R3.0 (concert)

This article is about the Regine Velasquez concert. For the studio album, see R3.0.

R3.0 was an arena concert by Filipina recording artist Regine Velasquez, held on October 21 and 22, 2017, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. It was a part of Velasquez's promotion of her seventeenth studio album R3.0 (2017) and marked a celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of her professional debut in 1986. The set list featured songs predominantly taken from the album, with additional songs from her older albums and various covers of pop hits. It was exclusively promoted by Viva Entertainment, with PLDT, Inc. as sponsor. Raul Mitra served as music director, while Paolo Valenciano was tapped as stage director.

R3.0

Concert by Regine Velasquez
Promotional poster for the show
Location	Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Venue	Mall of Asia Arena
Start date	October 21, 2017 (2017-10-21)
End date	October 22, 2017 (2017-10-22)
No. of shows	2
Regine Velasquez concert chronology
Regine at the Theater (2015) R3.0 (2017) Iconic (2019)

During the two-night show, Velasquez invited several special guests, including musicians and actresses, and collaborated with numerous designers and fashion houses. The concert was acclaimed by critics, receiving praise for Velasquez's stage presence, wardrobe, and live performances. She received nominations from the Aliw Awards and Star Awards for Music for the production. The show was broadcast as a television special on February 18, 2018, airing on GMA Network.

Background and development

 

The Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, where the concert took place

When Regine Velasquez's record deal, with Viva Records, was announced in June 2017 by The Philippine Star, the article mentioned that the singer would perform a headlining showcase in support of the album. It was revealed that the concert, titled R3.0, will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on October 21 and would also celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of her professional debut.^[1] She has previously performed anniversary shows celebrating her twentieth and twenty-fifth career milestones: Twenty staged at the Araneta Coliseum in 2006, and Silver held at the Mall of Asia Arena in 2012.^[2][3] Tickets for the show went on sale for the general public on July 25. The prices for the tickets were from ₱392 to ₱6,720.^[4] The date sold out in two days, which prompted a second show to be added on October 22.^[5] In August 2017, a cover of Up Dharma Down's song "Tadhana" was released as a promotional single for album, also titled R3.0.^[6] An original track, "Hugot", debuted as its lead single the following month.^[7] R3.0 was later released as a triple CD set on the opening night.^[5][8]

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Velasquez spoke in depth about the upcoming shows and described it as "exciting" and "challenging". She revealed that rehearsals and preparations made her anxious to stage another arena show for its physical demands, which she attributed to the cancellation of her previous concert, Silver, for which she lost her voice from a viral infection.^[9] She asserted, "I have been getting lessons ... mostly to help strengthen and improve my vocal stamina. Our body changes as we get older, so does our vocal cords. Of course, I have to do promotional work, too, which involves using my voice."^[9] The concept of the shows revolve around Velasquez's recording career, from her early childhood beginnings to the star she is today.^[5][9] She previewed that the set for each night would be different, adding that her main objective was to deliver performances of her "signature" songs and "sweet, easy listening tunes".^[9]

Velasquez worked with multiple local designers for the shows' costumes, including Martin Bautista, Michael Leyva, Cocoy Lizaso and Cary Santiago. She wore a black feathered opera coat designed by Lizaso for the opening, while she donned an all-white ensemble designed by Leyva for the finale.^[10] The concert was promoted by Viva Entertainment, with PLDT, Inc. as sponsor.^[11] Raul Mitra served as music director, while Paolo Valenciano was tapped as stage director.^[12] During the two-night show, Velasquez invited several special guests, including musicians Ogie Alcasid, Morissette, Mark Bautista, Sarah Geronimo, Jed Madela, Julie Anne San Jose, Angeline Quinto, Aicelle Santos, Erik Santos, and Jona Viray.^[11] It also featured a performance with actresses Mikee Cojuangco and Donna Cruz who co-starred with Velasquez in the 1996 musical comedy Do Re Mi.^[13]

Synopsis and reception

 

 

Velasquez pictured during the opening and the closing sequence of the show. During the beginning of the concert, she appeared onstage in a feathered opera coat performing a dance routine of "Call Me" (left). The finale of the show saw her centerstage singing her cover single "What Kind of Fool Am I? (right).

The concert began with a video introduction showing images of Velasquez and footage from her music videos, films, and past live performances. The LED screens were raised as Velasquez appeared onstage wearing a feathered opera coat and accompanied by background dancers. She stood for several seconds prior to performing her cover of Blondie's "Call Me", which ended with a brief pyrotechnics. Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff" followed which she sang while performing a choreography. After a brief costume change, she began with a track from R3.0 titled "Tadhana", before transitioning to a medley of her duets alongside Mark Bautista, Jed Madela, and Erik Santos. "Araw Gabi" saw Velasquez interacting with the concertgoers at the audience section. Shortly after, she sang a medley of her OPM songs. For "I Can" she was joined by Mikee Cojuangco and Donna Cruz. The setlist continued with an Ogie Alcasid duet of her movie themes, including "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw", "Pangako", "Sa Piling Mo", "Hanggang Ngayon" and "Pangarap Ko ay Ibigin Ka". She ended the segment with a performance of "Narito Ako".^[14]

The next segment saw Velasquez performing "Urong Sulong" as drag queens dressed in her notable gowns and ensembles moved around her. The show continued with a selection of various pop, rock, and R&B hits, including SWV's "Weak", Mariah Carey's "Butterfly", Queen's "We Will Rock You", and Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)". Sarah Geronimo joined her then to perform a medley of "Sana Maulit Muli", "Ikaw", "Dadalhin", and "Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin". The R3.0 ballad "The First Man in My Life" was mashed with Dan Fogelberg's "Leader of the Band" and were performed on the setlist with Velasquez dedicating the songs to her late father. During Hillsong United's "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)", she kneeled onstage while performing the gospel song. After a brief interlude, "Go the Distance" followed. After the song ended, she bowed and thanked the audience before exiting the stage. For the encore, Velasquez returned onstage for a performance of the show tune "What Kind of Fool Am I?".^[14]

The concert garnered generally positive reviews from critics. Allan Policarpio from The Philippine Inquirer hailed the concert as "a night of introspection and profession of strengthened faith", praising the fact that the singer made a progress in her performances that "seemed to carry more emotional weight and vulnerability".^[15] He further remarked, "While she didn’t unleash those stratospheric notes with the same fearlessness or abandon, her power and resonance remained largely untouched. The slight rasp in her upper belts, on the other hand, added a new texture to her sound."^[15] Kara Bodegon of Billboard Philippines praised Velasquez's "vocal prowess and comedic side, basking in different genres".^[14] She wrote that the concert proved that "her legion of followers look forward to loyally sticking by her side for the next 30 years".^[14] Bodegon concluded, "She has touched many hearts in the past three decades, cutting through generations, and has proven that God-given talents are worth nurturing."^[14] Owen Maddela writing for Preview magazine commended the shows' costumes, saying, "the two-hour spectacle was its own fashion show".^[10]

For the production, Velasquez received nominations for Best Female Major Concert Act from the Aliw Awards and Female Concert Performer of the Year from the Star Awards for Music.^[16][17] The concert was aired as a television special on GMA Network on February 18, 2018.^[13]

Set list

The set list given below was performed on October 22, 2017.^[14]

1. "Call Me"
2. "Hot Stuff"
3. "Reason Enough"
4. "Tadhana"
5. "In Love with You" / "Muli" / "Forever" / "Please Be Careful with My Heart"
6. "Araw Gabi"
7. "Kung Kailan Pa" / "Sa'yo Na Lang Ako" / "Ok Lang Ako" / "Sabihin Mo Lang"
8. "I Can"
9. "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw" / "Pangako" / "Sa Piling Mo" / "Hanggang Ngayon" / "Pangarap Ko ay Ibigin Ka"
10. "Narito Ako"
11. "Urong-Sulong"
12. "Weak" / "Butterfly" / "We Will Rock You" / "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
13. "Shake Your Groove Thing"
14. "Sana Maulit Muli" / "Ikaw" / "Dadalhin" / "Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin"
15. "You'll Never Know"
16. "Leader of the Band"
17. "The First Man in My Life"
18. "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"
19. "Go the Distance"

Encore

1. "What Kind of Fool Am I?"

Personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from the television special R3.0.^[18][a]

Show

• Lilybeth Rasonable – executive in charge of production
• Paolo Valenciano – show direction, staging
• Louie Ignacio – television director
• Raul Mitra – musical director
• Maria Luisa Cadag – executive producer
• Darling De Jesus – supervising producer
• Ruth Roxanne Marinas – program manager
• Malou Bernardo – prodcution manager
• Gina Quizon – assistant prodcution manager
• Epoy Isorena – stage manager
• Marichu Ibarrientos – associate producer
• Jacob Jesuitas – assistant director
• Noel Ubico – floor director
• Zyrel Marquez – floor director
• Archie Riola – floor director
• Dominique Gallardo – lighting
• Jojo Panganiban – lighting
• Rards Corpuz – sound engineer
• Jun Bon Rustico – mixing engineer

Band

• Cesar Aguas – guitars
• Noel Mendoza – guitars
• Juan Miguel Rivera – keyboards
• Michael Asher Alba – bass
• Emmanuel Florendo – bass
• Romeo Pacana – bass
• Anthony Cailao – background vocalist
• Miriam Cynthia Marquez – background vocalist
• Samuel Gaddi – background vocalist
• Zebedee Zuñiga – background vocalist
• Dorothy Galvez – background vocalist
• Jenny Garcia – background vocalist
• Rose Marielle Mamaclay – background vocalist
• Kenneth Mendez – background vocalist
• Jun Ochoa – background vocalist

See also

• List of Regine Velasquez live performances

Notes

1. R3.0 was aired as a television special on GMA Network on February 18, 2018.^[13]

References

1. Calderon, Ricky (June 29, 2017). "Regine Velasquez returns to Viva". The Philippine Star. from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
2. "Regine Velasquez celebrates 20 years in show business". Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 24, 2006. from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
3. Pangilinan, Jen (October 23, 2012). "In celebration of Regine Velasquez's 25th anniversary in showbiz". Philippine Entertainment Portal. from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
4. Aquino, Maine (July 26, 2017). "Premium tickets para sa concert ni Regine Velasquez-Alcasid na R3.0, sold out in 24 hours" [Premium tickets for Regine Velasquez-Alcasid's R3.0 concert, sold out in 24 hours] (in Tagalog). GMA Network News. from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
5. "Regine all set for 30th year celebration". Manila Standard. October 19, 2017. from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
6. Bodegon, Kara (August 25, 2017). "Listen to Regine Velasquez's cover of UDD's 'Tadhana'". Billboard Philippines. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. from the original on November 17, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
7. "Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez- Alcasid Soars Again With "Hugot"". Viva Records. September 22, 2017. from the original on November 17, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
8. Anarcon, James Patrick (December 21, 2017). "Regine Velasquez gets Platinum award for R3.0 in six weeks". Philippine Entertainment Portal. from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
9. Policarpio, Allan (October 10, 2017). "Regine comes to terms with changes beyond her control". Philippine Daily Inquirer. from the original on February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
10. Maddela, Owen (October 25, 2017). "A Die-Hard Believer Shares What It's Like to Watch Regine Velasquez Live". Preview. from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
11. Calderon, Ricky (October 5, 2017). "Songbird struggles, but prefers her voice now". The Philippine Star. from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
12. "Regine Velasquez 30th Anniversary Concert". Viva Entertainment. September 5, 2017. from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023 – via Facebook.
13. "Regine's 'R3.0' concert on TV". Philippine Daily Inquirer. February 18, 2018. from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
14. "Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid Celebrates 30 Years With Two-Night 'R3.0' Concert". Billboard Philippines. November 2, 2017. from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
15. Policarpio, Allan (November 2, 2017). "Regine's 'R3.0' concert a night of introspection". The Philippine Inquirer. from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
16. "Aliw Awards 2017 nominees revealed". ABS-CBN Entertainment. November 1, 2017. from the original on November 6, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
17. "Full List: Nominees, PMPC Star Awards for Music 2017–2018". Rappler. from the original on November 25, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
18. GMA Network (2018). R3.0 (Television special). Regine Velasquez.

External links

• Tours of Regine Velasquez at Live Nation