Regine’s heaven-sent love

At a time when most music releases had been scaled down to five cut extended play albums or even just singles sold on line to save on packaging, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid is splurging with all her might. The Songbird’s latest is titled Hulog Ka Ng Langit. It has a whopping 17 cuts and comes with a 40-page colored booklet and its own slip case. Very impressive. Rather expensive. 

Truly a dream item for all Regine fans. The only problem is they will not be getting as much pics of Regine like they did in the old days. And the reason is, the album and everything in it is not really about Regine. It is about Nathaniel James Alcasid, also known as Nate or Booboo, the first born of Regine and Ogie Alcasid. Nate is their adorable Hulog Ka Ng Langit His Mom maybe singing the songs but Nate is clearly the star.

Regine, who is also the CD’s producer, assembled a happy line-up of songs, old and new by various songwriters from here and abroad. These are all songs of love treated to sparkling arrangements by well-known names in local music, who have been part of Regine’s career these past many years. It is their work that keeps the upbeat mood throughout the album. There maybe a hint of sadness in some songs but Regine is in such a happy, blissful state. Her singing is so blithe and her musicians just went along and enjoyed the ride. Of course, baby Nate, who recently turned two years old, is also part of the recording with his own happy soundbites.

The lead cut is Hulog Ka Ng Langit, one of two new songs by Aaron Paul del Rosario. The other one is My Child. The ones I like best though are the covers of old tunes because, I am sure that Regine dreamt for a long time of being able to record these songs for her baby and she is just ecstatic that it had finally happened. These are Kermit the Frog’s Rainbow Connection, Someone’s Waiting For You from the animated movie The Rescuers, Tomorrow from the musical Annie and what I believe is the happiest song of all, Charlie Brown’s Happiness. I am sure it will not be long before we will hear Nate singing these songs.

I also like what Regine did with Pag-ibig. The Danny Javier composition was a big hit for the Apo Hiking Society and Regine has turned it into a soft dreamy ballad. It is the album’s best cut. I remember that she did the same to Rivermaya’s Harana some years ago and also turned up a winner that remains a big favorite after many years. 

Also notable is Regine’s inclusion of two finalists from this year’s Philpop Songwriting Competition, Araw, Ulap, Langit by Marlon Barnuevo and Sa ‘yo Na Lang Ako by Lara Maigue. These songs badly need exposure to become future classics and versions by Regine provide a big boost in terms of popularity.

 Also incuded are Just The Way You Are, a duet with Ogie; Amazing; Nathaniel (Gift of God); The One Real Thing; Hele Ni Inay; You; You Got It; and God Gave Me You.

Singing the virtues of baby Nate is not all that Regine is up to nowadays. She is getting ready to return to TV acting in a soap series, is always ready to give other artists a boost with her wholehearted support, most times for free, and she is selling off her personal stuff to raise more funds the victims of Yolanda. 

Unknown to him, Nate is also doing his share in the fundraising what with his clothes and toys now also for sale in the Net. Most of all proceeds from the sale of Hulog Ka Ng Langit will also go into the fund. In fact, for starters, the management of Universal Records, Regine’s label has already given the Quezon City Chapter of the Red Cross, P500,000.

Still in line with this decision to provide much needed help to countrymen in need, Universal Records executive vice president, Ramon Chuaying, with the Leyte Progressive High School (LPHS) Alumni Association is helping displaced students continue their schooling in Manila. Students of LPHS who evacuated to Manila can now enroll at various Chinese schools who are providing additional assistance.

Chiang Kai Shek College is giving free tuition, school uniforms and dormitory; Hope Christian High School is also giving free tuition, uniforms and dormitory; St. Stephen High School has free tuition and uniforms; Xavier School offers free tuition; and the Sampaloc Chong Hua School has an offer of free tuition with P500 as reward for each student getting high grades at the end of the semester. Those who wish to avail of these generous offers can simply contact Letty Uykim at 0917-3061291.

God bless the generous souls behind these undertakings. Hulog Ka Ng Langit is certainly living up to its title.