Photos by Jed Aries Yu
LESSON learned: Never leave the show even if Regine Velasquez has already bid you goodbye and good night.
A stickler for surprises herself, she always saves the best for last.
Fortunate were those who returned to their seats, but those who did leave the Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Lahug when she kissed everyone goodbye terribly missed the fun part.
Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez, 47, along with fellow GMA Kapuso singers Christian Bautista, 36, and Julie Anne San Jose, 23, rendered an encore performance of the Eraserheads hits — “Huling El Bimbo,” “Magasin,” “Pare Ko,” and “Overdrive” — ending the first installment of the “3 Stars 1 Heart” concert series last January 20, Saturday, the eve of Sinulog.
“Essentially, what we hope to take on tour is the message of this show that we are of one heart. We seem to be focused on the things that divide us
instead of all that unites us. We just have to work hard and appreciate the blessings that come our way,” said Bautista, who crooned the ladies with his latest song “Kapit.”
A segment of the repertoire was the trio’s exchange of each other’s hits.
Under the directions of Raul Mitra (music) and Paolo Valenciano (stage), Bautista opened it with “I’ll Be There,” a ballad hit of San Jose who gave her own style of Velasquez’s “You Are My Song.” For her turn, Velasquez sang Bautista’s “The Way You Look at Me,” so heartfelt that it sounded like it was hers.
And thus, it would also be one of her most unforgettable records in her career that has flourished for three decades.
Since these performers were discovered in singing contests, they featured their competition pieces, such as “The Voice Within” (Popstar Kids), “You Raise Me Up” (Star in a Million), and “In Your Eyes” (Ang Bagong Kampeon).
“I am really, really happy that I am able to share the stage with my idols — para’ng mamamatay na yata ako,” San Jose jokingly described her excitement.
“I learned from the best. I came from a children’s singing contest at hindi po ako ang nanalo, but I got the opportunity to work with them.”
While San Jose was on keyboard, Velasquez performed “Tadhana,” an original by Up Dharma Down. In a duet number, the two divas also showcased their vocal prowess in the medley of Filipino ballads: “Sana Maulit Muli,” “Ikaw,” “Dadalhin,” and “Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin.”
It was, too, a fashion extravaganza when Cebuano fashion designer Cary Santiago’s all white collection was modeled on stage by the crowned 2017 Bb. Cebu ladies while Velasquez sang “Usahay” in the background.
“The important thing is that you never stop. You keep reaching for your dreams. You (have to) pray so hard that they will come true. You work hard kung ano po ‘yung binigay ni God sa iyo. Du’n ka magiging panalo,” Velasquez told the young celebrities during the show.
