Regine off and running

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - — Regine Velasquez-Alcasid touched base with fans over the weekend, setting into motion her first nationwide Kapuso Fans Day tour in Davao City.

“It’s my first time to come here in Davao after giving birth (in 2011) and my first time to have a fan’s day in Davao. I’m very thankful that I was given this. It’s actually a treat for me and the supporters,” Regine told The STAR.

While a “fans day” can offer one of the most concrete validations — a successful crowd turnout — of an artist’s reach and drawing power, it is more importantly a fantastic opportunity, especially for the busiest and biggest stars, to connect with fans.

The venue, Abreeza Mall’s activity center, was packed with mall-goers and solid Regine fans. After all, it’s a rare opportunity to see Asia’s Songbird perform live outside a concert venue.

Much to the surprise of the Davaoeños, Regine greeted them in the Visayan language: “Maayong gabi-i Davao! Dugay nako wala ka-anhi diri; mga tulo ka tuig na… (Good evening Davao! It’s been a long time since I last came here; it’s been about three years already),” jokingly adding, “Kabalo ko gamay mostorya ug Binisaya, dili ko mabaligya (I know how to speak a little Bisaya so, you can’t fool me) (laughs).”

Regine can speak enough Bisaya because she spent part of her childhood years in a town in Leyte, where her late father Mang Gerry (as he was fondly called in showbiz) famously trained the future diva by making her sing in neck-deep sea water.

Aspiring singers were also among those Regine got to interact with during the event via a singing tilt (one of the prizes was a duet with her), and because Regine is one of those few celebrities who many try to emulate as well as impersonate, an impersonation contest was another highlight that provided much of the laughs.

Former Davao City mayor, lawyer Sara Duterte — now a segment host of the GMA’s local morning program Una Ka Bai — was one of the judges.

Regine’s Fans Day is another initiative of the GMA Network Regional TV team. According to Oli Amoroso, AVP for Regional TV, “After the successful Kapuso Fans Day of the Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera at key regional areas in 2013, it’s the Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez’s turn to thank and pay tribute to her regional fans, who have been supporting her all these years.”

As part of the road tour, Regine is set to visit key cities in the country throughout the year. “After Davao, Regine will visit Dagupan next. She (will be meeting) all her fans in Central Luzon. The Kapuso Fans Day will be held in CSI Stadia on April 25 at 6 p.m. The fan’s day will coincide with the Bangus Festival,” said Oli.

Regine also brought her weekly show Sarap Diva to Davao City and taped segments that featured Dennis Trillo and Afterimage singer Wency Cornejo, who’s now based in Davao as a businessman.

“I’m so happy with our show. It’s a small show but I’m so proud of it. It has been running for one year and two months now. We didn’t expect we’d reach one year because we were actually contracted to do this for one season, then it did well so now we are on our sixth season,” said Regine.

“Plus, I love the staff, and all of us are really working hand in hand. If I want and need something, they would always consult me, and I like that. We are a team. My prayer is for it to continue; we have a lot of plans this year.”

Regine is having a grand time doing the cooking show and it shows in each episode. “I’m not formally schooled in cooking but I happen to love cooking that’s why I was given Sarap Diva. There was a time, when I was doing a soap, that if I wanted to de-stress, I’d cook.”

Regine, who likes whipping up Italian dishes and enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, stressed that she’s also learning with the audience. “My guests teach me to cook. But I also created recipes which were showed in Sarap Diva. There are also three chefs on the show helping me.”

“What I like about cooking is it’s like singing. You can make it your own. You can look at the recipe and make your own version of it. It doesn’t have to be exact, unlike baking that it has to be precise,” she added.

Following the renewal of her exclusive contract with GMA Network late last year, Regine was supposed to begin taping another teleserye this month. The last one she did, I Heart You Pare, was cut off prematurely because she already got pregnant with her firstborn Nate. “I guess kasi madami pa naman naka line-up, baka second quarter na ako. And I’m okay with that. I’m still enjoying my wonderful time with my son. I wanna be there (for him) as much as I can. So, no complaints.”

“Ang cute ng age na ‘to,” Regine said, referring to Nate’s cute toddler antics. “They say that it’s kind of a difficult age — the terrible twos — but actually for me it’s not so terrible because he’s a good boy. He can read the alphabet, few letters nalang di niya alam. He can also count up to 25.”

She said that while she and her husband Ogie Alcasid believe in not exposing kids to too much TV, Nate himself gets tired of watching TV. “He also has a regular schedule to go to the park to play with other kids.”

Asked on values she wants to be instilled in Nate, Regine said they want Nate to grow up with faith. “You know, usapan namin mag-asawa kapag nagpe-pray kami gusto namin madinig niya. So usually, pag-nagpe-pray kami ng asawa ko, holding hands kami. Dati, ayaw niya (Nate) maki-holding hands, pero recently, pinapapasok niya kamay niya, kasi kasama siya sa prayer, that’s what we want him to learn.

“Then one time, I was trying to dress up, he entered the room and said, pray mommy, pray mommy. Then I teach him to say, ‘In Jesus name, we pray. I love you, Jesus. Amen.’ That’s what we want to instill in him first and foremost — to have a relationship with God because I think everything else will follow.”

With Regine also performing during the Fans Day songs from her latest record, Hulog Ka Ng Langit, which has been dedicated to Mang Gerry, the singer was also asked how she’s now coping after the passing of her father, mentor and personal idol — who was also regarded like an icon in the industry — last month.

Being busy with work and family life does help keep her mind off that, she admitted, “but then again kung talagang if you allow yourself to wallow in sadness, kahit anong gawin mong pagpapasaya, hindi ka talaga maka-move on. But you know, we were prepared. God gave us a little bit time to be prepared for it.

“Actually, I’m sad because di ko na siya makikita, but somehow I have this overwhelming joy inside me because I know that he’s doing really well. He’s in Heaven. His back is straight. He’s got teeth (laughs) so parang bakit pa ako malulungkot pa, di ba? He’s so much better now; he’s better off there than he was here. Here, he was suffering, he was in pain. I don’t like that.”

What does she think is his biggest legacy? Regine said, “Me. I am his legacy. This is his dream — to be able to share God’s gift.”