Regine Velasquez on screen and stage

A photograph of woman wearing a black gown singing to a hand-held microphone
Velasquez at the Jollibee Family Values Awards in September 2015

Filipino entertainer Regine Velasquez has appeared in motion pictures and television programs. She made her screen debut with a minor role in the 1988 comedy film The Untouchable Family.[1] She went on to appear in supporting roles in the comedies Pik Pak Boom (1988) and Elvis and James 2 (1990).[2][3] Velasquez made her stage debut in 1992 with the Musical Theatre Philippines production of Romualdo Ramos and Tony Velasquez's Kenkoy Loves Rosing.[4] Her breakthrough came when she played the title role in the film Wanted Perfect Mother (1996).[3][5] The same year, she starred in the musical comedy Do Re Mi alongside Donna Cruz and Mikee Cojuangco.[6] Among Velasquez's next releases were the fantasy comedy Honey Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako (1998) and Joyce Bernal's romantic comedy Dahil May Isang Ikaw (1999) opposite Aga Muhlach.[3][7] Her first leading television role was in a 2000 episode of the IBC-13 anthology series Habang May Buhay.[3]

Velasquez's profile continued to grow in the 2000s as she took on starring roles in two lucrative romantic comedy films. She featured as a prominent singer desperate for a normal life in Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw (2000),[8] and she re-teamed with Bernal and Muhlach in Pangako Ikaw Lang (2001)—Velasquez's biggest commercial success to date, for which she received the Box Office Entertainment Award for Box Office Queen.[9][10] In 2002, she appeared in an episode of ABS-CBN's drama series, Maalaala Mo Kaya, playing an intellectually disabled woman who develops a romantic relationship with a younger man—a role that earned her the Star Award for Best Actress.[3][11] That year, she also portrayed a mundane and undesirable mail sorter in the drama Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon,[12] which garnered her a Young Critics Circle nomination for Best Actress.[13] In 2003, Velasquez starred with Christopher de Leon in the romantic comedy Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka and played Darna in the superhero film Captain Barbell.[14][15]

In 2004, Velasquez made her first prime time television appearance in the drama series Forever In My Heart.[3] Two years later, she starred as a con woman in the romantic comedy Till I Met You with Robin Padilla.[16] Her performance in the 2007 film Paano Kita Iibigin earned her nominations for Best Actress at the FAMAS and Luna Award.[17][18] In 2008, she lent her voice to the eponymous character in the animated film Urduja,[19] and returned to television in the comedy series Ako si Kim Samsoon.[20] She went on to play a facially disfigured aspiring singer in the musical series Diva (2010),[3] and appeared opposite Dingdong Dantes in the comedy series I Heart You, Pare! (2011).[21] In 2013, she won the Golden Screen Award for Best Actress for her performance as an identity document forger in the comedy Of All the Things.[22][23] Three years later, she starred in the satirical comedy Mrs. Recto and the comedy series Poor Señorita.[24][25]

Velasquez expanded her career into reality television talent shows, serving as a presenter on Star for a Night (2002), Pinoy Pop Superstar (2004), and The Clash (2018), and as a judge on StarStruck (2015) and Idol Philippines (2019). In addition, she had episode arc guest roles in the fantasy series Darna (2009) and Mulawin vs. Ravena (2017).[26][27]

  1. ^ Solis, Lolit (June 28, 2017). "Regine babalikan na ang pelikula!" [Regine returns to making movies!]. The Philippine Star (in Tagalog). Archived from the original on December 3, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  2. ^ De Leon, Ed (June 29, 2017). "Regine maraming first time sa Viva" [Regine had a lot of firsts with Viva]. The Philippine Star (in Tagalog). Archived from the original on December 3, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Anarcon, James Patrick (March 31, 2016). "Regine Velasquez: The Actress and TV Host". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kenkoy Loves Rosing was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Calderon, Ricky (June 29, 2017). "Regine Velasquez returns to Viva". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  6. ^ Tomada, Nathalie (August 4, 2016). "Regine feels right at home in Cebu". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  7. ^ Amoyo, Aster (October 8, 2017). "Regine after 31 years: I couldn't ask for more". People's Journal. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference KKI was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Bismark, Maridol (July 3, 2001). "That Aga-Regine magic". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  10. ^ Francisco, Butch (February 23, 2002). "Box Office King and Queen crowned". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  11. ^ "Piolo, Regine in old 'MMK' episode". ABS-CBN News. July 28, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  12. ^ Francisco, Butch (February 7, 2002). "A fun, entertaining love story". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  13. ^ "Winners and Nominees Gallery". Young Critics Circle Film Desk. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  14. ^ Gil, Baby (April 25, 2003). "Regine's Pangarap: Dreamy and romantic". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Regine Captain Barbell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference TIMY was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ "56th FAMAS Awards tonight". The Philippine Star. November 29, 2008. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  18. ^ "Luna Awards nominees announced". Philippine Entertainment Portal. August 31, 2008. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference Urduja was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kimsam was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Reyes, William (December 2, 2010). "Director Andoy Ranay works for the first time with Regine Velasquez and Dingdong Dantes in I Heart You Pare". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  22. ^ "Aga, Regine reunite in Of All the Things". The Philippine Star. September 17, 2012. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  23. ^ Magsanoc, Kai (April 27, 2013). "Winners: 10th Golden Screen Awards". Rappler. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mrs Recto was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ Cite error: The named reference Poor Senorita was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ^ Cite error: The named reference Regine in Darna was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  27. ^ Cite error: The named reference FHT and Mulawin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).