JERRY OLEA
Humulas ang make-up ni Regine Velasquez sa huling gabi ng Pinoy Playlist 2023: Gunita at Mga Bukas nitong Oktubre 1, Linggo, sa Globe Auditorium ng BGC Arts Center, Taguig City.
Pinagpugayan siya ng ilang artists, na isinalaysay kung paano sila tinulungan ng Asia’s Songbird sa kani-kanyang career.
Read: Regine Velasquez, gagawaran ng Ryan Cayabyab Awards sa Pinoy Playlist 2023
Kapagkuwan ay inawit nila ang mga kantang pinasikat ni Ate Reg.
Sa unang nag-tribute na si Katrina Velarde ay pangiti-ngiti at composed pa si Regine.
Nang sumunod nang magbigay-pugay si Phi Palmos, "Cry Me A River" na si Regine. Tuloy, ang mister niyang si Ogie Alcasid, na katabi niya, ay lumagaslas din ang masaganang luha.
Lumuhod pa si Phi sa entablado sa pagtatapos ng kanyang bilang.
Nang magpugay si Jona na gumagaralgal ang tinig, mugto na ang mga mata ni Regine.
Hindi tinantanan si Asia’s Songbird ng papuri at pasasalamat nina Trina Belamide, Ima Castro, at Sweet Plantado-Tiongson na bumirit ng "Shine," habang may pa-ilaw ang karamihan sa audience.
(From left) Ima Castro, Trina Belamide, and Sweet Belamide
Makabagbag-damdamin din ang patotoo ng pam-finale na si Jed Madela.
Pinagkalooban si Regine ng Ryan Cayabyab Award.
Sama-sama sa entablado ang apat na curator ng music fest na sina Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, Moy Ortiz, Maria Isabel Garcia, at ka-Troikang Noel Ferrer.
Natatawang lahad ni Regine nang hingan ni Mr. C ng konting mensahe, “This is such an honor. I didn’t even know. Ha! Ha! Ha! I’m actually gonna be awarded tonight?
“Akala ko, mag-a-attend lang ako ng awarding. Hindi ako sure kung ano yung ia-award. Ia-award ba ako? Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!”
“Na-award ka,” pakli ni Mr. C.
Tawa pa rin nang tawa si Regine, “Na-award ako. Oo, well, thank you. Thank you so much! And for all the artists who sang tonight, performed tonight… thank you, thank you so much!
“Maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyo, Mr. C! Moy, thank you, thank you! Ahhmm… ahhmm… I’m overwhelmed.
“And ahhh… medyo weird sa akin. Kasi parang… I’m being given this honor… with what I do, na pinagkakakitaan ko! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
“Na pinagkakakitaan ko, and that I enjoy doing. Ahhmm now that I’m a little older… it has become my passion already.
“It’s not like it was before, na you know I’m a singer, and this is my job, and this is what I do, although I love it, it’s not like that for me anymore.
“Music has become my life already. It has always been but it’s different now. I have become more passionate about it.
“And I’m happy that I get to inspire people. Kasi bilang kontesera ako, I have this thing that everytime I sing, sinusukat ko yung sarili ko lagi.
“Kahit saang stage pa ako. I think it’s my instinct because I came from, you know, singing contests. But I’m not like that anymore.
“Like I said, it’s different now for me. I’m happy that I’m still here but more than the fame, more than… although I love that, more than the money — ohh, everyone love that. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
“Baliw! More than any of those things, what I love is that I’m able to do still inspire other artists.”
Pinangunahan ni Mr. C ang pagpalakpak at sinabing hindi lang isang generation ang na-inspire ni Regine, kundi beyond, hanggang ngayon.
Natutuwa si Regine at hindi raw niya akalaing nai-inspire niya ang mga susunod na generations.
Pahayag ng Asia’s Songbird, “Hanggang nandito ako, that’s what I love now. It’s not anymore the… alam mo yung parang palamuti ng industriya natin.
“I think ganun talaga pag tumatanda ka na, I guess. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Yung ano na, yung purpose na of what we are doing, why we are here.”
GORGY RULA
Nagpasalamat si Regine sa mga dumalo sa tribute sa kanya.
Pagpapatuloy ni Songbird, “Of course, my family for supporting me always. My mom, my father in heaven. Actually, dapat siya yung binibigyan ng award.
“Although sanay naman siyang i-award ng nanay ko nung buhay pa siya.
“Because you know, he was the one who discovered me. So this is for you, Mang Gerry. You molded me, you taught me how to do everything that I know now.
“So my entire family, my sister who’s my manager. My first manager, who’s also my second father, Ronnie Henares. Freddie Santos who has become a big part of my life and my career.
“Everyone na naging parte po ng buhay ko, part ng career ko. Mga naging kaibigan ko sa industriya. Mga nakatrabaho ko, yung mga artist na naging katrabaho ko, naging kaibigan ko. Maraming-maraming salamat sa inyo.
“And of course I’d like to say thank you to everyone who’s been supporting me all these years. Thirty-seven years! Thirty-seven years.
“Maraming-maraming salamat! You guys are still here, the same to me… Hi! Hi! Hi! Three more years na lang, forty na! Huwag kang maingay! Basta konting tanda lang.
“Hayaan mo na. Ang lakas maka-matanda nung ano. Hayaan mo na… maraming-maraming salamat po!
“But most importantly, I would like to dedicate this honor to my husband. At sa aking anak.
“Kasi, nung nawala yung tatay ko… siya yung pumalit, e! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
“He’s the one who’s pushing me now, always reminding me to… cuz ahh you know, when my voice changed, I always say, ‘I don’t wanna sing anymore. Maybe singing is not for me anymore.’
“And he would always tell me, ‘Of course not. You will always be the best.’ Of course he’s my husband, he’s allowed to say that, and he’ll say that.
“But thank you, honey, for always encouraging me to never stop singing. Thank you, honey. Thank you very much.
“Your encouragement and your love is the reason why I’m still here."
“And God, thank you for this gift that You have given me. Thank you to this whole industry. It has changed my life and my family’s life.
“You all know where I came from, at it has changed our lives. So thank you very much.”
Masigabo ang palakpakan at hiyawan kay Regine, at nagtayuan ang audience sa Globe Auditorium.
NOEL FERRER
Bakit nga pa pinarangalan si Regine (in the league of Basil Valdez and Pilita Corrales noong nakaraan) ng Ryan Cayabyab Award sa Pinoy Playlist 2023 Music Festival?
Heto ang citation na aking binasa kagabi:
"Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, known as Asia's Songbird, is an iconic figure in the Philippines, celebrated for her immense talent and contributions to OPM (Original Pilipino Music).
"With a remarkable career spanning the recording industry, concert stage, live theater, film, television, visual arts, and business, she has achieved extraordinary commercial and critical success.
"Recognized as a cultural ambassador of the Philippines, Regine has represented her country in various music festivals, state visits, and concert tours both domestically and internationally.
"She embodies the finest qualities of the Philippines and OPM, serving as a shining example of excellence and goodwill.
"Beyond her artistic endeavors, Regine has dedicated herself to humanitarian and charity work, significantly impacting the lives of Filipino youth especially her mentees. Her efforts have brought about positive changes and uplifted many individuals.
"In acknowledgment of her remarkable achievements and commitment to advocacy, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid has been honored with the prestigious Ryan Cayabyab Award for excellence in Philippine music by the Pinoy Playlist Music Festival."
Mabuhay ka, Ate Reg!!!