Regine Velasquez admits her age has affected her performances

Leaving your comfort zone has its risks. But it also has its rewards.

Take it from Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez. She dared shelve those pop songs she's been known for all these years to perform well-loved numbers from local and foreign musicals in her ongoing concert series, Regine at The Theater, at Solaire Hotel and Casino's The Theatre.

She interpreted songs from Miss Saigon, The Phantom of The Opera, Last Five Years, and local productions such as Rak of Aegis, and Rama at Sita as well as Ryan Cayabyab's musical adaptation of Noli Me Tangere.

And it paid off in terms of glowing reviews.

Concertgoers can still watch Regine at the Theater during its final runs on November 20 and 21.

STAYING HUMBLE. Still, Regine remains humble despite her most recent success.

She says, "I don't think I can top that.

“It's practically impossible to top that.

“Super human na lang puwedeng gumawa nun or a 23-year-old.

“I'm far from being 23 years old!”

The singer-actress admitted it was a challenge for her to perform songs popularized by big names in the music scene such as Lea Salonga, the original Miss Saigon.
Regine noted, “It's not my comfort zone.

“If not totally, a lot of these songs are new to me, even the placements of the songs.”

“HINDI NAMAN AKO NAWALA.” Many fans who have watched her concert spread the word that Asia's Songbird is back to her old form.

An amused Regine reacts, "Natatawa ako kapag sinasabi na bumabalik, e.

“Hindi naman siya [her singing voice] nawala.

“It's just that I had a difficult time singing.

"I had a condition, yung acid reflux, which I still have.

“So, it's still a struggle. Siyempre age is also a big factor.”

Mayo Clinic defines acid reflux as "the backward flow of stomach acid into the esophagus." It is known to cause heartburn.

Regine admitted having a hard time getting her singing voice back in shape after giving birth to her son, Nate in 2011.

Acid reflux irritates her throat and makes it hard for her to sing.

Regine explained, “Siguro nga sa point of view nila [I'm back to my old form].

“Pero on my end, it's still a struggle because I have this condition.

“Dati, talagang binubuka ko lang yung bibig ko. Walang effort masyado.

“I actually don't like singing with much effort. Ina-acting ko lang yung effort, e.”

Today, at 45, Regine has become more confident about her strengths and weaknesses as a performer.

“Nakakatawa sa internet when they say, 'Hay naku! She sounds like 2010!' [I'm like] what?

“May age factor talaga. I was denying it before,” Regine reiterated.

She observed, “I will never ever sing, or I will never ever sound the same way like 10 years ago.

“That will never happen.

“Kumbaga, what I'm showing now, I'm able to sing, this is the condition that I'm in now.

“And I'm just thankful that I'm able to sing these difficult songs despite my condition.” -- PEP.Ph