P-Noy an 'abay' at Ogie-Regine wedding

Three weeks before Ogie Alcasid made the announcement in last Sunday’s edition of the GMA noontime show Party Pilipinas, Pres. Noynoy “P-Noy” Aquino already knew that Ogie and his beloved Regine Velasquez were getting married before end of this year.

As The STAR reported in a “scoop” also last Sunday, quoting a VDPA (Very Deep Penetration Agent), the sweerthearts would get married either at a beach, or a garden, wedding on Dec. 22.

But in a one-on-one the other day, Ogie didn’t confirm the date, even if Regine had been hinting that something would happen on Dec. 22. Two days before last Sunday, Ogie and his manager Leo Dominguez sent text messages, alerting the receivers to “watch out for an important announcement” on Party Pilipinas. When Funfare texted Ogie what the “important announcement” was all about, and what’s so significant about Dec. 22, he simply texted back, “Basta, it will be a happy day.”

In his and Regine’s joint announcement con todo tears of joy and duets of their favorite love songs, Ogie said that they were finally getting married but didn’t mention any date, except to say that it was going to be toward the end of the year.

The hindrance to the couple’s wedding, planned three years ago when they got engaged, was the pending decision on Ogie and ex-wife Michelle van Eimeren’s petition for annulment of marriage which the court finally granted last June 21.

Three weeks ago, the new set of officers of the OPM (Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit) of which Ogie is president, took their oath of office before Pres. P-Noy for whom Ogie wrote two songs, one for the campaign plug and another (in collaboration with Noel Cabangon) for P-Noy’s inauguration as the 15th President of the Philippines last June 30 at the Quirino Grandstand. That was when Ogie invited P-Noy to be a member of the wedding entourage.

“I asked Pres. P-Noy to be one of our ninongs but he said mas bagay kung isa na lang siya sa mga abay.”

Reminded about a Filipino superstition (pamahiin) that a man or a woman who acts as secondary sponsor runs the risk of delaying his/her own marriage or not marrying at all, Ogie was surprised. “I didn’t know that.”

P-Noy also stood as one of the principal sponsors at the wedding of his May 10 running-mate Sen. Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez in October last year.

Asked if he and Regine would also invite P-Noy’s girlfriend, Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, to be P-Noy’s partner, Ogie said, “We haven’t decided yet. It’s up to Regine to choose the lady secondary sponsors. Usually, ang pinipili ng bride ‘yung mga close sa kanya, di ba?”

On the day of this interview, Ogie and Regine formally met with GMA big boss Atty. Felipe Gozon to invite him as one of the principal sponsors. Others include GMA SVP for Entertainment Wilma Galvante, TV5 big boss Manny V. Pangilinan and Dr. Vicki Belo who will accompany Regine to the States for the measurement of Regine’s wedding gown to be designed by Monique Lhuillier.

“We are pressed for time,” said Ogie. “We haven’t completed the list of sponsors yet, both principal and secondary. Wala pa akong Best Man; si Regine wala pang Maid of Honor.”

For sure, Ogie’s ex-wife Michelle and their daughters Leila and Sarah will attend the wedding, just as Ogie and Regine did when Michelle married her fellow Australian Mark Morrow in Australia last year.

“Michelle knew about Regine and my engagement three years ago,” said Ogie. “She was also among the first people to know about Regine’s and my plan to get married this year. It’s a wedding planned as early as three years ago and Michelle knew that.”

Ogie said that theirs will be a simple wedding which they hope to keep solemn — by avoiding the media, just like what Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo did, if they can?

“Basta, ayaw naming maging circus ang kasal namin.”

Asked where their honeymoon would be, Ogie smiled.

“We haven’t also thought of it. Maybe we’ll just go to a beach to relax…Regine and I together with Mark and Michelle and our daughters.”

4 Filipino films at Montreal World Fest

Four Filipino films are invited to the official selection of the Montreal World Film Festival which will be held in Montreal, Canada, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6.

They are:

= Rekrut by Danilo Gomez Annonuevo which will have its international premiere in the First Films Competition, making it eligible for the Golden, Silver and Bronze Zenith awards. It’s the same section where Aureaus Solito’s Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros started its international success. Rekrut stars Emilio Garcia, Joem Bascon, Alwyn Uytingco, JM de Guzman, Dominic Roco, CJ Ramos, Alchris Galura, Manuel Chua Jr. and Archie Adamos.

• Sigwa, directed by Joel Lamangan, which won for Tirso Cruz III the Best Supporting Actor award in the Director’s Showcase category of the recent Cinemalaya. The movie also stars Dawn Zulueta, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Gina Alajar, Marvin Agustin, Pauleen Luna, Megan Young and Lovi Poe.

•  Emir, directed by Chito Roño with Frencheska Farr as lead star and produced by the Film Development Council of the Philippines in association with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, which was shot in Morocco.

•  Himpapawid (Manila Skies), director Raymond Red’s first film after he won a Palme D’Or for his short film Anino at the 2000 Cannes Filmfest. The film won three Urian trophies --- for cinematography (for Red), Supporting Actor (Soliman Cruz) and actress (Marissa Sue Prado).

What’s up?

• Muli, directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. and starring Sid Lucero and Cogie Domingo, was put “on hold” after its first review by the MTRCB which didn’t want to give it an “X” but instead suggested that some scenes be cut. It will have a second screening on Monday, presumably with cuts. The film’s producers are asking if the MTRCB has a new rule. They said that usually a film has to be “X-ed” first before it goes through a second review. Muli would have been screened back-to-back with Madamag (The Tryst), directed by Joven Tan, today at the UP Cine Adarna (formerly UP Film Center). Magdamag will be screened as scheduled (starting at 7 p.m.).

•  From readers Jimmie Tinsley and Virgil V.: According to your item last Aug. 7 regarding the five Sundays, five Mondays and five Tuesdays this August, it happens only once in 823 years. In fact, any year in which August 1 falls on a Sunday will have five Sundays, five Mondays and five Tuesdays in the month. Check out a perpetual calendar and you will see that 1999 and 2004 both had five Sundays, five Mondays and five Tuesdays in August, same with August 2021. It’s simple arithmetic. In any month with 31 days, the first three days will be repeated five times.

•  Assumption Iloilo is celebrating its 100th anniversary until Aug. 15, the feast day of The Assumption. Part of the activities is an art exhibit titled Ascalon at Red in Smallville, Diversion Road, Iloilo City. The show, which runs until Sept. 12, features the works of Dennis Ascalon, Trina Ascalon, Rita Ascalon Celis, Sofia Ascalon and Cecile Ascalon. Ascalon is presented by Assumption Iloilo High School Class ’61 members Cecile Deles, Sony Kilayko, Josephine Corcino, Victoria Mejica, Rosario Yusay, Marvin Martelino, Victoria Pelayo and Cecile Ascalon, dedicated to the memory of Nimfa Magallanes and Esperanza Castells, the members’ classmates.

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