R3.0 is a triumph of hit songs

I recall once reading an interview with Regine Velasquez-Alcasid wherein she was quoted as saying that she gives her all to every performance she does. “People pay to watch me perform. They pay with hard-earned money most of the time. It is my duty to give them their money’s worth.”

Oh and how she did when she returned for two glorious nights at the Mall of Asia Arena last Oct. 21 and 22 for the R3.0 concerts. Her return to the MOA after that devastating evening five years ago during which she lost her voice and left the stage in tears, was an incredible triumph. It was that of an artist on top of her game bringing thousands to smiles and tears of joy with her singing as she looked back on her milestone-studded 30 years in show business.

R3.0 was a triumph of hit songs. The success of a singer is usually measured by how many hit songs he or she makes and Regine has a lot. And how she enjoyed bringing back three decades worth of hits prompting the audience to sing along while tapping into their memories.

She went the entire gamut, from her first single Love Me Again down to You Are My Song, You Made Me Stronger (By Breaking My Heart) to her latest, Hugot and Tadhana. And how she brought new life to her classics by performing them with her guests, who I must say, also rose up to her challenge.

Sweetest of all was recalling 16-year-old Regine in duets with Mark Bautista, In Love With You; Jed Madella, Muli; and Erik Santos, Forever, that ended with all of them singing Jose Mari Chan’s Please Be Careful With My Heart.

Regine met one-time Star For A Night discovery Sarah Geronimo on equal footing with a duet of Sana Maulit Muli, Dadalhin, Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin and Ikaw.

With husband Ogie Alcasid, doing a medley of themes that he composed for her movies

Generously, she partnered with Angeline Quinto, On The Wings Of Love; Julie Ann San Jose, Shine; Jona, Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing; Aicelle, Say That You Love Me; Morissette, Sometime Somewhere; and all together in Regine’s Hamon Sa Kampeon’s winning piece, In Your Eyes. Then, in a gracious moment, she told the audience, “Please take a bow to your new queens.”

Full of memories was Regine’s duet with her husband Ogie Alcasid, a medley of themes that he composed for her movies. Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw, Pangako, Hanggang Ngayon, Sa Piling Mo, Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka. Their voices blended well and they seemed so happy singing together.

Regine paid tribute to her huge beshi following who I must say sent a huge enthusiastic delegation to the event.  Sarado daw ang mga parlor on the occasion of her concerts. She had some of them strutting on stilettoes on stage while she sang Urong Sulong.

For her fans and everybody who helped her succeed these past 30 years she had the inspiring Oceans and Go The Distance.

And who can forget that moving tribute to her father, Mang Gerry Velasquez. She sang the standard You’ll Never Know with him in an old show footage, followed by Ogie’s new composition The First Man In My Life. I noticed teary eyes all around.

There were tears, too, but those were of happiness watching Regine sing I Can from her film Do Re Mi with her son, Nate, a very poised six year old. Those tears turned into goosey bumps and a collective roar across the arena when her co-stars in the movie, Donna Cruz and Mikee Cojuangco joined her onstage.

I am glad I was there both nights. I am happy I did not listen to my lazy bone telling me to spend that Sunday relaxing because I was already there last Saturday and the show will probably be just the same. It wasn’t. Despite the always present danger of again losing her voice what with her demanding repertoire, Regine came up an almost totally new song line-up for her second night with an almost new set of guests. And she sang even better.

What I feel bad about now is that even if Regine makes the effort to redo everything as is in a repeat show, all those emotions can never be duplicated again. Truly fortunate where those who were present. She made braving the horrendous traffic getting to MOA most worth it. I am sure her sincerity and dedication to her work will still be there in the future, but this R3.0 will always be one very special memory.

On the other hand though, this Songbird, despite 30 years, still surprises. Who knows her next solo show might be even more special?