FILE PHOTO Regine Velasquez / PDI
While Regine Velasquez acknowledged that she’s no longer at the peak of her singing career, she remained grateful that she was able to last in the music industry for 35 years.
Velasquez reaffirmed her passion for singing even if her time already passed in the music industry, during an interview with ABS-CBN’s “Tao Po,” which was uploaded on its official YouTube channel last Sunday, July 2.
“I know that it’s no longer my time, but I’m still here. And I’m still doing what I love most, which is performing, singing, recording [songs], doing ‘ASAP [Natin ‘To], so I’m very blessed that I’m still able to do this,” she said.
The singer then said that mentoring younger “sisters” makes her “happy,” as she hoped that her words of encouragement would inspire them to do better in their craft.
“Alam ko naman na merong mas magagaling. You know lahat ng singers, those kids in ‘ASAP,’ kapag humihingi ng advice, ‘yun talaga I would just give it to them. I’m happy that I’m able to inspire other artists. ‘Yung mapapa-[impart] ko na, ‘Kung kaya niya, kaya ko rin. Magpupursigi ako, magpa-practice ako,’” she said.
(I know that there are singers who are better. You know those singers, those kids in “ASAP,” when they ask me for advice, I would just give it to them. I’m happy that I’m able to inspire other artists. That I would impart to them, “If they can do it, I can do it too. I will do my best, I will practice more.)
The OPM hitmaker further said she wants to keep going as a singer, as she admitted that it would be hard for her to leave the music industry when the time comes.
“Parang nasa isip ko, habang may nakikinig [pa] sa’kin, siguro I’ll keep singing. Kasi parang, kaya mo bang iwan ‘yun,” she said, as she confessed that she got “teary-eyed” with the notion.
“Kasi when you love something, diba you fight for it. You work so hard to be able to be successful at it and then one day, you would just decide na, ‘I don’t wanna do this anymore.’ Parang mahirap ‘yun gawin,” she continued.
(In my mind, when someone still listens to me, perhaps I’ll keep singing, because, can you leave it? Because when you love something, you fight for it, right? You work so hard to be able to be successful at it and then one day, you would just decide that, “I don’t wanna do this anymore”? It’s hard to do that.)
During the interview, Velasquez also made sure to impart some nuggets of wisdom to younger sisters, where she advised them to share their talents “with everyone,” as it’s a gift from the Lord.
“God gave you this wonderful talent and you should share it with everyone. The way I see it now, hindi lang naman tayo basta singer. We entertain people and we inspire people and hopefully, inspire other artists also,” she said.
Velasquez, also known as the Asia’s Songbird, started her singing career in the 1986 and has released a string of successful hits throughout her career including “Dadalhin,” “Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka,” “Araw-Gabi,” and “Hanggang Ngayon,” among many others. EDV