True friends are valuable in times of grief, and Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez has plenty to lean on to as celebrities express their condolences over the death of the singer’s father Mang Gerry.

Gerardo Velazquez, more popularly known among showbiz circles as Mang Gerry, was 76 when he suffered cardiac arrest and passed away in his sleep yesterday at 1:39pm. Regine was unfortunately not with him at that time; she was at Sir Boy Food Republique in Panay Avenue for a press conference on her upcoming concert ‘Voices of Love’ with Martin Nievera.

Regine rushed back to the hospital after the press con.

Many in the industry know the soft-spoken Mang Gerry who always remained in the sidelines in Regine’s activities. It was Mang Gerry who trained her to sing and was, according to Regine, her hero.

Regine gets a tremendous amount of support from fans in her Instagram account

The wave of condolences for Mang Gerry and the love and support for the 43-year-old singer shows that many also grew to love the quiet Mang Gerry, who is also called ‘Leader of the Band’ after Regine’s song of the same title.

Other friends in the industry who have expressed their condolences are Lea Salonga, Jed Madela, Lani Misalucha, Raymond Gutierrez, Christian Bautista, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Ryan Cayabyab, Allan K, Mark Bautista and Rachelle Anne Go.

Regine’s song ‘Leader of the Band’ dedicated to her father Mang Gerry