Regine Velasquez pays tribute to late father in Valentine’s Day concert

Photo by Alec Corpuz

MANILA, Philippines —Singer Regine Velasquez turned emotional during her Valentine’s Day concert Friday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, as she paid tribute to her father, Gerardo “Mang Gerry” Velasquez, who died of cardiac arrest on Feb. 3.

Photo by Alec Corpuz

The 43-year-old recording artist intended to dedicate The Carpenters’ “You” and Dan Fogelberg’s “Leader of the Band” to her father, but could only manage to sing a few lines before breaking down in tears.

In a previous interview with the Inquirer, Regine said that the lyrics of “Leader of the Band” remind her of Mang Gerry. “It was one of his favorites because he knew that it was my song for him. I sang it in my acoustic concert at the Music Museum 12 years ago,” she related.

Mang Gerry, who had long been battling emphysema prior to his death, was laid to rest at the Manila Memorial Park in Plaridel, Bulacan on Feb. 7.  He was 76.

Photo by Alec Corpuz

With much cheering from her ardent supporters, Regine regained enough composure to sing the last bit of her number. “I am the living legacy to the leader of the band,” she delivered the lines, looking up. “I love you, Papa.”

Titled “Voices of Love,” the concert was also headlined by Martin Nievera. The show ran for more than two hours, and was attended by some of Regine and Martin’s friends in the industry such as Sharon Cuneta,  Richard Gomez, Arnel Pineda, Erik Santos and Angeline Quinto.
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