In 1984, she won the television talent competition Ang Bagong Kampeon and was signed to a record deal with OctoArts International.

[1] In December 1989, she represented the Philippines at the Asia-Pacific Singing Contest, performing the songs "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", and won the competition.

A cover version of "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" with Paul Anka became the lead single for her fourth studio album, Reason Enough, which was released in July 1993.

[3] After Velasquez signed with PolyGram in 1994, she released her fifth studio album, Listen Without Prejudice, in countries including China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Velasquez took a three-year break to record new material and introduced a gospel-inspired album Hulog Ka Ng Langit (2013), which includes the singles "Nathaniel (Gift of God)" and "Hele Ni Inay".