Reflections by Regine

On Nov. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19, and Dec. 9 and 10, Regine Velasquez will do a series of shows called Reflections at the Aliw Theater. Her guest performers are Ai Ai delas Alas, new singers Kim Flores and Jonalyn Viray, and the Wyeth Gifted Kids (saxophonist Jacob Sarreal, violinists Joseph Valdes and Paulina, and classical cellist Pocholo Gutierrez); with Raul Mitra, Regine’s brother-in-law (her sister Cacai’s husband), as musical director.

Included in the repertoire are songs that mean so much to Regine and that mark memorable moments in her life, songs that "talk about my dreams, my aspirations and even my heartaches," and songs from her all-time idols Barbra Streisand, Sheena Easton, Angela Bofill, Sharon Cuneta, Kuh Ledesma, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

In keeping with the theme of the concert, Funfare is publishing choice condensed quotations from Regine’s one-on-one with Showbiz Stripped aired last Saturday, requested by sleepyheads who missed that show.

• On "titles" (hers being Asia’s Songbird): Do they help? I guess so. ‘Yung titles hindi mo naman binibili, ibinibigay lang sa’yo ng mga tao. People believe that you’re really somebody if you have a "title." I’m flattered.

• On her childhood: We were very poor but we were happy. It’s only when you start growing up that you realize the hardships that your parents have to go through for you. My parents made sure that we ate on time and that was enough for me. Naaawa ako sa Tatay ko. He had scoliosis and he was working at a construction site; he wasn’t earning enough. My mom was good with money. She was able to stretch whatever little money we had.

• On her ambition to be a singer: I knew that I had the talent when I was three years old. Pinaglalaruan ako ng Nanay ko, e. She would make me stand on the table and make me sing, mali-mali ang lyrics at paliyad-liyad na parang si Pilita Corrales. The first song that I memorized was Buhat (by Rico J. Puno). It was my dad who taught me that song. As I grew older I began joining amateur contests. I must have joined more than 300 before I got to where I am now. The last was Ang Bagong Kampeon where I won the grand prize. My winning piece was In Your Eyes. Then, I became a recording artist of OctoArts Records.

• On her role models: Kuh Ledesma, of course! Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano and Joey Albert. It was Pops (Fernandez) who sort of discovered me. She saw me in one of her mall shows and she recommended me to guest on Penthouse (Pops’ early-’80s GMA show with Martin. – RFL). Ronnie (Henares) saw me on that show and he became my manager.

• On her being a probinsyana: I stayed for a while in Quezon City but I moved back to Bulacan. I was born in Manila but my family went back to Leyte, my father’s home province, and we stayed there for four years. When we went back to Manila, wala na ‘yung tinitirhan namin, so our family stayed at the house of my father’s sister in Bulacan. We never left Bulacan since then.

• On what more she can ask for: Everything that I’ve dreamed of has come true. And more! I’ve been able to travel all over and for me, bonus na ‘yon. I travel for free and get paid for performing at the same time. Ayoko namang ako lang ang nakakapag-travel, so I make it a point to bring along my parents and some of my siblings.

• On being choosy with men: I have my own standard at ayoko naman ibaba ‘yon. I’m not looking; I’ll just wait for whoever he is. The right marrying age? None! When you’re ready, that’s the right time. I used to be the breadwinner in our family but not anymore because nasa estado na silang lahat. Still, I don’t think it’s time for me to settle down. I still want to enjoy myself. I still want to do many other things, so that when I finally settle down, I won’t say, "Sayang, I should have done this, done that."

• On her dream wedding: I want it simple, with only very few friends invited. Not that I don’t want to share that very precious and memorable moment of my life but I’d rather keep it private, with no media coverage. I feel that I have shared a lot of myself with the public and I want naman that one big moment to be my own, amin na lang ng loved one ko.

• On ending up a spinster (horrors!): I was just joking when I said that. But if it’s my destiny, what can I do? I’ll accept it and be happy. Ganoon talaga, e, ano ang magagawa ko?

• On having a child out of wedlock: Of course, my dad was also joking when he said that he badly wanted a grandchild from me, kahit daw love child. Sayang naman daw ‘yung genes ko. They were kidding me, "Mag-anak ka na lang." Sabi ko, "How can I when I don’t even have a boyfriend yet?" Hmmmm, come to think of it.

• On her "ideal man": He has to have a sense of humor. I love to laugh. I’m a funny person myself. I’m a happy person. (Regine has so far had only one boyfriend, Ariel Rivera, who is now Gelli de Belen’s husband. Regine and Ariel broke up a decade ago. – RFL)

(Note: Reflections is produced by Aria Productions in cooperation with GMA Kapuso and is co-presented by Wyeth Promil Kid and Bench. Major sponsors are The Philippine STAR, Manila Bulletin,  Philippine Daily Inquirer, Power House-Projector and Belo Medical Group. Minor sponsors are Don Henrico’s, 91.5 Energy FM, 105.1 Crossover, 99.5 RT, 101.1 Yes FM, 95.5 WDM, 96.3 WRock, rj100,  94.7 Mellow Touch and Hype Fragrances and Body Essentials. Tickets are available at Ticketnet outlets at all SM Shoemart branches with tel. no. 911-5555; Aria Productions, 926-7868 or 426-7531).

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