Regine Velasquez: Heart's Encore!
By Maryo B. Labad

THIS February, Ms. Regine Velasquez, is probably the most visible star in tinseltown. Aside from her weekly show SOP, she has a movie with Richard Gomez (Ikaw Lamang, Hanggang Ngayon); a two-night concert at the Big Dome with no less than international star Brian McKnight; and on top of that, promotional rounds for her latest album Reigne, now platinum in just a few weeks after its recent release. Although loveless at 31, Regine claims she's happy with her career and with life as a whole.

"I'm really very, very happy kasi sa sobrang blessings na nakukuha ko," she exclaims. "Syempre, sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, kahit pagod na ako, I can't afford to say no basta trabaho ang pinag-uusapan. At alam ko na hindi parati ganito na maraming trabaho. There are times din na halos wala kang ginagawa. So, pag walang trabaho, sinasamantala ko na magpahinga. Pero hanggang may work, I always accept it and just be grateful for the offer."

In the course of our interview, Regine tried to clarify a couple of issues hounding her in the grapevine columns: first, that she and her brother-in-law (Raul Mitra) always come as a package deal-that you can't get the services of Regine without hiring the latter; and second, that she's leaving GMA-7 because ABS-CBN offered her a much better deal, and that the other main reason why she's crossing over is because Cacai (her sister) will be booted out (as host) from S.O. P.

Regine explains, "I only gave him (Raul) the break. After that, Boss Vie del Rosario hired him again. At wala na ako dun. So how can you call it a package deal?

"It's not true that I'm leaving Channel 7. But it's true that Channel 2 offered me a show. Last year pa yan. But I told them that if it would cause me to leave SOP, I'm sorry, I can't accept it because I'm very happy with that show. It's a form of relaxation for me. Para akong Hindi nagtatrabaho. And it's not even the money. At yung tungkol kay Cacai, it's not true na aalisin s'ya sa show. Kung may dapat alisin, ako 'yun, kasi dagdag lang ako sa kanila. Cacai is one of the original hosts in the show, kaya Hindi totoo na mawawala s'ya."

With Cupid's arrows in the air, we asked Regine her most memorable Valentine show? "All my shows are memorable, kasi Hindi naman palagi may Valentine show ako," she tells us. "But if you want to know my favorite V-show, siguro isa yung ginawa ko with Ariel Rivera-Two Hearts, One Beat, not for anything else, kasi ang ganda-ganda nung show, kasi it was like a play. Hindi yung typical na concert. Tapos 'yung Independent Women, with Jaya-where I got to know her better at dun kami naging good friends."

After 16 years in the business, Regine almost has everything in life-except a romantic partner. Isn't she afraid of being left behind- of being (God forbid!) an old maid? "Sa ngayon Hindi pa, kasi bata pa naman ako," she stresses. "As I've said, I'm enjoying myself very much. I'm not in a hurry. I want to do everything now while I'm single, kasi pag may asawa na ako, Hindi ko na magagawa ang gusto ko, like I want to travel by myself. I want to work with people I really like.

"At ako pa naman yung tipong tao na if I have my own family, I'll just give up everything. Kaya sana huwag muna ngayon."

And what does it take to be a Regine Velasquez, to last this long in showbiz and earn all the accolades? "Nothing much really," she laughs. "Ang feeling ko kasi, masipag ako. Ako kasi yung taong pag may binibigay sa aking trabaho, Hindi ko tatanggapin hanggat Hindi ako sigurado na magagawa ko nang maayos at maganda. At kailangan naka-concentrate ako fully with that job.

"And in terms of movie projects, siguro nagugustuhan ng mga tao dahil puro light lang naman. If you watch it, at paglabas mo ng moviehouse, Hindi mabigat sa kalooban. And definitely, Hindi yung pa-cute-cute lang. They're all feelgood movies, and I like it that way. And these are the kind of movies na ginagawa ko dahil ito lang ang kaya kong gawin. And I must admit that acting is not my turf."

Her greatest fear in life? "I used to be so afraid of death," she relates. "I think lahat naman tayo ganun. But then you also have to see it on another level. Kaya Hindi na ako takot dun, tanggap ko na yun kasi. Eventually, lahat naman tayo dun pupunta. Basta sa akin, my faith is very strong. I talk to Him everyday in my life. Any moment kung kunin n'ya ako, okey lang. I have nothing to be scared about."

And what's her biggest frustration in the industry now? "Siguro Hindi tayo masyadong nabibigyan ng suporta ng government. Malaki ang tax na kinukuha sa atin, although naiintindihan ko yun. Kaya lang bakit ngayon dinagdagan pa kami ? Okey lang siguro sa mga artistang puro lead roles. Paano na yung mga maliit, like the extras and the crew. Nakakalungkot kasi hirap na nga ang industriya natin, lalo pang pinahihirapan," she avers.

On the lighter side, what is Regine's greatest extravagance? "Oh...I love bags, signature bags and shoes. Actually ang shoes di masyado, just like clothes, ang feeling ko ginagamit ko sa trabaho ko.

"But the bags, masyado akong addict d'yan. Kasi pwede ka namang umalis na walang bag. And I prefer Fendi," she ends the interview with a glowing smile.