Asia’s songbird Regine Velasquez Alcasid didn’t feel any regret going back to ABS-CBN even if they failed to secure franchise renewal.
In an interview with G3 San Diego, Regine was asked if somehow she felt “nalugi” after ABS-CBN shut down its free-to-air channel following Congress’s rejection of their franchise renewal.
Regine, however, said she will never ever regret coming back to ABS-CBN because that’s what she wanted to do, to experience something new after being with GMA for 20 years.
“Pagka nga tinatanong ako, parang, ‘Do you regret it?’ I do not. I never regret. I will never regret anything. It was my decision to go back to ABS, because I wanted to experience something else, something new,” Regine said
Regine also revealed that she longed to work with ABS-CBN before but because of the network war she wasn’t able to do that.
“I wanted to work with the people that I used to work with before. But was not able to because of the whole GMA, ABS thing,” she added.
She also added that she will never feel shortchanged because prior to the pandemic and the ABS-CBN shutdown she was able to do exactly what she wanted to do.
“So, I just wanted to experience that. Before the pandemic, I was able to experience it naman, e. Ang dami kong nagawa before [mangyari na] hindi na nga nabigay yung renewal ng ABS. Marami naman akong nagawa. First of all, I was singing… parang na-maximize ulit yung pagiging singer ko, ‘cause I was doing ASAP every single week. In one show, I would sometimes have three [production] numbers. So, that’s a lot. And I was so looking forward to performing every Sunday.”
Regine recalled her time during their SOP days in GMA and that’s what she missed doing for quite some time that’s why when ABS-CBN offered her to do a musical show again, she accepted it because she really wanted to sing.
“Kasi sa GMA naman before, nagkaroon din kami ng show, which was SOP. And I think I missed that. I missed having a TV show where I can sing my heart out. Kasi dumadami rin yung kaalaman mo sa mga kanta, andami mong natututunang kanta. You also work with other people, so you also learn from them. So, yun ang exciting doon, e. Plus, every week, it’s live, so hindi mo alam kung anong mangyayari. And finally, when I came back to ABS, that’s what I was given. I was given ASAP, I became part of this whole family.”
Regine added that she was warmly welcomed by ABS-CBN and ASAP family. And although they are not on free TV now, singing on the ASAP stage still gives her a wonderful feeling.
“In the beginning, I thought I’d have a hard time, but then they just welcomed me with open arms. Everybody just welcomed me and I had a wonderful time. I’m still having a wonderful time even though wala na kami sa free TV. Whenever we see each other, pag magti-taping kami or magla-live kami, we are just so happy to be back onstage and be able to sing with each other. It’s a wonderful feeling.”
ABS-CBN has been in shutdown since May 5, 2020 after NTC issued a cease and desist order following the expiration of their franchise. On July 10, the House committee on legislative franchises ended their franchise renewal bid when 70 congressmen rejected their application.
Currently, Regine and other ASAP hosts and performers can still be watched via Kapamilya Channel on Cable and Satellite TV and on ABS-CBN digital platform Kapamila Onlive Live on YouTube and Facebook.
