Regine Velasquez says teaching music ‘professionally’ not in her cards

Regine Velasquez

Singer Regine Velasquez often accommodates young artists who seek her advice, but said she draws the line at putting up her own music-related school some day. Doing so is not in her wheelhouse, she said.

“Baka ‘di na ‘yan kaya ng powers ko,” she said as an answer to Inquirer Entertainment’s question on whether or not she has plans to teach music in the near future.

“I don’t picture myself as a teacher. I don’t want to end up just teaching nonsense to them. ‘Wag na lang. Although I’m happy that these young artists come to me when they want my advice on something. I feel happy because I get to share with them my experiences. I have no problem with that aspect. I feel that’s how it should be.

“In the 37 years I have been singing, what will I do with all those experiences? Will they just die with me? I might as well share my experiences with kids. Hopefully, my words of wisdom will make their journey a little less stressful,” she pointed out.

Regine, who recently renewed her management contract with ABS-CBN, said she would always remind young artists to “just show up.”

“That’s all they have to do. Whatever the state of their minds and hearts at the moment, whatever the quality of their voice is, they should just show up. It’s true what they say that ‘the show must go on.’ It really has to. The audiences don’t know what’s happening to you and they don’t really need to know. You just have to keep showing up. That’s what we do—we are entertainers. I hope that I am able to say this often enough. You have to keep repeating yourself to them so that they will absorb what you’re saying,” she said.

Talk show host

Regine is also enjoying another aspect of her career as morning talk show host along with Jolina Magdangal and Melai Cantiveros in “Magandang Buhay.” Sometimes, when the stories they feature hit a nerve or make them feel really sentimental, Regine said: “We comfort each other. That’s the only way.”

“In the show, the stories that make us cry are often the happy kind. I have yet to encounter something that really made us sad, or maybe I just don’t remember. But if we ever encounter one, we comfort ourselves and each other. One good thing about it is that it’s a talk show—you don’t have a character to play. That’s different. There’s always a danger of you bringing that character home,” she explained. “When you’re a host, you’re the one asking the questions. This may have an effect on you, but you’re not that person, you can only empathize. You’re not directly affected by what’s happening to the person you’re interviewing.”

She added that, more so today, she is able to enjoy the company of her two cohosts. “I look forward to seeing them whenever we have tapings or live episodes. Lunch is an event for us. That’s how we get to know each other. We chat while eating. I know Jolens (Jolina’s nickname) but I’ve gotten to know her on a deeper level. I suppose it’s because we’re much older now,” Regine said. “I’m getting to know Melai a lot, also. She’s our ray of sunshine on the set. Also, you get to really know the people you interview, those who you just bump into in the studios while you’re on your way to the set. There are more stories in between breaks—those they’re only more willing to share with you without any audience.”

Regine has been with “Magandang Buhay” for over a year now. “I hardly feel tired when I’m doing that show. While we’re having fun, we get to learn a lot of new things, particularly on issues of mental health and everyday illnesses. We get to talk with experts. Plus, we also get to share our own experiences as moms. We think we are also able to inspire our audiences with our life lessons,” she beamed.

Downs and ups

In the 37 years of Regine as a performer, she admitted that the “downs” happen as often as the “ups.” “Of course, you’re not happy all the time. Actually, when I was just starting in this industry, a lot of my plans or goals did not happen right away. This is because things happen in His time, not ours. We just have to wait for our turn. We are all given special moments in this lifetime. Be happy, be proud, and cherish those moments. For me, the fact that I am still here even after 37 years is already a feat. Not everyone is given the opportunity to be here this long.”

Regine is rehearsing for her upcoming solo concert, “Regine Rocks,” at the SM MOA Arena on Nov. 25. She gets to sing rock music, specifically of great bands like Led Zeppelin, Bon Jovi and Queen.

“I do my research so that I know what I’m singing, and I’ve learned so much about the bands that created the music I will be singing. They were young kids when they wrote these songs, probably a little bit drunk, a little rebellious, and they wanted to be heard. Also, there was a war in the ‘70s and these young kids couldn’t understand why this was happening,” Regine began.

“’Yon pala ang rock! It’s how the songs hit you, how you interpret them, how they make you feel—that’s rock. It’s pretty exciting. I’m a balladeer, but I just realized that rock suits me. I never imagined I’d be a rock singer. This is probably one of the most exciting concerts I’ll ever do in my life,” Regine declared.