Drama Diva: Regine Velasquez Opens Up About Humiliating Moment in a Singing Contest During Her Early Years

She may be hailed today as Asia’s Songbird and one of the most powerful vocalists the Philippines has ever produced, but Regine Velasquez wasn’t always untouchable. In a rare and emotional revelation, the diva recently opened up about a humiliating moment she experienced during a local singing contest in her early years — a story that shocked many of her fans and made her even more relatable.

Speaking candidly in a televised interview on a Sunday talk show, Regine recalled the painful incident with a smile that barely hid the emotion behind it. The experience, while humiliating at the time, became one of the driving forces behind her incredible rise in the music industry.

The Contest That Shattered Her Confidence

Regine shared that she joined the contest when she was still a teenager performing under her real name, Chona Velasquez. She had already started gaining attention for her strong vocals, but during one competition, something unexpected happened: she forgot the lyrics mid-performance.

“I just froze,” she recalled. “I was so nervous, I went completely blank. And to make things worse, the judges were just staring at me, waiting for me to recover — but I couldn’t.”

To add insult to injury, Regine said one of the judges, who was a well-known singer at the time, made a harsh comment about her stage presence.

“He said something like, ‘She can sing, but she’ll never make it if she can’t handle pressure.’ That crushed me,” she admitted.

The audience reportedly laughed, and Regine left the stage in tears — embarrassed, defeated, and ready to give up.

Turning Shame Into Strength

But the moment that could have ended her dream only lit a fire within her. After the incident, Regine said she went home and cried for days, but she also used it as motivation to train harder and face her fears.

“I realized that I had two options: let it break me or let it build me,” she said. “So I chose to work harder. I never wanted to feel that kind of humiliation again.”

Her father, Gerry Velasquez, who was instrumental in her early training, reportedly pushed her even more after that incident, helping her perfect not just her vocals but her stage confidence. Just a few years later, Regine would re-enter the music scene with a bang — eventually winning “Ang Bagong Kampeon” and launching a career that would span over three decades.

Why She Shared It Now

Many fans wondered why Regine chose to reveal such a vulnerable story now. The singer explained that she wanted young, aspiring singers to understand that even their idols have experienced failure.

“There’s this pressure to be perfect from the start, especially now with social media. But I want them to know: it’s okay to fall apart. You just have to stand back up.”

She also noted that humiliation and failure aren’t the end — they’re part of the process.

Her story resonated with many netizens, who praised her humility and honesty. The hashtag #RegineVelasquezHumbleBeginnings trended on X (formerly Twitter), with fans calling her story “inspiring” and “raw.”

A Symbol of Resilience

Now, with dozens of hit songs, sold-out concerts, and decades of accolades under her belt, Regine Velasquez stands as a symbol of perseverance and grace under pressure.

Industry peers also chimed in with praise. Fellow singer Lea Salonga tweeted:

“That’s the mark of a real artist. You fall, you rise, and you sing your heart out louder than ever. Love you, Reg!”

Regine concluded the interview by saying that moments of shame don’t define you — how you respond to them does.

“We all get humiliated at some point. But it’s not the embarrassment that matters — it’s whether you choose to rise or stay down. I chose to rise — and I keep rising.”