With a cumulative career that spans more than 70 years, Sharon Cuneta and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid come together for Iconic, an unprecedented historic two nights of music, laughter, and memory.
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When Sharon Cuneta and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid start talking, the whole world dissipates and disappears to a blur of laughter, memory, and song. No, really. It’s as if anything beyond their periphery doesn’t exist anymore because they just get lost in each other’s presence, which is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly since they are two living legends within a breath of each other.
Needless to say, this coming together doesn’t happen often. You know how it takes light years for planets to align at an auspicious pattern that sends our solar system and zodiac signs at a corresponding reverberation? This is pretty much it, but in real, living, breathing life—set within the bars of music, of course.
“The idea of doing a concert together was long before I guested on her concert,” Sharon Cuneta discloses of Iconic, their long-awaited and highly anticipated coming together in a concert on October 18 and 19, 2019. “Actually, it was her idea. Whenever I would see her, she would go: ‘Reg, mag-concert tayo. Pero natutulala ako. Si Mega talaga, magko-concert with me?” reveals Regine Velasquez-Alcasid. “Hindi lang nagtutugma ang schedule, but now it finally did.”
“Nagbigay talaga kami ng time, and I couldn’t wait, so we really set it for October this year,” Sharon follows up.
We can only imagine the logistical effort it took to bring two of the biggest names in Filipino music, but perhaps this time, it just worked itself favorably for both them, and really for us, the audience. “Yes, I believe everything happens in God’s perfect time,” says Sharon. “Also, if we had done this when we were younger, we would have been too busy to appreciate each other. So, we have more appreciation for the collaboration now. There’s more love and respect, and the maturity will come out in the singing. All our experiences will be brought in stage through song.”
“Can you imagine, dalawa yun ha?” the Songbird interjects, followed by a hearty fit of laughter that only provoked the Megastar to follow suit in her signature full-throated, belly-aching laugh. “I’m at this point in my life na nag-second wind ako, but that’s how I see it,” continues Regine, waving the accolades that Sharon threw her way. “And this collaboration is just so special and so important for me, na I’m just going to enjoy it. It’s not even going to be work, I’ll just enjoy it. ‘Wag kang magtaka, baka mag-fan girl ako, baka matulala na lang ako.”
It becomes clear that while the two have always been shining, sparkling heavenly bodies co-existing in the galaxy of stars in local show business, they have quickly become a presence of symbiosis, where their lives have finally hit a convergence and equilibrium. “This is our dream come true,” they both agree, pinpointing how intertwined they stories have become as of late. “We’ve become closer. I don’t just love her as a singer, I also love her heart. She’s a sincere human being and performer,” affirms Sharon Cuneta of Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, something that to this day sends the latter in a gushing fit of giggles. “I didn’t talk to her before. I was a mute,” she laughs. “Nahihiya ako kasi I’ve always idolized her ever since. The first song I memorized was Mr. DJ. So, I have a [standard] Sharon Cuneta medley, and I’ve even seen most of her movies—in the cinema!”
“You know I love you, too, my Nana,” Sharon says, coddling Regine in an embrace, something that was generously exchanged all throughout our interface with the living legends. “My gosh, Sharon loves me,” Regine punctuates.
In our daily conversations, from real, life-altering ones, to the exaggerated ones that litter social media, we often throw around the word “Iconic” so loosely it is almost as if it were change peddled as an afterthought. But for Regine Velasquez Alcasid and Sharon Cuneta, there isn’t a more befitting singular word in the English dictionary to encapsulate their breadth, scope, and contributions to the industry, but also of the talent and respect they’ve shared and earned over the years, a cumulative 74 years for the both of them. So, when their names are placed next to the lofty ideal of an icon, we not only agree, but we believe it with a wholehearted passion. How do the kids say it these days? It is what they deserve.
“It’s going to be full of not just good music, but it will also be a celebration of both of our careers,” says Sharon. “Wala na kasi kami sa paligsahan ng mga artista. We already have Maters, PhDs, and Doctorates…graduate na kami. This is just bonus ni Lord and a manifestation of his blessings.”
“It’s a celebration of friendship and fun,” Regine reiterates, parlaying to how opportunities like these not only get to exercise them physically, mentally, and creatively, but they also get a brush with education in a way. “You get to learn from other artists also,” she explains, which was illustrated in how they give each other pointers in their vast trove of technical and emotional experiences. At one point, Sharon Cuneta seemingly unlocked a new singing skill upon the prodding of Regine Velasquez-Alcasid as they broke into song in between the clicks of the camera. “That also show respect and generosity, when you work with another artist,” Sharon insists. “I’d rather collaborate with great artists like Regine, who’s done it so many times. In fact, this is my first back-to-back with a lady singer. The only other one I’ve done was with Martin Nievera.”
“It’s the whole experience. You know when you watch a concert. It’s not just the music that you hear, the costumes that you see. It’s a whole experience. It’s different when you’re there, live,” Regine says with much gratitude. “We will have the same experience also, Sharon and I, the same energy, all that love directed at us on stage—it’s indescribable, really. I cannot wait to finally do this for all of you.”
The energy and chemistry between the two is not only undeniable, but is frenzied, electric, and palpable, which only means we are in for a good, nay, great show. They are tight-lipped on what else there is to expect, other than they will give their all of alls. “I want to do my best, because I’m performing with Regine,” says Sharon. “Nako, lalo na ako, as a number one Sharonina,” shares Regine.
Honestly, this tandem makes all the sense in the world, which only makes us wonder why this hadn’t come sooner. But then again, as they reminded us, it had to happen when it should have, and that rightful time is now. “With all sincerity, in this concert, I think it will come through to people how much we mean to each other, because we’ve really become good friends,” says Sharon Cuneta, to which Regine Velasquez Alcasid replies, “And a lot of love.”
Suddenly, it was as if we didn’t exist anymore, and that is no way a dig at an offense, because witnessing how their friendship exponentially grows by increments of mere seconds, is nothing short of beautiful. It is humbling as it is inspirational to see two legends connect in the way that they do, even with all the larger-than-life stories and credibility that precedes them, which only makes us look on longingly wondering why they don’t make them like they used to. But then again, that is precisely why these two have stood the tempestuous tests of time.
There is a reason why Sharon Cuneta and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid are iconic, and this slice of time is nothing but a mere scratch of the surface and the tip of the iceberg of both their expansive careers. No other names will come close, most likely. And it is a fortuitous stroke of luck that we get to share this experience with you and them, of course.
They are the real deal, the legends, and the icons, bar none—that’s it. That is all.
Watch the behind the scenes of Sharon Cuneta and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid’s digital cover shoot here:
