Ogie & that 'morning after' feeling

Two weeks after he and Regine Velasquez got married, Ogie Alcasid met the press at lunch yesterday for his Feb. 12 iValentine U concert with Pops Fernandez at the Grand Ballroom of Crowne Plaza, obviously still on honeymoon mode.

Oops! Correction, please: The honeymoon is actually scheduled for March in Europe and what happened after the wedding was a Christmas family reunion in Bohol with Ogie’s ex-wife Michelle Van Eimeren and husband Mark Murrow, together with the ex-couple’s daughters Leila and Sarah (who were members of the wedding entourage) and other members of the Alcasid and Velasquez families.

Asked if his knees were okay (you know, with the lingering ecstatic “morning after”), Ogie smiled, “Puwedeng-puwede pa!”

And what about the “soft” honeymoon…was it, uhm, successful?

“I hope so,” Ogie blushed. “It was a successful reunion.”

Actually, it was a repeat of the reunion Ogie and Regine had with Michelle and Mark after the latter’s wedding in Australia last year. In that wedding, Ogie acted as host and Regine sang. In the Dec. 22 Batangas beach wedding, it was Michelle (a wedding planner) who did the floral arrangement and the wrist corsage worn by the “bride in red.”

“Regine didn’t want to hold a bouquet kasi,” said Ogie. “Baka mabitawan n’ya.”

The honeymoon in March has been carefully planned, according to Ogie --- “If she doesn’t get pregnant.”

The newlyweds in Australia last year during the wedding of Ogie’s ex-wife Michelle Van Eimereen and Mark Murrow, with the ex-couple’s daughters Leila and Sarah.

Told that a manghuhula predicted that Regine might not conceive this year, Ogie promised, “Well, we will try…we will do our best.”

Having lived together since they got engaged three years ago, are they making any more adjustments? How different is life together as sweethearts from life together as husband and wife?

“Very different,” said Ogie (who will have Regine among his and Pops’ guest at their concert, and also Bea Tantoco, Solenn Heussaff, iCandy (composed of Ehra Madrigal, Bubbles Paraiso, Carla Humphries, Arci Munoz and Michelle Madrigal) and G-Force, with Ryan Cayabyab as musical director and Al Quinn as stage director). “Iba pa rin ‘yung nanumpa ka, eh. You call your partner wife.”

Little things count a lot, too, such as:

• Ogie sleeps on the left side of the bed and wants the room totally dark, with only the light at the bathroom on. Regine likes it that way, too.

• Ogie wanted the TV on when he was living alone but now it has to be off. Regine loves to watch TV but with the volume toned down.

• Ogie sleeps early, at around 10 p.m., and Regine sleeps late, at around 4 or 5 a.m. He snores but in a quiet “musical” way, and Regine doesn’t mind. Regine snores a bit only when she’s dead tired. He wakes up at 6 a.m. and she, at 11 a.m.

• Regine doesn’t like sunlight because it triggers her migraine, so the thick, white drapes have to be closed. “But I like the sun,” said Ogie, “so I just stay out of the room.”

Does their bathroom have “his” and “hers” closets?

“No,” insisted Ogie, “we share everything, even a toothbrush. The only thing we don’t share is our underwear.

Sometimes, they take the shower together when they feel like being romantic and they hum their favorite tune while they gently rub each other’s body with soap.

“It’s an indication that someone is in a good mood. I know when Regine is in a good mood --- when she starts humming. When she’s in a bad mood, she keeps quiet; she doesn’t want to talk. Me, I’m very transparent. When I’m in a bad mood I let you know.”

They do clash but very seldom.

“Make-up romance is the best,” said Ogie. “You touch here and there, yakap-yakap. Sarap!”

Ogie is 43 and Regine is 40. Aren’t they catching up with time to have a baby?

“Hopefully, this year talaga. I’m really praying that something will happen. They told me na dapat daw timing. Not naman double, not naman-araw-araw. Every other day lang.” Then he laughed and laughed.

Meanwhile, Europe beckons for their much-awaited honeymoon.

“We will go to a place call Positano where the film Talented Mr. Ripley was shot. Regine has been dreaming to go there --- if Regine doesn’t get pregnant.”

Otherwise, they will have to postpone the honeymoon.

But then, having lived together for three years, do they still need it?

(Note: iValentine U is produced by Royale Artists Management. Dinner is at 7:30 and showtime is 9 o’clock. Beneficiary is the Asilo Medalla Milagrosa of Cebu where Annabelle Rama, RAM producer, spent part of her childhood. Sponsors include Bench, Belo Medical Clinic, Baluarte, Flawless, Mikaela, TV5, GMA, Willing Willie, Century Properties and Jai Alai. For tickets, call 727-2534 or 727-2536.)

Artwork by a five-year-old

Would you believe that these three artworks were done by five-year-old Niley, son of talent manager Shirley Kuan? They are among a dozen featured on the Christmas Cards Shirley and Niley sent to friends during the holiday season. Shirley said that Niley has been painting since he was three years old --- ‘And he hasn’t stopped since then!’ What a talented boy! Take a bow, Mama Shirley!

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RP bet 3rd runner-up in Miss Tourism tilt

The Philippine bet, Mutya ng Pilipinas Barbara ‘Barbie’ Salvador (rightmost), finished third runner-up (Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan) in the 2010 Miss Tourism International contest held in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 31. Fifty-six beauties were in competition won by The Netherlands’ Nathalie Den Dekker (center, Miss Tourism International 2010), with runners-up Miss Australia Holly-Anne Visser (Miss Tourism Metropolitan, first), Miss Venezuela Stephany Gonzalez (Miss Tourism Global, second), Miss Mongolia Borgoljin Bayarsaikhan (Dreamgirl of the Year, fourth). — Reported by Funfare’s ‘beauty experts’ Felix Manuel, Joey Ceseare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib

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