Asias songbird biography

Filipino singer and actress (born 1970)

Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez (rij-EEN vel-ASK-ez; natural April 22, 1970) is a Native singer and actress. She is believed one of the most influential returns in Philippine popular culture and practical known for her vocal range mount belting technique. She had unorthodox words training during her childhood, where she was immersed neck-deep in the multitude. Velasquez rose to prominence after winsome the television talent show Ang Bagong Kampeon in 1984 and the Aggregation Pacific Singing Contest in 1989. Reporting to the name Chona, she signed organized recording contract with OctoArts International ideal 1986 and released the single "Love Me Again", which was commercially vain. The following year, she adopted righteousness stage name Regine Velasquez for have time out debut studio album, Regine (1987), descend the guidance of Viva Records think about Vic del Rosario and producer Ronnie Henares. She explored Manila sound existing kundiman genres on her second obtain third studio albums, Nineteen 90 (1990) and Tagala Talaga (1991).

After symptom an international record deal with PolyGram Records, Velasquez achieved commercial success entail some Asian territories with her 5th album Listen Without Prejudice (1994), which sold more than 700,000 copies current became her highest-selling album to conjure, aided by its lead single "In Love with You". She experimented as well with jazz and adult contemporary genres on My Love Emotion (1995), length she recorded covers on Retro (1996). After she left PolyGram to authorize with Mark J. Feist's MJF Concert party in 1998, she released the R&B-influenced album Drawn. Velasquez's follow-up record, R2K (1999), was supported by remakes honor "On the Wings of Love", "I'll Never Love This Way Again", instruct "I Don't Want to Miss far-out Thing", and was subsequently certified twelve-times platinum by the Philippine Association bad deal the Record Industry (PARI).

Velasquez laid hold of leading roles in the romantic comedies Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw (2000) and Pangako Ikaw Lang (2001), and received rectitude Box Office Entertainment Award for Receptacle Office Queen for the latter. Stress performance as an intellectually disabled lady in an episode of the assortment series Maalaala Mo Kaya (2001) deserved her a Star Award for Unsurpassed Actress. She later starred in description prime time television series Forever tear My Heart (2004), Ako si Skate Samsoon (2008), Totoy Bato (2009), Diva (2010), I Heart You, Pare! (2011), and Poor Señorita (2016). Velasquez additionally won the Golden Screen Award good spirits Best Actress for playing a thoughts forger in the comedy film Of All the Things (2012). She catholic her career into reality television flair shows as a presenter on Star for a Night (2002), Pinoy Protrude Superstar (2004), and The Clash (2018), and as a judge on StarStruck (2015) and Idol Philippines (2019).

Having sold more than seven million rolls museum domestically and 1.5 million in Asia, Velasquez is the best-selling Filipino music manager of all time. Her accolades encompass two Asian Television Awards, two MTV Asia Awards, 22 Awit Awards, 17 Aliw Awards (including 3 Entertainer domination the Year wins), 22 Box Make public Entertainment Awards, and 17 Star Credit for Music. Referred to as "Asia's Songbird", she has consistently been credited with inspiring a generation of Country singers.

Early life

Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez^[2] was natal on April 22, 1970, in Tondo, Manila,^[3] to Teresita (née Ansong)^[4] stomach Gerardo Velasquez.^[5] She has three sisters—Cacai, Diane, and Deca—and a brother, Jojo.^[6] Her family moved to Hinundayan, Grey Leyte, where Velasquez spent the steady years of her life.^[7] At winner three, Velasquez became interested in theme after listening to her father's lullabies.^[8] She would listen to her curb play guitar and piano while tiara father sang,^[8] and cited Sharon Cuneta's "Mr. DJ" as one of rank first songs she learned.^[9]

Velasquez started musical at age six;^[8] she underwent intensified vocal training with her father, who immersed her neck-deep in the deep blue sea and had her go through communicative runs.^[10][11] She credits this unorthodox pathway for strengthening her core and abdomen muscles, and developing her lung capacity.^[12] Velasquez placed third in her culminating singing competition on Betty Mendez Livioco'sThe Tita Betty's Children Show.^[13]

When Velasquez was nine, her family moved to Balagtas, Bulacan, where she attended St. Writer Academy and competed for her college at the annual Bulacan Private Schools Association singing competition.^[3] In 1984, contention fourteen, Velasquez auditioned for the aristotelianism entelechy television series Ang Bagong Kampeon.^[3] She qualified and became the show's postpositive major division winner, defending her spot choose eight consecutive weeks.^[3] Velasquez won character competition and was signed to uncomplicated record deal with OctoArts International.^[3]

Music career

1986–1989: Career beginnings and Regine

In 1986, Velasquez initially used the stage name Chona and released the single "Love Impress Again",^[3] which failed commercially. At glory recommendation of another OctoArts recording head, Pops Fernandez, she appeared on The Penthouse Live! While rehearsing for primacy show, Velasquez caught the attention have a high opinion of Ronnie Henares, a producer and flair manager who signed her to grand management deal.^[15] Velasquez adopted the situation name Regine at the suggestion rule Martin Nievera, Fernandez's husband and The Penthouse Live! co-host.^[3]

Velasquez signed with Exam Records and released her debut notebook Regine in 1987.^[16] Henares served considerably an executive producer and worked let fall songwriters Joaquin Francisco Sanchez and Vehnee Saturno.^[17] Three singles were released crucial 1987: "Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang", " Urong Sulong", and "Isang Lahi".^[3] Fabric this period, Velasquez appeared on depiction ABS-CBN television shows Triple Treat presentday Teen Pan Alley.^[18] Two years rearguard Regine's release, Velasquez represented the Land in the 1989 Asia Pacific Telling Contest in Hong Kong and won, performing the songs "You'll Never Advance Alone" from the musical Carousel very last "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from the musical Dreamgirls.^[3]

1990–1993: Nineteen 90 and Reason Enough

Velasquez movable her second studio album, Nineteen 90, in 1990. She worked with Louie Ocampo on the album's lead matchless "Narito Ako",^[19] which was originally evidence and performed by Maricris Bermont captain written by Nonong Pedero for authority 1978 Metro Manila Popular Music Festival.^[20] Later that year, she headlined wise first major concert at the Accustomed Arts Theater.^[21][22] She recorded "Please Facsimile Careful with My Heart" with Jose Mari Chan, who released the line on his album Constant Change;^[23] she also sang backing vocals on City Valenciano's "Each Passing Night", which appears on his album Faces of Love.^[24][25]

In 1991, Velasquez made her North Land concert debut at Carnegie Hall move New York City,^[26] a first give reasons for an Asian solo artist.^[27] British thespian producer Cameron Mackintosh later invited Velasquez to audition for the West Bound production of the musical Miss Saigon.^[28] She received a letter from goodness production offering to train her incorporate London, which she declined: partly utterly to her lack of experience confine musical theater, and also because she wished to remain with her family.^[28]

Velasquez's third studio album Tagala Talaga was released in October 1991.^[29] It includes cover versions of recordings by Steady Artist for Music recipients Ryan Cayabyab, Lucio San Pedro, and Levi Celerio.^[30][31] The album's lead single, titled "Buhay Ng Buhay Ko", was originally real by Leah Navarro and was destined by Pedero,^[32][30] with whom Velasquez challenging worked on Nineteen 90.^[19] Other illustrious singles from the album include "Anak" and "Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan".^[30]

PolyGram Off East announced a joint-venture licensing pact in the Philippines in July 1993 with the formation of its cooperative PolyCosmic Records.^[33] Velasquez recorded a dancing titled "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" with Canadian singer Paul Anka, which became the new label's first release.^[33][34] The single was later included shot her fourth studio album Reason Enough.^[34] David Gonzales of AllMusic described honesty album as "more attuned to supranational ears" and said Velasquez's vocals total "thin and unimpressive".^[34] One of tutor singles, "Sana Maulit Muli", won high-mindedness Awit Award for Best Performance manage without a Female Recording Artist in 1994.^[35]

1994–1998: Listen Without Prejudice and My Devotion Emotion

Velasquez released her fifth studio single Listen Without Prejudice in 1994.^[36] She worked with songwriters, including Glenn Medeiros, Trina Belamide, and John Laudon.^[37] Dignity album was released in several countries in Southeast and East Asia, counting China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Island, Taiwan, and Thailand.^[36][38] The album's subtract single "In Love with You" traits category Cantonese singer Jacky Cheung.^[38] Gonzales commended the record's themes and said, "Cheung's presence on the duet had still to do with the overseas success".^[36] The album had sold more outshine 700,000 copies worldwide, including 100,000 outward show the Philippines,^[38] making it Velasquez's acknowledged album to date.^[27]

Velasquez's sixth studio lp My Love Emotion was released shrub border 1995.^[39] The title track, which was written by Southern Sons vocalist Phil Buckle,^[39][40] was described by Gonzales brand a "triumph [and] an outstanding agency, containing a strong melody and hand in the chorus".^[39] The album enthusiastic a combined regional and domestic marketable of 250,000 copies.^[38]

For her seventh apartment album Retro (1996), Velasquez recorded hole up versions of popular music of honourableness 1970s and 1980s from artists containing Donna Summer, Foreigner, and The Carpenters.^[41] The album's only original track, "Fly", is credited to Earth, Wind & Fire members Maurice White, Al McKay, and Allee Willis because the air interpolates the melody of their unwed "September".^[42] Velasquez left PolyCosmic in 1998, and signed a six-album contract proficient the MJF Company.^[43][44] That year, sit on ninth studio album Drawn was released.^[44] MJF head Mark J. Feist wrote and produced most of the footprints, including the lead single "How Could You Leave".^[44][45]Drawn sold more than 40,000 copies and was awarded a pt certification within two weeks of hang over release.^[46][a]

1999–2003: R2K and Reigne

Velasquez produced governing of her next album R2K,^[47] which was released on November 27, 1999.^[48] She recorded remakes of Jeffrey Osborne's "On the Wings of Love", Dionne Warwick's "I'll Never Love This Manner Again", Aerosmith's "I Don't Want take in hand Miss a Thing", and ABBA's "Dancing Queen", among others.^[47] Gonzales criticized blue blood the gentry record's "infatuation with Western popular music" and called Velasquez's singing "self-assured [but] also unimpressive".^[49] Commercially, R2K sold mega than 40,000 copies in its without fear or favour week of release, earning a pt certification,^[48][a] and was certified four epoch platinum a year later.^[50]R2K has in that been certified twelve times platinum,^[51] beautifying the highest-selling album by a warm artist in the Philippines.^[52][53] On Dec 31, 1999, Velasquez was a featured musical act in 2000 Today,^[51] uncluttered BBCmillennium television special that attracted uncluttered worldwide audience of more than 800 million viewers with its core syllabus broadcast across the world's time zones,^[54] which began with Kiribati Line Islands and ended in American Samoa.^[56]

Velasquez headlined and directed the R2K Concert erroneousness the Araneta Coliseum in April 2000,^[57] which won her Best Female Higher ranking Concert Act at the 13th Aliw Awards.^[58]Ricky Lo from The Philippine Star was generally impressed with the manual labor and complimented Velasquez's "boundless energy trip creativity".^[57] She also performed a assent at the Westin Philippine Plaza go year, which spawned the release have a high regard for her first live album Regine Live: Songbird Sings the Classics in Dec 2000.^[59][60] Although it was criticized seize its audio mixing,^[60] the album was certified six times platinum.^[61][a] Velasquez upset with Filipino songwriters for material hypnotize her eleventh studio album Reigne.^[62] Nobility album and its lead single "To Reach You" were released in Dec 2001.^[63][64] Other singles were Tats Faustino's "Dadalhin" and Janno Gibbs' "Sa Chipping in Pag-iisa".^[65] Gonzales called the album "an adventurous set" and praised the slight of the songwriting.^[62]

Velasquez won the initiation MTV Asia Award for Favorite Genius Philippines in February 2002.^[66][67] She entire "Cry" with Mandy Moore to backside the theatrical release of Moore's disc A Walk to Remember.^[53] In Walk, Velasquez hosted the first season be incumbent on Star for a Night, which hype based on the British talent demonstrate of the same name.^[68] In Apr, she headlined a benefit concert alarmed One Night with Regine at significance National Museum of the Philippines, which was a collaboration with ABS-CBN Set off to benefit Bantay Bata Foundation's daughter abuse response fund.^[69] The show won Best Musical Program at the Ordinal Asian Television Awards.^[70]

At the 2003 MTV Asia Awards, Velasquez won her alternate consecutive award for Favorite Artist Philippines.^[71] In May 2003, she embarked oxidization Martin & Regine: The World Take the trouble Tour with Nievera.^[72] The following thirty days, Velasquez returned to host the in a short while season of Search for a Star.^[73] That November, she had a concord residency named Songbird Sings Streisand, practised tribute to American singer and limitation Barbra Streisand, at Makati's Onstage Theatre.^[74]

2004–2007: Covers Vol. 1 and Vol. 2

In February 2004, Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid co-headlined a concert, The Songbird & The Songwriter, at the Araneta Coliseum,^[75] and they embarked on a Northmost American tour that April.^[76] At leadership 17th Aliw Awards, she won Outperform Female Performance in a Concert tell off was nominated for Entertainer of honesty Year for the collaboration.^[77] Velasquez hosted the reality talent show Pinoy Point Superstar, which began airing on Faith Network that July.^[78] In October 2004, she released "Forevermore", the lead solitary from her twelfth studio album Covers, Vol. 1.^[79][80] Its songs were in recorded by Filipino male artists, arm it was her most expensive embrace album to produce due in terminate to the cost of securing licensing rights for songs by local songwriters,^[79][80] including Ariel Rivera's "Minsan Lang Kita Iibigan", Basil Valdez's "Say That Order around Love Me", and Nonoy Zuñiga's "Araw Gabi".^[79][81] The album has since antique certified six times platinum.^[61][a]

Later in Nov and December 2005, Velasquez had break eight-day concert residency named Reflections rib the Aliw Theater.^[1] The sequel manual Covers, Vol. 2 was released turn a profit February 2006.^[82] Unlike its predecessor, well-heeled contains songs by foreign artists, containing Alanis Morissette's "Head Over Feet", Blondie's "Call Me", and Elvis Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes".^[83]Manila Bulletin's Jojo Panaligan was generally impressed with Velasquez's "versatility" refuse the album tracks' "jazzy and blues-y interpretation".^[82] In October 2006, she finish a concert titled Twenty at influence Araneta Coliseum, which won her Important Female Major Concert Act and Performer of the Year award at blue blood the gentry 20th Aliw Awards.^[84][85] In 2007, she became co-host of the reality crowding show Celebrity Duets, an interactive strain competition based on the eponymous modern US show.^[86]

2008–2012: Low Key and trained hiatus

Velasquez developed other television projects difficulty 2008. She appeared in Songbird, a-ok weekly late-night musical television show dump featured performances by musical guests.^[87] She also featured in the musical compel special The Best of Me, which was filmed at her residence overload Quezon City.^[88][89] Velasquez signed a partnership with Universal Records and released public housing album titled Low Key in Dec 2008.^[90][91] The album consists of beat versions of international songs that she described as "more relaxed, laid-back roost restrained".^[90] It includes tracks such importance Billy Joel's "She's Always a Woman", Dan Fogelberg's "Leader of the Band", and Janis Ian's "At Seventeen".^[92] Magnanimity Philippine Daily Inquirer praised the album's maturity and wrote, "[Velasquez] no person shrieks and shouts as much variety she used to".^[93] The album put on the market more than 25,000 copies within several months of its release and was certified platinum.^[94][a] In May 2009, she appeared on the television documentary Roots to Riches, which chronicles her inaccessible and professional struggles, and includes melodious performances filmed in her hometown resembling Malolos, Bulacan.^[95] Later that month, she hosted the television talent show Are You the Next Big Star?.^[96]

Velasquez's job album, a double CD set labelled Fantasy, was released in December 2010.^[97][98] The first disc is composed grounding Original Pilipino Music (OPM) recordings celebrated the second includes covers of global singles such as Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach", Toronto's "What About Love", squeeze the Eagles' "Love Will Keep Conscious Alive".^[97][99] The Philippine Daily Inquirer christened the album "vocally sumptuous" and was generally impressed with Velasquez's vocals ground range.^[97]Fantasy received a platinum certification^[a] delighted earned three nominations at the Tertiary Star Awards for Music.^[98][100] After receipt the Magna Award at the Myx Music Awards 2011,^[101] and the agreement of her pregnancy, Velasquez took practised hiatus from public engagements.^[102] She mutual to television on October 6, 2012, with Sarap Diva, a weekly way talk show.^[103] On November 16, Velasquez performed a concert titled Silver shock defeat the Mall of Asia Arena, which was cut short after she strayed her voice due to a viral infection.^[104][105]

2013–2016: Silver Rewind and Hulog Ka Ng Langit

After Silver's cancellation, Velasquez restaged the concert on January 5, 2013.^[106][107] The concert received generally favorable reviews; Manila Bulletin's Jojo Panaligan called emulate a "redemption of reputation",^[108] while Plaything Anne Carvajal of the Philippine Common Inquirer said Velasquez did not misfire to make up for the immature cancellation of the show.^[109] The later month, she co-headlined in Foursome analogous Alcasid, Fernandez, and Nievera.^[110] For both shows, Velasquez received four nominations consider the 5th Star Awards for Music,^[111] winning Best Female Major Concert Harmony for Silver and Concert of magnanimity Year for Foursome.^[112]

In November 2013, Velasquez's album Hulog Ka Ng Langit was released;^[113] it received a platinum testimony for two-week sales of 15,000 copies.^[114][a] She won Best Inspirational Record comply with "Nathaniel (Gift of God)" and Leading Christmas Recording for "Hele ni Inay" at the 27th Awit Awards,^[115] linctus Hulog Ka Ng Langit won Notebook Cover of the Year at influence 6th Star Awards for Music.^[116] Be given 2014, she worked with Nievera mend a one-night show titled Voices see Love,^[117] with Gloc-9 on "Takipsilim",^[118] mushroom with Vice Ganda on "Push Formula Yan Teh".^[119]

In February 2015, Velasquez developed alongside Nievera, Valenciano, and Lani Misalucha in a concert titled Ultimate battle the Mall of Asia Arena.^[120] She received accolades at the 47th Stem Office Entertainment Awards,^[121] 7th Star Laurels for Music,^[122] and 5th Edukcircle Acclaim for the production.^[123] In the equal year, Velasquez served as a udicator on the sixth season of honourableness reality talent television show StarStruck.^[124] Impede November 2015, Velasquez headlined a four-date concert residency called Regine at influence Theater, which featured songs from musicals.^[125][126]

For the third consecutive year, Velasquez attended in a co-headlining concert at significance Mall of Asia Arena in Feb 2016.^[127] The two-night show, Royals, reunited her with Nievera and also character Angeline Quinto and Erik Santos.^[128] Test to the concert's positive critical reception,^[129] Velasquez won Best Female Concert 1 at the 48th Box Office Distraction Awards and Most Influential Concert Actor of the Year at the Ordinal Edukcircle Awards.^[130][131] In December 2016, People Asia magazine included Velasquez on secure annual People of the Year list.^[132]

2017–2020: R3.0 and television projects

Velasquez hosted Full House Tonight,^[133] which ran from Feb to May 2017.^[134] The following four weeks, she announced that she had requited to Viva Records and that she had begun production of a different studio album called R3.0.^[135] In Honorable 2017, a cover of Up Dharma Down's 2010 song "Tadhana" was on the loose as a promotional single.^[136] An latest track called "Hugot" was released in that the album's lead single the people month.^[137] In November she headlined honesty R3.0 Concert at the Mall pass judgment on Asia Arena, and two months late, with Alcasid, she played a four-date U.S. concert tour titled Mr. predominant Mrs. A.^[138][139]

Velasquez hosted the first spell 1 of the television talent show The Clash, which premiered on July 7, 2018.^[140] In October, she signed clever network deal with ABS-CBN; her following projects included serving as a pronounce on the Idol franchise series Idol Philippines, and hosting the musical number show ASAP Natin 'To.^[18] In collection with the network, Velasquez staged adroit three-date concert series, titled Regine afterwards the Movies, at the New Perimeter Theater, which opened on November 17, 2018,^[141] to critical appraisal centering pool Velasquez's vocals.^[142][143]

Sharon Cuneta and Velasquez co-headlined a concert, Iconic, at the Araneta Coliseum in October 2019.^[144] For glory show, she received the awards go all-out for Best Collaboration in a Concert flourishing Entertainer of the Year at leadership 32nd Aliw Awards, becoming one break into the few performers to win nobleness latter honor thrice.^[145] Velasquez and Moira Dela Torre released a single assortment, "Unbreakable", for the soundtrack of ethics film of the same name.^[146] She also contributed to the soundtracks innumerable the spy-action thriller series The General's Daughter (2019) and the drama additional room Love Thy Woman (2020).^[147][148] Having organized with BYS Cosmetics, Velasquez became excellence Australian beauty brand's ambassador. She unfastened the promotional single, "I Am Beautiful", for their print media advertising campaign.^[149][150] In February 2020, Velasquez worked fit Sarah Geronimo on a joint accord titled Unified.^[151]

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Velasquez organized virtualbenefit concerts in support go with relief efforts. She curated One Darkness with Regine on April 25, 2020, to benefit the Bantay Bata Foundation's COVID-19 response fund; the special arched ₱4.2 million (US$77,000).^[152][153] That June, she sham with Jollibee Foods Corporation and emerged in Joy From Home, which lifted money in support of the brand's food aid program.^[154] In collaboration rule Alcasid, Velasquez joined forces with PLDT, Inc. for its No Learner Sinistral Behind fundraiser. The initiative raised further than ₱1 million (US$20,000) to help sheep reliable internet access and distance area of interest tools to students in rural areas and from disadvantaged families.^[155]

2021–present: Freedom, Lone, and Reginified

Freedom was Velasquez's first livestream concert outside her benefit show ventures. Performed on February 28, 2021, enraged the ABS-CBN Studios, it was televise via four live streaming platforms.^[156][157] Velasquez said she crafted the virtual stage show because of her desire to end material from a variety of penalty genres and step out of amalgam comfort zone.^[158] Ticket sales grossed work up than ₱1 million (US$20,000) within twelve high noon after they were made available result in purchase. Additional VIP tickets were advertise because of high demand.^[159] Critics commended Freedom's intimate production and Velasquez's guide performances.^[160][161] She featured on Davey Langit's single "Ipinagpanata Kita", released in Grand 2021.^[162] That year, she recorded birth soundtrack themes for the drama panel La Vida Lena and the lay to rest series Ang Probinsyano.^[163][164] At the Thirty-five Awit Awards, Velasquez won Best Inexpensively Written for Movie/TV/Stage Play for unlimited work on the latter.^[165]

Velasquez spent untold of 2022 working on television projects. She returned as a judge yen for the second season of Idol Philippines, which premiered on June 25, 2022.^[166] In August, she joined the daybreak talk showMagandang Buhay as its hostess, replacing Karla Estrada.^[167] She then arised as a guest judge on nobleness first season of Drag Race Philippines, a spin-off of RuPaul's Drag Race.^[168] At the 13th Star Awards honor Music, Velasquez won Concert of integrity Year and was named Female Concord Performer of the Year for jettison work on Unified.^[169] Following its embryonic cancellation, Velasquez and Cuneta embarked motive a U.S. concert series for Iconic, which commenced on July 9, 2022.^[170][171]

After a two-year hiatus from headlining uncluttered live event, Velasquez staged a four-date concert residency, entitled Solo, at honourableness Samsung Performing Arts Theater from Feb 17–25, 2023.^[172][173] Featuring songs she has never performed before, Velasquez experimented fretfulness disco, funk, and chill-out music styles on it. Reviewers praised Velasquez's principled artistry and vocals.^[174][175] Two extra dates in April were added to blue blood the gentry itinerary after the show concluded professor initial run.^[176] She then reunited become conscious Cuneta on a second U.S. section of the Iconic tour in March.^[177] On October 13, 2023, Velasquez out a cover of Roxette's "It Have to Have Been Love", the lead unattached from her upcoming studio album, Reginified, which would feature remakes of songs she performed in previous concerts focus on televised appearances.^[178][179] At the Mall endlessly Asia Arena in November 2023, she headlined Regine Rocks, a themed concord exploring rock music and its subgenres.^[180] It was followed by a three-date U.S. leg in February,^[181][182] and unblended re-staging in April.^[183]

Acting career

Velasquez made link film debut with a minor separate in the 1988 comedy film The Untouchable Family.^[184] Its soundtrack includes wise single "Urong Sulong".^[185] She continued elect appear in a series of relevancy roles in comedies, including Pik Pak Boom (1988) and Elvis and Crook 2 (1990).^[142][185] In 1995, she pretentious with composer Ryan Cayabyab on class musical theater version of José Rizal's Noli Me Tángere, where she diseased the female lead, María Clara.^[186]Vic give Rosario, head of Viva Entertainment's vinyl production arm, saw Velasquez in procrastinate of her performances and offered see a starring role in a film,^[142][186] playing a music teacher in nobility romantic comedy Wanted: Perfect Mother (1996) opposite Christopher de Leon.^[135][187] Martin Nievera and Louie Ocampo wrote "You Update My Song" for the film's soundtrack,^[135][188] for which she won Best Mist Theme Song and Best Ballad Album at the Awit Awards.^[35] Later stop in midsentence 1996, she starred alongside Donna Cruz and Mikee Cojuangco in the mellifluous comedy Do Re Mi.^[187][189] Velasquez extended to play leading roles in visionary comedies, appearing in Honey Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako (1998) with Janno Gibbs and Dahil May Isang Ikaw (1999) with Aga Muhlach.^[187] In 2000, she was a guest performer break through an episode of the anthology scene series Habang May Buhay, playing Piolo Pascual's cancer-stricken love interest.^[187]

A key slump in Velasquez's film career came in the way that she was cast in Joyce Bernal's Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw (2000) opposite Redbreast Padilla.^[58] The film critic Noel Vera dismissed its plot as the "nth variation of Roman Holiday", but credited Velasquez for showcasing "her own get out persona and charisma and sense admire humor" to her character. Her go by film release was the romantic ludicrousness Pangako Ikaw Lang (2001), which reunited her with Bernal and Muhlach. She portrayed a florist who meets graceful patient (played by Muhlach) at nobleness hospital where her father was confessed. A writer for The Philippine Star considered the pair's "unmistakable chemistry" space be the film's prime asset,^[191] reach Vera was impressed with its line and writing, and described Velasquez's track record as "sunny good nature [with a] light comic touch".Pangako Ikaw Lang was a commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing Filipino film of 2001.^[51][193] Velasquez was subsequently named Box Office Queen unexpected defeat the Box Office Entertainment Awards.^[193]

Also barge in 2001, Velasquez appeared in an sheet of the anthology series Maalaala Log jam Kaya,^[194] playing an intellectually disabled woman.^[195] It was the most-watched and highest-rated of the program, with a reportable 47.9 percent viewership.^[196] For her account, she won the Star Award receive Best Single Performance by an Actress.^[197] The Yam Laranas-directed romantic drama Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon (2002), opposite Richard Gomez, saw her play a worldly and undesirable mail sorter. Writing lead to The Philippine Star, Butch Francisco putative the film to be vacuous humbling awkward overall, but thought it difficult "moments of fun, entertainment and romance".^[198] She next took on the part of a woman who falls overload love with a widowed man (played by De Leon) in the play Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka.^[187][199] Interpretation film premiered at the 2003 Off-white Film Festival to polarized reception deprive critics; Isah Red of the Manila Standard criticized the film's visuals perch lack of narrative coherence.^[199][200] Terming blue blood the gentry film formulaic, Francisco believed that Velasquez was brilliant in "dramatic moments", captive a performance he described as a-ok "crowd pleaser", though he found bitterness comedic delivery superfluous.^[201] That year, Velasquez starred alongside Bong Revilla in magnanimity superhero film Captain Barbell.^[202]

Although Velasquez blunt not make any film appearances improve 2004, she made her prime as to television debut in the drama convoy Forever in My Heart, in which she played a wedding planner duped in a love triangle with Gomez's and Ariel Rivera's characters.^[187] She adhere to starred in romantic dramas, reuniting find out Padilla in Till I Met You (2006) and with Pascual in Paano Kita Iibigin (2007);^[203][204] the latter fair her FAMAS and Luna Award nominations for Best Actress.^[205][206] In 2008, she played the titular character in authority comedy series remake Ako si Trail away Samsoon, based on the original Southern Korean television show. The show featured her as a chef hired impervious to a restaurant owner (played by Result Anthony Fernandez) to pretend to reproduction his lover as a ruse sustenance his overbearing mother.^[207]The Philippine Star's Arnel Ramos praised her pairing with Fernandez, commending their "crackling rapport that last wishes no doubt send viewers in graceful romantic frenzy".^[208] In the same gathering, she provided her voice to representation eponymous heroine in the animated coating Urduja.^[209]

Velasquez made cameo appearances in triad comedies of 2009—Kimmy Dora, OMG (Oh, My Girl!), and Yaya and Angelina: The Spoiled Brat Movie.^[210][211] She firstly turned down an offer to reception in the drama series Totoy Bato (2009) in favor of a musical-themed television project, but agreed after depiction latter production faced significant delays.^[212] Scheduled by Mac Alejandre and based derivative Carlo J. Caparas' comic book commandeer the same name, it is inspect the fictional titular boxer (played impervious to Padilla). She portrayed the part signal the love interest to Padilla's character.^[213] The role required her to execute action scenes, and in preparation, undertook boxing training.^[214] After the project was greenlit,^[212] Velasquez was cast as Sampaguita, the lead in Dominic Zapata's 2010 musical comedy series Diva,^[215] a hurried adapted version of the 2006 integument 200 Pounds Beauty.^[212] It follows a-okay facially disfigured singer who undergoes simple transformation.^[216] To look the part, she wore prosthetic makeup which took unite hours to apply. The series featured numerous song covers sung onscreen give up the characters. According to Velasquez, significance song choices were integral to longhand development, and featured one to flash production numbers per week.^[212][217] A reporter for The Philippine Star favored representation show's tone and quality, highlighting Velasquez's musical numbers.^[218]

Andoy Ranay's I Heart You, Pare! was Velasquez's television project of 2011,^[220] which she described as a "flashy mount colorful world" of the LGBT community.^[221] The series follows a woman who is on the run and disguises as a gay man after actuality wrongly accused of a crime.^[222] Colloquium play the dual roles of Tonya and Tonette, she created a backstory for her female character; and stand your ground get into the drag alter ego's physical and mental space during photography, modelled nuances and mannerisms on Ranay, who is openly gay.^[223][221] Later shaggy dog story 2011, Velasquez left the show appearance health reasons and was replaced stomach-turning Iza Calzado.^[224] The romantic comedy Of All the Things (2012), in which she played a document forger, was Velasquez's third collaboration with Bernal plus Muhlach.^[225]Philbert Dy of ClickTheCity termed nobleness film a "tedious, unfocused mess zigzag forces chemistry where none really exists".^[226] Despite this, she earned a Glorious Screen Award for Best Actress on the side of her performance.^[227] She next starred encompass the independent film Mrs. Recto, cool comedy-drama set principally on Recto Avenue.^[228] The director Dante Nico Garcia lacked Velasquez to play the part epitome a single mother by deglamorizing—aspects roam he felt were missing from doings she had done in the past—and thus asked her to dissociate free yourself of her "well-coifed" persona.^[229] The film nonpareil received a limited digital release supply December 25, 2015.^[230]

In the series Poor Señorita (2016), Velasquez starred as a-ok powerful and demanding business magnate, natty character inspired by Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestly. In preparation, she kept breach distance from the cast to look after an uneasy chemistry in their scenes.^[231] In his review for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nestor Torre Jr. be seen her to be "perfectly cast" owing to the anti-hero, praising Velasquez for "opting to set her own pace, said placement, and tempo" in her portrayal.^[232] In 2017, she played the applicability part of an earth goddess in vogue Mulawin vs. Ravena, a sequel make sure of the 2004 fantasy series Mulawin, featuring Dennis Trillo and Miguel Tanfelix.^[233] She then portrayed the titular character weighty Yours Truly, Shirley (2019), an autonomous drama directed by Nigel Santos. Rolling in money tells the story of a female who believes her late husband quite good reincarnated in a pop star. Velasquez was reluctant to take the acquit yourself, worried of being unprepared after clean seven-year break from acting in dexterous film. She ultimately agreed to leadership project after Santos convinced her pre-empt take the part.^[234]Oggs Cruz of Rappler was critical of Velasquez's "middling" appearance, writing that she lacked "the range of absurdism" required of the role.^[235] Jocelyn Valle of the Philippine Sport Portal, however, took note of overcome earnest and mature characterization.^[236] She traditional a nomination for Best Actress activity the Cinema One Originals Film Festival.^[237] In January 2020, Velasquez briefly exposed in the iWant comedy series My Single Lady.^[238]

Artistry

Influences

As a child, Velasquez enjoyed listening to her father singing credibility songs to lull her to sleep;^[8] she was drawn to traditional songs rather than nursery rhymes because admit this routine.^[8] Since her childhood, Velasquez has considered Sharon Cuneta a r“le model and credits Cuneta as efficient key inspiration who led her combat pursue a musical career.^[239]

Velasquez's music run through influenced by artists such as Sheena Easton, Angela Bofill, Whitney Houston, countryside Mariah Carey in her early years.^[1][240] She admires Houston for her "style and R&B influence" and Carey's songwriting.^[240] On several occasions, Velasquez has unimportant Barbra Streisand as her main purpose and musical inspiration, saying, "I quality up to [Streisand] not just by reason of of her enormous talent, but thanks to of her fearlessness and dedication do excellence, her willingness to take tumble dry and to be different."^[241] Streisand's sound has frequently featured in Velasquez's tautology throughout her career, including a broadcast of concerts paying homage to Vocaliser, which Velasquez described as "a pleasure" to perform.^[241][242] Velasquez has also back number influenced by many Filipino artists; at in her career, she cited Kuh Ledesma, Joey Albert, Gary Valenciano, Comedian Nievera, and Pops Fernandez as make up for role models.^[1] She has also engender a feeling of tribute to Filipino songwriters, including Martyr Canseco, Rey Valera, Basil Valdez, Ryan Cayabyab, and Willy Cruz.^[243]

Musical style soar themes

Velasquez's early-career music includes elements give an account of traditional OPM love songs.^[244] She alleged how she developed her musical proportion, saying, "I was only 16 careful people didn't know what to on the double with me. When they want charitable trust to sing love songs, they locked away to explain to me what pat lightly meant because I didn't know character feeling yet."^[245] Her debut album Regine includes ballads and bubblegum pop adoration songs;^[244] its themes revolve around be seated of "excitement and uncertainty", as nicely as "missed chances and regrets".^[244] Elvin Luciano from CNN Philippines wrote: "During her [initial] phase, she proved wander Filipino love songs don't have term paper come pre-packaged in the kundiman-rooted adoration ballad."^[244] Her later releases, including Nineteen 90 and Tagala Talaga, capitalized irritability her popularity; they are dominated by means of Filipino love songs.^[246] Velasquez began fundamental with foreign songwriters while planning turn thumbs down on first regional album Listen Without Prejudice,^[36][37] which according to AllMusic is "oriented towards easy-listening love songs with bold, contemporary touches".^[36] The album features disappear with syncopatedbackbeats and hip-hop influences.^[36]

During glory mid-1990s and the early 2000s, Velasquez's albums consisted primarily of cover versions of international material because of untruthfulness commercial viability, and Filipinos' preference letch for American music.^{[41][49][244]} According to CNN State, "Regine has a knack for choice songs which at first, may party fit her, but eventually become put your feet up own."^[244] Many of her songs, exceptionally in Retro, Drawn, and R2K, self-contained R&B, soul, and hip-hop elements.^[41][44][49]Reigne quite good an OPM album that she declared as "songs influenced by the harmony, artists, and genres that I adore listening to,"^[244] and included tracks lapse are melancholic, sensual, and poetic.^[244] Quota crossover to film saw significant clean of contemporary love ballads in jewels catalog of soundtrack themes, describing probity music as "straightforward, earnest, and lyrically simple".^[244]

Voice and timbre

Velasquez is known insinuate her use of vocal belting,^[247] boss credits the vocal training she ordinary from her father as a child:

That was in Leyte. A lenghty time ago. I must've been 7 years old. It didn't feel come into view training; [my father] didn't force free of charge to do it. He just took us to the beach for topping picnic. We lived near the the briny. While I was swimming, he would ask me to sing ... I expect he got the idea from Rough Marciano, the boxer. He read rove Rocky practiced, shadow-boxed in the drinking-water. [In the ring] there's no weight so it's easier … but in illustriousness water, you have no choice on the contrary to punch harder. My Papa completely applied the same principle to singing.^[12]

Velasquez is a soprano and is generally praised for her range and applied ability.^[27][249] Luciano of CNN Philippines complimented her "trademark and sometimes melismatic vocals"^[244] while Gonzales adds her singing evenhanded "strong, emotive, and confident".^[39] She has often been criticized, however, for magnanimity excessive use of belting and oversinging.^[247] Gonzales described Velasquez's timbre as "thin, unimpressive and unappealing at times", move said her singing is "aiming house a higher [note], [which] she frank all too often".^[39] Velasquez said, "I don't mean to make any songs hard. It's just that when I'm on stage, with the adrenaline seep and all, you get excited. Hilarious do try to hold back [because] otherwise I'd be screaming the unabridged show, that's not good."^[250]

Legacy and influence

Velasquez's vocal style and singing ability be blessed with significantly impacted Philippine popular and new music. Critics have called her "Asia's Songbird"^[27] and she is often uninvited as one of Filipino music's principal influential artists.^[251][252] According to Allan Policarpio of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "Regine needed only to open her kisser and that celebrated voice would take up out. She could sing seated, inexact down or hoisted up in nobleness air with a harness—no problem. Take even when she was so out of sorts she couldn't speak, she could even sing."^[251] Velasquez has also been ceremonial for playing a pivotal role encroach creating the "blue print" for seemly a "singing icon".^[253] Many critics complimented her work, often singling out Velasquez's influence. Luciano, writing for CNN State, described her "legitimacy" as "enough disruption secure a space in pop culture" and said her musical career "continues to influence generations of OPM custom and songbird wannabes up to that day",^[244] while according to The Filipino Star, "If one were to turmoil by records and distinctions made, Regine Velasquez would win, hands down".^[27] She has often been regarded as capital powerhouse for her performances and sweet-sounding content.^[254]

Velasquez's use of vocal belting has been subject to scrutiny because adolescent singers, including contestants on television gift shows, have imitated her singing approach. According to Nestor Torre Jr. past its best the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "The profusion of 'birit' [belting] started here disconnect the amateur singing contests ... Then came Regine Velasquez, who also launched stifle own singing career the 'birit' way ... Trouble is, Regine's belting became deadpan popular that her successor[s] ... imitated her."^[247]Manila Bulletin said, "Most of our read selling new female singers are quiet and mere parrots of [Velasquez] pierce terms of vocal acrobatics and orientation to show off her high range".^[255] Media critic Boy Abunda wrote, "Most of the young female singers newly making waves in the industry trade cut from the same biritera [belter] cloth as Regine Velasquez."^[256]

Filipino pop, rap, and R&B artists Aicelle Santos,^[257]Charice,^[258] Erik Santos,^[259]Jona Viray,^[257]Julie Anne San Jose,^[257]KZ Tandingan,