Regine Velasquez tells artists to dream big and be ready when it comes true
As Regine Velasquez was named Billboard Philippines’ Woman of the Year, she reminded her fellow artists to believe in the beauty of their dreams and be ready when they come true.
Velasquez was met with a standing ovation while being bestowed with the recognition at the music publication’s Women in Music ceremony on Tuesday, March 24. Before accepting her trophy, “awws” filled the room as she performed her classic hit “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw.”
“To the people in this room, dream big. Hindi pwedeng maliit ka lang mangarap. Dapat malaki kang mangarap. Dapat ready kang matupad ang pangarap mo,” she said.
“You have to dream big. Dapat lakihan mo. Mas malaki sa’yo ang pangarap mo, then work hard. Be ready. Because one day, it will be your time,” she continued.
(To the people in this room, dream big. You can’t have small dreams. You need to dream big. You need to be ready for your dreams to come true. You have to dream big. Make it bigger than you ever were, then work hard. Be ready. Because one day, it will be your time.)
View this post on Instagram
Looking back at her illustrious career, Velasquez said that her late dad Gerry dreamt of traveling the world. And it came true because she dreamt of being a singer.
“I didn’t know that my father’s dream was to travel the world. And natulungan ko ang tatay kong matupad ang pangarap niya because I sang. We traveled the world together because I sang. Now, he’s traveling in heaven,” she said.
Velasquez then blinked back tears as she expressed her gratitude to the industry, saying it led her to meet her husband, Ogie Alcasid, and helped her realize why she loved singing in the first place.
The singer also recognized her fellow nominees KZ Tandingan, Yeng Constantino, and BINI, acknowledging how their experiences as female artists mirror what women go through today.
“Noong kabataan ko pa, I kept on breaking the rules. I was told that I’m not supposed to cut my hair pero puputulin ko ang buhok ko, bakit ba? I was also told that I was not supposed to sing this kind of song pero ‘yun ang kakantahin ko, bakit ba?” she said.
“We sometimes doubt ourselves a lot of times. And something in us pinapaalala ang sarili natin na kaya natin. This industry has changed my life in so many wonderful ways,” she further shared.
View this post on Instagram
To end her speech, the Asia’s Songbird said the artists seated in front of her — which were composed of rising stars and emerging acts — are the “future of OPM.” She also pushed them to keep working.
“You are the future of OPM, and me being honored as the Woman of the Year, I am so proud of all of you because you guys will continue what Lolita [Carbon] and the artists before me had started. Congratulations to everyone, keep doing the work,” she said.
Other female artists recognized at the ceremony were KAIA, Ashtine Olviga, G22, BINI, Tandingan, Constantino, and Carbon. /ra
