Regine Velasquez says other veterans more qualified to be National Artist

Regine Velasquez. Image: Instagram/@reginevalcasid

Regine Velasquez is thankful for the recognition she is getting from the public to be named National Artist in Music, but she said she had to turn down the suggestion claiming there are other more qualified artists more deserving of the title.

Calls for Velasquez to be named national artist started after a news outlet asked if the singer deserved to be given the title which gained traction. This was related to her recognition at the Women in Music awards ceremony in March.

Days later, the Asia’s Songbird said veteran singers like Pilita Corrales and Jose Mari Chan are more deserving of the recognition, as seen in a clip posted by “ASAP Natin ‘To” head writer Darla Sauler on Facebook on Sunday, April 7.

“I don’t think I’m qualified yet but I would want Pilita Corrales as a National Artist, Jose Marie Chan,” Velasquez said, seemingly in an interview with entertainment journalist MJ Felipe.

“Parang hindi pa, hindi ko pa ‘yun panahon ngayon kaya huwag na muna,” she further added. “Meron pang mas qualified sa akin and I still have a long way to go. But I appreciate — [the calls to make me as a National Artist] — and ‘yung nagpu-push, very much.”

(Not now. It’s not my time yet, so no for now. There are people more qualified than me and I still have a long way to go. But I appreciate the calls and pushes for me to make me as a National Artist very much.)

Velasquez also hoped that veteran artists would be recognized as National Artists while they’re still alive.

“Pero huwag muna kasi mas maraming iniisip na dapat sila tulad nina Nora Aunor. You know what I mean? Those are the people who should be in there and sana mailagay sila d’un habang buhay pa sila,” she said.

(But not now. Because there are certain artists who might think they’re more deserving of the title, such as Nora Aunor. You know what I mean? Those are the people who should be in there and wanted to be there while they’re still alive.)

Velasquez was among the female singers recognized at Billboard Philippines’ Women in Music ceremony last March, as well as Corrales, Sarah Geronimo, BINI, Ena Mori, Belle Mariano, and Morissette Amon.