For sure, in the almost four decades that she’s been in the local entertainment scene, we all know Regine Velasquez-Alcasid as an icon who is well-loved for her works as a singer and an actress. However, not a lot of people know that she’s also a proud Bisaya, particularly a Waray, which we only got to find out through her recent guesting in “Kuan on One,” the online show of her “Magandang Buhay” co-host Melai Cantiveros-Francisco.

On her life in Leyte and how her dream of becoming a singer was born

As Melai expressed her exhilaration upon this discovery, the Asia’s Songbird confessed that she’s not that fluent in Bisaya anymore, yet she wouldn’t be tricked. According to her, they used to live at her mom’s hometown in Hinundayan, Southern Leyte, when she was probably around six years old, until they went back to Manila when she was 10. It was a faraway province with no electricity, so the townsfolks’ only form of entertainment there was gathering together to play guitar and sing, which became her influence as a singer.

Aside from taking part in those get-togethers along with her mom, who was among the guitar players, Regine also recalled that the first-ever singing contest she joined was in Leyte when she was only six years old. That unforgettably wonderful experience of being applauded by people made her realize that she loved it and that performing in front of multitudes is something that she would want to do for the rest of her life.

It was also in Leyte where her father had her go through rigorous vocal training, which included submerging her in sea since their house there was very near the beach. She was oblivious then that Mang Gerry was already training her, for he simply asked her to just sing, especially high notes, while the water would be up to her neck.

While she apparently had a fun and memorable childhood, she revealed that their family actually used to be very poor. She recalled how they couldn’t afford to buy decent viand and would always eat sweet potato leaves along with rice, as well as shampoo and they would only use soap in cleaning their bodies from head to toe.

However, the Asia’s Songbird clarified that although they lived in poverty in her younger years, her father never forced her to join singing competitions. It was just her who decided to do so because she’d been inherently fond of singing, and it was only later on that she started to do it to help her family and turn it into a career.

“Alam mo, noong mga panahon kasi na ‘yon, ang pangarap ko lang naman kasi talaga [ay] makatulong ako sa family ko, maiahon ko sila sa hirap, mapagtapos ko ‘yong mga kapatid ko sa pag-aaral. Natupad naman lahat ‘yon. [Pero] kalahati naman no’n, pangarap ko rin kasi gusto ko naman talagang sumikat ako e,” she said to Melai.

On being called ‘ugly’ and proving herself to others

While many may have considered her as one of the most beautiful women they’ve ever seen, there are still others who, believe it or not, perceived Regine as ugly, particularly during her early years in the industry.

But instead of taking those nasty remarks to her heart and mind, she didn’t let those take away her confidence, as she firmly believed that God blessed her with a “humongous voice.” Thus, she would tell people to wait ‘til they heard her sing.

“I was never insecure, I never doubted myself. I guess, when you’re younger, you never really feel that, ‘di ba? Basta, kumpiyansa lang ako sa sarili ko na, ‘O sige, kahit ‘di ako kagandahan, pero wait lang, papakitaan ko kayo’,” she related.

Even though she identifies as a probinsyana, Regine didn’t see the essence of reinventing herself in order to get to where she is at present. She told Melai, “Hindi ko naman kailangang i-reinvent. I didn’t feel the need to reinvent myself. What for? I mean, reinventing is fine, but at that time, I didn’t feel the need to because bata pa man jud ako kaayo. I was young when I started, right?”

Reinventing herself only happened when she was already in the industry, which she did by getting a haircut and changing her fashion style. However, instead of “reinvention,” she would rather call it her “evolution”.

On her relationship with her family

As her younger self faced the harsh world of show business, her dutiful parents were fortunately there to support, protect, and take care of her. Although they had their own share of misunderstandings and arguments – just like other families do – Regine said that she could never oppose them because she knew back then that they were just trying to protect her not just from bashers but from those who might take advantage of her since she was really young and naïve at the time.

It wasn’t only with her parents, with whom Regine has a close-knit bond, but with her siblings as well. Although she was not able to completely witness them grow due to her busyness at work, which she admitted made her really sad, she made sure to make up for the lost time by setting a date with her four siblings at least once a month. She would take them to the mall and treat them by buying everything that they wanted, eating sumptuous dishes at restaurants, and watching concerts.

Despite all of them being preoccupied by their respective lives and/or families at present, they make sure to still find time to meet and bond a least twice a month by having dinner and playing bingo together, through which they’re also able to have some catching up.

Apart from the admirable bond of the Velasquez siblings, another thing that Melai commends about Regine’s sisters and brother is how they show their love and gratitude to their ate now that they’re all financially capable.

For instance, Regine imparted how her sister Diane and her family would buy her bags and other stuff, while her brother, who’s now a dentist, never charged her whenever she would seek his services for her dental problems. But the most amazing of all was when they chipped in to buy her a van, which she really found unbelievable.

“Actually, that’s a material thing. But more than that, they’ve done many things for me. Kasi actually, ako panganay, ‘di ba? Pero bunso ako kung tratuhin ng mga kapatid ko,” Regine related. “Spoiled ako sa kanila.”

The Velasquez siblings were also able to show their solidarity when their father, Mang Gerry, got sick. She recalled how they had their respective roles during that crucial time, without them having to discuss it anymore. That’s why she is very thankful to the Lord for giving her such a wonderful family and siblings that are not "complainers."

“Kasi, di ba, kapag ikaw ‘yong breadwinner, medyo natural na sa’yo ang attention ng mga magulang mo kasi ikaw ‘yong naghahanapbuhay e. They never got jealous. They understood what my part was and why I needed to be taken care of, and they never got jealous. Wala kang maririnig na anything,” she conveyed and further enthused about how grateful she is for them.

As Melai mentioned about her personal experience with the kindness, humility, and generosity of the Velasquez family, Regine expressed how proud she is not only of her siblings but of their parents too, especially her dad. She went on to share a few of Mang Gerry’s benevolent works with a lot of people they didn’t even know, which she only found out after he passed away in 2014 when some of them came up to her during his wake and relayed their fondest stories about him.