Ogie Alcasid (right) and Regine Velasquez
Ogie Alcasid is one of my favorite people. Our friendship goes beyond show biz. He has no mean bone. If a survey would be made in the local entertainment industry about its kindest artist, Ogie will definitely top the list.
Original Pilipino Music (OPM) could very well mean Ogie’s Pilipino Music, because of his outstanding contributions to the music scene. The master songwriter is all set to enchant us again in the concert, “Soundtrack of My Life,” on Nov.30 at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre (call 8919999) with Maestro Rodel Colmenar and the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra. And, of course, Ogie’s concert won’t be complete without his forever “duet partner” on and offstage, Regine Velasquez.
Bravo, Ogs, for touching our hearts with your music like nobody else can.
Here’s my chat with Ogie:
What was the turning point of your life? When my wife and I lost our first baby. Regine had a miscarriage prior to Nate’s birth. That was when I went back and made my relationship with the Lord more solid.
Of all your compositions, which was the toughest to make? In Regine’s concert, she sang a song that I wrote in honor of her late father Mang Gerry, whom she calls “the first man in my life.” It was difficult because I was getting too emotional for her when I was writing it.
The first time she heard it, she walked out and said she could not sing it. At her recent “R3.0” concert, she sang it with so much emotion that she had to stop several times during the song. Still, she managed to finish it to honor her Dad.
What’s your advice to guys who are about to get married again, just like you did? This time, do it right.
Do you find it easier to compose songs when you’re sad or happy? Being sad makes it easier, because emotions are easier to express for me when sadness engulfs me. The emotion and the reasons are specific. With happiness, I tend to be more flowery and figurative in describing my emotion, but I’m not much of a poet.
When you look back at your struggling days as an artist, what stands out? Even when I was struggling, I was always happy and excited, like a kid who’d try anything just to challenge himself. I took advantage of every opportunity and didn’t mind if I failed in it.
When Nate is old enough, what advice would you give him about women? Don’t lie to them. Charm them, but never be untrue.
What don’t people know about you and Regine? We are the biggest fans of each other’s works. It must be love (laughs).
What’s the craziest thing that you and Regine have done? We rode an Uber together.
More Filipinos are switching from analog TV to digital terrestrial television (DTT). The Kapamilya network became the first media company to offer DTT service in the country when it launched the ABS-CBN TV Plus box. What a delight for couch potatoes.