Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez: “Ini-enjoy ko itong career kong ito and I’m still enjoying it. I just don’t want to fool myself na nasa prime pa ako. Ayoko yun because I think that would be very, very painful for me. And ayokong magising isang araw na ito na yung magiging realidad ko.”
PHOTO/S: Courtesy: TikTok
Aminado si Regine Velasquez, 54, na tapos na ang kanyang panahon sa music industry.
Sa kanyang TikTok account kahapon, November 21, 2024, sinabi ng Asia’s Songbird na hindi na niya kailangan pang makipagkumpitensiya sa iba.
Panimula ni Regine, na nakasuot pa ng bathrobe at nakatuwalya ang buhok, “So today, I wanted to talk to you about me saying it’s no longer my time, because for some reason, people get upset whenever I say that.
“Don’t panic. Don’t be upset. It’s not a bad thing.
“I’m just being realistic because it’s true. It’s no longer my time.
“That means I can no longer compete with the young ones. Come on!
“I’m 54 years old. I have been in the industry for almost 40 years and I have been singing all my life.
“And the truth is, even if I still can compete, I really don’t want to anymore.”
Bilang galing sa isang singing competition, ang Bagong Kampeon, pagod na raw si Regine makipag-compete pa.
Ini-enjoy na lamang daw niya ang kanyang buhay at nagpapasalamat sa kanyang mga kasamahan sa industriya na nagpapakita ng taus-pusong respeto sa kanya.
Saad niya, “Galing akong singing contest and half my career, feeling ko kailangan ko mag-compete, kasi ini-establish ko yung sarili ko.
“I don’t want to do that anymore. Sa ngayon, ini-enjoy ko yung life ko.
“Ini-enjoy ko yung respect na nakukuha ko from my peers.
“Hindi mo basta-basta nakukuha yun, ah. It’s not just given to you for no apparent reason.
“You earn that and I love that I inspire other artists.
“Really, I consider myself as a mentor now. I love mentoring new artists.
“That’s why pagka tinatanong nila ako kung puwede ako mag-guest sa concert nila, I’m there.
“Kasi gusto ko rin bigyan sila ng mga pointers. Kasi nagtatanong din naman sila.
“At minsan, kahit hindi nga sila nagtatanong, binibigay ko pa rin, unsolicited advice.”
REGINE VELASQUEZ: “all of these things can be gone just like that.”
Pagpapatuloy ni Regine, nais niyang ibahagi ang kanyang mga natutunan sa ibang nangangarap ding magpasaya sa pamamagitan ng pag-awit.
Aniya, “Kasi feeling ko, yung mga na-experience ko for 40 years, dadalhin ko lang yun sa hukay.
“So, parang sayang naman yung mga experience, yung mga experiences na at yung mga learnings na nakuha ko all throughout the 40 years, kung ibabaon ko lang yun sa lupa.
“So I thought it would be good to share it. Yung knowledge na na-accumulate ko through the years.
“And it’s a good thing and I love that. And they listen to me and that’s wonderful.
“I also want to remind them that all of these things can be gone just like that.
“Ganun talaga, especially ang fame, mabilis lang, just like that, nawawala yun.
“So, gusto kong sabihin sa kanila, let’s be grateful for what we have.”
Dagdag pa ni Regine, hindi dapat minamadali ang mga pangarap. Kung may natutupad man dito, i-enjoy muna at namnamin bago mangarap ng kasunod pa.
Saad niya: “Meron akong nakitang video dito sa TikTok.
“Sabi niya, pag meron tayong nakuhang blessings, let’s enjoy it first.
“Hindi yung kakakuha mo lang ng blessing or kakatupad pa lang ng pangarap mo, nangangarap ka na naman ng iba, kung ano pa… yung ibang tinotodo natin talaga, na natupad to, itotodo natin, ‘Ano pa yung puwede kong gawin?’
“Nagiging ungrateful tuloy tayo. And kung merong pangarap na hindi matupad, feeling natin hindi na tayo dinidinig ng Panginoon.
“It’s not true. Nakalimutan lang natin maging grateful. Nakalimutan lang natin maging thankful.
“Kaya ganun. And ako, sa akin, ini-enjoy ko itong career kong ito and I’m still enjoying it.”
Diin pa ni Regine: “I just don’t want to fool myself na nasa prime pa ako.
“Ayoko yun because I think that would be very, very painful for me.
“And ayokong magising isang araw na ito na yung magiging realidad ko.
“Okay na yung aware ako where I am in the industry.
“I think it’s very healthy. I think it’s right, hindi ba?
“And like I said, I’m still here. I’m doing a concert in February.
“I’m coming out with a new album, right?
“So I’m still doing what I love most, which is performing, singing, and doing other things.”
REGINE VELASQUEZ: “Hindi ko akalain na magiging concert artist ako.”
Nagbalik-tanaw rin si Regine noong kabataan niya.
Ayon dito, ang pangarap niya lang ay maging recording artist, hindi ang maging concert artist, o maging isang aktres, o maging TV host.
Pero pinagtrabahuan daw niya ang lahat ng ito.
“Nakakatawa nga kasi ang pangarap ko lang naman talaga, maging recording artist.
“Hindi ko akalain na magiging concert artist ako.
“Hindi ko inakalang magiging actress ako.
“Hindi ko inakalang magiging host ako ng mga TV shows.
“Hindi ko akalain makakatrabaho ko yung magagaling ng mga artista.
“Lahat ng yun, ibinigay sa akin. Of course, I had to work hard for it.
“But still, I was given the opportunity. Ano pa bang hihilingin ko?
“Oh my gosh! Again, hindi lahat nabibigyan ng ganung pagkakataon.
“So I just want to be thankful. I want to be grateful.”
Nagkuwento rin si Regine ukol sa isang pelikulang napanood niya nito lang tungkol sa isang babaeng tumanda na walang asawa at anak. Gayundin ang panahon na kailangan na nitong tanggalin sa trabaho dahil matanda na ito.
Naka-relate daw rito ang Asia’s Songbird.
Pagbabahagi ni Regine: “Meron akong isa pang pelikulang napanood, recently lang.
“Hindi nga ako sure kung nagustuhan ko yung movie, pero nakuha ko yung pinaka-gist ng story niya na there was this woman and her career was her life.
“She wasn’t married, no kids. She’s alone.
“And dumating na siya dun sa punto na kailangan siyang i-fire because tumanda na siya.
“Ganun talaga yun. Kahit sa industry, pag tumatanda ka na, ganun talaga yun. Mas less na talaga yung opportunity sa atin.
“Kaya, di ba, lagi tayo nire-remind ng mga magulang natin na mag-ipon ka for the future kasi yun yung future. Yun yung future natin, tatanda tayo.
“So anyway, going back to the movie, siyempre nag-crash yung world niya kasi nga mawawalan na siya ng trabaho, mawawalan siya ng life.
“So she wanted another chance, she wanted to have, kumbaga, parang another break, e, matanda na siya.
“So, kung anu-ano tuloy yung ginawa niya. Ang ending, namatay siya.
“And for what? Parang worth it ba yun?
“Also, at the end of the day, sure, career is good. Career is important.
“Yun din ang huhubog ng personalidad mo. But at the end of the day, kanino ka umuwi, di ba?
“Puwede mo bang itabi yung career mo muna at i-enjoy yung life mo?”
Ang pinakamalungkot daw na maaaring mangyari sa isang tao ay puro na lang ito career at wala nang buhay sa labas nito.
Pahayag ni Regine: “I think it would be the saddest thing in the world kung ganun yung nangyari sa akin na puro lang ako career at wala akong life.
“I am so thankful that I have a life. And you guys have to understand, I am a wife.
“And I am a mother. And that’s another side of me that I am enjoying so much.
“I love being a wife. I love supporting my husband.
“I love being a mom. And of course, I love being a sister.
“I love being a daughter, a friend. Siyempre, yung pagiging artist, nasa DNA ko na yun.
“Pero, meron akong buhay. And I love that I have that.
“Otherwise, wala akong ibang iniisip kundi yung career ko.
“I think, okay lang kung bata ka. Pero when, as you get older, parang hindi na siya masyadong healthy.”
Pagtatapos niya, “That’s a good talk. Well, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone once again for your support.
“Kasi, parang after 40 years, somehow you guys are still interested in whatever I decide to do with my career.
“And I am, again, so grateful for that. I am grateful for you guys.”
Ang asawa ni Regine ay ang singer-songwriter na si Ogie Alcasid. Meron silang isang anak, si Nate Alcasid.
