Regine Velasquez on her postponed concert: I still want to surprise my audience

Regine Velasquez in action

V stands for Valentine’s and Velasquez because V-day won’t be complete without a Regine Velasquez concert. This year, V also means Virus and Virtual. So, those four kinds of ‘V’ kind of merged. Et voilà Velasquez’s V-day virtual concert “Freedom” was postponed due to Reg’s exposure to a carrier of the (COVID-19) virus.

But any concert of the Songbird is always worth the wait. “Freedom” is finally pushing through at 8 p.m. tomorrow. It’s available on Sky Pay-Per-View for only P1,200 (visit Myskycom.ph/vipaccess).

Regine could very well rest on her laurels, yet she is still willing to sing her heart out. As her hubby Ogie Alcasid puts it, “‘She still yearns to give her audience her very best in spite of the circumstances. She will do it all for the sake of her artistry. She is a wonderful steward of God’s gifts to her.”

“It girls” come and go, but “Bir-It Queen” Reg is here to stay.

Here’s my chat with Reg:

Why did you choose the title “Freedom”?

Because it’s very timely. Freedom from the pandemic is what we all long for. And freedom from COVID-related stress, calamities and problems that ail our country.

How did you feel when your concert was postponed?

I was disappointed because “kasadong-kasado” na ako. In my entire career, it’s the first time my concert got postponed. If I had my way, I wanted to push through with it last V-day. But due to the very strict safety protocols of ABS-CBN, where my concert will be held, I had no choice but to follow orders after being exposed to a COVID-positive person.

During my “Silver” concert, I was paos and yet tinuloy ko pa rin. All artists don’t like postponement because of its financial implications and the possibility of ticket refunds.

When you announced the postponement, you said: “Itaas n’yo na ang expectations ninyo.” So, what can your fans expect?

Prior to the postponement kasi, I kept saying in jest, “Huwag n’yo naman masyadong taasan ang expectations n’yo.”I want to still surprise my audience. I won’t be doing my usual repertoire, except for two songs. They will all be new songs and different genres. There are a few songs which I recorded long ago, but any true fan of mine would be familiar with them.

Is your voice still “birit-ready”?

Kaya pa naman (laughs). I’ve been doing a lot of online miniconcerts during quarantine and “ASAP,” so praktisado ang voice ko. When we were on lockdown and it made me super stressed, my husband encouraged me to sing my woes away while he played the piano. Inaral n’ya lahat ng piyesa ng songs ko para s’ya ang pianist ko.

Please share any quarantine story about you and Ogie.

During the initial months of lockdown, we sent our helpers home to be with their families. So both of us did all the chores. It took a toll on us plus the stress due to the pandemic, so we had three petty quarrels.

In our 10 years of marriage, we never fought. Effect lang ng anxiety attack ‘yun. But looking back, I enjoyed being a full-time housewife and mom for four months.

Are there any of your songs that you’re already “afraid” to sing?

I would rather not sing some of my old songs that I haven’t sang in ages. Hindi dahil ‘di ko na kaya, but if I will second-guess myself, I’m bound to make mistakes.

If I can avoid it, ayokong kantahin ang “What Kind of Fool Am I?” and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” Next request, please (laughs).

Andrea Torres (left)
and Benjamin Alves

‘I Can See You’

Binge-watchers, don’t miss GMA Network’s one-of-a-kind drama anthology “I Can See You” (ICSY), which premiered on Netflix Philippines on Feb. 15. It features four miniseries produced by different teams, with a common visual storytelling device—the use of a camera as a witness to tales of love and mystery from everyday people.

The first installment is “Love On The Balcony,” topbilled by Alden Richards and Jasmine Curtis-Smith. The second series “The Promise” (March 1) stars Andrea Torres, Yasmien Kurdi, Benjamin Alves and Paolo Contis. This is followed by “High-Rise Lovers” (March 15), featuring Lovi Poe, Winwyn Marquez and Tom Rodriguez, and “Truly, Madly, Deadly” (March 29), featuring Jennylyn Mercado, Dennis Trillo and Rhian Ramos. Happy streaming!