Asia’s Songbird, Regine Velasquez, shared her personal experience as a family breadwinner during her guest appearance on ‘It’s Showtime’ last Friday, December 13.
Participating in the segment ‘And The Breadwinner Is,’ Velasquez opened up about taking on the responsibility at a young age to support her family.
“Oo, [naging breadwinner ako] for a looong time, bata pa lang… mga 11 years old,” Velasquez revealed. She explained that her family’s financial situation prompted her to step up. “Mahirap lang kasi ang family ko kaya kailangan ng konting tulong. And since I have this voice, ginamit ko to help my family.”
Regine’s husband, singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid, also shared that her journey as a breadwinner often comes up in their conversations. He recalled how Regine’s busy schedule in her younger years caused her to miss many family milestones, which became a source of sadness for her later on.
Realizing the gaps in her connection with her family, Regine started dedicating time for family bonding, setting specific days to spend quality time with them.
Despite these challenges, Velasquez expressed deep gratitude to her family, who recognized her sacrifices and supported her throughout her career. “Alam mo, mababait ang mga kapatid ko kasi sobra nilang na-recognize ‘yung sacrifice na ginawa ko for them. Ako ang naging bunso. Sobra akong spoiled sa mga kapatid ko,” she shared.
Her siblings remain actively involved in her career. Regine’s manager and production manager are family members, ensuring a collaborative and supportive environment.
One of Velasquez’s greatest accomplishments, she said, was being able to send her siblings to school and help them achieve their dreams.
Now, as she focuses on her own family, Regine is no longer the breadwinner for her siblings. She used the opportunity to share an important message for others in the same situation.
“To breadwinners, gusto kong sabihin sa inyo na natatapos dapat ‘yon. Hindi ‘yon forever,” Velasquez emphasized. “‘Pag nakatulong na kayo, tapos na. Iisipin n’yo ‘yong sarili n’yo na. You have to give yourself time to also grow as a normal human being. Hindi pwedeng ikaw lahat ang may responsibility.”
Velasquez also stressed that children should not be expected to take on the role of breadwinner, highlighting that it is the parents’ responsibility to support their children.
“Never naging responsibility ng anak maging breadwinner,” she said firmly. “Because it’s the parents’ responsibility [na] buhayin ‘yong anak mo.”
Through her story, Regine Velasquez not only shed light on the realities of being a breadwinner but also inspired others to find balance in their responsibilities and prioritize personal growth and well-being.
