The Best of Regine

Everyone is excited for Regine's birthday special which will air April 27, after Ful Haus. Entitled the Best of Me, it is sure to be a night of music and melody. It is a fitting title but when has she not been at her best? Text by KC M. Abalos. Photos from GMA Network. Anticipation is high for Regine's two-hour birthday special, but nobody can beat the celebrant's own excitement of the show. She talks about the shoot and the songs. "It started in the afternoon eh. Nagstart kami in the twilight, sunset." Regine shares with iGMA when asked how it all came about. It was her own idea to use the pool as the setting for this event. She even gave a mini tour of her never before seen home! It can't get any personal than that. Her family, close friends and other loved ones were present. She performed with R&B Prince Jay R and R&B Princess Kyla. A very royal cast indeed. But more than Regine's beautiful home and the actual celebration, it is her repertoire that people are clearly excited to hear. Rumor has it that the Songbird has chosen melodies that she has never sung before. "Iyung choice ng songs--ako karamihan 'yung namili pero I was telling everybody nga na medyo weird 'yung rep ko ngayon kasi it's not the usual me." A Different Facet She clarifies, "iyung songs are not really identified with me. Even the songs na kinanta ko na mine, first time ko kinanta na live, ever." So a totally different facet of Asia's Songbird will be seen in this television special. She explains that most of the songs included in the repertoire are melodies which she has been itching to perform onstage but never really got a chance because it is not what the audience expects her to present. "Since it's my birthday, parang pagbigayan niyo naman ako. I want to sing the songs that I like and for the first time also I m gonna be singing an Italian song. This is by Josh Groban. It s called Per Te." Aside from Per Te, Regine's fans will be thrilled to watch her very special performance with her mom and dad, another first for the diva. We won t tell you the title of the song, but it is a particular favorite of the Velasquez family. She will also belt out a medley of Clair Marlo songs. Lastly, a sneak preview of Urduja as she sings Babae, the theme song of the first ever Pinoy-animated movie. Of course, the special will not be complete without a song shared by Regine and her sweetheart, Ogie Alcasid. The winner of the best theme song at the recent Academy Awards, from the movie Once entitled Falling Slowly. She gushes about the piece. "Isa 'yan sa mga paborito naming songs ngayon. Kaya nga pine-pray ko and I m hoping na sana magustuhan ng mga tao even though this song may not be familiar. The melody and the lyrics are so beautiful, haunting siya eh, very haunting." These are but some of the exciting line-up in Regine's birthday mini-concert. It may be different but her fans will be assured of the usual power and pomp that the Asia's Songbird is known for. Finally she says, "Sana bigyan nga nila chance. Pakinggan nila kasi all the songs that I sang in this special are all beautiful." Join Regine as she reminisces her past, rejoices the present and dreams of her future in this joyous occasion, the Best of Me, A Birthday Special on Sunday Night Box Office, April 27 right after Ful Haus. You can post your greetings for Regine on the iGMA Forums!