Ogie a hands-on husband

Lovely couple Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid are all agog about their forthcoming baby whom they are planning to name Nathaniel. “My wife is very, very happy,” declared Ogie during the presscon for his birthday concert. “We have been to the OB-Gyne and everything is going smooth in my wife’s pregnancy. She is five months and three weeks on the way and I am praying she and the baby are always in good health.”

During the first three months of Regine’s pregnancy, Ogie said, was very crucial. “I made sure she got enough rest. Para kumapit yong baby niya. Everything is positive wala naman siyang dinadaing. I’m sure the baby will be a very healthy baby.”

Ogie is also hands on in taking care of his wife. “I wake her up para kumain. Ayokong malipasan siya ng gutom. Kailangan before 12 magising siya at makapag- breakfast ng 8 a.m. Kapag nakapag-breakfast na siya, kailangan din makapag-lunch. I am very strict with that. Kailangan nating alagaan ang ating asawa.”

Anytime now, Ogie may fly to Australia to visit his children with Michelle van Eimeren who is herself married now and who has become good friends with Ogie and Regine.

It’s a happy, wonderful world indeed which never runs out of surprises.

A second honeymoon in Europe

Another happy showbiz couple, Mariel Rodriguez and Robin Padilla, have just returned from a second honeymoon in Europe. Their trip coincided with the Kapamilya Caravan celebration. Mariel who was not supposed to join Robin was surprised when the actor made arrangements with the network for her to join him in Europe. It was Robin who asked ABS-CBN to excuse Mariel from her hosting chores in Happy Yipee Yehey.

While in Europe they visited several places including the romantic Eiffel Tower. “Sobrang masaya. We went to Amsterdam, Paris, sobrang bitin na bitin,” said Mariel.

“We went to the Vatican. Feeling ko as a Catholic nagawa ko yong part ko. Maraming nag-pi-pilgrimage doon. I was really very happy I was able to do it. As for the marriage part, nagbago yong views ko. Medyo iba na ang gusto ko ngayon,” said Mariel. Mariel also said that she is no longer hoping for a Catholic church wedding. “It will come at the right time.”

One of the more endearing traits of Robin that Mariel loves is, “He always saves a clean towel for me. They are little things na sobra akong na to-touch.” She and Robin are also planning to visit Turkey, Greece and Russia. “Marami pa, hopefully.”

Someone wise once said that traveling around the world makes people wiser and happier.

Kim plans to enter college

Kim Chiu plans to enroll in college next year or the year after next. She intends to take up business. “Hindi ka naman forever nasa limelight. Gusto ko yong pera ko may napupuntahan at kinikita.”

Kim is also going back to primetime with the new teleserye, Binondo Girl. “Eto yong pinakaunang taping ko sa ibang bansa. Masaya and I am excited. Ibang klaseng experience. Hindi lahat ng shows ng ABS nag-sho-shoot sa ibang bansa,” said Kim. Kim and the rest of the cast of Binondo Girl went to China, Macau and Hong Kong to shoot scenes of Binondo Girl. “Kaya sobra akong nagpapasalamat,” she added.

Thank you is the language of the divine according to the great poetess, Maya Angelou.

Reynaldo Reyes at CCP

Reynaldo Reyes, the acclaimed US-based filipino pianist and pedagogue performs his finale concert of the Beethoven piano sonatas at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater) on Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m. 

Noted music critic Rosalinda Orosa hailed Reynaldo’s Beethoven concert early this year, for “playing both the grandiloquent and serene sequences with elegance, refinement and restraint — these ensuing from a master’s artistic maturity and seasoned sophistication.”

Reynaldo was a winner in the International Piano competitions in Italy, France and Brazil. He was a French Government Scholar to study at the Conservatoire Nationale Superieur de Musique de Paris where he obtained the coveted Premier Prix in Piano. For 20 years, Reynaldo was the official accompanist of the Metropolitan Opera Company Regional Auditions in Washington D.C. Reynaldo is based in Maryland where he is a professor in piano at Towson University.

For details, call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or Ticketworld at 891-9999; or call the CCP Music Division at 832-1125 loc. 1604-1605.