Regine Visits Adoring Fans for Upcoming Concerts

Among the Filipino artists and movie stars who come to America every year, none of them has been adored and admired as much as Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez.

On August 30, Regine was welcomed at the Los Angeles International Airport by Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel, who was instrumental in bringing her back to the U.S. (Atty. Gurfinkel helped Regine get back her U.S. visa after she had been banned for life by the Embassy for alien smuggling.)

Regine's fans had a field day when she toured selected "Flying High" ticket outlets in Los Angeles, in connection with her upcoming U.S. concert tour.

Regine was set to perform Sunday, September 9, at the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, and on Saturday, September 15, at the Cow Palace in San Francisco.

On Saturday, September 1, hundreds of Regine's fans drove to the Superstar Video shop in Artesia and Reel Plus Video at the Island Pacific Complex in Panorama City to catch a glimpse of their favorite singer.

"It was like a fans day magnified tenfold," said a beaming Regine, in between hugs and kisses from her fans.

The warm welcome made Regine feel at home in Los Angeles. Her concerns that she might not be in the hearts of Filipino communities in Los Angeles instantly vanished when she saw the long queue of Filipinos eager to get her autograph or pose for a souvenir picture with her.

"There are simply no words to describe the joy I am feeling now. I am overwhelmed by the way my fans have shown their love and support for me," Regine said after touring Chowking outlets at Carson and West Covina the next day.

Her visit at Point Point Restaurant, another "Flying High" ticket outlet, on Monday also gave Regine an idea of how much she had been missed by her kababayans.

"They tell me they look forward to seeing my upcoming concert and my recent film with Aga Muhlach, ‘Pangako Ikaw Lang,’ which was a big hit in the Philippines. Some of them were crying... and I found out that others drove for miles and miles just to see me," the reigning box-office queen of Philippine movies remarked.

The sheer number of people who made ticket reservations many weeks before the staging of "Flying High", Regine's homecoming concert to the US, has already earned for it the title of concert event for the year 2001.

And why ever not?

After the long wait, the multi-platinum awarded singer's concert in America will be staged at none other than the posh and exclusive Universal Ampitheatre in Universal City, Hollywood on September 9. This venue usually stages the best in mainstream U.S. performers.

It was here in Universal that the Songbird staged a very successful concert with fellow Filipino artists in 1994, giving her to the same status as international pop icons who have performed at the prestigious venue, such as Barry Manilow, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and many others. Regine will again have her name in the marquee of the 6,200-seater historic Cow Palace Ampitheatre on September 15 after seven years.

The concert's executive producer, Millie Gurfinkel, secured the best venues for Regine and her fans, because Millie wanted nothing but the best for Regine's fans. Universal Amphitheatre is U-shaped (unlike other venues which are deep and hollow) and all seats are "best seats," with great views of the stage. Seats at the larger San Francisco Cow Palace are also arranged for the maximum viewing pleasure of the audience.

Because Regine's Los Angeles fans have only this one night to see her perform, she promises her audience a concert to remember. Regine will sing her signature songs "Ikaw," "Narito Ako," "Kailangan ko'y Ikaw," and many other classics which she has revived like "Bluer than Blue," "Never Ever Say Goodbye" and "Pangako, Ikaw Lang", and many more love songs.

To complete the romantic evening, "King of Hearts" David Pomeranz, well remembered for his ballads "Got to Believe in Magic", "King and Queen of Hearts" and "Born for You", will be joining Regine on stage as a guest performer.

Regine's equally-talented sister, Cacai, is also a special guest.

"Flying High" is produced by Millie Gurfinkel, directed by the talented Jet Montelibano and line produced by Edith Montelibano of Creative Concepts, International. This is the same team of talented people who produced the acclaimed Martin Nievera concert in 1999.

"This concert took months of planning and preparation. It is indeed a rare reunion of talent and dedication, to give the Filipino audience the best shows this side of America. With my very busy schedule, it could take years before I again have time for another US tour. So don't miss it," Regine reminded her fans.