Regine does a benefit for 'Bantay Bata'
By Edmund L. Sicam Inquirer News Service
posted: 4.20.2002 

REGINE Velasquez will perform in a benefit concert for Bantay Bata 163 Foundation on April 26 at 8 p.m. Naturally, this fanned rumors that this is a prelude to her moving over to the foundation's home television network. Months ago, she admitted that the network offered her a variety show but this would have meant giving up her noontime show on GMA-7, something that she enjoys very much.

Rumor

Regine laughed off the rumor saying, "You guys know that I've been talking with people at Channel 2, and they wanted to give me a summer special. So I said instead of doing a summer special, why don't I do a live concert, and I wanted to have a beneficiary, which they chose, Bantay Bata, and also the National Museum, since we're also doing it there."

The concert, "One Night with Regine Velasquez" will be held on the National Museum's steps. Accompanying her is the 85-piece San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra and the 55-piece San Miguel Master Chorale with maestro Ryan Caybyab as musical director. Bituin Escalante, Carol Banawa, Roselle Nava, RJ Rosales and Ogie Alcasid are special guests. The show is directed by Johnny Manahan and will be aired as a TV special at a later date.

"I'm really excited about it because this could be the start of something . . ." implies the singer. So far, Regine and the network have only talked about this one show. She says that she is doing this to "establish a good relationship with them" which, she says, she had in the past. "So, we're just continuing that relationship," she clarifies.

She also states that she doesn't see anything wrong with her transferring to another television network. "As far as the lipatan thing is concerned, nasa point ako in my life where, kung merong magandang opportunity, kung maganda iyung proyekto, and I get really excited about it, the money doesn't matter.

"I have a good relationship with the other channel and I'm happy there with my show, but I'm also happy with this project that Channel 2 has given me."

Talent fee

"How much am I being paid? Malaki! Sobrang laki!" declares Regine in a sarcastic tone. And we left it at that.

It was Regine's idea to hold it at the National Museum, which she "discovered" when she was shooting her movie with Richard Gomez, "Ikaw Lamang, Hanggang Ngayon." "Ang ganda talaga! Nang nakita ko for the first time, sabi ko, siguro maganda mag-concert dito. I think it would be nice so that more and more people would come and visit."

Regine reveals that a lot of the songs for the concert are still in the process of being arranged, since this is the first time that she will be performing with an 85-piece orchestra. She says that she will be doing around 18 songs, including duets with Ogie Alcasid of his songs sung by Regine in her movies, and new songs which have not yet been heard by the public.

We asked her if she would agree to coming out in a soap opera, and she quickly gave a resounding no. "Hindi kaya ng powers ko umiyak everyday! Hindi ko kaya talaga! Hindi ko kakayanin!" she said with obvious dread in her voice.

Birthday

The singer, who is celebrating her birthday on April 22, says she has had quite a lot to be grateful for. "Itong mga last three years, ang ganda ng takbo ng career ko, ang daming mga opportunities na dumadating, so I feel very blessed. She was recently crowned "Box Office Queen" because of the success of her movies in the year 2001.

Regine will be very busy in the next few months. This month, she's off to Paris to meet with Michel Legrand for the album that they will be doing together. Regine reveals that seven of the 14 songs in the album will be Legrand's popular songs, and the remaining seven will be new songs that the French artist will compose for her. She also shares excitedly that she may even record a duet with Michel Legrand. In June, Regine will be busy with a concert tour to different cities in the United States.