Before Regine Velasquez became a household name and one of the Philippines’ most celebrated entertainers, her journey began in humble surroundings in Hinundayan, Southern Leyte.
Born Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez on April 22, 1970, in Tondo, Manila, she spent her early childhood years here with her parents Teresita and Gerardo Velasquez and her four siblings.
Velasquez’s family moved to Hinundayan when she was a young child, and she lived there until she was about nine years old.
It was in this coastal town that she first discovered her love for music, listening to her mother play guitar and piano while her father sang lullabies that sparked her earliest interest.
She attended Hinundayan Central School, where she began to participate in school programs and local singing events.
Her father, recognizing her talent, trained her with unconventional exercises such as having her sing while submerged neck‑deep in the water to strengthen her lungs and core.
At age nine, the family moved to Balagtas, Bulacan, where Velasquez continued her education at St. Lawrence Academy and competed in vocal competitions that showcased her growing skill.
Her breakthrough came at 14 when she won the televised singing contest Ang Bagong Kampeon, earning a record deal that launched her professional career.
From those early days in Southern Leyte and Bulacan to winning the 1989 Asia‑Pacific Singing Contest in Hong Kong, Velasquez’s rise to fame was marked by determination and exceptional vocal ability.
Known as “Asia’s Songbird,” she has released multiple hit albums, sold millions of records, and performed internationally.
Now in her mid‑50s, Velasquez has an estimated net worth of around $14 million, earned from her music, concerts, television hosting and judging roles, acting, and endorsements.
She is married to fellow OPM icon Ogie Alcasid, and they have a son, Nathaniel James Alcasid.
Despite her global success, Velasquez frequently speaks fondly of her childhood in Southern Leyte, a period that shaped her resilience, work ethic, and deep connection to the Philippines’ diverse musical heritage.
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