Christian, Julie Anne & Regine in one memorable night

As the jam-packed crowd continued to cheer and the lights started to dim, Christian Bautista, Julie Anne San Jose and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid all took their well-deserved bows at the end of the 3 Stars, 1 Heart concert held last June 16 at the Dubai World Trade Center.

The show, which was widely regarded as the biggest and most-anticipated concert in Dubai this year, was a huge success with thousands of Kapuso abroad not just from Dubai, but also from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar experiencing a one-of-a-kind musical treat. GMA Pinoy TV, together with their partner carrier OSN and Fastpace, truly took over the Middle East by storm.

Regine serenades the lucky winners of the Regine by Request segment

Performing abroad isn’t new to Christian but for him, the concert was more than just putting on a great show. “3 Stars, 1 Heart Dubai was one of the best shows I’ve done,” he shared. “Singing with the great Regine Velasquez and the multi-talented Julie Ann San Jose is always special, but performing for the Filipinos abroad always gives me an extra amount of heart and energy. They are working overseas to sacrifice and thrive for their families. The least I can do is to give them a boost of morale and to remind them that they are remembered and loved.”

Julie Anne renders her version of Never Enough

Julie Anne, for her part, said that the show was one for the books, “Of course, iba ang warmth na naramdaman namin sa Dubai, especially when we saw the smiles of our kababayan out there. We felt really appreciated and loved since the day we arrived till our last day there. We wanted to make them feel closer to home through our show. And we’re very happy that we were able to connect with them. It was one for the books.”

One unique segment in the international leg of the 3 Stars, 1 Heart concert series was Regine by Request, a chance for fans to send in their song requests and be lucky enough to be granted a personal serenade from the Songbird herself.

Christian charms the crowd

This up-close encounter with the audience was a first for Regine. “It was a good experience. It’s the first time na kinakantahan ko sila by request and it was nice to see their faces because normally, makikita mo sila nasa baba sila pero dito, eye level ko sila and they seemed to have been very happy,” she said.

What also captivated the audience and even netizens are the glamorous gowns and suits donned by all three Kapuso stars in their numbers. These attires, which highlighted Pinoy pride as well, were provided by renowned Filipino designers Ezra Santos of EZRA Couture, Ryan Pacioles of Atelier Zuhra and Furne One of Amato Couture.

The three stars with the Kapuso abroad during the meet-and-greet event

Despite their tight schedule, Christian, Julie Anne and Regine were still in high spirits as they trooped to their meet-and-greet event right after the show. Some will look at it as part of their jobs, but scrolling through the photos on social media, one can’t help but notice the genuineness in their smiles.

Much can be said about the talent each one of them showcased on stage, but what made their show truly harmonious and what wowed the audience even from their regional legs was the palpable fact that they poured their souls into every performance they did. Each song and melody they belted out came from a place of passion that gave justice to the namesake of their show — three stars, one heart.