Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez otherwise known as Regine Velasquez (born April 22, 1970), nicknamed Asia's Songbird, is a multi-awarded Filipino singer and actress. Velasquez is well-known for her belting prowess which has been noted for its range, power, technical ability and also for her versatility and reinvention. Her vocal range is 4 octaves and classified as Lyric Coloratura Soprano. She has received critical acclaim and commercial success for her singing, hosting and acting endeavors. Her professional career started when she won the grand prize in a nationally televised singing contest. She made her debut in 1986 under the guidance of entertainment mogul Ronnie Henares and was initially marketed as a pop singer. Following her success in the Asia Pacific Song Festival, a series of subsequent successful records in the region consolidated her position as one of Asia's biggest selling performers. Her success and popularity has yielded several top-selling singles and platinum certifications. View Regine Velasquez' photo album.

Velasquez was the first Filipino artist to stage a solo concert at the Main Hall of Carnegie Hall. Her concert was selected as part of Carnegie Hall’s 100th year Concert Series in 1991.[1] Her duet with Jacky Cheung for the song In Love With You was a number 1 hit all over Asia. Her album Listen Without Prejudice was awarded platinum certifications in seven countries. In the mid 90’s, Velasquez took full creative control over her career. Distancing herself from the pop artistry, and through considerable experimentation, Velasquez developed a more sultry and sophisticated image.

In 2000, she was chosen as the Philippine’s muse to usher in the new millennium. Her performance of the country’s theme, Written In the Sand, was beamed to 55 major broadcast networks in Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Africa to coincide with 12:00 midnight in Manila. In the same year, Velasquez staged her biggest and most ambitious concert outing, R2K Concert.

She has made a highly-successful media crossover and has embarked on several television and film projects. She was heralded as the Box Office Queen by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation the following year for the theatrical success of her film Pangako Ikaw Lang. She received a Best Actress Award for her portrayal of a mentally challenged woman in Maalaala Mo Kaya. Today, Velasquez is in the forefront of popular culture. In addition to her artistic accomplishments, she is a concert director, record producer, fashion designer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. In 2006, Regine Velasquez together with Ogie Alcasid, Cacai Velasquez and Raul Mitra formed their very own record company called IndiMusic which is partnered with the late Bella Tan’s Universal Records. Universal Records will handle the distribution of Indi Records in the Philippines. She is currently managed by Aria Productions.

Source: Wikipedia