Laughter, tears, love and great music

REGINE turns emotional while performing a mashup of “You” and ”Leader of the Band.”

Not a few wondered if Regine Velasquez could take the stage so soon after her father, local show biz’s Mang Gerry, passed away. But Friday night at SM Mall of Asia Arena, for her Valentine concert, “Voices of Love,” with Martin Nievera, the 43-year-old “Songbird” came out in fighting form.

To the rescue

She sang love songs old and new, upbeat and slow; belting with easy power, boldness and assurance; bantering with Martin and the audience.

It was business as usual, and it seemed she could conquer any song on the playlist—and she did, except for two.

MARTIN Nievera jams with Richard Gomez (center) and then Arnel Pineda (right).

Earlier, Regine told Inquirer she was dedicating the concert to Mang Gerry, and that she would try to finish the show without crying.

As a tribute to her dad, mentor and number one fan, Regine meant to perform a mashup of The Carpenters’ “You” and Dan Fogelberg’s “Leader of the Band.” She could barely finish a verse. She fought back the tears, but failed.

She clutched the mic with both hands and pressed her head against it. The backup singers came to her rescue. From the audience came encouraging words: “Kaya mo ’yan, Songbird!”

Mang Gerry, a fixture in Regine’s shows, was not in his usual place, but his daughter was certain that he was watching over her still.

“I’m just a living legacy to the leader of the band,” she sang after regaining some semblance of composure. Then, looking up, she said, almost whispering, “I love you, Papa.”

Light moments

The concert wasn’t without light moments, though. At one point, Martin and Regine stepped down for an impromptu jamming with friends in the VIP section. Richard Gomez didn’t think twice when asked to sing “Say that You Love Me.”

REGINE (right) asks Kiko Pangilinan to serenade wife Sharon Cuneta, who ended up singing as well.

They convinced former Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan to serenade, with “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin,” his wife Sharon Cuneta, who also joined in. Arnel Pineda rocked the house with “Don’t Stop Believin’,” while rumored couple Erik Santos and Angeline Quinto became the butt of teasing.

“Hindi kayo nagde-date?” Regine said, cackling. “Nagkita lang kayo dito? Echosera!”

Hilarity aside, it was an evening of great music by two of the country’s most gifted vocalists. Among the highlights were Regine’s impassioned and controlled performance of “Love Story (Where Do I Begin?),” a punchy, sky-high version of “Let It Go,” from the animated film “Frozen,” and a sultry medley of Rihanna hits. Martin’s commanding baritone was showcased in a medley of James Ingram and Barry Manilow hits.

A lot of the duets were just as spectacular, especially the restrained and wistful “Unchained Melody” and a forceful and chilling Broadway Medley—“Memory” from “Cats,” “All I Ask of You” from “The Phantom of the Opera,” “This Is the Moment” from “Jekyll and Hyde,” “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Misérables” and “Somewhere” from “West Side Story.”

Of course, the evening couldn’t have possibly ended without “Forever,” the song that, they said, was the “signature” of their music partnership.

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Photos by Alec Corpuz