Regine_Velasquez Regine Velasquez From Sterwiki Missing imageCovers.jpg Photo featured on the cover of her latest album, Covers. Regine Velasquez (born April 22, 1970), also known as Asia's Songbird, is a singer, actress, model, and producer from the Philippines. Outside the Philippines, she is known for the song 'In Love with You' sung with Hong Kong's Jacky Cheung. She has also collaborated with international artists including Paul Anka, David Hasselhoff, Mandy Moore, Brian McKnight and Michel Legrand. Table of contents showTocToggle('show','hide') 1 Early life 2 Early Career 3 Conquering Asia 4 Turning Down Broadway 5 Songbird In Flight 6 Multimedia Artist 7 Reigning Still 8 Discography 9 Filmography 10 Television 11 Endorsements 12 Awards 13 External links Early life Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez was born to a poor family in Manila, Philippines on April 22, 1970, the first child of Teresita and Gerry Velasquez. They later moved to Hinundayan, Southern Leyte. There she studied at Henundayan Central School. At six years old, Regine joined at amateur singing contest, singing Buhat Ng Kita'y Makilala. She did not know how to read at that time, so her father would sing it to her and she would memorize the lyrics. She lost that contest, but was given a special award for the brave performance. With the support of her parents, Regine joined various singing competitions in provinces around the country. Among 200 competitions she joined in, Regine won 67 of them. At nine years old, she and her family moved to Bulacan, where she continued her elementary education at Balagtas Central School. She later studied at St. Laurence High School, the school to which she attributes her good English diction. She also credits her singing talent to her father, who would submerge her in water up to her neck and have her do vocal exercises to strengthen her voice. Early Career At the age of fourteen, Regine joined Bagong Kampeon, a musical television contest that features the singing talents of filipinos. Her qualifying song was 'Saan Ako Nagkamali', chosen by her father. She went on to win the competition with the song, 'In Your Eyes'. The competition's prize was a record deal from Octo Arts Int'l. She recorded a single called, 'Love Me Again,' under the name 'Chona Velasquez,' but the single failed to become a hit. Despite the flop of her single, Regine was invited as guest on the television talk-show Penthouse Live on February 16, 1986. Ronnie Henares, the show's producer, was so impressed with Regine that she offered her a managerial contract. Regine accepted the offer. That same year, her father resigned from his job as a construction estimator to work full-time attending to her daughter's career. Regine became the breadwinner of the family, earning the money to send her siblings to school. Conquering Asia By 25, Regine became an International (Asian) Recording Artist. She became well-known in countries across Asia with her albums, Listen Without Prejudice, My Love Emotion and Retro. She collaborated with Jacky Cheung for the song, 'In Love With You'. In 1989, Regine represented the Philippines in the 'Asia-Pacific Singing Contest' held in Hong Kong. On December 23, 1989, she won the contest with her songs, 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and 'And I'm Telling You'. The exposure from the contest rocketed her from Filipino celebrity to Asian music superstar almost overnight. Turning Down Broadway In 1990, Cameron Macintosh Group, makers of Les Miserables and Miss Saigon gave Regine and other Philippine singers round trip plane tickets for an audition in New York. Cameron Macintosh was so impressed that she offered roles for Regine and Jamie Rivera, a Filipina singer. However, Regine declined the offer and stayed in the Philippines citing inadequate theatrical experience. Songbird In Flight Missing imageR2k.jpg Regine Velasquez during her successful R2K Concert. Regine released three multi-platinum albums in Asia. She toured around the Philippines, and various countries. In 2000, her R2K concert on back-to-back nights. It is still being hailed as one of the greatest shows by an Asian performer in the last 25 years. Multimedia Artist Music was only the first arena for her success. As a spokesperson, she helped increase the presence of American fast-food chains like KFC and Wendy's in Asia. As an actress, she appeared in a number of Filipino films that benefited greatly from Regine's popularity. She has also hosted various TV shows. She has also embarked a successful series of reality singing constests. She has also done dramatic roles. She is a lead role in her own soap opera for primetime where she plays a woman searching for her soulmate and is torn between two men vying for her love. She also started her own record label called Songbird Music where she helps budding singers start their own career. Her flair for fashion and her fashion icon status led her to embarking a successful line of elegant and chich clothings branded as Reigne where she herself draws and conceptualizes the designs. She recently published Reigne: The Book, a coffee-table book comprising a five-year memento of her portraits. Reigning Still Missing imageReign.jpg Reigning Still ConcertOn December 3-4, 2004, Regine successfully staged a concert entitled Reigning Still amidst a series of typhoons that ravaged Manila and nearby provinces. The concert was a showcase of what Regine has learned in her craft through the years. It is a spectacle of her running concepts, ideas and style where you can see a Regine touch in every detail of it. The concert though was more pop in nature, high spirited, experimental and upbeat, following the trend of recent concerts by Britney Spears, Janet Jackson and Christina Aguilera. The following year, Regine reunited with long-time friend and co-artist Pops Fernandez for a Valentine showcase entitled Queens On Fire. As she does every year, Regine embarked into an eight-city United States Tour bringing the show abroad. Discography Studio Albums Regine (VIVA, 1987) Nineteen '90 (Vicor, 1990) Tagala Talaga (Vicor, 1991) Reason Enough (Polycosmic, 1993) Listen Without Prejudice - Asian Release (Polygram, 1994) My Love Emotion - Asian Release (Polygram, 1995) My Love Emotion Japanese Release (Polygram, 1995) Retro - Asian Release (Polygram, 1996) Love Was Born On Christmas Day (VIVA, 1996) Very Special (Polygram, 1998) Drawn (VIVA, 1998) R2K (VIVA, 1999) Unsolo (Poly East, 2000) Regine Live! Songbird Sings The Classics (VIVA, 2000) Reigne (VIVA, 2001) Greatest Hits (VIVA, 2002) The Songbird and The Songwriter (VIVA 2003) Covers (VIVA 2004) Soundtracks Pik Pak Boom (1988) Separada (VIVA, 1995) Wanted Perfect Mother (VIVA, 1996) Adarna (Polycosmic, 1997) Do Re Mi (VIVA, 1997) Honey Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako (VIVA, 1998) Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw (VIVA, 2000) Pangako Ikaw Lang (VIVA, 2001) Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka (VIVA, 2003) Captain Barbell (VIVA 2003) Singles Love Me Again (Octo Arts, 1986) Special Limited Edition (Vicor, 1990) My Love Emotion (Polycosmic, 1995) Fly / I Can't Help It (Polycosmic, 1996) Filmography The Untouchable Family (1987) Pik Pak Boom (1988) Elvis And James 2 (1988) Wanted: Perfect Mother (1996) Do Re Mi (1997) Honey Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako (1998) Dahil May Isang Ikaw (1999) Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw (2000) Pangako Ikaw Lang (2001) Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon (2002) Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka (2003) Captain Barbell (2004) Theaters 'Kenkoy and Rosing' (Sept. 1991) - played Rosing 'Noli Me Tangere' (July-August 1995) - played Maria Clara Television Regular SOP (present) Forever In My Heart (present) Pinoy Pop Superstar (present) Search For A Star (2003) Star For A Night (2002) Sitcoms/Dramas Mr. Kupido - 'Reason Enough' 1993, With Apa Ongpin and Jenine Desiderio Ober Da Bakod 1994 Spotlight 1994, With Ariel Rivera Ikaw, Ako At Ang Awit December 22, 1996, With Gary Valenciano Mikee - 'The Black Triangle' February 26, 1997, With Donna Cruz and Mikee Cojuangco Mikee Forever May 26, 1999 Kool Ka Lang September 7, 1999 Habang May Buhay - 'Sa Puso Ko'y Ikaw' July 20, 2000, With Piolo Pascual Pwedeng Pwede September 13, 2000 Larawan July 4, 2001, With Dingdong Dantes Beh Bote Nga August 22, 2001 Maalaala Mo Kaya - 'Lobo' November 8, 2001, With Piolo Pascual Huling Yakap Sa Tag-araw April 27, 2003, With Dingdong Dantes Endorsements Lux (Soap) Wendys (Fast-food chain) KFC (Fast-food chain) Nokia (Cellular phone line) Digitel (Telephone line) Magnolia (Ice cream) Skin White (Cosmetics) Sang the Theme Biyahe Na, WOW Philippines - Department of Tourism Ad Campaign Awards Star Awards For Television: Best Actress (for her role on Maalaala Mo Kaya 'Lobo') - 2002 MTV Asia Awards: Favorite (Philippine) Artist - 2003 Favorite (Philippine) Artist - 2002 MTV Pilipinas Awards: Favorite Female Artist - 2001 Awit Awards: Best Performance by a female artist (for 'Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw') - 2001 Best Duet Performance (for 'Habang May Buhay' with Jaya) - 2001 Best Duet Performance (for 'Forever' with Martin Nievera) - 1995 Best Performance by a female artist (for 'Sana Maulit Muli') - 1994 Best Duet Performance (for 'Muli' with Gary V.) - 1994 Katha Awards: Best Pop Female Vocals (for 'You've Made Me Stronger') - 1996 Aliw Awards: Best Major Concert Act - 2003 Best Major Concert Collaboration - 2003 Best Major Concert Act - 2002 Best Major Concert Female Act - 2001 Best Major Concert Female Act - 2000 Most Promising Entertainer - 1987 Guillermo Mendoza Foundation: Box-Office Queen for 2001 Most Popular Female Entertainer for 2004 Most Popular Female Entertainer for 2003 Most Popular Female Entertainer for 2002 Most Popular Female Entertainer for 2000 Most Popular Female Entertainer for 1999 Most Popular Female Entertainer for 1998 Most Popular Female Entertainer for 1997 Most Popular Female Entertainer for 1996 Most Popular Female Entertainer for 1995 Most Popular Female Entertainer for 1994 Most Popular Female Entertainer for 1993 Most Popular Female Entertainer for 1992 Most Popular Female Entertainer for 1991 Album awards (local or Philippines only): 'Regine' - gold 'Regine Special Edition' - double platinum 'Nineteen '90' - double platinum 'Tagala Talaga' - gold 'Reason Enough' - platinum 'Listen without Prejudice' - platinum total sales of 300,000 units in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia 'My Love Emotion' - platinum 'OST of 'Wanted: Perfect Mother'' - platinum 'Retro' - triple platinum 'Drawn' - triple platinum 'R2K' - 6X platinum 'OST of 'Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw'' - triple platinum 'Regine Live: Songbird Sings the Classics' - double platinum 'OST of 'Pangako... Ikaw Lang'' - platinum 'Reigne' - platinum OST of 'Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka' - gold 'Regine: Greatest Hits' - platinum 'The Songbird and The Songwriter' - platinum 'Covers' - platinum Quelle "Regine_Velasquez" : Wikipedia.org Main page for "Regine_Velasquez"