Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid turned the second night of her three-night sold-out concert, ‘FINALE,’ at the SM Mall of Asia Arena into an emotional celebration of her 40-year music career, bringing together generations of fans while introducing the next generation of musical talents in her family.
The evening was filled with heartfelt tributes, standing ovations, and tears as concertgoers witnessed Regine perform despite the vocal challenges she had been experiencing. The show also featured special performances by her nephews and the girl group DNA, highlighting the musical legacy that may continue through the younger members of the Velasquez and Pineda families.
One of the night’s surprises was the appearance of ‘Meet Me Up at The Elevator,’ a band composed of Regine’s nephews, with her son Nate serving as the lead guitarist. The young musicians showcased their skills on keyboards, bass, and second guitar, while some joined in on vocals. Many in the audience initially thought they were watching an emerging band before discovering that the performers were all related to the Asia’s Songbird. Regine shared that the young musicians often gather during Sunday family get-togethers and head down to the studio in her home with husband Ogie Alcasid to jam together.
The group’s unusual name came from their habit of meeting in the elevator before heading off to make music. Their performance was especially meaningful because the song they presented was the band’s debut single, which is included in Regine’s newly released album.
Regine also performed with DNA, the girl group composed of Julia, Ezri, and Tasha, the daughters of her sister and manager Cacai Velasquez and concert musical director Raul Mitra. The trio, previously introduced to audiences, has been developing its identity through original singles and performances influenced by K-pop culture. During ‘FINALE,’ the girls joined their aunt for an OPM medley featuring songs popularized by Regine before transitioning to their own single. Their singing and dancing added a lively moment to an otherwise deeply emotional evening.
The appearances of Meet Me Up at The Elevator and DNA gave audiences a glimpse of the younger generation of performers beginning to make their own mark in music.
While the family performances brought excitement to the arena, the concert’s emotional weight was unmistakable from the beginning. Fans from different generations filled the venue, including teenagers, longtime supporters, and senior citizens who made considerable efforts to see their idol perform. Some elderly concertgoers reportedly used canes or wheelchairs, while others were assisted by their children and grandchildren as they made their way to their seats. Their presence reflected the deep affection Regine has earned over four decades in the industry.
The audience gave her a standing ovation after her opening song, with many already moved to tears as they witnessed her effort to deliver the concert despite the condition of her voice. A documentary-style video shown during the performance, featuring Regine’s preparations and her account of the challenges she had been going through, made the atmosphere even more emotional. The audience empathized with the singer as she continued to give her all onstage.
Regine also thanked her loyal fans for staying with her throughout the concert. She acknowledged that her vocal performance might not have met the expectations they had come to associate with her, but she was grateful that they remained in their seats and supported her instead of walking out in disappointment.
Her gratitude was one of the night’s most moving moments, turning the concert into an exchange of affection between the singer and the people who have supported her career through the years. One of the most poignant moments came when Regine performed ‘What Kind of Fool Am I,’ a demanding song associated with her success in the Asia-Pacific singing competition circuit. The song required the powerful high notes that helped establish her reputation as one of the country’s premier vocalists. During the performance, however, she struggled to reach some of those notes, and her voice cracked as she pushed through the song.
Despite the difficulty, Regine continued until the end. The audience responded with a tremendous standing ovation, with many concertgoers reportedly crying as they showed their love and appreciation for the singer. The moment was particularly emotional because the song is among the demanding pieces Regine has indicated she may need to set aside as she adjusts to the condition of her voice. Rather than diminishing the performance, the struggle underscored the significance of her decision to take a step back from major solo concerts after four decades of singing.
In her closing message, Regine did not focus on making a wish for herself. Instead, she expressed a wish for her loyal fans, reinforcing the connection that has sustained her throughout her career.
‘FINALE’ marks a major transition for Regine, who began singing professionally at 17 and has spent approximately 40 years performing for audiences. Although she plans to rest from major solo concerts, she has clarified that she is not retiring from singing. She intends to explore smaller performances and other ways to remain connected to music. With the concert’s final night still to come at the time of the second-night account, more emotional moments were anticipated from the singer and her devoted supporters.