What Regine plans to do on 46th birthday

MANILA - Regine Velasquez, who turns 46 on Friday, plans to celebrate her birthday by doing whatever she wants, she announced on Instagram.

This means relaxing at home with husband Ogie Alcasid and son Nate, and eating her favorite raclette cheese.



The singer however, also turned sentimental as she remembered her father, Gerardo who passed away on February 3, 2014.

"Happy birthday to me I miss you papa," Velasquez wrote.

Meanwhile, Alcasid also took to Instagram to greet his wife. "Happy bday my love," he wrote in the caption.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Regine Velasquez's father dies

MANILA -- Gerardo "Mang Gerry" Velasquez, the father of singer Regine Velasquez, passed away on Monday.

In her official Instagram account, Regine confirmed the death of her father.

"The leader of the band, Gerry Velasquez, has joined his creator today at 1:39 pm. Thank for praying for him when he was fighting for his life and for praying for the Velasquez family. God bless you all," Regine said.



Mr. Velasquez had reportedly been ill and was even hospitalized late last year for more than a month.

He also underwent surgery in 2012.

On Twitter, celebrities Jed Madela and Zsa Zsa Padilla expressed their grief over the death of Mr. Velasquez, who is well known in the industry for always being at her daughter's concerts and other showbiz functions.

"Rest in peace, Mang Gerry. My condolences to @reginevalcasid and her entire family. My prayers to all of you," Madela tweeted.

"RIP Mang Gerry. Our deepest condolences, @reginevalcasid @cacaimitra @ogiealcasid," Padilla said.

"Mang Gerry Velasquez we will miss u. To @cacaimitra @reginevalcasid we will pray for your family. Our deepest condolences. He will be missed," talent manager Angeli Pangilinan said.

In her Facebook page, Lea Salonga wrote: "Rest in peace, Mang Gerry. I will always remember you as a fixture by Reg's side at gigs from when we were young ones in the biz. Always present, forever supportive. I don't think of Reg without thinking of you. To Ogie and Regine, you are in our prayers and we send hugs to you and your family."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Regine thankful for dad's recovery

MANILA -- Singer Regine Velasquez reported on Tuesday that her father, fondly called "Mang Gerry," is now recovering from a health problem.

In an interview at a press conference for her latest album "Hulog Ka Ng Langit," Velasquez said her father is back home after spending more than a month in a hospital.

"Nakalabas na si Papa (sa ospital) pero hindi pa muna siya namin pinababalik sa Bulacan. Na kay Cacai siya, sila ni Mama. Pero he is doing really, really well. Every Sunday we are there," Velasquez said, referring to her sister.

The singer said her father's health condition has brought their family closer to each other.

"Usually when something like this happened dalawa ang pwedeng mangyari -- magkaaway-away or maging buo -- and we chose na maging buo ang family namin," she said.

Velasquez also thanked her fans and all those who offered their prayer for Mang Gerry's recovery.

"Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng supporters ko, sa lahat ng friends ko na patuloy na nagdarasal kay Papa. Kung natatandaan niyo I kept asking for prayers at ang daming nagdasal kay Papa kaya naman ngayon ay gumaling na talaga siya," she said.

"God has given us a lot of miracles, malaki, maliit pero lahat 'yon ay miracles. Kasi si Papa he was really sick at that time. It was really bad but through prayers we are victorious. I'm so thankful and I feel very very blessed. Salamat po sa lahat ng nagdasal," Velasquez told ABS-CBNNews.com.

Last month, Velasquez appealed to her fans to pray for her father's recovery.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Regine has nothing to prove, says Sarah G

Songbird's 'Take Two' concert still set for December

MANILA, Philippines -- Sarah Geronimo threw her support behind fellow singer Regine Velasquez, who lost her voice during her silver anniversary concert early this month.


"Nagulat ako eh. Sobrang mabigat sa dibdib," Geronimo told reporters shortly after the 25th Awit Awards ceremony held Tuesday night, referring to the veteran singer who was visibly distraught at her concert last November 16 when she lost her voice.

"Sobrang sakit na makitang umiiyak siya. Syempre lahat ng tao nag-iiyakan doon sa venue," added Geronimo, whose rise to fame was via the talent search "Star for a Night" in 2003 with Velasquez as the host.

During the concert held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Velasquez apologized time and again to the audience, explaining that prior to her performance that night, she already knew she had a viral infection that could cause her to lose her voice.

"Pero sobrang naiintindihan namin si Ms. Reg. Katulad nga ng sinabi ni Vice (Ganda), wala nang kailangan patunayan ang nag-iisang Asia's Songbird," Geronimo said.

Vice Ganda, who was among the audience at Velasquez's 25th anniversary concert, joined the veteran singer on stage along with John Lapus for some impromptu comedic banter. Velasquez had enlisted the help of the two comedian-hosts when she was no longer able to perform that night.

"Nandoon tayo para maki-celebrate kasama siya para sa kanyang 25th year in the business," Geronimo said. "So 'yung makasama siya sa pag-celebrate, 'yun lang 'yung gusto namin."

Meanwhile, in an interview with entertainment news site Philippine Entertainment Portal, Valesquez's husband Ogie Alcasid said the singer is currently still recovering. "Meron pa ring konti sa boses niya. Hindi pa 100% recovered," he said.

Of the "Take Two" concert, which was earlier announced for December 8, Alcasid added, "Hindi ko alam, e. Ang alam ko, tuloy ang repeat, pero hindi ko alam kung kailan."

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Doctors order complete voice rest for Regine

MANILA, Philippines -- Singer Regine Velasquez has been advised by her doctors on Monday to completely rest her voice after she lost her voice during her 25th anniversary concert last Friday.

"Ngayon I'm focusing on getting well. Kasi 'yung body ko ang tinamaan, hindi lang naman 'yung boses ko. I just went to see my doctor yesterday at ang advice niya sa akin ay complete voice rest, so sign language," Velasquez said on Tuesday.

During her concert, Velasquez became emotional as she admitted to her fans and supporters that she lost her voice because due to viral infection.

However, some of her showbiz friends such as John Lapus and Vice Ganda went up on stage and helped her entertain the crowd.

The singer then vowed to stage the same concert for free saying her fans "deserve more."

On Tuesday, Velasquez said she's just happy that her fans understood her condition.

"I'm really very thankful kasi talagang, nakaka-overwhelm kasi the kind of support that I'm getting. It's very humbling for me," she said.

"I think the very few people who reacted negatively I think were not there. Kasi parang ang sama mo naman kung mag-react ka pa ng ganoon, parang ganoon ang feeling ko," said the singer, who vowed that the repeat will be a more exciting show.

"It's even more exciting now parang there's a repeat kasi actually kalahati pa 'yung hindi nila nakita, mas exciting pa nga, I just need to get well," she said.

According to Velasquez, they are still fixing everything for the restaging of show.

"But definitely it will push through," she said.

source: abs-cbnnews.com