Singer and actress Regine Velasquez today posted a tweet to thank her fans for defending her decision to leave television network GMA-7 for rival channel ABS-CBN 2.
Her message comes after a high-ranking GMA executive issued a statement over the weekend which announced the singer’s departure from the company, which Velasquez called her home for more than 20 years.
In the Philippines, big-name celebrities are often bound to work with only one television network. These networks also have their own fans who attack celebrities online if they choose to switch networks.
Velasquez, despite her stature, was lambasted by some online critics for choosing to leave GMA. Yet her decision to leave GMA is not surprising since her husband, singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid, also left the network to work at ABS-CBN.
Read: Netizens upset over rumors that singer Regine Velasquez is moving to another TV network
Velasquez wrote in a mix of Filipino and English: “To all those who have supported me, thank you so much for defending me. You were with me in everything I went through. I hope you won’t get tired [of supporting me]. Love you guys thank you again.”
Para sa lahat ng sumusuporta sa akin maraming maraming salamat sa pagtatanggol nyo sakin naging kasama ko kayo sa lahat ng pinagdadaan ko. Sana wag kayong magsawa. Love you guys thank you again.❤️❤️❤️
— regine alcasid (@reginevalcasid) October 15, 2018
In a statement released on Saturday, GMA’s Senior Vice President and Entertainment Group Head Lilybeth Rasonable sounded gracious in her announcement of Velasquez’s departure.
Rasonable said: “We understand her decision to join her husband and we wish her well as she pursues other opportunities outside GMA Network.”
Velasquez’s tweet, not surprisingly, was met with warm messages by her fans.
One of her fans, @kalorrrkei, wrote to her: “It’s our duty as your gay troops to protect the only queen. Just chill sister @reginevalzasid and remember that we are with you in this fight!”
Tungkulin naming mga baklang kawal na protektahan ang nag-iisang reyna haha kaya chilla ka lang ate @reginevalcasid at tandaan mo na sa laban na ito, kami ay kasama mo!
— AStarIsLorrrn (@kalorrrkei) October 15, 2018
Fan @MijeanREGINE couldn’t understand why Velasquez was attacked.
She wrote: “You know, I don’t understand why they’re saying these painful things to you and I don’t understand how they were able to say such things to a person like you, [someone] who has made a lot of people happy and has served as an inspiration. There are so many people who love you. We love you Ms. Reg!”
Alam mo hindi ko alam kung saan nila kinukuha yung mga masasamang salita na binabato nila sa’yo at hindi ko alam bakit nakakaya nilang ibato yun sa taong katulad mo na pinapasaya at nagsisilbing inspirasyon sa madaming tao. Mas marami pong nagmamahal sa’yo. We love you Ms. Reg!
— Mijean loves Regine (@MijeanREGINE) October 15, 2018
One member of the Aldub Nation (the fan club of actors Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza) @menggalurks only wished the best for Regine. She also said they love her.
Always do whatever makes you happy, Ms. Regine. God bless you! ❤️
Love ka ng aldubnation
— ♔ (@menggalurks) October 15, 2018
@TimPavino assured Velasquez, whom fans sometimes refer to as Songbird, that she will always have their support.
You’ll forever have our support. We love you, Songbird! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 @reginevalcasid
— Tim Pavino (@TimPavino) October 15, 2018
Velasquez is one of the country’s most successful singers and 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.
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