Regine Velasquez: Flying High in California

She fills any concert venue to the brim – in the Philippines or abroad. Her concerts are sold out weeks before the performance. Her voice holds her audience’s attention for hours and hours. There has never been a show where she did not receive a standing ovation.

Through the years, local and international press have raved about Regine Velasquez’ successful shows and performances. Weeks after she packed the Araneta Coliseum in Manila for two straight days for her R2K concert last year, people were still talking about her commanding performance and the show’s dazzling production and special effects

Her annual US concerts were also phenomenal. On November 4, 1994, she teamed up with Janno Gibbs and Ariel Rivera at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. It was full house. A week later, at the Cow Palace Auditorium in San Francisco, ticket sales exceeded 8,200.

A few days more, 400 standing-room-only tickets were released in addition to 3,000 seats sold weeks before the concert date at the Beacon Theatre in New York. They performed again at the Beacon Theatre in September 1995. The show was entitled "Foolish Heart". Again, tickets were all sold out.

Since then, Regine has been staging concerts in the US regularly. But Regine’s almost annual series of concerts and film promotions in the US was cut short by an unfortunate incident last year. Because of this, Regine’s fans and kababayans thought that they will never be able to see Regine perform live again. They were limited to CD’s and film clips.

But they need not despair. Thanks to the efforts of immigration lawyer Michael Gurfinkel, Regine’s US career is finally back on track. And not only that, Regine intends to let all her fans know she’s back by staging two separate concerts in California in September. She also promises to outdo all other US concerts she has done in the past.

Executive producer is Millie Gurfinkel of The Gurfinkel Corp. with Edith Montelibano of Creative Concepts International as line producer, and Jet Montelibano as stage director. Regine’s "Flying High" concert tour will take place at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles on September 9 (Sunday), and at the Cow Palace in San Francisco on September 15 (Saturday).

Joining Regine in the concert is premier balladeer David Pomeranz, who sang such hits as "Got to Believe in Magic", "King and Queen of Hearts", and "Born for You". Her equally talented sister Cacai will also perform with Regine in her comeback concert in California.

With preparations well underway for Regine’s shows, the California press is already abuzz with excitement. At this rate, "Standing Room Only" may be an understatement.

Sponsors to this concert are: VIVA Video, Philstar.com, KSCI-18, KTSF-26, and KNLA-68. For more information, call toll-free 1-866-GURFINKEL or (866) 487-3465. You can also visit Regine’s website at www.regineconcert.com or send e-mail at [email protected].