Clockwise, from top: Erik Santos, Martin Nievera, Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid
During the Valentine season, a lot of singers don’t always get the chance to go on dates, because they’re always too busy with their own shows, doing the entertaining for other couples. As Ogie Alcasid jokingly puts it, “It’s like our own film festival!”
But when they do get the opportunity, they make the most of it. Perhaps a romantic dinner is in order. Or perhaps they could attend a concert and, for a change, be serenaded instead by another performer.
For Ogie, a perfect date takes a fair amount of preparation. “If you want it to be special, you have to plan in advance and save up for it. If you’re both busy, maybe you can write a card and grab lunch. What matters at the end of the day is being together,” Ogie told the Inquirer at a press conference for the coming concert, “#PaMORE,” which he headlines with his wife, Regine Velasquez, Martin Nievera and Erik Santos.
“I find going to a Side A concert romantic. They’re one of my favorite bands. I remember going out on a date with my wife at a bar to watch them,” he said. “One time, we saw Chicago. But as much as possible, I choose an OPM gig.”
While Ogie likes a well-planned date, Martin prefers to have something more spontaneous. “If you can turn a boring, I-don’t-know-what-to-do kind of day into something magical, that, for me, is a perfect Valentine’s Day date,” he said, adding that he would probably go see an Ogie and Regine concert for a date night.
“Curiously, while I have already worked with them numerous times, I haven’t really watched them perform. It would be nice to see people who are genuinely in love with each other perform together,” he said. “James Ingram would be great [to watch], too.”
Regine, meanwhile, isn’t obsessed about grand gestures—that’s more Ogie’s thing. Staying at home to “Netflix and chill” is enough.
“I’m a homebody. I love watching films and staying in with Ogie and our son, Nate. If we can’t go to the cinemas, we’d download films from iTunes or log on to Netflix. Then, Ogie would give me flowers,” she related.
But there’s one particular Valentine date she will never forget. “One time, he prepared a romantic dinner at home, complete with rose petals around the table. He hired singers who serenaded us while having raclette cheese, which is my favorite!” she recalled.
Because Erik isn’t in a relationship at the moment, Valentine’s Day, like other holidays, is spent with the family. “But back when I was younger, I would serenade my crush over the phone,” he related.
His Valentine’s Day concert pick? Adele. “I have yet to see her perform live,” Erik said. “And I think her songs would suit the occasion.”
In “#PaMORE,” which will take place at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Feb. 10 (call 470-2222), Regine, Martin, Ogie and Erik will perform as a vocal harmony group. There will be new songs in the repertoire, maybe one or two Sam Smith ballads. But for the most part, the show will feature classics from such groups as The Carpenters, Stylistics, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Bread.
“I’m excited about the concept because we can do different production numbers together—duets, trios, quartets. We can come up with something unexpected. I love doing harmonies, but I don’t often get the chance,” Regine said.