Ogie Alcasid (right) with daughter Leila
Ogie Alcasid wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up being a “stage father” to his eldest daughter, Leila, who had decided to move to the Philippines from Australia, to enter show biz.
He would be supportive—“definitely”—he said, but not to the point of meddling.
“Who wouldn’t be? Of course, we will always be proud of our kids. However, I will not throw my weight around. I’ll always be here for her, but she’s responsible enough and can handle herself well,” Ogie said of Leila, 19, one of his two children with ex-wife Michelle van Eimeren.
While he has always known that Leila is into the arts, the singer-songwriter didn’t know that she was actually interested in pursuing a career in the entertainment biz.
“I was completely surprised when she told me that she wanted to have a go at it. So, I was like, by all means, go ahead,” Ogie told the Inquirer in a recent interview.
“I remember being around the same age when I started out,” he added.
Ogie doesn’t want to make Leila feel that she has to replicate his achievements. “I don’t want her thinking about that. I just want her to enjoy this experience,” he pointed out. “I remind her about the value of hard work, of keeping one’s feet on the ground, and being nice to everyone who has helped us along the way.”
The bulk of work Leila has done so far is related to modeling. Soon, she will be trying her hand at singing.
“She’s working with singer-songwriter Marion Aunor for her coming record and is undergoing voice lessons under opera-pop singer Lara Maigue,” Ogie related.
And should Leila decide to pursue a career in music seriously, Ogie said he would love to collaborate with her.
“That’s a dream. Obviously, she has a different taste. But she’s a bit of an old soul, too; she loves the old stuff,” he said. “When it comes to my work, she loves the ballads—‘Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang,’ ‘Ikaw Sana’…”
Ogie, who will turn 50 on Sunday (Aug. 27), is having a birthday concert at the Kia Theatre tonight.
Titled “NakakaLokal,” the one-night show will feature his hits, as well as tracks from his new album of the same title, which had him singing with the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra (call 911-5555).
The singer wouldn’t have the entire orchestra for the concert, he related, but he would be backed by its rhythm section.
“Anyway, the experience recording the album was incomparable. You have 50 or so musicians playing in unison while you sing. I relish that feeling—para akong dinuduyan,” he said.
Joining Ogie are singers and celebrities Angeline Quinto, Erik Santos, Jaya, Yeng Constantino, Solenn Heussaff, Lovi Poe, and, of course, Leila. “This is going to be Leila’s first performance. She was giddy when she found out!” Ogie said.
The show’s proceeds, Ogie added, would benefit the humanitarian organization World Vision, and its mission to help victims of sexual exploitation and child trafficking.
“I have been involved with the group since 2009; I’ve been sponsoring a child since,” he said. “I feel strongly about their advocacies.”