Ogie Alcasid: So what else is new?

Ogie Alcasid is having a concert with Regine Velasquez on, of all seasons, Valentine’s Day. Surely much can be said about The Songbird and the Songwriter... Journey of Love... Music to Remember (Feb. 14 at the Expo Filipino in Pampanga and Feb. 15 at the Araneta Coliseum). In their 11 years of working together, this is the first time they’re twin-billing a show in what is obviously a full back-to-back concert. It’s essentially two musical geniuses sharing the stage on equal footing. Then, there’s the added bonus that both artists are doing the stage direction (with Louie Ignacio as TV director and Regine’s brother-in-law Raul Mitra as musical director). But you can bet what people will find most ticklish is the possibility that there is basis to their rumored affair.

After all, wasn’t it only last year that "credible (yet not-brave-enough-to-identify-themselves) sources" claimed that romance was blossoming between the two? It didn’t help that Ogie’s wife Michelle van Eimeren flew to her native Australia with their daughters Leila and Sarah just when the issue was heating up.

Yes, this Valentine show was touch and go for a while but not for the reasons that immediately come to mind. Regine’s schedule was simply so unforgiving that it nearly made the teamup impossible to do at this time. That ugly rumor had nothing to do with it. Both Ogie and Regine insist the issue is all but dead. The two also care little for the possibility that dead as it is, a Valentine concert soon after countless clarifications have been made can resurrect the "dead" rumor.

"Why bother with that? So much the better if they’re still talking about us so it would promote the concert," Ogie suggests with a chuckle. "My in-laws heard about the issue of course. Internet lang andun na. But they’re cool."

The songwriter spent the holidays in Australia with his family as their tradition. It was only in 2002 that they skipped the trip Down Under to enjoy the festivities in the Philippines. Christmas of 2003 found Ogie busy with the Manila Film Festival. It was worth the sacrifice since Bong Revilla’s Captain Barbell (where he played Enteng to Bong’s Captain Barbell) became the top crowd-drawer. But Dec. 26 to Jan. 4 was purely family time.

Before returning to Manila, Ogie performed in a concert of the same title with Regine Velasquez in Dubai. The teamup was bound to happen since the two have collaborated on movie themes like Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw, Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka and other hits. The two are also seen on TV co-hosting GMA 7’s SOP every Sunday.

"She’s a delight to work with. Minsan masungit siya. She has her moods," confides Ogie who has seen sides of Regine her fans have not. "But it’s hard to imagine someone as talented as her can be such a nice person. If I was that talented, I’d be mayabang. Working with her onstage has been easy because we do that all the time. In fact, I was more nervous working with her in Captain Barbell (Regine played the leading lady and Darna. — editor) because I’ve never acted with her before. I find it funny to be acting with her instead of singing with her. With her, something always comes up. You really get to appreciate her genius."

While Ogie is busy with a burgeoning career, Michelle is devoting herself to bringing up the kids as well as overseeing the construction of their house (located beside her parents’ place). Once the house is in order, she plans to delve into her pottery again. The former Miss Australia had a brief stint hosting on TV and acting in movies. Of late, she has found artistic expression in pottery making and book writing. Michelle has slowly moved away from Ogie’s shadow by launching projects of her own like pottery events and the launch of her children’s book entitled Butterfly.

"I don’t know how permanent our setup will be," her husband says looking very sad. "We’ve always wanted the kids to grow up in Australia. Why now? Well, because we felt it was time since Leila was already old enough to go to school. Everything will get better. It’s very sad living by myself. I haven’t adjusted yet. But I’m always out of the house anyway."

"Beautiful" is the first word he utters when asked how his girls are doing. The proud daddy boasts that his first-born Leila (now six) is a promising artist. Baby Sarah (a little over a year old) is a complete charmer. It’s still too early to tell if either of them has inherited his musical inclinations.

"It’s entirely up to them what they want to do with their lives. I have no qualms about them entering showbiz or becoming beauty titlists like their mom. As a dad, I’m more of a spoiler. Yes, Michelle is the one who has to put her foot down when needed but I always have the final say as a parent. I think the children are really my rare gifts," he adds, his eyes unmistakably looking gentler.

There is no doubt he misses his family. But instead of slacking off, Ogie is churning out what seems to be his best work yet. His recording career is on an upswing with his last two albums (both under Viva Records) hitting it big. A Better Man was certified double platinum while his latest, Mga Kwento ng Pag-ibig, turned gold within a month of release. His newest hit Kayo Na Pala is a top radio favorite. He was recognized last year with such trophies as Aliw Awards as Entertainer of the Year and Best Male Performer in a Major Concert (for his 15th year concert dubbed OA at the Araneta Coliseum), a double feat at the Star Awards and FAMAS for Kailangan Kita, a Filmfest Award for Pangarap Ko’y Ibigin Ka and an MTV Award for Best Male Music Video.

"My brain keeps constantly creating. I believe I was given the gift to create. Sayang naman kung hindi ko gamitin," he says about his success as an artist.

The success is impressive because Ogie has yet to experience a slump. From the time he started, his talent has continued to earn the admiration of fans and, most importantly, his contemporaries. What sets him apart is a musical identity all his own.

"I think my songwriting was what legitimized me as an artist. See when you’re a songwriter, people think of you as a deep, very emotional or very weird. But songwriting to me is what I am. Songwriting goes hand in hand with singing. People like Rey Valera, Freddie Aguilar, Jose Mari Chan who are all singer-songwriters have been in existence for decades. Yes, it’s rather rare in my age group. I’m constantly writing songs. It can take me from five minutes to never. Not all of these songs have been recorded. Most of them are in the house just sitting there. In other words, I’m more into the creative process than in having a goal of recording the songs. Most of the time I have no idea who will end up singing the songs. Sometimes, I feel like the song should go to me but even that changes. Before, I thought Kailangan Kita should go to me but for some reason it landed on Piolo Pascual’s lap."

Aside from working on Piolo’s second album and Sharon Cuneta’s next recording, Ogie has a hidden ace up his sleeve. Even he was delighted by the way things are shaping up.

"I’m now working on a movie concept," he announces unexpectedly. "I’ve already pitched it to Direk Mac Alejandre whom I worked with in Captain Barbell. We work so well together that I couldn’t think of any other director. He’s enthusiastic to do the project. We still don’t know who will produce it but hopefully Viva will."

The movie in Ogie’s mind is a romantic comedy with musical scoring (original compositions) by him. Frustration over the scripts he was being offered was what got his creative juices going. The truth is he wasn’t seeing what he was keen on doing (that is, roles Ben Stiller or Adam Sandler would play). The result is a main character whose life parallels his own.

"When I started in this industry, I was the least likely to make it. I did not have mestizo features. I wasn’t even tall. In the same way, D.I. Joe is someone who believes in himself.

"He’s a singer-dancer competing in a talent contest. Actually, the main character is just a complete loser who hasn’t lost hope on himself," he explains.

No one, not even Ogie, ever thought his career as a songwriter will lead him to movie production. But at the threshold of this exciting development comes the certainty that this is the direction he is meant to take.

"I think it works because my music has always been part of cinema. I might as well do it for my own movies. I haven’t provided music to the movies I’ve starred in," he insists while rolling his eyes as he recalls the movies he wasn’t too pleased with. "But I think I’ll be proud of this project."

Surely that will happen so quietly it will come as a shock. For now, Ogie will be making more intriguing headlines as he heads to Canada and the US with Regine for a concert tour of The Songbird and the Song Writer come March. So, what else is new?