Is she or isn’t she?
Some fans are confused while others are upset over rumors that singer Regine Velasquez will be transferring to television network ABS-CBN from its rival GMA, where she’s been working for most of her 3-decade career. The rumors started in August but only intensified over the weekend.
Velasquez has been with GMA for more than 20 years. She’s one of the country’s most successful singers and even had a best-selling record released in the early 1990s all over Southeast Asia titled Listen Without Prejudice. The album includes the hit song In Love With You, a duet with Hong Kong star Jacky Cheung.
In the Philippines, big-name celebrities are often bound to work with only one television network. These networks also have their own fans who sometimes call celebrities disloyal if they choose to switch networks.
While Velasquez has neither confirmed nor deny that she’s leaving, she appeared over the weekend at the ABS-CBN Ball, a glittering annual event organized by the network for its stars.
It further added fuel to the gossip that she was going to sign an exclusive contract with the network, where her husband singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid moved to after also spending several decades with GMA.
In Instagram photos posted by ABS-CBN’s advertising and promotions head Eric John Salut, Velasquez posed with the network’s top executives.
Alcasid refused to confirm the rumors surrounding his wife.
He told ABS-CBN News in English and Filipino: “As her husband, she has my full support and I’m excited for whatever happens. It’s a blessing, always. That’s it.”
Yet during yesterday’s conclusion of the singing competition show The Clash, which Velasquez hosts in GMA, she said something which gave hope to fans who opposed her rumored move.
The Philippine Entertainment Portal quoted her saying: “I just want to say thank you to my GMA family, thank you for having me as your Clash Master. See you guys next year.”
But the Philippine Star reported today the Velasquez will push through with the transfer, and a source told the newspaper that she will be a judge at the local edition of singing competition The Voice, which ABS-CBN produces.
Her fans on Twitter are divided over the transfer rumors.
Commenting on Velasquez’s Twitter post where she thanked GMA for The Clash, @AnnaMolina1991 wrote in a mix of English and Filipino: “Ms. Regine I hope you stay at the Kapuso network. After all your career grew with them and they never let you down. I hope you are affirming with your statement that you are happy with GMA and they (ABS-CBN) shouldn’t be trying to take you. God bless!”
Kapuso (literally “sharing one’s heart”) is a nickname for GMA-7.
Ms Regine sana po talaga you stay sa Kapuso network. After all maganda naman po ang naging takbo ng career nyo with them, and never ka po nila pinabayaan. Sana po you affirm with your statement na happy ka sa gma, at wag silang nanghahatak pa:r lumipat ka dun. God bless po!
— Anna Molina (@AnnaMolina1991) September 30, 2018
@salviimarie doesn’t sound happy about the rumors. “I wish you good luck with your transfer if it’s true. Im a loyal @gmanetwork fan…that’s it.”
I wish u goodluck sa paglipat mo if ever na totoo man. Im a loyal @gmanetwork fan…yun na.
— Aint No Critic (@salviimarie) September 30, 2018
Over on Facebook, one Gina Quijano sarcastically wrote: “You should transfer Regine [to ABS-CBN] so your career will end.”
But Jonathan Revilla was supportive.
Filipino fan culture can be somewhat toxic because fans often feel that they should have a say over their idol’s career or private lives.
Take for example Maine Mendoza, whose fans believed that she was dating love team partner Alden Richards in real life. Her fans wanted her to cut off her friendship with Jake Ejercito, son of former President Joseph Estrada, and insisted she stay loyal to Richards. The episode led Mendoza to declare that she and Richards are just friends in a much-talked-about open letter.
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