Asia’s Song Bird Regine Velasquez was back at last in GMA-7 sunday musical variety show last March 2 after a week of absence from the said show. Asia’s song bird made her statement during the show that she decided to stay in GMA.

As we have remembered at SOP live presentation last February 17, Regine cried along with other performers in the said musical variety show. The program may not mention the reason to what made Regine cry but some guessed that it was her last day at SOP and she was saying goodbye to SOP and GMA-7.

Before the SOP’s segment “Constellation of Stars” last sunday March 2, Regine stands at the very center of the stage to speak to the audiences inside the studio as well as to the public viewers, her true feelings about the controversies that comes her way a few weeks back.

This was the statement Regine says at SOP:

“I am standing before all of you now, para sa akin ninyo po marinig mismo ang tunay na nararamdaman ko sa nakaraang linggo po. Marami po ang nagtanong sa inyo kung bakit kami nag-iyakan a few weeks back dito sa SOP.

“It’s true that I wanted to say goodbye to SOP, sa mga hindi lang katrabaho kundi sa mga itinuturing ko pong malapit na kaibigan at mahalaga po sa puso ko. Naiyak po ako noon dahil pagkatapos ng maraming taon na pagsasama namin, nahihirapan po akong magpaalam sa kanila.

“Why did I want to say goodbye? Well, because I wanted to try other venues as a performer. It so happened na yun pong gusto kong gawin na project ay nandun po sa kabilang istasyon [ABS-CBN]. It’s not that I’m not happy here in GMA. Hindi po ‘yon ang rason.

“You’ve seen me become who I am in this network. Marami po tayong programang pinagsamahan. And I am equally grateful to all of you at sa GMA for giving me the opportunity to share what I can do sa inyong lahat. My relationship with this network goes beyond any binding contract. Everything is bound by mutual trust and respect.

“At the time na nagpa-interview po ako sa showbiz talk show [The Buzz] sa kabilang istasyon, I said I was jobless because I felt I had nothing substantial to do. Hindi dahil sa wala pong offer ang GMA sa akin. Pinili ko pong hindi muna gawin ang mga programang inalok sa akin for a couple of reasons. Isa na po diyan ang hindi pagtugma ng sarili kong schedule sa timetable ng mga programang ibinibigay nila sa akin.

“After that interview, aware po ako sa naging reaksiyon ng marami sa inyo. Nirerespeto ko po ang opinyon ng bawat isa kagaya ng respetong ibinigay ninyo sa akin sa loob ng maraming taon. I am in no position na magmalaki sa kahit na anong television network. I am a performing artist at nandito po ako to entertain.

“Hindi natutumbasan ng pera ang prinsipyo at dedikasyon sa trabaho. I will be here where I feel I will be happy. Yun po ang pinakamahalaga sa akin.

“After everything that has happened nitong nakaraang linggo, I have come to a decision. At ito po ang gusto kong sabihin sa inyong lahat. I have decided to stay in GMA.

“Mananatili po akong Kapuso ninyo dito sa SOP at sa mga susunod pang programang mapapanood ninyo in the next few months dahil choice ko po ito.

“To GMA, especially to Atty. Felipe Gozon, Mr. [Jimmy] Duavit, kay Ma’am Wilma [Galvante], kay Ma’am Darlene [de Jesus], sa staff and crew ng SOP whom I love very much, thank you for giving time to think things over. I realized na nandito po talaga ang pamilya ko at ang puso ko. Maraming-maraming salamat po for not letting go of me. And I am proud to be Kapuso.

“I would also like to say ‘thank you’ to Annette Gozon [GMA Films president] for understanding me at that time, at sa lahat sa inyo na patuloy na tumatangkilik sa akin. There are not enough words to express how deeply grateful I am for your never-ending support and understanding. Sa lahat ng pinagdaanan kong pagsubok sa maraming taon.

“I would like to say ‘thank you’ to my family for standing by me. My sisters, my brother… I’d like to especially to thank my sister Cacai for helping me out sa lahat po ng mga nangyari sa amin.

“And to Ogie who never left my side. Through all the days I thought I was alone in this inner battle, thank you very much Bubba for all the love… I love you back twice as much.

“Sa lahat ng mga Kasamahan ko dito sa SOP, it was really hard saying goodbye to you guys. I am not doing it again. I hope you guys are happy I am staying…”