THE MANY FACES OF THE SONGBIRD
Regine Velasquez talks about discovering and mentoring new singers
IT is always a delight to engage Regine Velasquez in a conversation what with her animated ways, lovable facial expressions and sheer honesty.
These days, if you want to see her talk with a passion, ask her about her new GMA Network program, “The Clash,” and she will burst with excitement.
A singing competition she is hosting, The Clash is her new baby and says of the unique concept, “This is one competition you have got to see!”
Certainly not your ordinary singing contestant, the participants actually get to choose their opponents in the course of the show.
As such, the Songbird advises, “The contestant should be smart in making his or her moves. Dapat a lam ni yakung si no an gk aka laban in the concept is a Since she can’t wait for the show to start, Regine actually joined the multiple auditions held in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. She would even sing couple of songs for the crowd, not only to entertain them but to inspire aspiring singers.
“Ni li bot nat inang bu on g Pilipinas. In the auditions, angdaming ma ga ga ling ku mantas owe really won’t run out of good singers in the Philippines. Mgabatapalang anghuhu say nan g ku manta kay a butinalang I’m not the one sitting as judge! It’s a very hard task given all these good singers.”
“Impressive” is how Regine describes the applicants she saw, which begs the question, “How does a singer impress the Songbird “Madaliakongma - impress, actually. Bast am al in is ku man ta at hindi nag pa pa ki tang- gil as. Of course it helps if you have a unique style but singing can’t be all that; what impresses me is if a singer makes me feel what’s being sang. Yungtotoongmag- perform at nil ala b as ni yayungsoulng kan ta, and you can only do that if singing comes from the heart.
“Another thing that I admire in a singer is yunglinisng kanta. Kasi obviously, lahatnamansila, magagalingeh. But the one na ma lin is kun gk um ant a,yung para kangni- record, that’s what makes a big difference.”
Just like past singing competitions she hosted, Regine does not new “children” from The Clash.
“The winners and finalists, after the contests become really close to me. I become their ate and adviser, and I’m happy they stay connected with me.
“They would text me every that they sort of make me their whenever they need me, like for guesting in their shows, I say yes basta kaya ng schedule namadalas namangmangyari.”
Regine is particularly proud of two of her young “sisters” Rachel Ann Go and Aicelle Santos who have both gone far in their career.
“Both of them are getting married. Lalonasi Aicelle, two big things are happening to her because she is joining the Miss Saigon UK tour. Si Shin naman is already doing well in London. Natutuw alan gako na hindi si la nakakalimot. They always call or text me to give me updates on what’s happening with them. I’m mentor kahitsa personal life.”
Meanwhile, Holy Week next week will mean vacation time for Regine and her family. But unlike past years when they’d go abroad, they will only be in Balesin.
“I have a show in Balesin so yun nayung bakasyon namin. We will extend our stay for a couple of days before we go back to Manila.”
For four years now, since Regine and her husband Ogie Alcasid became Christians, they’ve been fasting during the Holy Week.
“Actually, it’s fasting and prayer. The reason you go on fasting is because you commune with God. You also read His word then pray. You talk to Him and also listen to what He is saying. This is also what you can call spiritual feeding,” explains Regine.
Come April, the Songbird will celebrate her birthday, although she isn’t planning anything. She usually that to her husband.
“I know he’s already planning
something. Ganu’ n‘yun,s as abih in Ih ave a surprise for you. Pa gt in anon gkokung a no, hindi na mags as ali ta. So I just let him do everything pararin sucessful ang surprise niya,” the happy wife ended with a laugh.
Overwhelmed to the point of emotional is how Glaiza de Castro describes seeing her new soap opera’s premiere on Monday.
“I was thinking of how blessed I am to be given opportunities like this by my network. I am also very fortunate to work with such a great group of actors naang sa sara pk at rab a ho. So bra ng enjoy akongkatrabaho. ‘Contessa’ also stars Gabby (Eigenmann), Geoff (Eigenmann), Miss Techie (Agbayani) at siyempre, si Jak (Roberto),” said Glaiza.
For his part, Jak admits he was feeling nervous in anticipation of be leading man in a soap.
“Nakaka- challenge kasi nga we know that we really have to make good. Kay ana manta la gang we do our best para lalo pang mapaganda ang Contessa,” he said.
scenes not only emotionally challenging but quite physical as well.
“Akoyung bug bogs ar adok as iI get slapped, n as as a bu nut an, hi nuhu log sa pool, lahatna‘yan courtesy of Lauren Young,” Glaiza chuckled. “At the start, hindi akol um ala ban as in api-a pi han ta lag a, perot here will be a point when I will rise again and have the upper hand.”
On the other hand, Jak gets to do lots of action scenes in Contessa.
“First day of taping pa lang, napasabak na ko,” he shared. “I - ras. It was something new to me because I’m used to doing drama o kaya naman comedy. I didn’t have was kinda nervous.
“Thankfully, we have a very with Kuya Gabby yata, nanasugatan sareloyatayun. After the scene,
I just saw my hand bleeding. of being an actor, nasasaktanka paminsan-minsan.”
Similarly plans for Holy Week have been laid out by Glaiza and Jak. Glaiza will stay in Manila with while Jak and his sister Santa Lopez will be off to Coron, Palawan.
on vacation now because after Holy Week, I’ll be very busy taping for Contessa so samantalahinna ‘yung mg a ar aw n aw alan gt rab a ho paratalagang re-charged when you go back,” quipped Jak.
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