Shortly before the clock strikes the final hour of this millennium, a live TV audience across the globe (67 countries) will watch Regine sing the Philippine Millennium anthem. Surprisingly, the singer (one of the busiest performers during this season as in past Yuletides) didn't have a clue that this was destined to be a huge production.

"I didn't think it was such a big deal until I was there," she gushes the morning after. The taping of her performance atop The Manila Peninsula Hotel foundation had been announced weeeks before over the radio. Traffic had to be re-routed to allow the closure of Ayala and Makati Avenues. Even that didn'' seem out of the ordinary to Regine.

It was only when she was in the midst of 2,000 school kids, 50 jeepneys and seven cameras rolling at the same time that the magnitude struck her. The truth is that she was told only two weeks before the Millennium Day Broadcast, a BBC and WGBH consortium, allots ten minutes for every country's countdown on New Year's Eve. For the Philippines, five of those precious ten minutes will be given to Regine's song. Written in the Sand, composed by Danny Tan (music) and Agnes Sicam Caballa (lyrics), is a song of hope. No doom's day predictions here. Instead, you hear over two thousand voices representing the future of mankind. One of those distinct voices belongs to Christian Louis. Gerard Lanzar, a seriously ill 11-year old whose wish it is to sing a song to the world.

Make a Wish Foundation sought the help of GMA-7, which is co-producing the telecast, in letting Christian join the chorus. The other school children were chosen based on recommendations by the DECS.

"No, it wasn't logistically a nightmare," denies Darling de Jesus, executive producer of the GMA broadcast. "Our information campaign (done weeks before we closed off Ayala and Makati Avenues) made things easier. Although it took the production team an entire day to put up the set, they were ready for the shoot by the time Regine arrived. We were lucky to have Al Quinn as director because this is his forte.

"Mind you, this is not a simple music video. We consider this a major musical production number." And GMA couldn't have picked a better singer. Regine, a GMA talent, breezed throughout the take. The only delay was caused by the weather (rain always having the worst timing)."

"What I noticed about this production that they used so many cameras," says Regine. "They didn't just take shots of me but the kids as well. Actually, the entire experience was relatively stress-free for me. I started singing at about 7 to 7:30 p.m. By 11, we were done. That's not bad at all."

Preparation for the broadcast started two years ago when GMA signed a contract to join the extensive coverage of millennium celebrations. Darling reports that other countries have put together elaborate productions. The Philippines, of course, won't pale in comparison. The truth is that Regine and the 2,000 school children only comprise a portion of that musical number. More than a hundred performers will begin singing Written in the Sand. Regine's part will come just before the countdown. The final hour will be met with fireworks, a laser show, sky dancers and confetti.

Aside from presenting an extravaganza, GMA did not forget to showcase the culture and beauty of the Philippines. A music video has been prepared to highlight that which is uniquely Filipino.

In the meantime, Regine is milking the Millennium fever for all it's worth. She has staged a three-night performance to promote her album R2K - the revival album to (hopefully) end all revival albums. Just recently, she had a special engangement at the Shangri-La Makati. New Year's Eve will predictably be one of her busiest nights all century. After all, doesn't everyone want to party?

But should we forget what the celebration is about, Regine will sing us a reminder that the future belongs specifically to the next generation. Forget those Y2K alarmists. There is hope for mankind in the 21st century. That's the message of Written in the Sand. The lyricist found great wisdom in the essay A Tale of the Sands from Tales of Dervishes by Indries Shah (1967). That written work (which Agnes clarifies was only her jump-off point since it actually talks about reincarnation - a subject not discussed by her song) suggests that sand is a silent witness to the passing of time. "People ask me why the millennium song carries the words, 'written in the sand' when anything that is written in sand gets erased. When one says 'written in the stars' we think of destiny. But when you say written in the sand, we think of history. Because the sand has been around this planet since time immemorial," she explains. "We ask ourselves now where the new millennium will lead us to-well, the answer I guess, is written in the sand. The new millennium offers us a chance to look back and find meaning in our past and, with that, help create a better future for all."

It's written in the sand where the past has all begun, that tomorrow is here within your hands...

Here is my "Regine 2000" concert experience last December 4, 1999. As soon as I took my gingerly steps to the Music Museum, the first person I spotted was Mang Gerry. He was sitting with someone I couldn't identify. Nevertheless, it gave me a reassurance that indeed I was awake from my afternoon sleep and I was certainly seeing a Regine concert!

The show started around 9 p.m. as I expected. I came in quite late since I knew I have reserved seats. The set was simple and classy. There's a center spotlight which highlighted a small round table where Regine's cue cards were, a couple of stem white flowers as a decor and drinking water was on top.

The crowd was packed with yuppies. It made me quite uncomfortable in the beginning, but somehow I got used to it. There was a foreigner sitting on my left and a couple sitting on my right.

The Regine 2000 concert started with a brief video of Regine's different looks. It looks millenniuish and the make up in the brief video was superb.

Regine came out singing a latin dance beat song which I forgot what the title was. She looked really pretty and really unique with her black see thru dress and the jeans shredded on top. She even made fun of her jeans when she said, "Nalalaglag and pantalon ko." One of the highlights in the concert is her hair. It's very innovative, the way it's done. It looks really different and pretty on her, of course. She sang "For The Love of You" and a rap by Gabby Eigenmann, Fallen, Sometimes by Britney Spears, On The Wings of Love, One Love - was so soothe sounding, so sweet sounding because Regine interpreted it with so much emotion and love. This is one of my favorite. She also sang "I'll Never Love Like This Again" (forgive me if the title is wrong. I'm not very particular with the title), "Waiting for Tonight" by Jennifer Lopez and many more.

I should also tell you she's a good comedienne. I like the way she tell jokes and the way she sometimes makes fun of herself. You really see her first hand as the simple and funny person. No matter what type of clothes she wear, she's still the same person deep within.

In the beginning of the show, I was so shy to take out my camera for some shoot. My camera started to itch when she finished her third song and nobody dared to take some shots as well, so I initiated myself in taking shots and other people started to flash their cameras here and there.

Gabby Eigenmann took over the show while Regine was busy changing her next costume. She came out with the blue and flowery strapless glittery short tube skirt which looked cute on her! With that dress on, she belted out songs so greatly that everyone can't help but applaud on her songbird talent. "I know I'll never love this way again so I keep holding on..."

The next costume change is a long white glittery on top dress which showed her cleavage. She even made fun of it. She made everyone see her perform at nearer sight when she passed by singing in all the isles of the seats. That's how I got the close shot, unfortunately, her eyes were not looking at my camera. She even danced with a guy and ate squid ball from somebody else's plate and drank at somebody else's mineral water. She's so fun as a concert artist!

She even fooled us when after singing a song she waved and said "Good night everybody." Good thing though, she went back and told us, "joke lang."

It really felt great to be one of her audience because she's funny, she's sexy, she's certainly one of a kind and she makes sure we all have fun on her show.

The songs she chose were not the usual songs she usually would sing on her previous concert. That's why I'm glad that she veered away from it. I love the show so much. I was supposed to buy tickets for the 11th unfortunately when I called up to inquire the lady at the music museum told me it's SOLD OUT! I was disappointed but anyhow I'm still glad that somehow I got to watch her concert. All I can say is the show is really wonderful...I may not be able to put every thing I thought wonderful in words, but it's in my memory and the feeling as well.

FOR the first time in her colorful 14-year career, the Songbird, Regine Velasquez is holding a Fans' Day on April 21 at the Makati Coliseum starting at 3 p.m. (For more details, call 810-4471 or page 125-1156159). The date is significant because Regine turns 29 the day after. The singer usually does not like to celebrate her birthday in a big way, but she's making an exception this time.

This year also marks a significant shift in Regine as a singer. After being managed by Ronnnie Henares' Primeline for the past 12 years, she did not renew her management contract last February.

Regine's move turned off some quarters which branded her as "disloyal," "swellheaded" and "an ingrate" for turning her back on the person who made her what she is today. Others have joined the chorus and observed that her career suffered a downturn when she left Primeline.

Regine sounded calm when we talked to her about the negative feedback. "In the first place, how can I be disloyal to Ronnie when I was under his management for 12 long years?" she pointed out. True enough, some performers haven't lasted that long with one manager.

"Besides," she adds, "I did not transfer to another manager. I have become my own manager."

That's a major decision even for an established star like Regine. But she has her reasons. "I want to handle myself and make my own decisions. When I was younger, my father and Ronnie decided on my behalf and I'm thankful for that. Now, it's right for me to handle my affairs. That's not being ungrateful. I'm already 29, I have to think of myself."

Her last statement is very revealing. Expounding on her need to focus on herself, she says, "I got into singing for financial reasons. We were very poor and I wanted to earn enough to send my brothers and sisters to school. With God's help, I was blessed with many opportunities to reach my goal. Now na tapos na sila sa college, I think it's my turn."

Who can blame a breadwinner like Regine who's had to work real hard to make life more comfortable for her family? Isn't it time she enjoyed the fruits of her labor and be her own person?

As for being "swellheaded," she says, "My family should be the one to judge kung talagang lumaki na nga ang ulo ko. So far, hindi pa naman sila nagko-complain."

When it comes to her career being on a downturn, she's fatalistic about it. "If that is really true, I can't do anything about it. If my audience doesn't want me anymore, then I will bow to its wishes, I will just fade away from the scene."

Oddly enough, she only started managing herself last February and some people are already talking about her "sliding" career. But it's evident that she continues to be busy with concerts here and abroad and with her recording career. She will also be coming out in a Viva movie with Aga Muhlach. What downturn?

Despite her long years as an entertainer, the negative write-ups still affect her. "I'm only human," she sighs. Then she composes herself and reasons out, "Whatever you do naman, people will always see something negative. Better na lang to ignore what they say."

So Regine turns her mind to other things and there are loads of details to attend to as her own manager. "It's hard pala. I'm finding out things for myself how things run. It's very educational. So far, wala pa namang major problem."

Does this mean that she has less time now for the creative part of her career? She smiles and says, "Hindi naman ako ang nakikipag-negotiate with producers. I have hired trusted people to handle the business side. I tell them what I can and cannot do and they sit down with the producers."

The advantage of having a manager is that a performer can concentrate on her craft and let her manager do the long-range planning. Regine says that as early as six years ago, she was already making decisions about what she wanted to do. Primeline took care of lining up her options, and then she would make the choices.

Regine reveals that in the past five years, there's never been a conscious effort to work on a career plan for her. The decisions had more to do with how many concerts or movies she would do in a year. Now that she's on her own, she still relies on her father and some friends for advice on major moves. The big difference is that the final decision is hers.

The Songbird has come a long way since we saw her perform in 1986 at Circus, Circus, a small music lounge at SM North Edsa, now known as SM City. The gangly singer was known as a probinsyana, whom her father would soak in a drum full of cold water to strengthen her lungs. Her voice was already powerful then but she acted insecure during her spiels. She was obviously not scripted but this was what endeared her to the audience. She spoke from the heart and meant what she said.

Today, she continues to work without a detailed script and reach out to her audience. That's why she always has a portion in her concerts where she leaves the stage to sing requests from the people in the audience. Her voice is still powerful but she has learned to control it and we are able to appreciate the nuances of her song. She is also more confident now with her spiels. Her English is more polished but she hasn't forgotten to use Tagalog when she talks to her listeners.

We asked her what changes she has noticed in herself after 14 years, and she replied, "As an artist, the biggest change has to do with how I interpret love songs. Because of my experiences, I'm more believable now. Before, it took such an effort and a lot of acting to sing about love."

What about as a person? "I think I'm stronger now," says Regine. "Marami na akong napagdaanan. And I get stronger with every crisis because I learn from my problems. Before, I was scared that I would be powerless when it came to problems. Kasi naman, you can't prepare yourself for these things. We don't know our strength until there's a need for it. Tapos when it's crisis time, kaya ko pala."

She cites the Ariel Rivera episode as a major crisis in her life. There were bad write-ups and accusations that she stole Ariel from Gelli de Belen. She retorts, "I'm not that kind of person."

That was the time she realized that "when God gives us trials in life, He has a reason. That's why I never run away from trials."

Definitely, so many things have changed in 14 years but one thing remains the same: Regine's level of performance continues to be at its peak everytime she performs. We saw an example of this when she did a concert at the Music Museum months ago despite a bad cold. She didn't play safe by changing her repertoire and tackling easy songs. She went on with her demanding numbers to the delight of her audience. It came to a point when we wanted to go onstage to tell her to rest her voice, that we had already heard enough.

Recalling that concert, she says, "It was prayer that helped me that evening. I asked God, 'Please, Lord, sing for me tonight.' He answered my prayer. I wasn't the one singing that night. Someone else took over my voice."

But why does she do it? "Because I love to sing. I don't want to disappoint my audience. I'm proud to say that I have never cancelled a show since I started in this business. Kahat na siguro mamamatay na ako, kakanta pa rin ako. "

We asked her what she will wish for when she blows her birthday candles on April 22, and she says she usually wishes for small things. That, she says, is the advantage of coming from a poor family. Then she confides her fondest wish on her birthday: "Sana matuloy na talaga ang aking international album. Kahit na hindi maging hit, at least I can tell my children that their mommy cut an international album sometime in her life. Kahit na matanda na ako, gusto ko pa rin."

Then she makes one "little" addendum. She also wants a special someone who will be with her for a long time, "someone I can talk to, someone who will accept me for what I am and what I will become, someone who will stay by me and be my friend for the rest of my life!"

Happy birthday, Regine! We hope your two wishes come true.