Ogie: It will be the ‘ultimate’ family bonding

OGIE Alcasid with wife Regine and baby Nate. INSTAGRAM PHOTO

Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez are all excited preparing for their baby Nate’s first birthday. They are also taking him to Singapore to meet his half-sisters, Sarah and Leila (daughters of Ogie with his ex-wife, Michelle van Eimeren).

“We will watch the F1 race, go to Universal Studios,” Ogie says. “The works! It will be the ultimate family bonding. My girls will be on break from school. They get to Skype with Nate but it’s the first time they will all meet face to face. I miss my girls’ kakulitan. They will always be my little girls in my eyes and heart.”

Even if Ogie’s kids come from different chapters in his life, he loves them equally.

Staying sober

Baron Geisler is slowly but surely cleaning up his act, post-rehab.

How does he manage to stay sober? “I surround myself with great people who are supportive,” he says. “I work out a lot and immerse myself in work.”

What’s a misconception about him that he wants to correct? “It’s hard to control what people think,” he sighs. “So I just move forward. I know who I am and the people who are close to me always remind me that I’m a sweet guy. Their thoughts matter more than those of strangers who don’t really know me.”

Baron is raving about his new film, “Pridyider.” He enthuses: “It’s not just a gross and scary film; it has humor and substance. I had a blast shooting the scene where we were submerged in water and mud.”

What are the staples in his fridge? “Eggs, milk, orange juice and kimchi,” he says.

No more space for alcohol! Baron’s a barfly no more.

Lian-Paolo split

I was quite surprised when Lian Paz announced that she and Paolo Contis have split up. Their pictures on Instagram these  past months have shown no hint at all of trouble on the domestic front. Pao always posted shots of himself and their two daughters, as if vying for an Ulirang Ama award.

Could it be just a career move for Lian, since she’s staging a show biz comeback via TV5’s “Enchanted Garden,” or perhaps it’s an adjustment phase for them as a couple? Sometimes couples have to be apart to see what they had  together. Hopefully this cooling-off won’t let Pao and Lian’s hearts grow cold.

I checked on Pao via text. His reply: “I’m in the US. Can’t answer questions for now. I still have to think things through.”

Casting coup

JETT Pangan. Richard Reyes

Atlantis  Productions has pulled a casting coup for its production of the Tony Award-winning musical, “Nine.” Leading the cast is Jett Pangan, who portrays  filmmaker Guido. Menchu Lauchengco Yulo plays Guido’s wife, Luisa; Cherie Gil, a film producer named Liliane Le Fleur. Also in the stellar cast are Eula Valdez, Yanah Laurel, Ima Castro, Sitti Navarro, Carla Guevarra-Laforteza and other respected names in musical theater. “Nine” will run from Sept. 21 to Oct. 7 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza Makati (call 891-9999). Based on “8 ½,” Italian director Federico Fellini’s comic masterpiece of biographical filmmaking, “Nine” follows the life of world-famous film director Guido Contini as he prepares his latest picture and balances life with his numerous women.