PHILIPPINE CINDERELLA
Regine Velasquez just turned 40 last April. While only into the threshold of mid-life, her extraordinary story is already one for the books. A true epitome of rags-to-riches, her success is the Filipino dream made real
Once there was a simple lass from Bulacan. Blessed with a voice golden in texture but brass-like in power, she would sing while submerged in neck-deep water. It was a strange task, but it was meant to hone her vocal instrument into a machine that would bring fame and, later, fortune.
Today this sounds like the synopsis of a GMA-7 fantaserye, however, these lines describe the true biography of the early life of Regine Velasquez.
Chosen to represent the Philippines many times, she was the voice of the country during the globally telecast year 2000 millenial production. She earned her monicker, Asia’s Songbird, more than two decades ago when she bested her foreign counterparts in the 1989 Asia Pacific Singing Contest in Hong Kong.
However, she represents Pinoy pride not just because of her global accolades, but because she’s proof that the Filipino dream can become real.
How many youngsters line up outside network studios for casting calls? Judging by the omnipresent number of talent shows (Diz Iz It, Showtime, Pilipinas Got Talent, Talentadong Pinoy, Search for a Star), the list would be encyclopedic.
Many a teary-eyed contestant has shared the story of how her voice is her family’s ticket to a better life. Regine’s is no different. In fact, you could say that her story was one of the first.
THE GOOD DAUGHTER
As the eldest daughter in a brood of five, Regine would be the breadwinner of the family. Most people know that as a teenager, she won Ang Bagong Kampeon.
However, most people don’t realize that she’s been collecting singing competition trophies and prize money from the tender age of six.
There’s no melodrama, though, from Regine about her very real role of breadwinner. She even answers matter-of-factly, “My dream was makapagtapos lahat
ng kapatid ko (for all my siblings to finish school). Thankfully, they did.”
Art direction Suki Salvador Styling Debbie Lupango and Eldzs Mejia Makeup Krist Bansuelo Hair Vianney Guese Photography assistants Nico Villegas and Paolo Ruiz Shoot assistants Katrina Veloso and Ning Hilario Siƫngs editors Meryll Yan, Carla Casanova-Perlas, Charmagne Garcia-Laconico Shot on locaƟon in Tian-Di Spa and Lifestyle Center,
387 P. Guevarra St., Brgy. AddiƟon Hills, San Juan Special Thanks Steven Uy and Cathy Sta. Maria
Mint green top (P2950) by TYLER, black shorts (P799) by KASHIECA, gold and pearl bangle set (P1095)
One could also say that Regine’s investment in her family has paid off. Her youngest sister Diane is now Regine’s road manager, while Cacai, the family’s second child, is now her manager. Cacai, however, is quick to answer that her big sister had some fairy godmothers also along the way. Foremost of which is Ronnie Henares, Regine’s very first talent manager.
Another fairy godmother, Dr. Vicki Belo of the Belo Medical Group, has only great words about Regine’s generosity and dedication to her family: “I admire her because she is such a giving person, having sent all her siblings through school. Her family is so important to her that before she makes any decisions, she always considers how it will affect them. Regine also helps so many friends and even strangers she meets. Just the other day, she arranged for a seven-year-old boy with a severe cleft palate and who was being laughed at in school to undergo several stages of cleft lip and palette surgery.”
THE DUCKLING
“I just turned 40 last April!” exclaims Regine. While to most celebrities this would mean a career death sentence, Regine is quite proud of her age. Asked what she finds most memorable in her already long career, her face lights up as she enumerates, “My first album, my first concert, Narito Ako, my first Araneta concert, R2K, and then later, Reigne, and, of course, my first movie, Wanted: Perfect
Mother.” To prove further that hitting the big four-oh is far from being a detriment, she has hit primetime gold with the TV series Diva.
In the role of Sampaguita in Diva, Regine gets to do the two things she loves—sing and act. Regine shares a secret: “I wasn’t even supposed to be working now, but I was excited so much by the concept. I really wanted to do this. It’s the first time that a teleserye is a musical.”
To which character does she relate with—the ugly duckling Sam or the swan Melody? Regine’s answer is surprising, “Definitely, I can relate to Sam more. The outside you can change, but the inside is very hard to change. That’s your character.” One could surmise that Regine was describing herself. Looking at her now, the diva all bedecked in crystal-encrusted gowns and long wavy locks, it’s easy to forget her humble beginnings. What has stayed true, however, is her passion for her work. Regine shares, “When I was starting, someone said I wouldn’t be a success because I wasn’t pretty enough. The good thing was I had self-esteem, so I didn’t listen to that person. And I worked really hard.”
Regine has been working “really hard” for the last 25 years. Her commitment is such that she works six days a week with 20-hour shooting schedules. This, unfortunately, led to a fainting spell. She brushes this off lightly and explains, “I didn’t have enough potassium.” Back in full swing, she doesn’t appear like someone who had just suffered from exhaustion. The show’s success enough and she proudly shares, “We’ve even JUN ESCARIO, been extended a month.”
ART IMITATES LIFE?
It’s a recurring Filipino story to have a family’s hopes pinned on the extraordinary talent of one child. This part Regine fulfilled. Another frequent storyline involves Filipinos taking the leap when given the chance at a foreign opportunity. This is where Regine differs. Regine kindly turned down enviable roles in Les Miserables and Miss Saigon. She explains, “I got tickets to train in London, but I didn’t go. I had my Philippine career already and I didn’t want to leave my family for so long.” Even offers from neighboring Asian countries were very kindly declined.
What Regine has successfully done, however, is collaborate with some of the biggest superstars inside and out of the Philippines. From Jackie Cheung to Ronan Keating and to Gary Valenciano, Regine has an A-list duet list.
This Cinderella is also paying it forward through her show, Are You the Next Big Star?. Regine shares, “The contestants can relate to me. And that’s why I like doing that show because I get to inspire them. So when some of them lose, I tell them, you’re given a gift. Even if you lose, you still have to use it.”
Gabby Libarios, editor-in-chief of Celebrity Living Magazine and associate editor of S Magazine, explains another major factor that contributed to Regine’ success. He says, “Aside from her humble beginnings, I think what also makes her relatable to the masa (public) is the fact that Regine, despite being one of the most successful and iconic singers this side of the world, has always shown her human side. She’s proven that she’s just like the rest of us, who struggles with her own problems and frustrations. She experienced heartaches and disappointments. When it comes to love, she’s not perfect. She has been involved in delicate issues she herself is not proud of. Yet somehow, Regine has managed to stay loved because she has stayed true to herself and to her craft. A lot of people, most especially women, can easily identify with her.”
Having accomplished so much already, Regine can be pardoned for having more personal dreams after Diva wraps up. Her voice softly, almost sheepishly, speaks, “I’m supposed to rest and focus on my love life. I want to try being a mom. It’s the next stage for me.”
Regine sums up her life so far, “I was very poor. I only had my voice. Someone said I wasn’t even pretty. And now, I guess people see what I’ve done and they’re inspired by my Cinderella story.”
Looking back, it would be both accurate and inaccurate to call Regine a Cinderella. The incredibility of her success might make the allusion accurate, but far from a magical fairy, hard work and consistency were her true godmothers.
Regine may play a duckling turned swan in Diva, but there’s no debate that this star is a nightingale through and through. Her career could easily provide the template for aspiring stars, but the book is far from finished. After all, in this tale, Regine is not just the lead character. She is also the one writing it.
“I was very poor. I only had my voice. Someone said I wasn’t even pretty. And now, I guess people see what I’ve done and they’re inspired by my Cinderella story.”