Biography
Who is Regine Velasquez?
Early life
Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez was born on April 22, 1970, in Tondo, Manila, to Teresita and Gerardo Velasquez. She grew up with her siblings Cacai, Diane, Deca, and Jojo. Her family later moved to Hinundayan, Southern Leyte, where she spent her early childhood. At age three, she developed an interest in music after listening to her father sing and her mother play instruments.
When she was nine years old, her family relocated to Balagtas, Bulacan. There, she attended St. Lawrence Academy and participated in local singing competitions. During her youth, her father trained her using unorthodox methods to build her lung capacity and strengthen her core muscles. She entered her first singing contest on The Tita Betty's Children Show and placed third.
Career beginnings
In 1984, Regine Velasquez auditioned for the reality television series Ang Bagong Kampeon. She won the senior division after defending her spot for eight consecutive weeks. Following her victory, she signed a record deal with OctoArts International. Initially using the stage name Chona, she released the single Love Me Again in 1986, which did not achieve commercial success.
She later adopted the stage name Regine Velasquez and signed with Viva Records. She released her debut studio album, Regine, in 1987, featuring songs like Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang and Isang Lahi. In 1989, she represented the Philippines in the Asia Pacific Singing Contest held in Hong Kong and won the competition by performing numbers from Carousel and Dreamgirls.
Major music releases
Regine Velasquez released her second and third studio albums, Nineteen 90 and Tagala Talaga, exploring Manila sound and kundiman genres. In 1993, she signed a licensing deal with PolyCosmic Records and recorded a duet with Paul Anka titled It's Hard to Say Goodbye. Her fifth album, Listen Without Prejudice, was released in 1994 and sold more than 700,000 copies worldwide, becoming her highest-selling record.
Her later album R2K, released in 1999, featured remakes of popular tracks such as On the Wings of Love and I Don't Want to Miss a Thing. The record achieved twelve-times platinum certification from the Philippine Association of the Record Industry. Throughout her career, she has released multiple albums and earned numerous industry accolades for her musical contributions.
Television and film work
Regine Velasquez expanded her career into acting by starring in television series and romantic comedies. She appeared in the films Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw and Pangako Ikaw Lang, receiving the Box Office Entertainment Award for the latter. She also acted in television dramas such as Forever in My Heart, Ako si Kim Samsoon, Totoy Bato, and Diva.
In addition to acting, she took on roles as a television presenter and talent show judge. She hosted programs like Star for a Night, Pinoy Pop Superstar, and The Clash. She also served as a judge on reality television shows including StarStruck, Idol Philippines, and Idol Kids Philippines.
Birthday and age
Regine Velasquez was born on April 22, 1970, which makes Regine 56 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Regine shares the date with 24 other famous people.
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