Currently, it became the longest-running drama anthology on Philippine television and on Asia...
episode entitled "Lobo". Velasquez formed IndiMusic (iMusic), a record label partnered with Bella Tan's Universal Records. She is currently managed by Aria Productions.
Today, Velasquez is the Best Selling Artist Of All Time in the Philippines. She has sold more than 7,000,000 albums in the Philippines and also in Asia with more than 2,000,000 sales.
1970–1985: Early life and discovery
Velasquez is the first child of Teresita and Gerardo Velasquez, born in Tondo, Metro ManilaTondo, Manila
Tondo is a district of Manila, Philippines. The locale has existed prior to the arrival of the Spanish, referred to as "Tundun" in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. One of the most densely populated areas of land in the world, Tondo is located in the northwest portion of the city and is primarily...
, Philippines on April 22, 1970. Her family moved to Hinundayan, Southern Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
, where Velasquez studied at the Hinundayan Central School.
Music figured largely in her early development; her father always sang Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
songs to the children and her mother accompanied on guitar. Velasquez always loved music and even before she could read, she was singing along with the family. Her father signed her up for small local singing competitions. He helped train her voice by having her sing while neck-deep in the ocean. Her mother also helped by teaching her how to move on stage and interpret songs. At the age of six, Velasquez participated in a nationally-televised amateur singing competition, The Tita Betty's Children's Show. Her piece, "Buhat Nang Kita'y Makilala" (Since I Met You), won third place. Velasquez continued to compete in more singing competitions in small towns around the country. By nine, Velasquez and her family had moved to Balagtas, Bulacan, where she studied at Balagtas Central School. She later studied at St. Lawrence Academy, where she won Vocal Solo and Vocal Duet awards for her school at the annual BULPRISA (Bulacan Private School Association) competition.
At fourteen, Velasquez entered the senior division of Ang Bagong Kampeon
Ang Bagong Kampeon
Ang Bagong Kampeon was a nationally televised amateur singing contest that aired on Radio Philippines Network in the Philippines. It was hosted by the late Bert Marcelo and Pilita Corrales...
(The New Champion), a nationally-televised singing competition, hosted by Bert "Tawa" Marcelo and Pilita Corrales
Pilita Corrales
Pilita Garrido Corrales is a Popular Filipina singer. She is tagged "Asia's Queen of Songs."-Biography:Pilita Garrido Corrales was born in Lahug, Cebu to a Spanish mother Maria Garrido and a half Filipino half Spanish father Jose Corrales...
. Her father suggested that she audition with "Saan Ako Nagkamali" (Where Did I Go Wrong). She won for eight straight weeks and became the first grand champion of the show. The show's musical director, Dominic Salustiano, suggested her winning piece, George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
's "In Your Eyes". She won a contract with OctoArts, recording the single "Love Me Again" as Chona Velasquez, her nickname at the time. She then joined the Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), an organization of Filipino singers, performing in music lounges all over Metro Manila. Members of OPM helped her out by giving her industry advice and by lending their gowns for her performances.
1986–1987: Debuts
At the behest of friend and fellow OctoArts recording artist, Pops FernandezPops Fernández
Maria Cielito Lukban Fernandez , also known as Pops Fernandez, is a Filipino singer and actress. She is dubbed the "Concert Queen."-Career:...
, Velasquez guested on the GMA
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
7 Variety TV show, 'Penthouse Live', on February 16, 1986. Martin Nievera
Martin Nievera
Martin Ramon Razon Nievera is a singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the main hosts of musical variety show ASAP on ABS-CBN-Early life:...
, Pops' husband and co-host of the show, suggested to Velasquez that she drop the name "Chona" and use Regine as her screen name. That year, her father resigned from his job as a construction estimator to fully attend to his daughter's blossoming career.
Viva Records signed Velasquez to a contract in 1987, releasing her self-titled debut album Regine
Regine (album)
Regine is the first studio album by Filipino singer-actress Regine Velasquez, released on 1987 by Viva Records in the Philippines in CD and cassette format and later released on 2002 in digital download. The album was produced by Ronnie Henares, also her manager then...
. The album contained the songs "Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang," "Isang Lahi, " and "Urong Sulong."
Her first regularly televised performances were musical variety shows with ensemble casts, such as ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
's Triple Treat and the Sunday variety show Teen Pan Alley. Velasquez and Alley's Janno Gibbs
Janno Gibbs
Janno Ronaldo Gibbs is a Filipino singer and actor–comedian. He is a regular host of GMA Network television shows SOP Rules , Nuts Entertainment, Eat Bulaga, Kakasa Ka Ba Sa Grade 5?, and Power of 10 . He played as Geron Agular in Codename: Asero...
continued to collaborate throughout the years, creating the musical Kenkoy at Rosing, recording the cover song "Magkasuyo Buong Gabi," and performing duets in concert.
1988–1991: International exposure
In 1988, Velasquez cut her hair short out of protestations that she was not given a chance to stage her first concert entitled, "True Colors" because "The JetsThe Jets (band)
The Jets are a family band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, composed of brothers and sisters who specialize in pop, R&B, and dance music, particularly Latin freestyle.The group officially formed in 1985, with the original lineup fizzling out by 1990...
" were performing on that same day which was on her 18th birthday.
In 1989, Velasquez was chosen to represent the Philippines in the Asia-Pacific Singing Contest held in Hong Kong. On Dececember 23, 1989, Velasquez won the grand prize with "You'll Never Walk Alone
You'll Never Walk Alone (song)
"You'll Never Walk Alone" is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel.In the musical, in the second act, Nettie Fowler, the cousin of the female protagonist Julie Jordan, sings "You'll Never Walk Alone" to comfort and encourage Julie when her husband, Billy Bigelow, the...
" from Carousel
Carousel (musical)
Carousel is the second stage musical by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II . The work premiered in 1945 and was adapted from Ferenc Molnár's 1909 play Liliom, transplanting its Budapest setting to the Maine coastline...
and "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" is a torch song from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, with lyrics by Tom Eyen and music by Henry Krieger...
" from Dreamgirls. After the competition, media started calling her "Asia's Songbird."
Jose Mari Chan
José Mari Chan
Jose Mari Chan is a Chinese Filipino singer, songwriter and businessman in the sugar industry. He was born in Iloilo City on March 11, 1945. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1967...
, picked Velasquez to do a duet for his album entitled Constant Change. The album was awarded a Certified Diamond Record Award by the PRIMA
PHIL Music
The Philippine Association of the Record Industry or PARI is the Philippine equivalent to the American RIAA.The Philippine Association of the Record Industry , a non-profit, non-stock, purely private industry organization, was organized in 1972.-Objectives:* To promote and develop a legitimate and...
. Gary Valenciano
Gary Valenciano
Edgardo Jose Martin Santiago Valenciano , better known as Gary Valenciano or Gary V., is a Filipino musician. He is also dubbed as Mr. Pure Energy. He has released 26 albums, and won the Awit Awards for "Best Male Performer" 11 times. In 1998, he became UNICEF Philippines first national Ambassador...
penned the song 'Each Passing Night' which they sang together for his album 'Faces of Love'.
Velasquez signed with Vicor
Vicor Music Corporation
Vicor Music Corporation is one of the major record labels in the Philippines with a tag-line as "The Home of Original Pilipino Music". Its office is located at 782 Aurora Blvd., Quezon City, Philippines. Established in 1965 by Vic Del Rosario and Orly Ilacad to produce record albums featuring...
records and released several albums, starting with Nineteen 90
Nineteen 90
Nineteen '90 is the second studio album from Filipina singer-actress Regine Velasquez-Alcasid on November 1989. When it was released, Velasquez was a new contract artist for Vicor Music Corp. and has signed up under Primeline Management Team under Ronnie Henares and Ida Henares. The album was...
. The album included t "Narito Ako" ("Here I Am"), her first Ogie Alcasid
Ogie Alcasid
Herminio Jhay Alcasid, Jr., more popularly known as Ogie "Eric Ordoñez" Alcasid , is a Filipino singer, songwriter, composer, television presenter, comedian, parodist, actor, and entrepreneur.-Recording career:...
-penned song, "I Have To Say Goodbye, " and "Promdi". Her first major solo concert, Narito Ako, was standing-room only at the Folk Arts Theater, with Gary Valenciano
Gary Valenciano
Edgardo Jose Martin Santiago Valenciano , better known as Gary Valenciano or Gary V., is a Filipino musician. He is also dubbed as Mr. Pure Energy. He has released 26 albums, and won the Awit Awards for "Best Male Performer" 11 times. In 1998, he became UNICEF Philippines first national Ambassador...
as a guest performer.
Velasquez's debut United States solo concert, Narito Ako sa New York (Here I Am in New York), was held at the Main Hall of Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
on October 11, 1991.
Her special guest was Ray-An Fuentes. The concert was a roaring success that earned three standing ovations from the audience.
She sang "Urong-Sulong" and "Narito Ako" plus "I'm Your Baby Tonight
I'm Your Baby Tonight
I'm Your Baby Tonight is the third studio album by American pop/R&B singer Whitney Houston; released by Arista Records on November 6, 1990. Following the run of this album, Houston continued to achieve widespread commercial success throughout the 1990s, venturing heavily into films—while...
" "Greatest Love of All
Greatest Love of All
"The Greatest Love of All" is a song written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed and originally recorded by George Benson for the 1977 Muhammad Ali biopic The Greatest. The song was later popularized by Whitney Houston. Creed wrote the lyrics in the midst of her struggle with breast cancer...
," "You'll Never Walk Alone
You'll Never Walk Alone
You'll Never Walk Alone is a song from the musical Carousel, a pop standard and football club anthem, for example that of Liverpool F.C.You'll Never Walk Alone may also refer to:* You'll Never Walk Alone , studio album...
," "We Can Work It Out
We Can Work It Out
"We Can Work It Out" is a song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. It was released as a "double A-sided" single with "Day Tripper", the first time both sides of a single were so designated in an initial release...
," "Somewhere
Somewhere (song)
"Somewhere" is a song from the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story which was made into a film in 1961. The music is composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and takes a phrase from the slow movement of Beethoven's 'Emperor' Piano Concerto, which forms the start of the...
" and a Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
medley and romance medley with guest Ray An Fuentes.
She next released an album, Tagala Talaga
Tagala Talaga
Tagala Talaga is the third studio album by Filipino singer-actress Regine Velasquez, released on October 1991 by Vicor Records in the Philippines in CD and cassette format. It is her second album from Vicor Music Corporation after Nineteen 90...
("A Genuine Tagalog
Tagalog people
The Tagalog people are an ethnic group in the Philippines. The name Tagalog comes from either the native term tagá-ilog, meaning 'people living along the river', or another native term, tagá-alog, meaning 'people living along the ford', a ford being a shallow part of a river or stream where people,...
Lady"). It comprises her renditions of classic Filipino compositions by Nonong Pedero, Willy Cruz, George Canseco
George Canseco
George Masangkay Canseco was a Filipino song composer.Canseco studied liberal arts at University of the East...
, Louie Ocampo
Louie Ocampo
Louie Ocampo is a Filipino composer and arranger best known for his association with Martin Nievera. His numerous hits, mostly collaborations, include Tell Me, Kahit Isang Saglit, and You Are My Song....
, Freddie Aguilar
Freddie Aguilar
Ferdinand Pascual Aguilar , better known as Freddie Aguilar, is a folk musician from the Philippines. He is best known for his rendition of "Bayan Ko", which became the anthem for the opposition to the Marcos regime during the 1986 People Power Revolution, and for his song "Anak", the best-selling...
, and National Artists for Music Awardees Ryan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab is a Filipino musician and was the Executive and Artistic Director of the defunct San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts...
, Lucio D. San Pedro
Lucio D. San Pedro
Lucio San Pedro was born on February 11, 1913 in Angono, Rizal, the Philippines. He was a composer and teacher in the Philippines...
, and Levi Celerio
Levi Celerio
Levi Celerio was a Filipino composer and lyricist who was born in Manila, Philippines. Celerio was a prolific song-writer, with over 4,000 songs to his credit. He is perhaps best-known for being a leaf-player, a feat for which he was put into the Guinness Book of World Records...
.
1992–1998: Asian music scene
In 1992, Velasquez continued to guest on variety shows in the Philippines. In July 1993, she was discovered by Alex Chan and Norman Cheng, the Regional Marketing Manager of Polygram Far East and President of Polygram Far East watched Velasquez' "Music and Me" concert. Afterwards, they approached and told Velasquez that they wanted to manage her Asian career.First, they featured Velasquez in a duet with Paul Anka
Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
entitled "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" which is included in her fourth album, Reason Enough, which was released in 1993 and achieved platinum album status. It featured "Sana Maulit Muli," "Babalikang Muli," and a duet with Gary Valenciano
Gary Valenciano
Edgardo Jose Martin Santiago Valenciano , better known as Gary Valenciano or Gary V., is a Filipino musician. He is also dubbed as Mr. Pure Energy. He has released 26 albums, and won the Awit Awards for "Best Male Performer" 11 times. In 1998, he became UNICEF Philippines first national Ambassador...
, "Slip Away."
In November 4, 1994, Velasquez performed with Janno Gibbs
Janno Gibbs
Janno Ronaldo Gibbs is a Filipino singer and actor–comedian. He is a regular host of GMA Network television shows SOP Rules , Nuts Entertainment, Eat Bulaga, Kakasa Ka Ba Sa Grade 5?, and Power of 10 . He played as Geron Agular in Codename: Asero...
and Ariel Rivera
Ariel Rivera
Jose Ariel Jimenez Rivera was born on September 1, 1966 in Manila, Philippines but has since migrated with his family to Canada. Rivera was an architect in Canada before his singing talent was accidentally discovered while vacationing in the Philippines. He has since become a successful...
at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. About 6,100 people came. Then on November 12, 1994 they performed at Cow Palace Auditorium in San Francisco; ticket sales exceeded 8,200. On November 18, 1994 they performed at the Beacon Theatre in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
wherein 400 standing-room-only tickets were released along with 3,000 seats sold out two weeks before the concert date.
PolyGram Records produced her first Asian album, Listen Without Prejudice. "In Love With You," a duet with Jacky Cheung
Jacky Cheung
Jacky Cheung is a Hong Kong singer-songwriter and actor. The Chinese language media refers to him, Aaron Kwok, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings , with more than 60 million records sold as of 2000....
, turned platinum in Taiwan seven days after its release. In its year-end sales of 1994, Listen Without Prejudice reported sales of over 300,000+ units in Asia in three months. It was reportedly the first huge success of PolyGram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
in Asia.
Velasquez' second album, My Love Emotion
My Love Emotion
My Love Emotion is the seventh studio album of Filipino singer-actress Regine Velasquez. It was released on 1995 in the Philippines under Polycosmic Records, distributed by Mercury Records and also in other part of Asia like Hong Kong, Japan, China and Thailand under PolyGram Records...
, featured "You've Made Me Stronger," composed by Trina Belamide
Trina Belamide
Trina Belamide is a Filipino songwriter and record producer. According to the Manila Times she has written songs for most of the Philippines' top recording artists....
. Velasquez said that this album was born from a live performance in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. She performed in Singapore for the Perfect 10 Music Awards in 1995. She was nominated in two categories (Favorite New Act and Favorite Performance in a song for "In Love With You") but lost. She sang "In Love With You" with a Singaporean singer and "What Kind of Fool Am I?". After singing "What Kind of Fool Am I?" Phil Buckle (the guitarist of Southern Sons
Southern Sons
Southern Sons was an Australian band, originally billed as The State, best known in Australia in the early 90's for their hits 'Heart In Danger' and 'Hold Me In Your Arms'...
, an Australian band) congratulated Velasquez and told her that he'd like to write her a song. Phil composed "My Love Emotion," which is the title of the album. She did two videos for "You've Made Me Stronger" and "My Love Emotion" and sold 100,000 copies Asia-wide on the first month of its release. In the year-end sales of "My Love Emotion," it sold more than 250,000 units across Asia.
As a part of her My Love Emotion Japanese album launch, Velasquez was invited to perform in many concert guestings, Asian music gatherings, and festivals such as Yoshinogari
Yoshinogari, Saga
is a town located in Kanzaki District, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is the result of a merger between the town of Mitagawa, and the village of Higashisefuri, both from Kanzaki District, on March 1, 2006.-Geography:...
Ruins in Saga Prefecture
Saga Prefecture
is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...
1994 and 1995 when she did the opening and closing numbers.
Before Velasquez participated in the Asian music scene in Manila in October 18, 1996, her third Asian album Retro
Retro (Regine Velasquez album)
Retro is the eighth studio album of Filipino singer-actress Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, released in 1996 through Polycosmic Records Inc., under MCA-Phil in the Philippines and through Mercury Records under PolyGram Records as pan-Asian studio album....
was released. The album contains re-arrangements of her favorite songs. She and Remus Choy made a video for the duet "I Can't Help It."
As a part of her Retro album promotion, Velasquez guested and performed with some of the songs included in her album at the event called The Open Concert in South Korea.
Velasquez joined Ryan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab is a Filipino musician and was the Executive and Artistic Director of the defunct San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts...
's musical adaptation of José Rizal
José Rizal
José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda , was a Filipino polymath, patriot and the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. He is regarded as the foremost Filipino patriot and is listed as one of the national heroes of the Philippines by...
's Noli Me Tangere
Noli Me Tangere (novel)
Noli Me Tangere is a novel by Filipino polymath José Rizal and first published in 1887 in Berlin, Germany. Early English translations used titles like An Eagle Flight and The Social Cancer, but more recent translations have been published using the original Latin title.Though originally written in...
at the CCP
Cultural Center of the Philippines
The Cultural Center of the Philippines is a government-owned and controlled corporation established to preserve, develop and promote arts and culture in the Philippines. The CCP was established through Executive Order No. 30 s. 1966 by President Ferdinand Marcos...
in 1995. She played the tragic role of Maria Clara opposite Audie Gemora's Crisostomo Ibarra, directed by Nonong Padilla. Vic Del Rosario of Viva saw her performance and offered her the lead in Wanted: Perfect Mother, a movie adaptation of the Mars Ravelo
Mars Ravelo
Mars Ravelo was a Filipino graphic novelist who created the characters Darna, Dyesebel, Captain Barbell, Lastikman, Bondying, Varga, Wanted: Perfect Mother, Hiwaga, Maruja, Mariposa, Roberta, Rita, Buhay Pilipino, Jack and Jill, Flash Bomba, Tiny Tony, and Dragonna among others.-Biography:Mars...
comic book series, loosely based on The Sound of Music. Martin Nievera
Martin Nievera
Martin Ramon Razon Nievera is a singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the main hosts of musical variety show ASAP on ABS-CBN-Early life:...
wrote the theme, "You Are My Song," one of Velasquez's original hit singles. The movie was her first starring role and first pairing with Christopher De Leon
Christopher De Leon
-2007 Elections:In 2007, he decided to run as Vice Governor of Batangas. This claims that if her former on screen partner, Vilma Santos won the governorship, then he might win as Vice Governor. He became the running mate of former police officer Nestor Sanares...
.
On April 20, 1996, she did a free concert at the UP Sunken Garden
University of the Philippines, Diliman
The University of the Philippines Diliman , is a coeducational and public research university located in Quezon City, Philippines. It is the flagship university, seat of administration, and the fourth oldest constituent university of the University of the Philippines System...
to celebrate her tenth year in show business. It was her way of thanking her country for supporting her all these years. The special guests were Ivy Violan, Nanette Inventor, Bernardo Bernardo, the Tux, Louie Ocampo
Louie Ocampo
Louie Ocampo is a Filipino composer and arranger best known for his association with Martin Nievera. His numerous hits, mostly collaborations, include Tell Me, Kahit Isang Saglit, and You Are My Song....
, Janno Gibbs
Janno Gibbs
Janno Ronaldo Gibbs is a Filipino singer and actor–comedian. He is a regular host of GMA Network television shows SOP Rules , Nuts Entertainment, Eat Bulaga, Kakasa Ka Ba Sa Grade 5?, and Power of 10 . He played as Geron Agular in Codename: Asero...
and Cacai Velasquez. Velasquez herself was the stage director and she conceptualized the show. The musical director was Ryan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab
Ryan Cayabyab is a Filipino musician and was the Executive and Artistic Director of the defunct San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts...
. They were backed up by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra is the nation's leading symphony orchestra and a resident company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines , located on Manila's shoreline...
. In the same year, Velasquez recorded a Christmas album, Love Was Born on Christmas Day, her final album under Polycosmic Records. She also ended her contract with Primeline, Inc., opting to manage her own career with her sister, Cacai Velasquez.
June 7, 1997, Velasquez and Philippine Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma
Kuh Ledesma
Kuh Ledesma is a popular Filipino pop and jazz singer. She is known in the Philippines as the "Pop Diva". Kuh Ledesma has been performing for 25 years in the music industry which encompasses more than 300 concerts, numerous awards in the Philippines, and 18 albums in the Philippine recording...
staged the "Power of 2" concert in San Francisco and Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
in the U.S. The show was huge with over 12,000 people in attendance. Afterwards, she had a Canada concert tour (Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary) and shows with Pops Fernandez in Italy which were all successful.
Viva Records released her multi-platinum R&B and hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
album Drawn, produced by Mark J. Feist
Mark J. Feist
Mark J. Feist is a multi-platinum producer/songwriter who has contributed to the sale of over 25 million records worldwide. Feist currently resides in Los Angeles, California.- Early Age :...
, featuring a portrait made by Velasquez on the cover. Songs like "How Could You Leave," "Never Ever Say Goodbye," and more upbeat songs like "Once in a Lifetime" and "Messin' With My Head" celebrated her vocal power, technique, and versatility. A mix of original and cover tracks with an R&B flair comprised the album. The only Filipino track in the album, "Ikaw (You)," was the theme song of her movie with matinee idol Aga Muhlach. The single "Emotions" was produced by Mark Feist, who later produced the Destiny's Child cover of the same song in 2001 with very little variation. Velasquez also developed a more sexy public image, distancing herself from her former demure one.
Drawn was the one of Velasquez best selling albums: Two weeks after its release, it turned platinum with 40,000 copies sold and ended up on 8x Platinum (350,000+ copies sold). It was considered the figure two weeks after the set of its release. Drawn was officially available on November 22, 1998 but, according to VMG advertising and promotion manager Bambi Diploma, a number of outlets sold the album around November 16, 1998.
Eventually, her star shone brighter year after year. Velasquez became an international star and released three multi-platinum albums in Asia. She toured the Philippines and other countries, captivating jam-packed crowds with her performances. She was really a crowd favorite, in large part to her charm and endearing personality. "I work hard at what I do. I try to do better all the time," she says.
1999–2005: Transition and independence
In November 10, 1999, Velasquez released her album R2KR2K (Regine Velasquez album)
R2K is the tenth studio album by Filipino singer-actress Regine Velasquez, released on November 24, 1999 by Viva Records in the Philippines in CD and cassette format and later in digital download on November 28, 1999. The album is Velasquez' second from Viva Music Corporation after Drawn...
a mnemonic of (Regine 2000) which consists covers of international artists. It went platinum (40,000) within 2 weeks of its release on Nov. 27, 1999, it is also the first album by a local artist to include a bonus VCD
VCD
VCD is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:* VCD Athletic, semi-professional football team* Video CD* Voice command device* Value change dump * Vocal cord dysfunction* Visual Communication and Design...
that is available only include in the album, contains 6 videos of songs from the audio CD. In 2001R2k reportedly ended up with the certification of Octuple Platinum Record Award which equivalent in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
of 8X Platinum (350,000+ copies sold).
But in 2004 it was reportedly certified 12X Platinum (480,000+ copies sold), but never awarded by its own label.
On the evening of 31 December 1999, Christian Lanzar a Hemophilia stricken child was joined by more than 2,000 children, some who arrived as early as 10:00 a.m. to rehearse, at the top of Manila Peninsula Hotel. "I was gathering enough energy and strength to face a magnificent milestone in my life," said Christian. Velasquez joined the contingent to perform the country's millennial theme, "Written in the Sand" was beamed to 67 major broadcast networks in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
— reaching more than a billion of people. The first to view the broadcast were the people of the Kiribati Islands in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, and the song crossed 24 time zones, culminating in the Samoa Islands.
Two years later, Velasquez released an all-original album titled Reigne. The album included songs like "To Reach You," "Dadalhin," and "Sa Aking Pag-iisa"which had a remix version. She also worked with singer Marvi Napoles in reviving Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
/Brian Mcknight
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
Whenever You Call.
Velasquez became the spokesperson for American fast-food chains like KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
and Wendy's
Wendy's
Wendy's is an international fast food chain restaurant founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The company decided to move its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. It has been owned by Triarc since 2008...
in Asia. As an actress, she appeared in a number of Filipino films. In 2002, she won Best Actress from Star Awards for Television in her portrayal of a retarded woman seeking acceptance and love. She also released the film "Ikaw Lamang, Hanggang Ngayon" and received an MTV Asia award for "Best Philippine Artist,". She was named the "Box Office Queen" award the same year from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial foundation.
She also staged the Bantay Bata Benefit concert, One Night with Regine, set at the stairs of the Philippine National Museum which won Best Musical Special at the 2003 Asian Television Awards. Her MTV Asia special entitled Speak Your Mind was nominated for the UNICEF Child Rights Awards. The production was highly commended for its agenda on child welfare, documenting the plight of homeless children swarming the streets of Metro Manila, in an effort to protect and safeguard their rights.
She also hosted the amateur singing contest Star For A Night which aimed to discover new talents. The weekly show was aired on IBC-13 and was a co-production with Viva.
Velasquez became the first and second recipient of the MTV Favorite Artist Award (Philippines) in 2002. During the 2002 award ceremony held in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, she sang "Cry
Cry (Mandy Moore song)
"Cry" is a song performed by American recording artist Mandy Moore on her self-titled third album. The song was released by Epic Records as the third single on November 4, 2001. The song was written and produced by James Renald...
" in a duet with Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore
Amanda Leigh "Mandy" Moore is an American singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Moore became famous as a teenager in the late 1990s, after the release of her teen pop albums So Real, I Wanna Be with You, and Mandy Moore. In 2007, she took an adult pop-folk direction with the release of...
, one of the hosts.
In 2003, Velasquez reunited with Martin Nievera
Martin Nievera
Martin Ramon Razon Nievera is a singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the main hosts of musical variety show ASAP on ABS-CBN-Early life:...
in the Martín Nievera and Regine Velasquez World Concert Tour. The concert was an artistic and commercial success. The first quarter of 2004 saw Velasquez and co-artist, singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid
Ogie Alcasid
Herminio Jhay Alcasid, Jr., more popularly known as Ogie "Eric Ordoñez" Alcasid , is a Filipino singer, songwriter, composer, television presenter, comedian, parodist, actor, and entrepreneur.-Recording career:...
in much-anticipated back-to-back concerts entitled The Songbird and the Songwriter. Velasquez formed her own record label called Songbird Music in that same year. She produced an album for Gabby Eigenmann who was her co-host in SOP. Velasquez won her MTV Favorite Artist Award (Philippines) for the second time in MTV Asia Awards
MTV Asia Awards
The biannual MTV Asia Awards is the Asian equivalent of the Europe MTV EMA. Established in 2002, the show gives recognition and awards to Asian and international icons in achievement, cinema, fashion, humanitarian, and music. Just like the EMA, most of the awards are voted for by the viewers from...
.
In 2004, Velasquez released Covers Vol. 1
Covers (Regine Velasquez album)
Covers is the twelfth studio album by Filipino singer Regine Velasquez, released in the Philippines on October 10, 2004 by Viva Records. It is a cover album that consists of love songs, originally recorded by male OPM acts from the 80's and 90's...
, comprising cover songs including Original Pilipino Music (OPM) classics of male singers like Basil Valdez
Basil Valdez
Basil Valdez is a Filipino balladeer.He has received several Tinig Awards and the 1991 Tanglaw ng Lahi Award from Ateneo de Manila University-Biography:...
, Martin Nievera
Martin Nievera
Martin Ramon Razon Nievera is a singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the main hosts of musical variety show ASAP on ABS-CBN-Early life:...
, Gary Valenciano
Gary Valenciano
Edgardo Jose Martin Santiago Valenciano , better known as Gary Valenciano or Gary V., is a Filipino musician. He is also dubbed as Mr. Pure Energy. He has released 26 albums, and won the Awit Awards for "Best Male Performer" 11 times. In 1998, he became UNICEF Philippines first national Ambassador...
, Ogie Alcasid
Ogie Alcasid
Herminio Jhay Alcasid, Jr., more popularly known as Ogie "Eric Ordoñez" Alcasid , is a Filipino singer, songwriter, composer, television presenter, comedian, parodist, actor, and entrepreneur.-Recording career:...
, Side A, True Faith, and Ariel Rivera
Ariel Rivera
Jose Ariel Jimenez Rivera was born on September 1, 1966 in Manila, Philippines but has since migrated with his family to Canada. Rivera was an architect in Canada before his singing talent was accidentally discovered while vacationing in the Philippines. He has since become a successful...
. Velasquez transferred her amateur singing contest to GMA-7 and changed the name to Search For A Star.
Velasquez starred in GMA's telenovela
Telenovela
A telenovela is a limited-run serial dramatic programming popular in Latin American, Portuguese, and Spanish television programming. The word combines tele, short for televisión or televisão , and novela, a Spanish or Portuguese word for "novel"...
Forever In My Heart opposite Richard Gomez
Richard Gomez
Richard Gomez is a Filipino actor, comedian, model, athlete, television presenter, and director. He is one of the famous actors in Philippine Cinema. He graduated from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.-Biography and Career:Gomez was raised by his grandmother...
, Dawn Zulueta, and former flame Ariel Rivera
Ariel Rivera
Jose Ariel Jimenez Rivera was born on September 1, 1966 in Manila, Philippines but has since migrated with his family to Canada. Rivera was an architect in Canada before his singing talent was accidentally discovered while vacationing in the Philippines. He has since become a successful...
. December 2004 was Velasquez return to major solo concert performance. She staged in a 24,000 seat Araneta Coliseum
Araneta Coliseum
The Smart Araneta Coliseum, known as The Big Dome is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena located in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines...
another set of back-to-back concert performances regally titled Reigning Still. The show was triumphant amidst a series of typhoons that ravaged Manila and nearby provinces. Reigning Still wasn't a culmination of Velasquez' career, it was a bridge to a new level in her career – maturity – in performance and in work. She moved on with the event and for two consecutive nights, Regine conquered the Araneta Coliseum
Araneta Coliseum
The Smart Araneta Coliseum, known as The Big Dome is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena located in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines...
again on her own. The concert was not full to its maximum capacity on the first night (considering that Manila's streets are still flooded at that time) but the second night was a real full house. Never mind since it has been declared Sold Out two weeks before the concert which means even if people didn't make it, tickets were already bought and sold. That's very important especially that Velasquez donned the hat of producer and director. The concert was a showcase of what Velasquez has learned in her craft through the years. It is a spectacle of her running concepts, ideas and style where you can see a Velasquez touch in every detail of it. The concert though was more pop in nature, high spirited, experimental and upbeat, following the trend of recent concerts by Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
, and Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
In 2005, Velasquez and singer Pops Fernandez
Pops Fernández
Maria Cielito Lukban Fernandez , also known as Pops Fernandez, is a Filipino singer and actress. She is dubbed the "Concert Queen."-Career:...
performed a concert, Queens On Fire, later taking it on an eight-city U.S. tour.
Velasquez held the Reflections Concert series at Aliw Theatre late that year. The stage was decorated with mannequins wearing her gowns from the past decade which were later auctioned for the benefit of GMA's Kapuso Foundation. The concert featured the prodigies "Wyeth Gifted Kids" (saxophonist Jacob Sarreal, violinists Joseph Valdés and Paulina, and classical cellist Pocholo Gutiérrez). The concert featured songs by her favorite singers or the foreign female singers who have influenced her career. The concert consisted of numerous medleys of hits by Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
, Anita Baker
Anita Baker
Anita Baker is an American R&B/soul jazz singer-songwriter. To date, Baker has won eight Grammy Awards, and has four platinum albums and two gold albums to her credit....
, Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton is a Scottish recording artist. Easton became famous for being the focus of an episode in the British television programme The Big Time, which recorded her attempts to gain a record contract and her eventual signing with EMI Records.Easton rose to fame in the early 1980s with the pop...
, Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
, Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, and Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
.
Velasquez hosted Pinoy Pop Superstar
Pinoy Pop Superstar
Pinoy Pop Superstar was a Philippine television show featuring a year-long talent search for the best Filipino amateur singers. It was broadcast every Saturday evening on GMA. The format is loosely patterned on the original Tawag ng Tanghalan....
(a singing competition on GMA 7 which started last 2005 until 2008) which launched the career of Jonalyn Viray
Jonalyn Viray
Jonalyn Roxas Viray is a Filipina singer and an occasional actress. She was the first ever Pinoy Pop Superstar Grand Champion...
(1st Pinoy Pop Superstar Grand Champion who also competed at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood where she won five golds for Broadway, Original, Pop, R&B and Variety categories & was declared "Overall Champion Female Solo" in Broadway, Pop and Original).
She recorded the theme song "Di Na Nag-iisa" for the Darna TV series, based on the Darna
Darna
Darna is a fictional character and Filipino comics superheroine created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo. In her more popular incarnations, she is a deceased warrior from another planet manifesting herself through a girl from Earth, named Narda...
comic book character created by Mars Ravelo
Mars Ravelo
Mars Ravelo was a Filipino graphic novelist who created the characters Darna, Dyesebel, Captain Barbell, Lastikman, Bondying, Varga, Wanted: Perfect Mother, Hiwaga, Maruja, Mariposa, Roberta, Rita, Buhay Pilipino, Jack and Jill, Flash Bomba, Tiny Tony, and Dragonna among others.-Biography:Mars...
. The theme song was composed by South Border's Jay Durias and the song was nominated for an Aliw Award for Best Song Made For Television. The song was also used in the movie Till I Met You
Till I Met You
Till I Met You is a 2006 romantic film from the Philippines, starring the romantic pairing of Regine Velasquez and Robin Padilla with a very special part by Eddie Garcia. Also appearing are Mike "Pekto" Nacua, Joonee Gamboa, Luz Valdez, Idda Yaneza and, in another special part, Kuh Ledesma, who...
and is included in the original sound track.
2006–2008: 20th Anniversary and independent record label launch
2006 marked Velasquez 20th Anniversary in showbiz. She released the album Covers Volume 2, featuring covers of international hit songs including Elvis PresleyElvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's "Blue Suede Shoes
Blue Suede Shoes
"Blue Suede Shoes" is a rock and roll standard written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955 and is considered one of the first rockabilly records and incorporated elements of blues, country and pop music of the time...
" and The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "Come Together". All of the songs were presented with new arrangements in various musical genres. The first single was "Hold Me In Your Arms," covering the Southern Sons song.
Her Valentine concert at the Araneta Coliseum
Araneta Coliseum
The Smart Araneta Coliseum, known as The Big Dome is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena located in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines...
, Forever After, co-starred Ogie Alcasid
Ogie Alcasid
Herminio Jhay Alcasid, Jr., more popularly known as Ogie "Eric Ordoñez" Alcasid , is a Filipino singer, songwriter, composer, television presenter, comedian, parodist, actor, and entrepreneur.-Recording career:...
, Rico Puno, and Ai Ai Delas Alas. She and Pops Fernandez
Pops Fernández
Maria Cielito Lukban Fernandez , also known as Pops Fernandez, is a Filipino singer and actress. She is dubbed the "Concert Queen."-Career:...
staged the North American leg of the Queens on Fire concert tour in the spring of 2006. The Forever After tour was staged in key US cities and at the Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
in London.
On August 13, 2006, the Sharon Cuneta Show devoted an to Velasquez. In the middle of 2006, together with manager Cacai Velasquez, boyfriend Ogie Alcasid, and brother-in-law Raul Mitra, Velasquez launched the IndiMusic record label. As part of her 20th anniversary celebration, she staged Twenty concert, at the Araneta Coliseum
Araneta Coliseum
The Smart Araneta Coliseum, known as The Big Dome is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena located in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines...
in mid-October 2006. Velasquez also recorded "Maghihintay Ako," the theme song for the sci-fi telenovela Atlantika.
In 2007, People Asia magazine's "People of the Year" honored her with the Exemplary Achievement Award, shared with three others. On March 14, Velasquez together with Kuh Ledesma represented the Philippines in the Mosaic International Music Festival in Singapore held at the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
Her movie, Paano Kita Iibigin
Paano Kita Iibigin
Paano Kita Iibigin is a 2007 film starring Piolo Pascual and Regine Velasquez, directed by Joyce Bernal. It is their first film opposite each other, though the two co-starred in the "Ang Iibigin Ko'y Ikaw" episode of IBC's defunct weekly drama series Habang May Buhay in 2000 and the "Lobo" episode...
, opened on May 30, 2007. The movie was the first co-production between Viva Films
VIVA Films
Viva Films is a Filipino film production company which started in 1981. This company is part of the Viva Entertainment Group.-Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion loveteam:...
and Star Cinema
Star Cinema
ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. , is the wholly owned film production subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation. It is the Philippines' largest film production, producing most of the highest grossing films in the Philippines.-1994:...
which is owned by media conglomerate ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
. A soundtrack, featuring solos and duets by the co-stars, was released by Star Records, the first time Velasquez produced an album outside Viva Entertainment. The theme song was penned by Ogie Alcasid.
In August 2007, Velasquez and Alcasid started hosting Celebrity Duets
Celebrity Duets
Celebrity Duets was an American reality television show of the progressive game-show type, which combined celebrities of different backgrounds with professional singers in a weekly elimination competition....
(Philippines) on GMA 7. The show pairs up local personalities with local professional singers. Velásquez also endorsed Vicki Belo's "Belo Essentials," which includes singer Zsa Zsa Padilla
Zsa Zsa Padilla
Zsa Zsa Padilla is a Filipina singer and actress. She is currently part of ABS-CBN contract actresses.-Biography:Padilla was born as Esperanza Padilla in 1964, the daughter of actor and sportsman Carlos “Sonny” Padilla, Jr. who served as the referee in the Ali-Frazier world heavyweight boxing...
and model/TV personality Lucy Torres. This year she recorded the theme song of GMA's remake of MariMar. In October 2007, she appeared on the cover of the fashion magazine "Preview".
Velasquez attended the 2007 Aliw Awards held at Palacio de Maynila and won "Best Major Concert Act (Female)" for her 20th year anniversary concert at the Araneta Coliseum. Velasquez was also awarded "The Most Successful Artist of the Year" award by Walk Of Fame Philippines on December 4, 2007 in Eastwood, Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
.
Velasquez had a featured performance on Korean television KBS1 entitled Window of Asia showcasing her life.
She also starred a weekly musical variety show on GMA7 titled Songbird which premiered May 15, 2008.
The "Up Close and Personal" solo U.S concert tour started in May 2008.
A series of concerts with Lani Misalucha
Lani Misalucha
Lani Misalucha is a singer from the Philippines currently performing in the United States where she also resides. She holds shows at the Flamingo Las Vegas with the Hawaiian variety troupe Society of Seven - SOS...
started with a tour of the US and Canada in September 2008 before moving to Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
in 2009. Also in 2008, Velasquez released her 15th studio album, Low Key, which earned a certified gold status three days after its release. In December 2008, she performed with Pops Fernandez
Pops Fernández
Maria Cielito Lukban Fernandez , also known as Pops Fernandez, is a Filipino singer and actress. She is dubbed the "Concert Queen."-Career:...
, Kuh Ledesma
Kuh Ledesma
Kuh Ledesma is a popular Filipino pop and jazz singer. She is known in the Philippines as the "Pop Diva". Kuh Ledesma has been performing for 25 years in the music industry which encompasses more than 300 concerts, numerous awards in the Philippines, and 18 albums in the Philippine recording...
, and Zsa Zsa Padilla in the biggest concert of the year at the Araneta Coliseum
Araneta Coliseum
The Smart Araneta Coliseum, known as The Big Dome is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena located in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines...
dubbed as Divas 4 Divas.
2009–present
Velasquez's Low Key under Universal RecordsUniversal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
became the first platinum album of 2009.
Velasquez also played Anna in the series Totoy Bato
Totoy Bato
Totoy Bato is a boxing-themed Philippine drama from GMA Network, based on the graphic novel created by Carlo J. Caparas, that depicts the remarkable story of an ordinary person named Totoy Magtanggol, played by Robin Padilla, becoming a skillful boxer and conquering injustice with bravery and...
, a soap in GMA-7. In March and May 2009, she went on tour in the US to stage The Divas 4 Divas US Tour; also, in 2009, Velásquez hosted the GMA singing competition, Are You The Next Big Star?
Are You the Next Big Star?
Are You The Next Big Star? is a reality music competition to find two new solo musical talents, created and developed by GMA New Media, Inc.. It debuted on May 16, 2009 on GMA Network, and is hosted by Regine Velasquez, with comedian-singer Keempee de Leon as the co-host.The program seeks to...
.
Velasquez did a docu-biography show which aired May 24, 2009 on GMA Network as part of her month-long birthday celebration entitled "Roots To Riches." The show featured untold stories, "going back to Regine's roots from her amateur singing days in Malolos, Bulacan up to where she is now." She also gave citation to her young rival in singing competitions, Minerva "Eva" Castillo
Eva Castillo
Eva Castillo is a Filipina singer. She currently is under contract with GMA Network.-Early life:Minerva Castillo started singing at the age of nine. She endured a childhood of emotional and financial poverty....
. They joined in one stage singing, "Ako Ang Nagwagi".
After being scheduled to perform at a concert with Charice Pempengco
Charice Pempengco
Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco , popularly known by the mononym Charice, is a Filipino recording artist and actress who rose to popularity through YouTube. Dubbed by Oprah Winfrey as the Most Talented Girl in the World, she released her first international studio album Charice in 2010...
, Velasquez was forced to pull out after contracting the swine flu. She has since recovered.
At the final requiem mass for President Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
, August 5, 2009, Velásquez sang a duet with Martin Nievera
Martin Nievera
Martin Ramon Razon Nievera is a singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the main hosts of musical variety show ASAP on ABS-CBN-Early life:...
, "The Prayer."
Velásquez held a two-night concert entitled "Regine... Most Requested" at the SkyDome, SM North EDSA, which marked her return to the Viva fold. Eva Castillo appeared as her special guest. Early December, she started her most requested concert in provincial places and early next year she is scheduled to finish her provincial tours
In August 28, 2010, Velasquez launched her signature perfumes collection via Bench with two scents available called Reigne and Songbird.
In 2010, Velasquez started the year by accepting a comic-villain role in GMA-7's Darna. She starred as Elektra The Planet Woman. At the same time, went on to conclude the provincial tour of her SRO 2009 concert series, "Regine Most Requested". Also in March 2010, she starred in the primetime-musical series offering of GMA Network for their 60th Anniversary entitled Diva.
Velasquez attended the inauguration of the 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines Noynoy Aquino at the Quirino Grandstand on June 30, 2010, performing Aquino's first campaign jingle "Hindi Ka Nagiisa" and "Bagong Pilipinas" together with other Filipino artists.
For the fourth time (2000-9, 2001–4, 2002–7), Velasquez was ranked 8th in the top 10 of FHM Philippines 100 Sexiest Woman In The World.
In November 2010, Velasquez started shooting a GMA-7 teleserye, "I Heart U Pare", set to premiere on early 2011.
Velasquez released an album under Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
entitled Fantasy
Fantasy (Regine Velasquez album)
Fantasy is the 15th studio album by Filipino singer Regine Velasquez-Alcasid. The album was released on November 21, 2010 by Universal Records, which was her second full-length studio album under Universal after Low Key in 2008. The two-disc album contains both pop and mid-tempo sounds, as well as...
, a 2-CD album containing 22 tracks. Fantasy also has two sets of packaging. Each box-set contains 10 sets of post-cards that are in color and in black and white. Fantasy was awarded a Gold Record Award two weeks after its release, and after one month it was awarded as Platinum Record Award making it one of the fastest selling albums of 2010 in Philippine albums history.
In 2011, Velasquez received a MYX Magna Award 2011 in the 6th MYX Music Awards 2011
Myx Music Awards 2011
Myx Music Awards 2011 is the 6th Myx music awards since it started on 2006. The music awards now include a category for favorite K-Pop Video.-Favorite Music Video:*Disney – Tanya Markova*Jeepney Love Story – Yeng Constantino...
.
In June 2011 Velasquez was nominated as Coolest Female Singer in 2011 Yahoo Philippines OMG Awards, She got 43% of the over all votes, but she lost it to Charice Pempengco
Charice Pempengco
Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco , popularly known by the mononym Charice, is a Filipino recording artist and actress who rose to popularity through YouTube. Dubbed by Oprah Winfrey as the Most Talented Girl in the World, she released her first international studio album Charice in 2010...
with 54% of over all votes.
Acting career
Velasquez's her first movie role was in the film The Untouchable Family. She soon ventured into comedy films. She was cast in the 1988 film Pik Pak Boom. She then co-starred in the flick Elvis and James.Velasquez' returned to the cinema in 1996 for her first lead role in the film Wanted Perfect Mother. Also in that same year, she was one of three lead actresses in the musical comedy Do Re Mi alongside Donna Cruz
Donna Cruz
Donna Cruz Yrastorza-Larrazabal better known by her stage name Donna Cruz, is a Filipina pop singer and actress. She comes from the Cruz clan which include celebrities Sheryl Cruz, Geneva Cruz and Sunshine Cruz, her cousins....
and Mikee Cojuangco. Despite being part of the movie, Velasquez' vocals were not part in recording of the movie's soundtrack, as it was an then-upcoming VIVA Records singer named Krystine, who sang vocals on her part. In the movie version, Velasquez was able to record her vocals just in time before the movie was released.
In 1998's Honey Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako, she played a ghost who died in a car accident days before her wedding day. Also, Velasquez co-starred with Aga Muhlach
Aga Muhlach
Ariel Aquino Muhlach , commonly known as Aga Muhlach, is a 2-time Gawad Urian and FAMAS award-winning Filipino actor and product endorser...
in the romantic film Dahil May Isang Ikaw. Later, in 2000, she starred in Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw with Robin Padilla
Robin Padilla
Robinhood Ferdinand Cariño Padilla better known by his stage name Robin Padilla is a Filipino film and television action star. He is the younger brother of actors BB Gandanghari, Rommel Padilla and Royette Padilla...
. In 2001 she starred in Pangako Ikaw Lang which earned her a Box-Office Queen award from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation.
Velasquez acted in two more romantic films in 2002 and 2003; Ikaw Lamang, Hanggang Ngayon and Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka. In December 2003, she appeared in Captain Barbell.
Velasquez returned to the romance genre in 2006 and 2007 with Till I Met You
Till I Met You
Till I Met You is a 2006 romantic film from the Philippines, starring the romantic pairing of Regine Velasquez and Robin Padilla with a very special part by Eddie Garcia. Also appearing are Mike "Pekto" Nacua, Joonee Gamboa, Luz Valdez, Idda Yaneza and, in another special part, Kuh Ledesma, who...
and Paano Kita Iibigin
Paano Kita Iibigin
Paano Kita Iibigin is a 2007 film starring Piolo Pascual and Regine Velasquez, directed by Joyce Bernal. It is their first film opposite each other, though the two co-starred in the "Ang Iibigin Ko'y Ikaw" episode of IBC's defunct weekly drama series Habang May Buhay in 2000 and the "Lobo" episode...
. In June 2008, she was the voice of Urduja in the animated
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
film Urduja.
In 2009, Velasquez, conceptualized the story for OMG (Oh, My Girl!)
OMG (Oh, My Girl!)
OMG is a romantic comedy film produced by Philippines' Regal Entertainment and directed by Ploning helmer Dante Nico Garcia. The film is about friendship and love in the entertainment industry....
and she will appear in a cameo role as a production assistant.
Velasquez is currently filming Mrs. Recto, an indie film under the direction of Director Dante Nico Garcia. Her third reunion movie with Aga Muhlach, Of All The Things.
Personal life
Velasquez and Ogie AlcasidOgie Alcasid
Herminio Jhay Alcasid, Jr., more popularly known as Ogie "Eric Ordoñez" Alcasid , is a Filipino singer, songwriter, composer, television presenter, comedian, parodist, actor, and entrepreneur.-Recording career:...
announced their engagement at Party Pilipinas
Party Pilipinas
Party Pilipinas is a Philippine music variety show broadcasted by GMA Network. The show premiered on 28 March 2010 - replacing the defunct SOP Fully Charged. It also broadcasts worldwide through GMA Pinoy TV.Each week, two teams alternate to give the audience a variety in theme and concepts.Direk...
on August 8, 2010 after 7 years. By December 22, 2010 Velasquez had married Ogie Alcasid in Terrazas de Punta Fuego in Nasugbu Batangas.
In April 2011, She and her husband confirmed the news of her pregnancy through the same afternoon-variety show, Party Pilipinas
Party Pilipinas
Party Pilipinas is a Philippine music variety show broadcasted by GMA Network. The show premiered on 28 March 2010 - replacing the defunct SOP Fully Charged. It also broadcasts worldwide through GMA Pinoy TV.Each week, two teams alternate to give the audience a variety in theme and concepts.Direk...
.
In November 8, 2011, at exactly 7:47pm, Velasquez gave birth to her and husband Ogie Alcasid's first born, Nathaniel James Velasquez Alcasid at the Makati Medical Center.
Philanthropy and other activities
In 1994 Velasquez become the and ambassadorAmbassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of Duty Free Philippines anti-drug campaign has an aim to fight drugs in the Philippines.
In 1995 Velasquez performed to the Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
's National Kidney Foundation, the HongKong AIDS Foundation, the Hong KongPhilharmonic Orchestra. The proceeds goes to the cited charitable event.
In 1999 Velasquez and the Municipality of Pasig did a fund raising event called Muling Aawit ang Pasig it was the concert were Velasquez performed, the proceeds goes to the rehabilitation of Pasig River
Pasig River
The Pasig River is a river in the Philippines that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Stretching for , it is lined by Metro Manila on each side...
. Later on it was followed with another event called Piso Para sa Pasig also starred by Velasquez all the proceeds goes to the cited recipient.
In 2002 Unicef picked Velasquez as the one of their Ambassadors in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. As one of her first project, Velasquez did a documentary MTV Asia special entitled Speak Your Mind which was nominated for the UNICEF Child Rights Awards. The production was highly commended for its agendum on child welfare, documenting the plight of homeless children swarming the streets of Metro Manila, in an effort to protect and safeguard their rights.
In May 2002, Velasquez staged the Bantay Bata Benefit concert, One Night with Regine, set at the stairs of the Philippine National Museum which won Best Musical Special at the 2003 Asian Television Awards.
In 2005 Velasquez sold 40 of her gowns in an auction sale launched on October 23, 2005 on the Mel & Joey talk show with the proceeds going to GMA 7's Give a Gift: Alay sa Batang Pinoy project which desires to give some needs for those in need. The auction resulted in more than P 800,000 (Philippine Peso).
In response to Thypoon Ondoy in 2009, Velasquez joined other celebreties who donated more than P 300,000 for the victims and she did a relief works in the affected areas. In December 2009, Velasquez did a Musical Special called After The Rain starring the stories of the families that has been affected by the Thypoon.
In 2010 Velasquez was named as one of the ambassadors of Operation Smile
Operation Smile
Operation Smile is a not-for-profit medical service organization based in Norfolk, Virginia , founded in 1982. A secular NGO, the children's medical charity provides cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children worldwide, assists countries in reaching self-sufficiency with these surgeries, and...
a non-government organization, which provides medical treatment to children with Cleft palet.
Discography
- RegineRegine (album)Regine is the first studio album by Filipino singer-actress Regine Velasquez, released on 1987 by Viva Records in the Philippines in CD and cassette format and later released on 2002 in digital download. The album was produced by Ronnie Henares, also her manager then...
(1987) - Nineteen '90Nineteen 90Nineteen '90 is the second studio album from Filipina singer-actress Regine Velasquez-Alcasid on November 1989. When it was released, Velasquez was a new contract artist for Vicor Music Corp. and has signed up under Primeline Management Team under Ronnie Henares and Ida Henares. The album was...
(1990) - Tagala TalagaTagala TalagaTagala Talaga is the third studio album by Filipino singer-actress Regine Velasquez, released on October 1991 by Vicor Records in the Philippines in CD and cassette format. It is her second album from Vicor Music Corporation after Nineteen 90...
(1991) - Reason Enough (1993)
- Listen Without Prejudice (1994)
- My Love EmotionMy Love EmotionMy Love Emotion is the seventh studio album of Filipino singer-actress Regine Velasquez. It was released on 1995 in the Philippines under Polycosmic Records, distributed by Mercury Records and also in other part of Asia like Hong Kong, Japan, China and Thailand under PolyGram Records...
(1995) - RetroRetro (Regine Velasquez album)Retro is the eighth studio album of Filipino singer-actress Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, released in 1996 through Polycosmic Records Inc., under MCA-Phil in the Philippines and through Mercury Records under PolyGram Records as pan-Asian studio album....
(1996) - Love Was Born On Christmas Day (1996)
- DrawnDrawn (Regine Velasquez album)Drawn is the ninth studio album of Filipino singer-actress Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, released on August 1, 1998. THe album was recorded from 1997 to 1998. This is the first album that Velasquez ventured into soul and R&B music coming from her previous Asian-pop appeal. It was executively produced...
(1998) - R2K (1999)
- ReigneReigneReigne is the 11th studio album by Filipino singer-actress Regine Velasquez, released on November 29, 2001 by Viva Records in the Philippines in CD and cassette format and later in digital download. The album was produced by Velasquez and contained original Filipino compositions by Janno Gibbs,...
(2001) - Covers, Vol. 1Covers (Regine Velasquez album)Covers is the twelfth studio album by Filipino singer Regine Velasquez, released in the Philippines on October 10, 2004 by Viva Records. It is a cover album that consists of love songs, originally recorded by male OPM acts from the 80's and 90's...
(2004) - Covers, Vol. 2 (2006)
- Low KeyLow KeyLow Key is the 14th studio album, and fifth cover album, by Filipina singer-actress Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, released on November 14, 2008 in physical format and digital. The album was Velasquez's first album with Universal Records...
(2008) - FantasyFantasy (Regine Velasquez album)Fantasy is the 15th studio album by Filipino singer Regine Velasquez-Alcasid. The album was released on November 21, 2010 by Universal Records, which was her second full-length studio album under Universal after Low Key in 2008. The two-disc album contains both pop and mid-tempo sounds, as well as...
(2010)
Theatre
| Title | Theatrical Date | | Venue | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenkoy Loves Rosing | August to September 1991 | Music Museum | Rosing |
| Two Hearts, One Beat | February & July 1994 | PICC Philippine International Convention Center The Philippine International Convention Center is a convention center located in the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines... Plenary Hall |
Female Lead |
| Noli Me Tángere | July 14 to August 6, 1995 | Cultural Center of the Philippines Cultural Center of the Philippines The Cultural Center of the Philippines is a government-owned and controlled corporation established to preserve, develop and promote arts and culture in the Philippines. The CCP was established through Executive Order No. 30 s. 1966 by President Ferdinand Marcos... Main Theater |
María Clara |
| Forever After | 2006 | World Tour | Regine (fairy) |
Filmography
Films| Year | Film | Role | Film Production | Notes and Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | The Untouchable Family | Sheila | VIVA Films Viva Films is a Filipino film production company which started in 1981. This company is part of the Viva Entertainment Group.-Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion loveteam:... |
|
| 1988 | Pik Pak Boom | Irma | ||
| 1989 | Elvis and James 2 | Whitney | ||
| 1992 | Big Ambulance: Call for Emergency | Gina | ||
| 1996 | Wanted: Perfect Mother | Sam | ||
| 1997 | Do Re Mi | Reggie | ||
| 1998 | Honey Nasa Langit na Ba Ako? | Marian | ||
| 1999 | Dahil May Isang Ikaw | Anya Katindig | ||
| 2000 | Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw | Francine Natra | GMMSF 32th Box Office Entertainment Awards for Box-Office Queen | |
| 2001 | Pangako Ikaw Lang | Cristina | GMMSF 33rd Box Office Entertainment Awards for Box Office Queen | |
| 2002 | Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon | Katherine | Nominated—Young Critics Circle Award for Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role | |
| 2003 | Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka | Alex | ||
| 2003 | Captain Barbell | Cielo | ||
| 2004 | Masikip Sa Dibdib Masikip sa Dibdib Masikip sa Dibdib is a 2004 Filipino comedy film, directed by well-known romance/comedy director Joyce E. Bernal. The film was released to Philippine theaters on April 14, 2004... |
singer | cameo appearance singing "Saan Ako Nagkamali?" |
|
| 2006 | Till I Met You Till I Met You Till I Met You is a 2006 romantic film from the Philippines, starring the romantic pairing of Regine Velasquez and Robin Padilla with a very special part by Eddie Garcia. Also appearing are Mike "Pekto" Nacua, Joonee Gamboa, Luz Valdez, Idda Yaneza and, in another special part, Kuh Ledesma, who... |
Luisa | GMA Films GMA Network Films, Inc. is a film production company and a film studio established in 1995 by GMA Network, Inc. in the Philippines.... |
|
| 2007 | Paano Kita Iibigin Paano Kita Iibigin Paano Kita Iibigin is a 2007 film starring Piolo Pascual and Regine Velasquez, directed by Joyce Bernal. It is their first film opposite each other, though the two co-starred in the "Ang Iibigin Ko'y Ikaw" episode of IBC's defunct weekly drama series Habang May Buhay in 2000 and the "Lobo" episode... |
Martee | Star Cinema ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. , is the wholly owned film production subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation. It is the Philippines' largest film production, producing most of the highest grossing films in the Philippines.-1994:... |
Nominated—FAMAS Award for Best Actress Nominated—FAP Award for Best Actress Film Academy of the Philippines Established in 1981, the Film Academy of the Philippines is the Philippines' official counterpart of the United States' Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The FAP was founded through Executive Order 640-A, signed by former President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos... |
| 2008 | Urduja Urduja (film) Urduja is a 2008 animated film adaptation of the legend of the warrior princess Urduja of Pangasinan. It is the first of two locally produced animated films set for release in 2008. The other, Dayo, is set for a December 2008 release, in time for the Metro Manila Film Festival... |
Urduja Urduja Urduja is a legendary warrior princess who is recognized as a heroine in Pangasinan, Philippines. The name Urduja appears to be Sanskrit in origin, and a variation of the name "Udaya", meaning "arise" or "rising sun", or the name "Urja", meaning "breath"... |
APT Entertainment APT Entertainment, Inc. is the TV and film production company in the Philippines owned by TAPE Inc. APT stands for Antonio P. Tuviera,one of its owners.-Filmography:... , Regal Films (distributor) |
voice role |
| 2009 | Kimmy Dora Kimmy Dora Kimmy Dora is a 2009 comedy Philippine movie directed by Joyce Bernal and written by Chris Martinez. It tells the story of twin sisters Kimmy and Dora, both played by Eugene Domingo... |
english teacher | |
cameo appearance |
| OMG (Oh, My Girl!) OMG (Oh, My Girl!) OMG is a romantic comedy film produced by Philippines' Regal Entertainment and directed by Ploning helmer Dante Nico Garcia. The film is about friendship and love in the entertainment industry.... |
production assistant | |
cameo appearance | |
| Yaya and Angelina: The Spoiled Brat Movie Yaya and Angelina: The Spoiled Brat Movie Yaya and Angelina: The Spoiled Brat Movie is a Filipino comedy film, under GMA Films and APT Entertainment. The movie stars Michael V. and Ogie Alcasid. This is the movie version of Bubble Gang's sketch "Ang Spoiled".- Plot :... |
Angelina's first Yaya | |
cameo appearance | |
| 2011 | Mrs. Recto | Carla Recto | |
post-production |
| 2011 | Of All The Things | Bernadette "Berns" | |
filming |
Television
| Year | Title | Channel | Role | Notes and Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | SOP | GMA Network GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company... |
herself | Host (1997—2010) |
| 2000 | Habang May Buhay | Episode "Sa Puso Ko'y Ikaw" together with Piolo Pascual Piolo Pascual Piolo Jose Pascual is a Filipino film and television actor, musician, model, and producer.-Biography:... |
||
| 2002 | Star For A Night | herself | Host (2002—2003) | |
| Maalaala Mo Kaya Maalaala Mo Kaya Maalaala Mo Kaya is a Philippine drama anthology series broadcast on ABS-CBN every Saturday evening and being hosted by Charo Santos-Concio. Currently, it became the longest-running drama anthology on Philippine television and on Asia... |
ABS-CBN Network ABS-CBN commonly referred to as the Kapamilya Network or simply Dos , is a major commercial television network in the Philippines owned and operated by the ABS-CBN Corporation. It was launched in October 23, 1953 just a few months after the first broadcast of NHK of Japan... |
Abby | Episode "Lobo" 2002 PMPC Star Award for Television for Best Actress |
|
| 2003 | Search For A Star Search for a Star Search for a Star was a Philippine singing contest produced by Viva Television and co-produced and broadcasted by GMA Network in 2003. The host was Regine Velasquez and the only champion here is Rachelle Ann Go. This was the second season of “Star For A Night” which was broadcast by IBC and where... |
herself | Host (2003—2004) | |
| 2004 | Forever in My Heart Forever In My Heart Forever In My Heart is a Philippine television series produced by GMA Network and directed by Mark Reyes and Phil Noble. This drama series revolves around Angeline, Michael and Raphael..... |
Angeline | main role | |
| Pinoy Pop Superstar Pinoy Pop Superstar Pinoy Pop Superstar was a Philippine television show featuring a year-long talent search for the best Filipino amateur singers. It was broadcast every Saturday evening on GMA. The format is loosely patterned on the original Tawag ng Tanghalan.... |
herself | Host (2004—2007) 2005 PMPC Star Award for Television for Best Female Host 2006 PMPC Star Award for Television for Best Talent Search Program Host |
||
| 2007 | Celebrity Duets Celebrity Duets Celebrity Duets was an American reality television show of the progressive game-show type, which combined celebrities of different backgrounds with professional singers in a weekly elimination competition.... |
herself | Host (2007—2009) together with Ogie Alcasid Ogie Alcasid Herminio Jhay Alcasid, Jr., more popularly known as Ogie "Eric Ordoñez" Alcasid , is a Filipino singer, songwriter, composer, television presenter, comedian, parodist, actor, and entrepreneur.-Recording career:... |
|
| 2008 | Maalaala Mo Kaya Maalaala Mo Kaya Maalaala Mo Kaya is a Philippine drama anthology series broadcast on ABS-CBN every Saturday evening and being hosted by Charo Santos-Concio. Currently, it became the longest-running drama anthology on Philippine television and on Asia... |
|
Cathy | Episode "Dalandan" directed by Jeffrey Jeturian together with Albert Martinez, Mickey Ferriols & Christian Vasquez |
| Songbird Songbird (TV series) Songbird is a weekly musical show where Regine Velasquez sings.. The show had its pilot on May 15, 2008. It ended on August 9, 2008 and is replaced by Nuts Entertainment.-See also:*List of programs broadcast by GMA Network*GMA Network... |
herself | Host | ||
| Ako si Kim Samsoon Ako si Kim Samsoon Ako si Kim Samsoon or simply Kim Samsoon was a romantic comedy Philippine drama that was aired on GMA Network, a remake of a popular and award-winning Korean drama that originally aired on MBC TV on Summer 2005... |
Kim Samsoon Buot | main role | ||
| 2009 | Totoy Bato Totoy Bato Totoy Bato is a boxing-themed Philippine drama from GMA Network, based on the graphic novel created by Carlo J. Caparas, that depicts the remarkable story of an ordinary person named Totoy Magtanggol, played by Robin Padilla, becoming a skillful boxer and conquering injustice with bravery and... |
Anna Molina | main role | |
| Are You the Next Big Star? Are You the Next Big Star? Are You The Next Big Star? is a reality music competition to find two new solo musical talents, created and developed by GMA New Media, Inc.. It debuted on May 16, 2009 on GMA Network, and is hosted by Regine Velasquez, with comedian-singer Keempee de Leon as the co-host.The program seeks to... |
herself | Host | ||
| SRO Cinemaserye | herself | Episode "The Eva Castillo Story" | ||
| Darna Darna (2009 TV series) Darna is a superhero Philippine drama adapted from Mars Ravelo's fictional superheroine of the same name; directed by Dominic Zapata and developed by Jun Lana. It is the third series based on the Darna graphic novels by Mars Ravelo... |
Elektra, leader of the Planet Women | recurring role (season 2, 2009—2010) | ||
| 2010 | Diva Diva (Philippine TV series) Diva is a Philippine musical dramedy television series, developed by Don Michael Perez and directed by Dominic Zapata. The series premiered on March 1, 2010 on GMA Network, starring Regine Velasquez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Mark Anthony Fernandez, TJ Trinidad and Glaiza de Castro.It has several cameos... |
Sampaguita/ Melody | main role | |
| Party Pilipinas Party Pilipinas Party Pilipinas is a Philippine music variety show broadcasted by GMA Network. The show premiered on 28 March 2010 - replacing the defunct SOP Fully Charged. It also broadcasts worldwide through GMA Pinoy TV.Each week, two teams alternate to give the audience a variety in theme and concepts.Direk... |
herself | Host (2010—present) | ||
| 2011 | I Heart You, Pare! I Heart You, Pare! I ♥ You, Pare! is a Philippine romantic comedy directed by Andoy Ranay and Joyce E. Bernal for GMA Network. It premiered on February 7, 2011, starring Regine Velasquez and Dingdong Dantes... |
Antonia "Tonya" Estrella/ Tonette Star/ Tony Boy | main role later replace by Iza Calzado due to her pregnancy |
Notable guest appearances
- 1993: Mr Kupido — "Reason Enough", with Apa Ongpin and Jenine Desiderio
- 1994 : Ober Da Bakod
- 1994: Spotlight — with Ariel Rivera
- December 22, 1996: Ikaw, Ako At Ang Awit with Gary ValencianoGary ValencianoEdgardo Jose Martin Santiago Valenciano , better known as Gary Valenciano or Gary V., is a Filipino musician. He is also dubbed as Mr. Pure Energy. He has released 26 albums, and won the Awit Awards for "Best Male Performer" 11 times. In 1998, he became UNICEF Philippines first national Ambassador...
- 1996: Muling Aawit Ang Pasig: GMA Foundation featuring Regine Velásquez
- February 26, 1997: Mikee – "The Black Triangle", with Donna Cruz and Mikee Cojuangco
- May 26, 1999: Mikee Forever
- September 7, 1999: Kool Ka Lang
- September 13, 2000: Pwedeng Pwede
- July 4, 2001: Larawan with Dingdong DantesDingdong DantesJose Sixto Raphael Gonzalez Dantes III, popularly known as Dingdong Dantes, is a director/actor and model, born on August 2, 1980 in Quezon City, Philippines.- Early years :...
- August 22, 2001: Beh Bote Nga
- April 27, 2003: Huling Yakap Sa Tag-araw with Dingdong DantesDingdong DantesJose Sixto Raphael Gonzalez Dantes III, popularly known as Dingdong Dantes, is a director/actor and model, born on August 2, 1980 in Quezon City, Philippines.- Early years :...
- May 2003: OK Fine WhateverOk Fine 'To Ang Gusto Nyo"Ok Fine To Ang Gusto Nyo" is a sitcom on ABS-CBN in the Philippines. The show was originally a movie but the ABS-CBN management decided to make a sitcom out of it due to the movie's popular line "Ok Fine, Whatever"...
- December 2003: Idol Ko si KapIdol Ko si KapIdol Ko si Kap is a situational comedy television show in the Philippines aired every Saturday evenings by GMA Network from 2000 to 2005. The show was part of the network's GMA KiliTV block...
- May 2004: Tanging Ina, TV Series
See also
- List of awards and nominations received by Regine Velasquez
- Honorific nicknames in popular music in the PhilippinesHonorific Nicknames in Popular Music in The PhilippinesHonorific titles and local/international dubs formally/informally given to popular artists in Philippine Entertainment- External links :...
- Honorific nicknames in popular music
External links
- Regine Velásquez at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...