I Watched A Regine Velasquez-Alcasid Concert (For The Very First Time) For Valentine’s Day – Review

Growing up, I would always associate Regine Velasquez-Alcasid with love songs. 

With my grandmother’s devotion to watching local television, I’d often see the OPM icon on TV, whether it was a hosting stint, an acting gig, or, of course, a live performance. My mom would sing (pun intended) the famed hitmaker’s praises whenever she was brought up, often happily recounting Velasquez-Alcasid’s journey as a singer which never failed to instill some form of inspiration in me. As a kid, I’d often even tried to (badly) sing “Dadalhin,” way before I fully understood what the song’s poignant lyrics meant. 

The point is, at the heart of all of these was me getting somewhat acquainted with Velasquez-Alcasid and her music over the years. Specifically and unsurprisingly, with her timeless love songs that continue to tug at the heartstrings of millions of Filipinos. 

So how perfect was it that the first time I would ever get to witness her put on a solo show was a Valentine’s one?

Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t go into this concert blind. I’ve seen Velasquez-Alcasid perform live a few times already at other events — from a song at Billboard Philippines Mainstage or a moving performance at Billboard Philippines Women In Music. But, to actually experience her singing with all spotlights figuratively and literally focused on her? This was a first and an opportunity that one couldn’t help but look forward to.

As I glanced around the venue, I couldn’t help but observe the kinds of attendees that were flocking in for Asia’s Songbird. Multiple families with kids, excited friend groups composed of die-hard Regine fans, young couples going on their Valentine’s dates — it was interesting to see Velasquez-Alcasid pulling in a crowd so diverse, reminding me of her power as an OPM icon and her music’s continuing hold upon Filipino listeners of all ages.

Alongside this, I realized ahead of the show how special the concert I was about to witness was for a number of other reasons. For one, staging a Valentine’s show, often with a co-headliner, has long been a tradition of Velasquez-Alcasid. This time, however, it was just her in all her musical glory. It made me feel like I was about to luckily experience a unique aspect of her storied career, especially as the show was sold out.

Second, the venue, which I went to for the first time ever that evening, was huge but was built in a way that felt intimate despite how spacious it was. The Samsung Performing Arts Theater provided a very up-close-and-personal experience wherever one was seated, helping establish and strengthen a deeper connection between the woman of the hour and her fans.

In addition, did I mention that the concert I attended was a covers night, dedicated to the songs that Velasquez-Alcasid has beautifully covered and recorded throughout the past four decades or so? For me, it was this exact fact that had me looking forward to the concert the most, especially as the house lights finally dimmed down and it was time for the show. 

Following a flurry of screams from the audience juxtaposed against a quiet but impactful intro with Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sound Of Silence,” Velasquez-Alcasid wasted no time in getting those in attendance off their feet, displaying the effortless hold she had as an influential performer of her caliber. She immediately went into rousing renditions of Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” and Blondie’s “Call Me,” backed by her equally talented and entertaining musicians and dancers, as well as a dynamic stage production and tasteful lighting that made everything feel larger than life and immersive. 

From start to finish, the show was a continuous audio-visual feast for the senses, made even more impactful with the unmistakable tonal quality of Velasquez-Alcasid’s voice. Trust me, when you’ve heard her belt flawless high notes 50 times in one concert, you’ll never forget her distinctive singing even long after the show ends. Witnessing her do an entire concert for the first time, I realized that there was definitely a certain power in her live singing that no amount of listening to on streaming could ever match. With every note she sung, her voice naturally demanded attention without asking for it — its volume amplifying and helping ingrain itself into the hearts and minds of everyone present. 

Throughout the night, I slowly realized that this was the exact reason why each song Velasquez-Alcasid was covering unexplainably felt a little bit more goosebumps-inducing compared to what I was used to hearing from others who have done the same. There was a unique emotional touch that her voice carried, elevated by the control she possessed over it, as evidenced when she went through Teri DeSario’s “Fallin’,” The Carpenters’ “One Love,” and, a personal favorite from the night, “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” by Dionne Warwick. In my head, it was astounding that she not only made these songs her own, but she almost made me forget that these weren’t her originals at all.

Speaking of favorites, one of the highlights of the concert that was made evident as the evening went on was how down-to-earth Velasquez-Alcasid felt in between songs. Her humor was relatable, filled with witty quips and often playful self-deprecating comments that had everyone, including me, bursting with laughter. As she interacted with audience members as if she were an old friend (which she probably felt like for many), it was endearing to see Velasquez-Alcasid in this light for the first time, as I’ve always seen her for the almighty, undisputed vocal powerhouse that she is. 

This side of hers was a refreshing discovery. It showed me just how passionate of an entertainer she was alongside being a performer, especially as she did a medley of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” and Orleans’ “Dance With Me,” which she sang alongside her mom in an endearing duet. 

As the night progressed, Velasquez-Alcasid further proved her artistic prowess as she went into her first covers of Filipino songs for the evening, delivering moving performances of Karylle’s “Sa’yo Na Lang Ako,” Maricris Bermont’s “Narito Ako,” and Ariel Rivera’s “Ayoko Na Sana.”

These covers felt deeply impactful to witness live personally, as they felt like solemn tributes from Velasquez-Alcasid to each of her fellow iconic OPM artists whose songs she breathed new life into. During one spiel, Velasquez-Alcasid even commented on why covering songs has been a long-standing tradition of hers throughout her decorated career. “I want to share the music that I like listening to,” she succinctly stated, her voice teeming with reverence and respect for these songs’ original creators. 

This shone forth with each song she delicately and beautifully made her own, especially as she honored the artists who created them. It made me appreciate and serendipitously realize how many timeless hits she has covered that I’ve fondly listened to over the years. This included such hits as Ryan Cayabyab’s “Sometime Somewhere” (which she sang with singer-songwriter Jona) and “Araw Gabi,” as well as Side A’s “Forevermore,” and, of course, the fan-favorite “On The Wings Of Love,” which Velasquez-Alcasid gifted as a proper encore to cap the night off.

However, beyond the superb performance of each song she put on that night, one of the things that stood out was how clearly Velasquez-Alcasid’s love for music could be felt and seen. You could see it with each wide smile she made after at the end of every song, the emotions she flawlessly matched with each track’s energy, and the tears she shed during “Sana Maulit Muli” by Gary Valenciano or “The Leader Of The Band” by Dan Fogelberg — the latter of which she dedicated to her late father, an instrumental figure in her growth as singer. 

Furthermore, it could be seen in how this has touched the lives of other people — her fans present that night as they fervently cheered her on, sang their hearts out, and gave her so many deserving standing ovations that I honestly lost count. Even Velasquez-Alcasid herself acknowledged this, expressing her heartfelt gratitude to everyone in attendance for having stuck by her through the years, recognizing the immense joy they’ve given and continue to give her.     

Truly, the show was first-hand concrete proof that if you love what you’re doing, it’s bound to resonate with so many other people in the process, its impact potentially spanning generations. Whether it be through covers or originals throughout her 40-year-or-so career, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid has proven time and again that this is the case as she undisputedly continues to be the best-selling Filipino artist of all time.

All in all, getting to witness a living legend perform to a fully sold-out crowd? Undeniably, not a bad way to spend my Valentine’s this year.