Regine Velasquez. Image: Instagram/@reginevalcasid
Asia’s songbird Regine Velasquez is one of singer Mark Bautista’s closest friends in showbiz, but she said she never sensed Bautista’s gender issues before.
“Not at all. Parang hindi ko masyado, siguro kasi anak-anakan ko, tinataas ‘yung radar ko. Normally, I’m very good at that. ‘Ay alam ko na ‘to,’” she said in a recent interview with select members of the entertainment press at the first audition leg of her newest singing contest, “The Clash.”
Besides being one of the most successful singers in the country, Velasquez is also a confessed gay at heart. Her enormous talent and love for the LGBT (Lesbians Gays Bisexuals Transgenders) made her a certified gay icon. Hence, she only has one question to ask if she suspects one.
“Kasi alam ko naman kasi ako ‘yung gauge eh, hindi ko naman natanong, meron ka bang album ko? Hindi ako nagtatanong ng ganon,” she laughingly said.
He neither confessed anything to her but she assured him that she only has nothing but happiness that he’s finally found his peace.
“No he never did. But he kept in touch with me ah, he would text me. Siguro baka iniisip niya he’ll disappoint me. I just want you to know that I am not at all disappointed I am actually very happy.”
She also wasn’t able to read Bautista book “Beyond the Mark” where he made his controversial confession. Although there had been mixed reactions following his coming out, she just totally approves of it.
“I’m just happy he’s back, I’m just happy that he’s happy he came out. Ang importante sa akin ‘yung feelings niya after deciding on it kasi ang hirap ‘yung nagtatago ka ha. Hindi ka komportable, nasa showbiz ka ang daming pinapagawa sa’yo na … I’m just happy that he could be comfortable with whatever he wants to do with his life and he’s not anymore feeling afraid that someone will judge him.”
Bautista started his journey in showbiz as a contestant in “Star For a Night,” a singing contest hosted by Velasquez that aired from 2002 to 2003. The contest hailed pop star royalty Sarah Geronimo as its grand champion. Behind her is Bautista.