Regine Velasquez

src: entertainment.inquirer.net

Regine Velasquez (; born Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez; April 22, 1970) is a Filipino singer, actress and record producer. She gained recognition by winning both the 1984 Ang Bagong Kampeon and the 1989 Asia-Pacific Song Contest where she represented the Philippines. Velasquez rose to fame with the release of "Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang" from her eponymous debut album. The album was generally well-received and established her as a commercially viable Filipino pop artist.

Velasquez signed a recording contract with Polygram Records in 1994 and subsequently released Listen Without Prejudice, marking her debut as an up-and-coming artist in the Southeast and East Asian region. The album became her best-selling record in the region to date and produced "In Love With You", which became her most successful single of the 1990s and its accompanying music video was later named "Video of the Decade" by MTV Asia. Velasquez parted with Polygram in 1997, citing lack of creative control for her music and public image, and signed a record deal with VIVA Records the following year. Following her decision to resume her music career in the Philippines, Velasquez took further creative freedom by becoming the executive producer of R2K (1999). The album became the best-selling album by a female artist in the Philippines and the best-selling local album in 1999 to 2000.

After a significant period in music, Velasquez ventured into film with a decently received lead role in Wanted Perfect Mother (1996), she continued to play female lead roles in romantic comedy films - including Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw (2000) and Pangako Ikaw Lang (2001), with the latter being the highest-grossing film in 2001. She also had success in television with the shows Maalaala Mo Kaya (2002), Forever In My Heart (2004), Diva (2010) and Poor Señorita (2016). In the first of these she appeared in a featured episode portraying a mentally challenged woman, later earning her first lead acting award for television, while the other three featured her in lead roles for primetime television.

Throughout her career, Velasquez has sold more than 8.5 million records regionally. According to the PARI, she is the best-selling artist of all time in the Philippines, with 7 million certified albums locally and 1.5 million certified albums in Asia. With the release of Covers, Vol. 1 (2004), Velasquez gained her 7th album to have exceeded 200,000 units in sales, more than any other solo artist in the Philippines. Aside from her commercial success, Velasquez has won an Asian Television Award, 2 MTV Asia Awards, 18 Box Office Entertainment Awards, 16 Awit Awards, 12 Aliw Awards, and 5 Star Awards for Music and has been consistently credited with inspiring a generation of Filipino singers. Referred to as "Asia's songbird", she is regarded for her vocal range, agility and signature use of the belting technique.

Video Regine Velasquez

Early life

Regine Velasquez was born in Tondo, Manila. Her father, Gerardo Velasquez, was a construction estimator, while her mother, Teresita (née Ansong) was a homemaker. The singer has three younger sisters, Cacai, Diane and Deca, and a younger brother, Jojo. Velasquez and her family moved to Hinundayan, Southern Leyte where she spent the early years of her life. She attended pre-school and elementary at the Central School of Hinundayan. At age four, Velasquez initially became interested in music, she enjoyed listening to songs that her father would sing to lull her to sleep. Since she was still learning how to read, her father would sing her the melodies and she would eventually memorize the phrases. She references "Close To You" by The Carpenters and "Mr. DJ" by Sharon Cuneta as two of the first few songs she learned to sing.

By the age of six, Velasquez began intensive vocal training with her father; she was submerged neck-deep in sea water and was made to go through vocal runs. She credits her father's method in developing her lung endurance, through solid breathing techniques that increases the lungs' capacity, allowing the intake of less breathes between verses and resulting in better control. In 1976, Velasquez competed in her first singing competition and managed to place third in the talent show, The Tita Betty's Children Show. At the age of nine, her family moved to Balagtas, Bulacan where she continued elementary education at St. Lawrence Academy. While in school, Velasquez remained involved in extra-curricular activities, particularly in music. She continued to compete in inter-school and inter-district cultural engagements including the Annual Bulacan Private Schools Association vocal and literary competitions.

When Velasquez was fourteen, she was encouraged by her father to audition and compete for the 1984 season of the reality television series Ang Bagong Kampeon. She eventually qualified to become the show's senior division daily winner and successfully defended her spot for eight consecutive weeks. She went on to win and was subsequently signed to a record deal.

Maps Regine Velasquez

Music career

1986-1989: Career beginnings and Regine

Immediately after her win, Velasquez was signed to OctoArts International (currently PolyEast Records) and they began mapping out her commercial debut. Velasquez commenced recording her single "Love Me Again", which was commercially released in early 1986. She was subsequently introduced as 'Chona' Velasquez, a reference to her nickname. The single failed to enter the Philippine music charts and became a commercial and critical disappointment. Despite its poor reception, Velasquez still had musical ambitions and fully realized the challenges of pursuing a career in music following her tenure in reality singing competitions. On February 16, 1986, at the behest of another recording artist under OctoArts, Pops Fernandez, Velasquez, was invited to appear at the former's live late-night musical television show, The Penthouse Live!. While Velasquez was rehearsing for the live show, the producer and talent manager, Ronnie Henares, who listened to her sing live showed keen interest saying "she's one of the new artists to look out for", and immediately signed her. At the suggestion of Fernandez's then husband and the show's co-host, Martin Nievera, Velasquez dropped her screen name that ultimately led to her using 'Regine' from thereon.

Velasquez, under the management of Henares, was introduced to the head of VIVA Records, Vicente del Rosario Jr., who signed her and started production of her debut album. Del Rosario enlisted top songwriters of the time, including Joaquin Francisco Sanchez, Vehnee Saturno and Christine Bendebel. Del Rosario and Henares, who were both serving as executive producers, had planned to market Velasquez as one of their main female pop artist, potentially generating similar commercial reception with Nora Aunor and Sharon Cuneta, as both artists were signed under the same record label and management during that period. After the completion of her debut album, Regine, VIVA released the lead single "Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang" in 1987. Despite a weak start, the album eventually gained mainstream appeal, after Velasquez's promotional appearances in the television variety shows Triple Treat and Teen Pan Alley. In addition to "Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang", the album produced two succeeding singles, including "Urong Sulong" and "Isang Lahi".

Two years after the release of her debut, Velasquez represented the Philippines in the 1989 Asia Pacific Singing Contest. She had initially felt apprehensive to compete and was skeptical about the idea of participating in another competition at that stage in her career. She eventually obliged at the urging of Henares and later won the contest in Hong Kong, performing the songs "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel and "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from the musical Dreamgirls.

1990-1993: Nineteen 90 and Reason Enough

During early 1990, Velasquez began recording her second studio album, Nineteen 90. After marginal sales from her debut album, Velasquez signed a contract with Vicor Music Corporation, who was at the helm of the production of her sophomore album. For the project, Velasquez worked with Louie Ocampo, who provided the musical arrangement for the album's lead single "Narito Ako", a song originally recorded and performed by Maricris Belmont and written by Nonong Pedero for the 1978 Metro Manila Popular Music Festival. Nineteen 90 was accepted by critics as a more mature album than its predecessor. The album, though being all original recordings in content, was largely driven by its lead single cover and managed sales of over 80,000 units. In July 1990, Velasquez headlined her first major venue concert as a solo artist in support of the album at the Folk Arts Theater. That 1990, Velasquez recorded a duet with Jose Mari Chan, "Please Be Careful With My Heart", for his sixth studio album, Constant Change and contributed backing vocals for Gary Valenciano's "Each Passing Night", a single featured on his sixth album, Faces of Love. By the end of 1990, Velasquez made her North American concert debut at the Isaac Stern Auditorium of the Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, New York City, a first for any other Asian solo artist. Soon after, British theatrical producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, invited Velasquez to audition for the West End production of the musical Miss Saigon. Velasquez later received a letter from the production company offering intensive musical theater training in London, United Kingdom, she ultimately declined the offer citing inadequate theatrical experience.

Towards the end of 1991, Velasquez and Henares had already began working on the material for her next studio album. Released in October 1991, Tagala Talaga consists of cover versions of classic OPM recordings from National Artist for Music recipients Ryan Cayabyab, Lucio San Pedro and Levi Celerio. The album's lead single "Buhay Ng Buhay Ko", originally recorded by Leah Navarro, was also written by Pedero, whose work Velasquez previously included in her earlier album. Several singles from the record were released the following year, these included "Anak, "Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan", and "Kastilyong Buhangin". Tagala Talaga become her second consecutive album to reach a total sales of 80,000 units.

By early 1993, Velasquez was approached by music executives Alex Chan and Norman Cheng from PolyGram Far East after seeing her live performance in one of her concerts. Both Chan and Cheng immediately began negotiations with Velasquez with the intention of signing her and subsequently mapping out her commercial debut in the region. Following the deal, PolyGram Far East announced its joint venture licensing agreement in the Philippines with the formation of its subsidiary, PolyCosmic Records. Reason Enough was released in July 1993 and became the maiden record from the newly formed management label. The album's direction was a mixture of passionate, easy listening love songs, which are popular in the Philippines, and songs with a modern, contemporary touch, more attuned to an international audience. Velasquez recorded a duet with Paul Anka for the album's first single "It's Hard To Say Goodbye", marking her first musical collaboration with an international artist. The album's second single, "Sana Maulit Muli", would eventually come to be one of Velasquez's most popular songs of her career. The song was originally written in English by Valenciano and was later translated into its current form by his wife, Angeli Pangilinan. David Gonzales from AllMusic described Velasquez's vocals as "absolutely masterful, her voice sure and strong, but on other songs [...] her voice sounds thin and unimpressive. Her singing isn't consistently brilliant on the album, but when she shines, she shines brightly." The album was successful commercially, selling over 120,000 units.

1994-1998: Listen Without Prejudice and Pan-Asian breakthrough

Throughout 1994, Velasquez focused on the production of her fifth studio album and first regional release, Listen Without Prejudice. The album found Velasquez working predominantly with a new array of music producers and songwriters such as Glenn Medeiros, John Laudon, Alex Yang and Michael Au. The album debuted in several countries in Southeast Asia including China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. David Gonzales of AllMusic described much of the music on the album as "oriented towards easy-listening love songs [...], but there are adventurous, contemporary touches throughout, making the music more interesting." The album's lead single, "In Love With You", which featured singer-songwriter Jacky Cheung, became a career defining song for Velasquez. While music critics heralded the song for its popularity, they however felt that "Cheung's presence on the duet had much to do with the overseas success of the album." Apart from the song's chart success, its accompanying music video was listed by MTV Asia as the "video of the decade", during the 1990s to 2000s, for its music video rankings. At the end of 1994, the IFPI reported that Listen Without Prejudice sold more than 600,000 units regionally and 100,000 units in the Philippines.

By the beginning of 1995, Velasquez had begun to work on her sixth studio album, My Love Emotion. She enlisted Japanese songwriters and producers such as Mariya Takeuchi, Kazufumi Miyazawa, and Tatsushi Umeyaki during the album's recording. Although, My Love Emotion was well received by most critics, some of them criticized it for being very similar to the formula used on Listen Without Prejudice. David Gonzales from AllMusic described it as "an even better album" and mentioned that it is "more modern and contemporary in tone throughout". However, he felt the similarity from her previous album and noted that the "style of music [easy listening love songs], have played a large role on Velasquez's albums [...] she doesn't abandon it entirely." The record's lead single, "My Love Emotion", saw Velasquez collaborate with Southern Sons' lead guitarist and vocalist, Phil Buckle. Buckle began writing material for the record and the song he had written eventually became the album title. AllMusic contributor, David Gonzales, called the title track "a triumph" and described it as "an outstanding vehicle, containing a strong melody and hook in the chorus." He further merited Velasquez's "strong, emotive, and confident" singing. The album's follow-up single, "You've Made Me Stronger", maintained the record's adult contemporary thematic and reunited Velasquez with songwriter and record producer, Trina Belamide, who had a brief role during the production of her first album under PolyCosmic Records. Speaking of the song's significant impact on women empowerment, Belamide said that it's a "healing a song [...] it's about making a bad situation work for you." Velasquez also remarked that the song's influence has "helped a lot of women healing from broken hearts." Music critics also complimented Velasquez's use of a "comfortable register instead of aiming for a higher one, as she did all too often on her previous album, and which made her voice sound thin and unappealing at times." Though the album managed a combined regional and domestic sales of over 375,000 units, My Love Emotion failed to reach the commercial and critical heights of its predecessor.

On October 18, 1996, Velasquez's seventh album, Retro, was released. The album featured cover versions of international hit singles in the 1970s and 1980s from artists such as The Carpenters, Donna Summer, Melissa Manchester, Andy Gibb and Olivia Newton-John among others. The album's first single, "Fly", was released and is the only original song from the record. Maurice White, Al McKay, and Allee Willis, the members of the American disco-soul group Earth, Wind & Fire, are credited as songwriters because the song interpolates the melody of their 1978 song "September". David Gonzales of AllMusic expressed approval of the album's content having a "considerable amount of adventurous, modern music, often performed in a rhythm & blues vein, a most welcome development in a country where the local music scene is dominated by easy listening love songs." Though he pointed out the musical direction the album went with, steering away from the stereotypical genre: "Filipinos will [only] listen to adventurous music by international artists, but expect their own singers to remain in an "easy listening" musical straitjacket. [...] the success of the album also points to one of the drawbacks on the Philippine music scene, oftentimes Filipinos prefer international music, and remakes thereof, than music composed by their countrymen." Commercially, Retro has sold over 160,000 units in regional and domestic sales. That same year, Velasquez began working on the final album per her record contract with PolyCosmic. Love Was Born On Christmas Day was released in December 1996, along with the debut of its lead single of the same title. By the end of 1996, Velasquez has grown dissatisfied with the music and image her management label had created for her and felt that the company was treating her as a product instead of a person, having been marketed with a heavier influence of East Asian popular music because of its financial trend. Along with her dissatisfaction on the creative direction of her music, Velasquez also resented being forbidden to openly state her ethnicity in order to maintain a favorable public image, as Filipinos have been indiscriminately identified as domestic workers in the region. As a result, Velasquez parted ways from PolyCosmic and signed a five-album recording contract with VIVA Records, resuming her music career in the Philippines.

Released on November 22, 1998, Drawn combined the pop sensibilities of Listen Without Prejudice and My Love Emotion with downbeat R&B and soul influences. For Drawn, Velasquez sought to work with songwriter, Mark Feist, who also served as executive producer of the record under his label The MJF Company, based in Los Angeles, California. Feist was completely involved during the production of the album with songwriting and musical arrangement credits for majority of the tracks including the lead single, "How Could You Leave". David Gonzales from AllMusic commended the album as her "most modern, contemporary album yet, and is oriented toward soulful rhythm & blues", and found the song to be "a sensuous, thoroughly modern rhythm & blues-styled song in the verse-chorus-verse structure." The album's follow-up single, a cover of Samantha Sang's 1977 song "Emotion", was met with warm reception from music critics describing it as a "fine acoustic remake." American R&B group Destiny's Child later recorded the song for their third studio album Survivor (2001), collaborating with Feist and utilizing exactly the same backing track used in Drawn. The album managed sales of over 120,000 units and was given a triple-platinum certification by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry.

1999-2003: New image and independence, R2K, and Reigne

With her following albums, Velasquez began to take more initiative and control with her music, and had creative involvement in the genres being infused into her work. For R2K, she commenced production as the executive producer and reunited with longtime collaborators that included Tats Faustino and Cesar Aguas as well as new collaborators such as Marvin Querido, Noel Mendez and Niño Regalado, who served as music arrangers for the tracks in the album. Released on November 27, 1999, R2K was Velasquez's third album consisting of cover versions of international material from contemporary hits of the past millennium, from artists including ABBA, Dionne Warwick, George Benson, Marvin Hamlisch, Michael Jackson and The Isley Brothers. The album's lead single, a cover of Jeffrey Osborne's "On The Wings of Love", and its accompanying music video introduced a more overtly sexual image than Velasquez had ever demonstrated before and furthered by the limited release of the album's supplementary magazine. Reception of the album was mostly mixed, David Gonzales of AllMusic called the release of the record as "keeping [up] with the country's infatuation with Western popular music." While he called Velasquez's singing as "self-assured", Gonzales however criticized it as having "no magic in the air, nothing that makes one stand up and take notice." Commercially, R2K was the best-selling local album in the Philippines in 1999, with over 40,000 units sold in the first two weeks of its release and managed a platinum certification. At the end of 2000, the PARI reported that R2K sold more than 350,000 units domestically, and was the best-selling album by a solo female artist in the Philippines. To date, R2K has sold over 480,000 units in combined regional and domestic sales. On December 31, 1999, Velasquez partook in 2000 Today, an internationally broadcast BBC television special commemorating the beginning of the new millennium, where she was a featured artist in a musical performance, and sang "Written In The Sand" atop The Peninsula Manila in Ayala Avenue, Makati City. The television special drew a worldwide audience of over 800 million viewers with its core international broadcast lasting for 28 hours, beginning with Kiribati, Line Islands and culminating in American Samoa.

In support of the album, Velasquez headlined in her largest major venue concert to that point, R2K The Concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in April 2000 for two consecutive nights. Critical reception of the show was generally enthusiastic from music critics and concert goers, with many complimenting the quality of Velasquez's live vocals, as well as the production as a whole, with Ricardo Lo from The Philippine Star saying that "unlike other concert artists who require guests to act as concert fillers to compensate for the main star's deficiencies, [Velasquez] is blessed with enough talent to depend on." In the same year, Velasquez won Best Female Major Concert Act for R2K The Concert at the Aliw Awards, as well as receiving a citation from the New Strait Times as "one of the greatest shows by an Asian performer in the last twenty-five years." In December 2000, Velasquez's first live album, Regine Live: Songbird Sings the Classics, was released. She recorded a fifteen-piece setlist at the Westin Philippine Plaza in Pasay City, Manila, under the musical direction of Gerard Salonga, younger brother of Tony Award-winning singer Lea Salonga. The revue was met with critical acclaim leading it to be officially marketed and released as an LP. In the show, Velasquez and Salonga sang a cover of Carol Connors and David Shire's 1979 duet "With You I'm Born Again" and was subsequently released as the album's lead single. While the show was lauded, critical reception of the album was dismal, David Gonzales from AllMusic felt that Velasquez "sings in a very high, thin register in the beginning of many songs, and this probably contributes to the problem, but the technical mixing could have been better", further describing how the album "lacks the excitement that a live album should generate." The album proved to be a commercial success contrary to the negative critical response, with domestic sales of more than 200,000 units.

In 2001, Velasquez began developing new material for her eleventh studio album, Reigne. Since the album's predecessor was primarily comprised of cover versions, Reigne was a complete departure from remakes of Western hits which Velasquez has been generally identified with, and contained tracks written by Filipino songwriters such as Lisa Dy, Chat Zamora, Janno Gibbs Jingle Buena, Moy Ortiz and Teresita Agbayani. Reception of the album was generally positive, Allmusic's David Gonzales heralded the album as a "marvelous accomplishment, an adventurous set that pushes borders not by crashing through them, but by navigating them in a quiet, delicate manner," and praised the songwriting's "high quality throughout the album, [that] lays a firm foundation for the talented Velasquez to confidently strut her stuff." The album's second single, "Dadalhin", became another career re-defining song for Velasquez, at a point when many critics oftentimes felt that her music's popularity is limited with remakes. "Dadalhin" managed to break airplay records in the Philippines and spent 17 weeks atop local radio stations. Music critics described the song as having "more depth than typical easy listening love songs." Reigne went on to sell more than 120,000 units and was given a triple platinum certification by the PARI.

By 2002, Reigne earned Velasquez a MTV Asia Award nomination. She eventually won the inaugural award for Favorite Artist Philippines during the awards show in Singapore. At the 1st MTV Asia Awards, Velasquez performed "Cry", alongside Mandy Moore, to promote the theatrical release of Moore's film, A Walk to Remember (2002). In that same year, Velasquez hosted the first season of Star for a Night, a format based on the British talent show of the same name. The concept of the series involves discovering recording stars from unsigned singing talents, with the winner determined by a panel of judges. Notable finalists from the show have included Sarah Geronimo, Mark Bautista, Angeline Quinto and Maureen Marcelo. On April 26, 2002, Velasquez headlined One Night with Regine at the National Museum of the Philippines, in Rizal Park, Manila. The show was a fund-raiser in partnership with the Bantay Bata Foundation, a social welfare organization of media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corporation, and featured the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale under the musical direction of Ryan Cayabyab. It received warm reaction from music critics and concert goers, Ann Montemar-Oriondo from The Philippine Star commented that Velasquez's show "invariably becomes a big musical event, [...] the outdoor setting was really something else." Later that year, One Night with Regine won Best Musical Program at the 7th Asian Television Awards in Singapore.

In May 2003, Velasquez embarked on a tour with Martin Nievera, named Martin and Regine: The World Concert Tour. The tour spanned limited stops in key cities in the United States and Canada, four shows in Manila and one in Cebu.

2004-2007: Covers Volume 1 and Volume 2

Three years following the release of Reigne, Velasquez began working on her twelfth studio album, Covers, Vol. 1 (2004), her fourth record with cover versions as its entire material. The album featured tracks originally recorded by local male artists and musical groups, such as Ariel Rivera, Ogie Alcasid, Side A, South Border and True Faith among others. Covers, Vol. 1 was her most expensive album to date, Velasquez described the process of securing music licensing for songs written by local songwriters as "daunting, in many more ways than one [...] some of the composers were reluctant in giving away their songs [...] VIVA had to pull some strings just to get their 'yes'." On the creative process of the selecting the tracks for the album, Velasquez said, "I wouldn't have persisted on getting the songs if I felt I wouldn't be able to add something new to these. I'm not the type who would remake something that's already perfect the first time around." One month before the album's release, "Forevermore", the record's lead single debuted in August 2004. Covers, Vol. 1 sold over 200,000 units domestically and became her seventh album to have exceeded that sales mark, more than any other solo artist in the Philippines. In the same year, Velasquez returned as host for the second season of Search for a Star (formerly Star for a Night), where current Broadway and West End theater actress Rachelle Ann Go emerged as the season's winner.

In 2005, Velasquez continued her television work as presenter for another talent show, named Pinoy Pop Superstar. The format follows the same formula as with her previous television programs in finding potential recording artists at the conclusion of the show. Winners were chosen by a combined total of judges' points and viewership SMS text voting. In its three seasons, the show's winners were Jonalyn Viray, Gerald Santos and Maricris Garcia. In November 2005, Velasquez headlined Reflections, a concert series at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City, Manila, that included eight shows in selected dates concluding on December 10, 2005. By the end of the holiday season of 2005, Velasquez, Del Rosario and Raul Mitra began developing the material for her follow up to Covers, Vol. 1, which would be released early that following year.

Released on January 30, 2006, Covers, Vol. 2 became her fifth album containing cover versions and thirteenth overall. She opted to record an album partly mixed with 1980s and 1990s influenced jazz, blues and other similar genres, in order to have distinction from her previous releases. In an interview she said, "I wanted to surprise people and at the same time challenge myself as an artist." Since the album's predecessor found her working with songs from local artists, Velasquez mentioned "it was time to introduce to people a different side of me by doing foreign songs." The record featured a selection of tracks from artists including Alanis Morissette, Blondie, Brian McKnight, Paula Abdul, Prince, Sheena Easton and The Beatles. Reviews for Covers, Vol. 2 were generally positive: The Manila Standard praised the musicians for "reinventing the arrangements of the cover songs." Edgar Cruz from The Daily Tribune lauded Velasquez for putting "her own twists, which invigorate the highly textured songs with a feel and flavor entirely its own." The Philippine Star editor Veronica Samio praised album tracks' "blues-y improvisation and jazz repertoire." The album was a commercial success although not to the degree of her previous albums Retro, R2K and Covers Vol, 1. In October 2006, Velasquez headlined Twenty, a two-night performance at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, which celebrated the 20th year since her commercial debut. For the show, Velasquez won Best Female Major Concert Act and Entertainer of the Year at the 20th Aliw Awards.

On August 11, 2007, Velasquez appeared as host, alongside Ogie Alcasid, in the television program, Celebrity Duets. The show is an interactive reality television music competition based on the original US show, and an addition to the Celebrity Duets franchise produced by FremantleMedia and SYCOtv.

2008-2012: Low Key and professional hiatus

Velasquez began developing other television projects during early 2008. She appeared in Songbird, a themed weekly late night musical show that aired in GMA Network Inc, where she appears as the main act and features performances by a musical guest. Velasquez also appeared in a musical television special, The Best of Me, filmed at her residence in Ayala Hills Estate, Quezon City. Later that year, Velasquez signed a recording contract with Universal Records and immediately began production of her fourteenth studio album. On November 14, 2008, Low Key was released. The album, as with Covers, Vol. 2, contains cover versions of international material which Velasquez described as "more relaxed, laid-back and restrained [...] a far cry from the usual belting." It included songs from artists such as Christopher Cross, Dan Fogelberg, Don McLean, and Rita Coolidge. The album was warmly accepted by critics. Rito Asilo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer described Velasquez's form of singing on the album: "Maturity has truly brought perspective and depth to Regine's musicality. She no longer shrieks and shouts as much as she used to, and she has realized that there's more to beautiful singing than belting." Commercially, the album sold over 12,500 units in opening week sales and managed a platinum certification a month after its release.

Velasquez made two television appearances in 2009. The biographical documentary and musical, Roots to Riches which chronicled her life in detail, highlighting various aspects of her personal and professional struggles, and included musical performances filmed in her hometown of Malolos, Bulacan. She returned briefly to hosting another reality music competition, Are You the Next Big Star? It followed a similar premise as with the television reality shows she previously presented. In August 2009, Velasquez embarked in a concert tour, Most Requested, which began at the Sky Dome in SM City, North EDSA and visited selected cities in the Philippines, including Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Iloilo, and Lipa.

Velasquez began 2010 by starting production of her fifteenth studio album which found her working with original material since Reigne. Titled Fantasy, the record was released on November 21, 2010 as a double album. The first, a disc of new OPM recordings, while the second disc are cover versions of international hit singles such as Madonna's, "Papa Don't Preach", Toronto's "What About Love" and Eagles' "Love Will Keep Us Alive". Critically, the album was met with generally positive reviews. Rito Asilo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer called the album "vocally sumptuous" and took notice of Velasquez's style of singing: "she renders her low tones with as much power as the stratospheric notes she hits -- without any hint of cracking or straining. She can belt one second, and whisper the next." Fantasy and its singles were respectively nominated five categories in total at the 24th Awit Awards and 3rd Star Awards for Music The album has sold over 30,000 units in domestic sales and received a platinum certification. After she received the Magna Award during the 11th Myx Music Awards in March 2011, Velasquez took a hiatus from professional and public engagements following confirmation of her pregnancy.

On October 6, 2012, Velasquez returned to television with Sarap Diva, a lifestyle talk show that featured Velasquez's culinary skills. The weekly program invited celebrities to discuss their accomplishments in the entertainment, sport, and media industries, and has been an educational platform that presented self-improvement segments but also kept cooking in the forefront. In November 2012, Velasquez performed at the Mall of Asia Arena, her first time performing since pregnancy. The show, named Silver, was abruptly cut short after Velasquez suffered from acute laryngitis due to an existing viral infection.

2013-present: Resurgence and R3.0

Following the cancellation of Silver, it was announced that Velasquez would headline the re-staging of the concert on January 5, 2013. Titled Silver Rewind, Velasquez recommenced the one-night show in the same venue. The concert garnered generally positive reviews from critics; Jojo Panaligan of the Manila Bulletin said, "it was clear that she has not only regained her roar but will have a resounding redemption of reputation," while Dolly Anne Carvajal from the Philippine Daily Inquirer mentioned that Velasquez "did not disappoint" in making up for the initial staging of the show. The following month, Velasquez appeared in Foursome, a two-night performance alongside Ogie Alcasid, Pops Fernandez and Martin Nievera. For both these shows, Velasquez received four nominations at the 5th Star Awards for Music winning Best Female Major Concert Act for Silver and Concert of the Year for Foursome. In October 2013, Velasquez embarked on a short stateside string of concerts for Silver, spanning three dates in Costa Mesa and Vallejo in California and Montville, Connecticut. On November 28, 2013, Velasquez's sixteenth studio album, Hulog Ka Ng Langit, was released. The album's content was similar to its predecessor, a formulaic mix of tracks written by Filipino songwriters and cover versions of international recordings such as "Rainbow Connection" from the 1979 film The Muppet Movie, "Tomorrow" from the 1977 Broadway musical Annie and a re-arrangement of Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are". Reception of the album was generally enthusiastic; Baby Gil from The Philippine Star called the album as "a happy line-up of songs, old and new by various songwriters," while she cited Velasquez's growth as a "happy, blissful state." Two weeks following its release, Hulog Ka Ng Langit sold more than 15,000 units in domestic sales. The album earned six Awit Awards and Star Awards for Music nominations each.

In 2014, Velasquez won Best Inspirational Record for the single "Nathaniel (Gift of God)" and Best Christmas Recording for "Hele ni Inay" at the 27th Awit Awards, and Album Cover of the Year at 6th Star Awards for Music On February 14, 2014, Velasquez reunited with Nievera for a one-night show, Voices of Love, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Manila. Velasquez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "It's exciting, because we usually take on challenging pieces. He may not know this, but I've learned a lot of valuable singing techniques from him." In the same year, Velasquez worked on other music projects, she collaborated with other artists and was featured in Gloc-9's single "Takip Salim" and in Vice Ganda's "Push Mo Yan Teh".

In February 2015, Velasquez co-headlined a two-night show alongside Nievera, Valenciano and Lani Misalucha, titled Ultimate, at the Mall of Asia Arena. The concert saw Velasquez and the artists collaborate with an array of music arrangers that included Homer Flores, Soc Mina and Mel Villena with Ryan Cayabyab at the helm of the show's musical direction. Cayabyab told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "They are no pushovers. They each have a peculiar style as concert artists and they brought those to the table." Velasquez later won Best Female Concert Performer at the 47th Box Office Entertainment Awards, 7th Star Awards for Music and 5th Edukcircle Awards for the production. In the same year, Velasquez appeared as a main judge in the sixth season of the reality television series and interactive competition, StarStruck. The show featured a pool of aspiring actors competing for an artist management contract. In November 2015, Velasquez headlined a four-date concert series that featured a repertoire of themes from musicals, named Regine at the Theater. She said of the concert, "I've learned that it's probably one of the most difficult concerts that I will be doing. [...] it's very challenging vocally and physically." Reception from music critics was warm, Vladimir Bunoan from ABS-CBN News complimented Velasquez's singing as "affecting when she plays around with dynamics," while he commended the show's musical direction that "maximize[d] Velasquez's vocal range with punishing arrangements and modulations such that the singer self-deprecatingly said that this is the most tiring show she has done."

For the third straight year, Velasquez appeared in a co-headlining concert at the Mall of Asia Arena in February 2016. The two-night show, Royals, reunited her with Nievera and featured Angeline Quinto and Erik Santos. Due to the concert's positive critical reception, Velasquez won two awards for Best Female Concert Performer, at the 48th Box Office Entertainment Awards and the 6th Edukcircle Awards. By summer of 2016, Velasquez embarked on a US concert series, Timeless. The tour spanned four shows and had stops in Chicago, New Jersey, Pasadena and San Diego. In December 2016, People Asia magazine named Velasquez one of the recipients on the annual People of the Year list.

Velasquez next appeared as main host of the late night musical variety television show, Full House Tonight. The weekly program premiered on February 18, 2017 and ran for fourteen episodes. On June 30, 2017, Velasquez announced her return to VIVA Records and that she has begun production of her seventeenth studio album, R3.0 In August 2017, a cover of Up Dharma Down's 2012 song "Tadhana" was released as a promotional single and an original track, "Hugot", was released as the album's lead single in the following month. R3.0 was released on October 21, 2017. In support of the album, Velasquez headlined R3.0 Concert at the Mall of Asia Arena. In November 2017, Velasquez embarked on a concert series with Ogie Alcasid, titled Mr. and Mrs. A, which visited the United States in multiple cities, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Pittsburg, New York, and San Diego.

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Acting career

Velasquez entered mainstream films in January 1988, beginning with a brief appearance as a mafia head's granddaughter in The Untouchable Family, an action comedy film. Its soundtrack contained her single "Urong Sulong". In the following years, she continued to appear in a series of supporting roles in comedy films that included Pik Pak Boom (1988) and Elvis and James 2 (1990).

In 1995, Velasquez began working with stage and musical director Ryan Cayabyab on a workshop theater production of José Rizal's Noli Me Tángere She made her musical theater debut playing the female lead, María Clara, after the production premiered at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on July 14, 1995, filling in for West End theater actress, Monique Wilson. Vicente del Rosario, Jr., who also headed VIVA Entertainment's film production arm, saw Velasquez in one of her performances and offered her a starring role in a film. On May 8, 1996, Velasquez made her cinematic debut in a leading role, playing a music teacher for a widower's children in Ike Jarlego's romantic comedy film, Wanted Perfect Mother. To coincide with the film's theatrical run, "You Are My Song", was released as the lead single of the soundtrack. The musical comedy Do Re Mi--in which she played one of the female leads alongside Donna Cruz and Mikee Cojuangco--was released in the same year. Velasquez continued to play lead roles throughout 1998, first featuring in the comedy fantasy film Honey Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako as Janno Gibbs' fiancé, and in the romantic comedy with Aga Muhlach, Dahil May Isang Ikaw. Velasquez's first television screen lead role came in 2000, in an episode of the IBC-13 weekly drama series Habang May Buhay, playing Piolo Pascual's cancer-stricken love interest.

A key point in Velasquez's film career came when she was cast by Joyce Bernal to star in romantic comedy film Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw (2000) opposite Robin Padilla. Cinemaya and Film International correspondent and film critic Noel Vera described the film's formula as "nothing really new, [...] it's the nth variation of Roman Holiday," although he complimented Velasquez for bringing her own public persona, charisma and sense of humor to the role. Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw finished as one of the highest-grossing films in that year, and was pivotal in making Velasquez a sought-after actress: "Singing opened a lot of doors for me. I became an actress", she said. Velasquez followed her success in Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw with a lead role in the romantic film Pangako Ikaw Lang (2001). The film reunited her with Joyce Bernal and Aga Muhlach. Film critic Noel Vera was predominantly impressed with the film's direction and writing which "tailors the picture to do clever spins off of a star's persona." Velasquez's performance was described as "sunny good nature" and wrote that she played a "light comic touch so thoroughly expressed." The film had a domestic box-office gross of over ?105 million, making it the highest-grossing film of 2001. Due to the film's commercial performance, Velasquez was the recipient of the Box Office Queen title at the 32nd Box Office Entertainment Awards. Velasquez made her next television appearance in a featured episode of ABS-CBN's weekly drama series, Maalaala Mo Kaya (2001), playing a mentally challenged woman who develops a romantic relationship with a younger man. The role won Velasquez the Best Actress award at 16th Star Awards for Television. In 2002, Velasquez starred in Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon with Richard Gomez. Filmed entirely in Manila City, her performance of a mundane and undesirable Manila Post Office mail sorter earned a Young Critics Circle nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka (2003) saw Velasquez reunite with Christopher de Leon since Wanted Perfect Mother. The film premiered at the Manila Film Festival in July 2003. Captain Barbell was Velasquez's second film released in 2003, playing the love interest of the protagonist's alter ego.

Velasquez did not make any film appearances in 2004, but made her primetime television debut in the drama series Forever In My Heart. In the series, she reunited with Richard Gomez and worked alongside Ariel Rivera and Dawn Zulueta. Velasquez was not seen acting in film and television until late 2006 in a reunion project with Robin Padilla, Till I Met You. The response to the film was mixed, Rito Asilo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer criticized the film: "While the scenes are briskly edited, it's the story that trudges along slowly before it makes its not-so-insightful, worn-out moral--perhaps, because there's really not much story to tell, in the first place," but found Velasquez to be "less awkward" and showed "dramatic insight and depth". Velasquez played an unemployed single mother in Paano Kita Iibigin (2007), a romantic film co-starring Piolo Pascual. Jeffrey Valisno of BusinessWorld Cinema criticized her struggle in portraying a role of a single mom but complimented her success in scenes with Pascual. Despite the negative reviews, the performance earned Velasquez a FAMAS and FAP awards nomination for Best Actress. In 2008, Velasquez returned to primetime television after four years when she played the title role in the comedy series Ako Si Kim Sam Soon, an adaption of the South Korean television series. The show aired 75 episodes where she played the love interest of Mark Anthony Fernandez's character. Velasquez also voiced the APT Entertainment animated film Urduja (2008). She had three cameo appearances in 2009, including Kimmy Dora, OMG (Oh, My Girl!) and Yaya and Angelina: The Spoiled Brat Movie.

In 2010, Velasquez appeared in the primetime television musical series, Diva. In the show, she played a facially disfigured aspiring singer who underwent surgical enhancement to pursue a career in music. Her next appearance was a starring role in the television comedy I Heart You, Pare! (2011), co-starring Dingdong Dantes. Velasquez dropped out after the 45th episode following her pregnancy and was replaced by Iza Calzado. After five years since her last film appearance, Velasquez worked with Joyce Bernal and Aga Muhlach for the third time in the romantic comedy Of All The Things (2012). Philbert Dy from ClickTheCity called the movie a "tedious, unfocused mess that forces chemistry where none really exists". Despite the film's critical and commercial failure, Velasquez's performance won the 10th Golden Screen award for Best Actress. Velasquez next starred in the independent film Mrs. Recto (2015), a comedy-drama set principally in Recto Avenue, the commercial thoroughfare in north central Manila. She next portrayed a terminally-ill socialite who learned of her misdiagnosis in the television comedy series Poor Señorita (2016). Velasquez's only acting appearance in 2017 was a supporting role in the sequel to the 2004 television series Mulawin, tilted Mulawin vs. Ravena.

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Artistry

Influences

One of Velasquez's earliest musical memories was listening to her father, Gerardo Velasquez, sing her lullabies to put her to sleep. As a child she enjoyed hearing classic songs: "I used to wait for my father to come back home from work and asked him to sing me to sleep [...] he would sing all the old songs he knows until I fall asleep." Velasquez was drawn to traditional songs instead of nursery rhymes because of this routine and attributed Frank Sinatra's 1943 cover of "You'll Never Know" as a nightly staple. She began learning songs by listening to the melodies and memorizing the verses. Velasquez has said that from childhood she has considered Sharon Cuneta as a role model: "On my way to school I would take a detour to the marketplace where her memorabilia were sold. I would just look at them as I couldn't afford it." She recalled that Cuneta's 1978 single "Mr. DJ" was one of the first few songs she learned to sing.

Velasquez's music contains strong influences of Western music, and she credits Sheena Easton, Angela Bofill, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey as the most influential in her early years. She admires Houston for her "style and R&B influence," and was blown away by Carey's singing and admires that she "can write her own songs." Velasquez, on several occasions, has credited singer, songwriter and actress Barbra Streisand as her main influence and musical inspiration, elaborating, "I look up to her not just because of her enormous talent, but because of her fearlessness and dedication to excellence, her willingness to take risks and to be different." Streisand's music has been heavily featured in Velasquez's repertoire throughout her career, including a series of concerts paying homage to the singer, she revealed, "It is always a pleasure to sing Streisand's songs, let alone a full show of only her very best." Velasquez has also been influenced by many OPM artists. As an up-and-coming singer, she lists Kuh Ledesma, Joey Albert, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez as career role models: "It was Pops who sort of discovered me. She saw me in one of her mall shows and she recommended me to guest on Penthouse. Ronnie [Henares] saw me on that show and he became my manager." She has also spoken fondly of Filipino songwriters like George Canseco, Ryan Cayabyab, Rey Valera, Basil Valdez, and Willy Cruz.

Musical style

Velasquez's music contained elements of traditional OPM love songs early in her career. She described how she developed her musical style, saying, "I was only 16 and people didn't know what to do with me. When they want me to sing love songs, they had to explain to me what it meant because I didn't know the feeling yet." Her debut album, Regine incorporated ballads and bubblegum pop love songs. Lyrically the album addressed excitement, uncertainty and regrets experienced with young, playful love. Elvin Luciano of CNN Philippines wrote: "During her [initial] phase, she proved that Filipino love songs don't have to come pre-packaged in the kundiman-rooted love ballad." Her subsequent releases Nineteen 90 and Reason Enough remained capitalizing on these themes. Velasquez began working with foreign songwriters with her first regional album, Listen Without Prejudice. The record was significantly influenced by adventurous, contemporary music with most of the songs making use of syncopated backbeats and hip-hop influence.

During the mid-1990s to early 2000s, Velasquez's outputs have been albums predominantly consisting of cover versions of international material because of its commercial viability and the Filipino's preferential inclination to Western popular music. According to CNN Philippines, "Regine has a knack for choosing songs which at first, may not fit her, but eventually become her own." Many of her songs, particularly in Retro, Drawn and R2K contained R&B, soul and hip-hop influences. Velasquez's eleventh studio album Reigne is an OPM album that she described as "songs influenced by the music, artists, and genres that I enjoy listening to." Most of the tracks are reflectively melancholic, lyrical and poetic. Velasquez's crossover to film saw significant use of contemporary love ballads into her catalog of soundtrack themes. Her records frequently blended ballads and uptempo tracks that are straightforward, earnest and lyrically simple.

Voice and timbre

Velasquez is often regarded as one of Filipino music's most influential voices and for her use of vocal belting. Referred to as Asia's songbird, she is listed as one of the "Ten Most Admired Female Singers in Asia" by Malaysian magazine Top 10 of Asia, alongside other female entertainers, including Lea Salonga, Siti Nurhaliza and Tata Young. Velasquez credits the intensive vocal training she received from her father as child. She said of going through vocal runs while submerged in neck deep sea-water, "My father did that [...] it was supposed to make my stomach muscle stronger or whatever, and develop my lung power... make my voice stronger."

Velasquez is a lyric soprano, possessing a four-octave vocal range (from B2 to B6) and has the ability to reach notes in the 5th octave in full chest voice. She is often praised for this technicality, Elvin Luciano from CNN Philippines complimented her "trademark and sometimes melismatic vocals." AllMusic contributor David Gonzales adds her singing is "strong, emotive, and confident." Velasquez has, however, been criticized for excessive usage of belting and oversinging. Allmusic described her timbre as "thin, unimpressive and unappealing at times" and observed her singing as "aiming for a higher one, as she did all too often." Velasquez said of the constant scrutiny, "I don't mean to make any songs hard. It's just that when I'm on stage, with the adrenaline rush and all, you get excited. I do try to hold back [because] otherwise I'd be screaming the whole show, that's not good."

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Legacy

Velasquez's vocal style and singing ability have significantly impacted popular and contemporary music in the Philippines. As entertainment writer Allan Policarpio from the Philippine Daily Inquirer wrote, "Regine needed only to open her mouth and that celebrated voice would come out. She could sing seated, lying down or hoisted up in the air with a harness--no problem. And even when she was so sick she couldn't speak, she could still sing." Jojo Panaligan of the Manila Bulletin stated, "She [opened] the blue print of how to become a singing icon." Elvin Luciano of CNN Philippines wrote of Velasquez's influence in Filipino music, describing her "degree of legitimacy" as "enough to secure a space in pop culture." Luciano further exemplified Velasquez's influence by drawing parallel to her song catalog, saying "A discography that spans more than 25 years, and a musical career that continues to influence generations of OPM patrons and songbird wannabes up to this day." Teodoro Benigno of The Daily Tribune wrote, "Hearing her is hearing an extraordinary virtuoso belt out a song. [...] what also makes Regine stand out is a pristine youth and a pristine innocence even as she performs like an old-time pro." The Asian Journal described Velasquez as a "rare breed of singer with strong lungs and well trained breathing." In a retrospective look at Velasquez's career, music journalist Leah Gatdula of The Philippine Star said, "Her vocal power remains unmatched by any local performer or even another Asian artist. [...] when Regine sings she does not only entertain, she captivates and enthralls the audience and leaves them in awe." According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "This gifted songbird has proven time and again that she is a versatile performer and interpreter of songs in diverse styles from the kundiman inspired to love songs, she has shown depth and has displayed her powerful range. Regine is undoubtedly a great chanteuse who has deepened her vocal interpretations with the right emotions." The Philippine Star's entertainment writer Bibsy Carballo said that in regarding Velasquez as an influential artist in Filipino music, she commented that "If one were to go by records and distinctions made, Regine Velasquez would win, hands down." Despite her vocal prowess, Velasquez's vocal technique particularly with the use of vocal belting, has been subject to public scrutiny mainly because of young singers such as from talent shows have been overly imitating her singing technique in which critics commented: "The popularity of 'birit' [belting] started here with the amateur singing contests. Then came Regine Velasquez, who also launched her own singing career the 'birit' way. Trouble is, Regine's belting became so popular that her successors [...] imitated her." The Manila Bulletin also added that "Most of our top selling new female singers are still and mere parrots of her in terms of vocal acrobatics and predilection to show off her high range." As writer and publicist Boy Abunda noted, "Most of the young female singers currently making waves in the industry are cut from the same biritera [belter] cloth as Regine Velasquez."

Among the pop, hip-hop and R&B artists in the Philippines who have cited Velasquez as an influence are Aicelle Santos, Anna Fegi, Angeline Quinto, Bituin Escalante, Charice, Christian Bautista, Darren Espanto, Elha Nympha, Erik Santos, Frencheska Farr, Glaiza de Castro, Gloc-9, Jessica Sanchez, Jed Madela, Jolina Magdangal, Jona Viray, Julie Anne San Jose, Jennylyn Mercado, KZ Tandingan, Kyla, Maricris Garcia, Mark Bautista, Morissette Amon, Nina Girado, Rachelle Ann Go, Ramiele Malubay, Sandara Park, Sarah Geronimo, Toni Gonzaga, Thia Megia, Yeng Constantino. According to Ryan Cayabyab, "Regine is a perfect example of a home grown singer with a real talent. No one can argue that fact. No other singer can argue that fact." Sarah Geronimo has stated how Velasquez made her realize the value of hard work, while Rachelle Ann Go and Angeline Quinto have both mentioned Velasquez as an inspiration in their early years as aspiring singers. Bituin Escalante credits seeing Velasquez's performance at the Folk Arts Theater as influencing her in pursuing a career in music. Former American Idol finalists Ramiele Malubay, Thia Megia and Jessica Sanchez have all stated Velasquez is one of their major influences and idol. Velasquez has also been credited for her work and performances with international artists, including 98 Degrees, Alicia Keys, Coco Lee, Jeffrey Osborne and Stephen Bishop among others. French musical composer and arranger Michel Legrand drew a comparison and described working with Velasquez, saying "It's tough to sing a song after Barbra Streisand, I will tell you. But to sing with Regine is, I'm in heaven. She sings so well, she has such an extraordinary technical voice [...] sensitive voice and talented expression." American singer Brian McKnight who co-headlined a concert with Velasquez has complimented her singing, stating: "I got to sing onstage with Regine and it was one of the best experiences ever because she's one of the best singers I've ever heard." Peabo Bryson spoke of Velasquez as "maybe the only female vocalist in the world who can rival Celine Dion." Jacky Cheung described recording with Velasquez, saying, "Her singing is totally awesome. But it isn't just her technique. Yes, she has an excellent range, etc, but it wasn't until I was actually in the studio to hear her record the song that I realized just how good she is."

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Other activities

Philanthropy

Velasquez has been involved with several charitable organizations. She became associated with the United Nations Children's Fund in 2002, and worked on a documentary produced by MTV Asia, titled Speak Your Mind. The organization sought to encourage broadcasters to play a more active role in promoting and protecting the children's rights. The documentary featured the plight of homeless children in Payatas, Quezon City, one of the Philippines largest open dumpsite. It explored issues concerning children's welfare with an in-depth focus on hazardous working environment risks and child abuse. The production was nominated for the ABU/CASBAA UNICEF Child Rights Award.

One of Velasquez's most high-profile benefit concert appearances was on ABS-CBN's 2002 special, One Night with Regine, during which she performed at the National Museum of the Philippines in support of the Bantay Bata Foundation, a social welfare organization that aimed to raise funds for local government units and other child-caring institutions in protecting disadvantaged and at-risk children against abuse, exploitation and neglect. In 2005, Velasquez appeared in an episode of the lifestyle talk show Mel and Joey and donated proceeds from her auctioned gowns to the GMA Kapuso Foundation's Christmas Give-a-Gift project. In 2009, Velasquez headlined a musical special, After The Rain, a nationally televised fundraiser in the aftermath of Typhoon Ketsana. In October 2010, Velasquez became an ambassador for Operation Smile, a nonprofit medical service organization that provides cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children worldwide. For the project, she recorded the theme "S.M.I.L.E.", which was written for her fifteenth studio album. In November 2013, proceeds from the sales of her album Hulog Ka Ng Langit were donated to the Philippine Red Cross in support of the Typhoon Haiyan relief.

Product endorsements

Velasquez has been involved in brand marketing initiatives since early on in her career. She recorded and promoted a series of advertisements for American fast food restaurant chains, Wendy's and KFC. Velasquez has also signed advertising deals with several brands, including, Digitel, Lux, Nestle Philippines, Nokia, and Smart Telecommunications. Throughout 2004 and 2005, Velasquez appeared as the face of the Department of Tourism's travel advocacy campaign. In August 2009, Velasquez released her line of women's fragrance for clothing brand BENCH/, called Reigne and Songbird.

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Personal life

Velasquez began dating singer and actor Ariel Rivera in 1994. The relationship ended shortly in early 1995.

Velasquez confirmed her relationship with singer and songwriter Ogie Alcasid in June 2007 in an article published by Yes! magazine. On August 8, 2010, the couple announced their engagement. In December 2010 Velasquez married Alcasid in Nasugbu, Batangas. On November 8, 2011, Velasquez gave birth to their son, Nathaniel James via Caesarean section. Velasquez has commented: "I used to wonder what 'being settled' means--now, I know. Family comes first. I'm glad I took my time to settle down, because I was able to do a lot of things as a single career woman. I wish I had become a mother sooner, though." She tries to keep her career and family life balanced, saying, "My career is still a priority but unlike how it was before when it was practically my life, [...] I am really comfortable and happy where I am and with who I am, a wife first, then a mother."

Velasquez is a born again Christian. In March 2016, she revealed that she had suffered a miscarriage prior to her marriage to Alcasid and cited the personal tragedy as her reason for converting. She has stated that she has been attending Victory Christian Fellowship.

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Honors and awards

Throughout Velasquez's career, she has collected many honors and awards, including MTV Asia's Favorite Artist Philippines in 2002 and 2003, the Asian Television Awards' Best Musical Program in 2002, and the Aliw Awards' Entertainer of the Year in 2007 and 2009. She has been the recipient of lifetime achievement awards, including the Awit Awards' Dangal ng Musikang Pilipino, the Star Awards for Music's Natatanging Alagad Ng Musika, and Myx Music's Magna Award.

In a career spanning over 30 years, Velasquez has sold over 7 million records in the Philippines and 1.5 million records in Asia, making her the biggest-selling Filipino artist in OPM history. Velasquez was ranked first in Female Network's 2011 countdown of the "Top 25 Best Filipina Singers" and was included in Top 10 Asia magazine's list of "Ten Most Admired Female Singers in Asia". Aside from her music career, Velasquez has received recognition in television and film; she was given the Box Office Queen award in 2002, the Star Awards for Television's Best Actress in 2002, and the Golden Screen Awards' Best Actress in 2013. Additionally, she has received a total of 18 Box Office Entertainment Awards, 16 Awit Awards, 12 Aliw Awards and 5 Star Awards for Music. In December 2007, Velasquez was honored with a star on the Philippines' Walk of Fame.

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Discography

• Regine (1987)
• Nineteen '90 (1990)
• Tagala Talaga (1991)
• Reason Enough (1993)
• Listen Without Prejudice (1994)
• My Love Emotion (1995)
• Retro (1996)
• Love Was Born On Christmas Day (1996)
• Drawn (1998)
• R2K (1999)
• Reigne (2001)
• Covers, Vol. 1 (2004)
• Covers, Vol. 2 (2006)
• Low Key (2008)
• Fantasy (2010)
• Hulog Ka Ng Langit (2013)
• R3.0 (2017)

Filmography

• Wanted Perfect Mother (1996)
• Do Re Mi (1996)
• Dahil May Isang Ikaw (1998)
• Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw (2000)
• Pangako Ikaw Lang (2001)
• Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon (2002)
• Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka (2003)
• Till I Met You (2006)
• Paano Kita Iibigin (2007)
• Of All The Things (2012)
• Mrs. Recto (2015)

Concerts

Headlining concerts

• Narito Ako! (1990)
• In Season (1991)
• A Song For You (1992)
• Music and Me (1993)
• Isang Pasasalamat (1996)
• Retro (1997)
• R2K The Concert (2000)
• R-15 (2001)
• One Night Regine (2002)
• Reigning Still (2004)
• Twenty (2006)
• Silver (2013)
• R3.0 (2017)

Co-headlining concerts

• Celebration of Love (with Peabo Bryson and Jeffrey Osborne) (2000)
• Two for the Knight (with Brian McKnight) (2002)
• Songbird Sings Legrand (with Michel Legrand) (2003)

Concert series

• Songbird Sings Streisand (2003)
• Reflections (2005)
• Regine at the Theater (2015)

See also

• List of best-selling albums in the Philippines
• List of Filipino singers
• List of Filipino actresses
• Music of the Philippines
• Philippine Association of the Record Industry

References

External links

• Regine Velasquez on IMDb
• Regine Velasquez at AllMusic
• Regine Velasquez at AllMovie
• Regine Velasquez at Curlie (based on DMOZ)
• Regine Velasquez at Rotten Tomatoes
• Works by or about Regine Velasquez in libraries (WorldCat catalog)

Source of the article : Wikipedia