Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez (/rɪˈdʒɪn vəˈlæskɛz/ REE-jeen VEH-las-KEZ) (born April 22, 1970) is a Filipino singer, actor, and record producer who came to prominence after winning the 1984 Ang Bagong Kampeon and the 1989 Asia Pacific Singing Contest. Velasquez signed with OctoArts International under the name Chona in 1986 and released the single "Love Me Again", which was commercially unsuccessful. After adopting the stage name Regine Velasquez, she signed a recording contract with VIVA Records in 1987 and released her eponymous debut album containing the singles "Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang" and "Urong Sulong".
After being signed to Polygram Records, Velasquez gained recognition in Southeast and East Asia with her albums Listen Without Prejudice (1994) and My Love Emotion (1995), the first of which became her best-selling record, and produced "In Love With You", her most successful single of the 1990s. She followed this with 1996's Retro, a cover album incorporating elements of rhythm and blues, jazz, and disco music. After leaving Polygram Records, Velasquez signed a joint deal with Los Angeles-based producer Mark J. Feist and VIVA Records, and released an album titled Drawn (1998). Velasquez was given full creative control as executive producer on her album R2K (1999), which became the highest-selling by a female artist in the Philippines. During this period, Velasquez ventured into acting, playing leading roles in the romantic comedy film Pangako Ikaw Lang (2001)—for which she received a Box Office Entertainment Award—and the drama series Maalaala Mo Kaya (2002), which earned her a Star Award for Best Actress. She expanded her career into reality talent television shows, serving as a presenter on Star for a Night (2002), Pinoy Pop Superstar (2004), and The Clash (2018); and as a judge on StarStruck (2015) and Idol Philippines (2019).
Having sold more than seven million records domestically and a further million and a half in Asia, Velasquez is the best-selling music artist of all time in the Philippines. Aside from her commercial accomplishments, Velasquez has received various awards, including two Asian Television Awards, two MTV Asia Awards, 21 Awit Awards, 22 Box Office Entertainment Awards, 15 Aliw Awards, and 10 Star Awards for Music. Referred to as "Asia's songbird", she is regarded for her vocal range and belting technique, and has consistently been credited with inspiring a generation of Filipino singers.