Regine Velasquez hints at retirement as she plans to hold final concert

March 29 ------ Regine Velasquez revealed she plans to hold her final concert to mark her 40th anniversary, hinting at retirement from the entertainment industry. Velasquez opened up about her “last big solo concert” in a Billboard Philippines Volumes interview, although she clarified that she has yet to finalize a date and venue. Still, she said that this will be her final solo show.

“I’m celebrating my 40th year in the business, and to celebrate that, I’m going to have a concert sometime in October pero wala kaming date, wala pa kaming venue,” she said. “It’s going to be my last big concert to celebrate my 40th year. It’s going to be my last concert. Though I’m still going to have projects next year, this will be my last big solo concert,” she continued.

The Asia’s Songbird shared that she will still work on undisclosed projects in 2027, then she will retire. She then clarified that retirement doesn’t mean she’s ending her illustrious career; it’s more about freeing herself from the pressure to please everyone. “I still have mga projects next year, and eventually, I retire. Simple lang. Sabi ng asawa ko, retirement means not really stopping altogether,” she said. “It means doing whatever it is you want to do, but it will free me from the pressure of trying to please everyone, which I like.”

Still, Velasquez acknowledges that many would be scared of her retiring from the industry because of the connotations surrounding it. “’Yung concept natin ng retirement is tumunganga ka na lang sa bahay mo. Ayoko din naman n’un, hindi rin ako sanay n’un (Our concept of retirement is to stare at nothing at home. I don’t want to do that. I’m not used to it),” she said.

Velasquez, who said the change in her voice has something to do with her getting older, also recalled a conversation she had with her husband, Ogie Alcasid, saying that retirement doesn’t mean she’s calling things off for good. “I kept thinking, what am I gonna do next if I retire. I have to find something to do, mananahi ba ako? Bibili ba akong sewing machine? Maga-apply ako kay [stylist Rain Dagala] bilang mananahi, but I have to find something to do. I don’t have to completely stop. Retirement means hindi ka totally kailangang tumigil. You just have to free yourself from the pressure,” she said.

During the interview, Velasquez opened up about how singing has become more difficult for her as she has gotten older. She also pointed out that it’s normal, though she said some might have forgotten that her voice isn’t the same as it used to be. The “Dadalhin” singer recently made headlines after she was named as the music publication’s Woman of the Year during its Women in Music award ceremony. In her acceptance speech, she reminded her fellow artists to keep dreaming and put in the work.

Source: inquirer.net