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That Regine-Janno chemistry By Susan A. De Guzman PDI, 1992

With the megasuccess of the revival love hymn, Magkasuyo Buong Gabi, Regine Velasquez and Janoo Gibbs have proven that they are the singing team to beat. Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez may be the country's Concert King and Queen, but Janno and Regine can rightfully be anointed as the Pop Music Prince and Princess. The latter two share a certain chemistry that have made them click with the audience - even without being romantically linked to each other. The team-up started because they share the same managerial outfit, Ronnie Henares' Primeline, Inc. As upstarts in the musical scene, Janno and Regine headlined Framed in 1989. Little did they know that that concert would spark a successful professional partnership. Framed, set at the defunct Rizal Theater, was a sort of debut of two talents still out to make their presence felt in the industry. Both already had hit singles (Urong-Sulong for her and Miss for him), but the back-to-back concert displayed what they could do. More than anything, Framed showcased the duo's vocal flexibility as they essayed love themes like Sana'y Maulit Muli, Umagang kay Ganda and I Don't Love You Anymore. While viewers found them well matched voice-wise, they were also a perfect foil to the other terms of character. The smart-alecky Janno was a contrast to the trying-to-be-serious Regine. But the latter was not above dishing out snide remarks and barbs when provoked. Aside from the complementing voices, it became apparent they would have a great future in stand-up comedy, too. Their humor shone through with such numbers as gaya-gaya medley in which they aped their respective idols, Whitney Houston for Regine and Micheal McDonald for Janno. Framed also spotlighted a common passion - art. Both avowed budding artists, Janno exhibited his paintings and Regine her sketches. Response to the show was quite warm such that in February 1991, the two performers shared billing once again in the Valentine concert, Foolish Hearts. Their unique brand of kookiness-cum-musicality once again surfaced, as it did when they did last year's musical, Kenkoy Loves Rosing (based on Tony Velasquez's cartoon strip). In the latter outing, they took on roles in keeping with their nature. Janno was the wisecracking Kenkoy, w(1991)hile Regine played his ladylove, the demure provincial lass, Rosing. Critic Nestor U. Torre, writing in a review of Kenkoy Loves Rosing, commentated that the two turned in promising portrayals. Tore said Regine was still paying her dues, as she discovered that emotion can't be turned on and off like in singing. Given time, he said Regine could shine in the musical genre. Torre found Janno's acting restrained and suggested how the young actor-singer could improve by continuously exploring the craft. The duo's most recent effort, the Magkasuyo single (releasing by Cosmic Records) is further testimony to their mettle. True, they have forged careers separate from each other, with Regine making significant headway. She has already mounted several successful concerts in major venues like the Folk Arts Theater, while Janno has yet to come out with a solo venture of the same magnitude. But that's already in the offing though. In any case, it seems that Janno and Regine are really better when they're together. So what makes their union click? Regine believes it lies in the fact that they are friends in real life. She has said of Janno, "He is fun to work with. I really enjoy it when we work together. Kahit napipikon na 'ko minsan, he'll always find a way to make you smile. Janno, on the other hand, enthused in a previous interview, "Kung may certain chemistry kami ni Manilyn sa movies, there's also a formula which works for Regine and me onstage." The performers will again be put to a test as hey hold a free concert inside the Boom na Boom Carnival on Monday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m. (The carnival is located at the CCP Complex, at the corner of Roxas blvd. And Gil Puyat ave.). Regine and Janno will no doubt affirm - as they have done in the past that with their musical/comical partnership, the audience "ain't seen nothing yet!" There's bound to be more to come.

Regine talks about the 'ampon'(adopted child) issue By Leah Salterio-Gatdula PDI. Fri., April 3, 1992

The issue about Regine being an adopted child started from a small column item, which was printed, in an afternoon tabloid a few months back. But soon after, it became an intriguing subject in most entertainment columns and was played up in practically all the fan magazines in town. Apparently, a certain Zacarias couple was claiming that Regine is their long-lost daughter. Complete with a birth certificate, the couple even went to the Velasquezes residence in Tabang, Bulacan and identified themselves as the "real parent" of Regine - obviously, to lay claim on the celebrated singer. At first, Regine's camp did not react on the controversial issue. Her manager, Ronnie Henares (of Primeline, Inc.), likewise opted not to discuss the matter and would rather have waited for it to die down. But the issue has even become bigger - and until today, Regine, being "ampon," is till the talk of the town! The young performer met with some entertainment reporters recently (at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, where she will be doing a series of shows at the Captain's Bar on April 4, 11 and 25) and among the things, which she talked about, was the "ampon" issue. Regine admitted that the rumor has affected her. "I was surprised when I learned about it," she discloses. "Ang initial reaction, 'Ano ba yan? Saan ba nanggaling 'yan?" But it came to the point where I almost got paranoid about the whole thing. I started looking for my baby pictures. But I was only more convinced na Velasquez talaga ako. And my Dad and Mom are the only parents I've known ever since I was small! Regine's father, Mang Gerry, who is her constant companion in almost all her showbiz functions and public appearances, remarked: "Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang balitang 'yan. Hindi naman kasi totoo. Nagawa na 'yan kay Nora Aunor at kay Aiza Seguerra, pero wala namang nangyari. Bakit noong hindi pa sikat si Regine, walang umaangkin sa kanya? Eight weeks siyang nag-champion sa Bagong Kampeon noon, pero hindi lumitaw 'yang mga taong 'yan!" (I ignored that news, because it's not true. It happened to Nora Aunor and Aiza Seguerra, but nothing happened. Why was nobody claiming Regine when she wasn't well-known? She was an eight weeks champion in Bagong Kampeon, but nobody came out.) "Kung gimmick lang 'yang ginagawa nila, luma na 'yan! Pero kung totoong may hinahanap talaga silang anak na babae, sigurado akong hindi si Regine 'yon!" Regine also clarified another report about her being dropped from the Primeline roster of talents. "Six years na ako kay Tito Ronnie. My contract is up for renewal this month, but I'm definitely renewing it. I'm happy and satisfied with the way Primeline is running my career." April of last year saw Regine's successful series of shows at the Captain's Bar. "I enjoyed that stint very much that's why I'm back!," she beams. And what perfect timing for Regine to perform anew at the Captain's Bar, than April again, which is her birth month. (She is turning 22 on April 22). "Actually, I was long offered to do another series of intimate concerts at the Captain's Bar. But I really wanted it to be this April, dahil birthday ko nga," maintains Regine, who is tagged as "Songbird: of the local music scene. She is aware though, that lounge audiences tend to be more reserved, compared with the crowd in big concert venues. "Pero yon naman ang gusto ko, nakikinig talaga ang audience ko," offers Regine, who did her first lounge act when she was 12, at d-Marcus, a night spot in Bulacan. With Louie Ocampo on the piano, Regine will be singing medleys of songs by Le Grand, Mancini, The Carpenters and Barbara Streisand. Included songs like: Save the Best for the Last, You'll Never Know, Ebb Tide, Send in the Clowns, On My Way To You, Mr. Melody, Impossible, It's My Turn and Could It Be Magic, plus OPM hits and her own songs (Hagkan and Sa Duyan ng Pagibig). Lyricist Levi Celerio will be a special guest in the concert series. He will play the violin for Regine in Saan Ka Man Naroroon.

Regine at the FAT PDI. July 18, 1992

Songbird Regine Velasquez stars in a concert billed A Song For You, at the Folk Arts Theater on Aug. 1. Song requests made by fans and music buffs will be part of Regine's repertoire for the show, hence, the title. Numbers to be rendered by Regine included Piano in the Dark, What Kind of Fool and a Walt Disney medley, including the songs When You Wish Upon A Star, Part Of Your World and Beauty and the Beast. Special guests in a Song For You are promising, young singer Rocky and music sensation Ariel Rivera. A Song For You is directed by Rowell Santiago, with Louie Ocampo as musical director. Lighting designer is Efren Arnaldo and sound engineer is Jaime Godinez. The concert is presented by Lux and Coca-Cola. It is a production of Primeline, Inc.

The Songbird in Regine Velasquez By Ivy Lisa F. Mendoza Manila Bulletin. Fri., May 15, 1992

Of course, she loves Barbara Streisand - she idolizes her, she sings her. Her repertoires are never sans Streisand top hits. She often opens her shows with Streisand songs. And if the public clamors for more, her encore number is usually a Streisand original. But you see, Regine Velasquez has all reasons. One of the very few local singers who could give justice to any Streisand ballad, Regine has the "K" (read: the right) to render these songs which are meant to torture the vocal chords of a pretender. In fact, this 22-year old Bulakena sometimes goes positively overboard, singing a pitch higher than the Streisand original. In her ongoing concert series at the Captain Bar of the Mandarin Oriental (the last night will be tomorrow night, May 16, at 10 p.m.) dubbed as "Songbird" and "On My Way to You." When you hear Regine render the latter song, while a spotlight circles her light frame garbed in an elegant Louie Mamengo outfit, suffice it to say that the effect is hair-raising. A Regine watcher through and through, we have witnessed, though from afar, how this singer metamorphosed both professionally, personally and even physically. Whereas before, people would find her voice good but her rendition so-so, this could not be said of Regine today. She now sings with more emotions, feeling every lyric of the song. Could it be that she has already experienced romantic love? "No, wala pa talagang boyfriend 'yan. May nanliligaw pero ayaw niya," those were the words of Regine's father when we asked him about his famous daughter. But back to "Songbird," as if the two abovementioned songs were not fitting tribute enough to her idol, Regine also included more Streisand originals and revivals like "Where Is It Written" from the movie "Yentl," "All I Ask Of You" from the "Phantom of the Opera," the last three bars of "Somewhere" "Send In The Clowns" and a medley of "People," "Evergreen" and "Memory." She also took at trip down lane when she performed "For Once in My Life" "You Never Know" and a medley of "From Moment to Moment" and "Two for the Road." But in spite of the elegant Mamengo outfits, and the heavy stage make-up that Regine swears she herself applies, Regine continues to remain a child heart. Promising to give in to every single request, Regine put one over the audience when she sang a few lines from every requested song. "Para mabigyan ko kayong lahat," she said. The audience though seemingly didn't mind, crying bitin! Everytime Regine sang a bar of two of their favorite songs. Another most enjoyable part was Levi Celerio's very short stand-up act. He afterwards accompanied on the violin Regine who sang Mang Levi's very own "Saan Ka Man Naroroon." More Streisand hits? You bet. Regine delivers them with a grain of salt. But she says she "hates" Mariah Carey. So next time, watch out for Regine belting out, perhaps, Mariah Carey ditties.