How Regine defies the law of gravity

Regine Velasquez is one of the most generous people I have ever known. I am not even talking about Regine distributing relief goods and donating big sums of money to the tsunami victims – although she does her share in this department quietly.

I am talking about how giving she is with her God-given talent in music.

When she was a fledgling young singer and while at her peak – she sang side by side with the Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma, who was generously kind to the young Chona. When she didn’t need to – she sang with Anton and company at The Library, guested in albums of friends and did concerts for charity, went home to Bulacan to sing for the Bulakeños, performed at the Araneta Coliseum and small bars for friends without question or hesitation.

Regine’s talent defies the law of gravity and calculated rules of stardom. My manager’s instinct would tell me that she should run away from the tiny bars and musical alliances reserved for stars who need to linger a little longer and singers who need to position properly in the arena of winners. You have to stand beside someone who deserves your company, astute strategists in the showtown would say.

Regine throws all this out of the window. She goes anywhere – sings undaunted. And comes out unscathed.

In high or low notes, Regine shines. In duets, she’s not afraid to give – just like great actors who give till it bleeds – to be able to create that magical rapport.

Come April, Regine performs with Concert Queen Pops Fernandez and special guest Erik Santos in Queens... On Fire, which will tour seven key cities in the US, San Diego on April 1, Los Angeles on April 2, Las Vegas on April 8, San Francisco on April 9, Chicago on April 15, Atlantic City on April 17 and Washington DC. on April 23. Erik once confided to me that in a motorcade, as they were waving to the people, Regine was giving him pieces of advice on how to perform, on how to use the voice properly, on how to survive in this business and not to forget where he came from. This is very important. Regine says, because you will draw your strength in your weakest moments from here.

And to this day, Regine has not forgotten her roots. This is why she remains grateful to everyone who helped her get to where she is now – the reigning Queen of Pop.

Incidentally, there are nasty talks that Regine snubbed a young singer in her Sunday noontime show SOP. The story goes that Regine was peeved because she didn’t sing the song well with the fledgling singer. This is not true. This is the story.

Backstage, she and Ogie had a chat with this young singer. Ogie even asked one of the staffers of the show as to how the girl was to be introduced. Regine didn’t start the song the way the young girl does, but she sang the song extremely well. There was no problem at all.

If some people think that this young singer would benefit from making a controversy premised around the idea that she is a better singer than Regine – it’s not just gonna work. And this is totally unfair to the girl who is talented in her own way.

Regine learned the hard way that she cannot be better than anyone – but she can certainly be better than herself. (This young singer can take her cue from here!)

When Regine jokes about "I am Regine Velasquez," she also means that she did it the hard way – and to be where she is – is not – was never easy.

For this, Regine Velasquez deserves respect.