Ogie Alcasid is proud father of the bride-to-be

Ogie Alcasid can’t help but feel emotional at the thought of his eldest child, Leila Alcasid, finally walking down the aisle.

Leila, who is the crooner-TV host’s first of two kids with ex-wife, former Australian beauty queen Michelle Van Eimeren, recently got engaged to her long-time boyfriend, indie singer-rapper Curtismith.

Ogie himself is excited and proud as he prepares for this new chapter in his daughter’s life.

“I’m very excited, I’m very emo about it because she’s my baby,” Ogie recently told the press, including The STAR.

“But I see that she’s so happy. I see that they’re very happy, and her fiancé is a wonderful gentleman who shows his respect for all of us. I feel blessed.”

Ogie noted that Michelle is also super happy. “I was talking to Michelle, and she said, you know, life goes on. And she’s happy with (Curtismith) also.

“And Lila has blossomed into a real responsible and intelligent woman. And loving person. Sabi ko kay Michelle, ‘Well, sayo lumaki yan, kaya ikaw yan,” he added, crediting his ex-wife for how she raised their daughters.

He added that, deep down, he had already sensed that this day would come. “You know, there was a part of me that knew it was coming.”

He wasn’t around when the proposal happened but their permission was asked beforehand.

Asked whether this engagement was an answered prayer, especially since he had previously expressed his reservations about the living-in setup, Ogie admitted, “You know, you can only do so much.”

“But I don’t want to make an issue out of it and baka mag-away pa kami ng anak ko (it might cause a conflict between us),” he further mused. “Tapos na yon.”

Despite his joy, Ogie shared that he will always see Leila as his little girl. “You know, my eldest, no matter what, I still see her as my little girl. She’s already 27. So, I don’t know how I’ll feel on the wedding day.”

Although they haven’t set a wedding date, he joked that he’d better shed a few tears for the video.

“Dapat para maganda yung video,” he quipped.

One thing is certain: He’s ready to take on his role as father of the bride and even looks forward to his “lolo era.”

He said, “You know, I have so many friends who already have grandkids. It feels like I’m the only one who doesn’t. Well, not really, but there are also others without grandkids. I’m not jealous, but… I want to feel that kasi lahat sila sinasabi ang sarap. Sa pusa lang, tuwang-tuwa na ako.”

As for Leila and her future hubby giving him a grandchild, he said he’s ready whenever they are ready to start a family.

“I’m ready. It’s OK — if they’re ready. I mean, after they’re married. Why wait?”

Meanwhile, the LVD Management talent has just renewed his contract with ABS-CBN and will continue to appear in shows like “It’s Showtime” and “ASAP.”

“Kapag sinabing Kapamilya ka, ang sarap sa puso and I mean that. It comes with feeling the honor, the distinction and the privilege to serve,” he said in a statement before Kapamilya executives during the contract-signing.

“Ang sarap ng pakiramdam maging Kapamilya forever. Thank you so much for the trust and let’s keep doing it.”

The concert veteran and producer is also busy preparing for his “Ogieoke 2: Reimagined” concert on Nov. 30 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Tickets for the show are already available via TicketWorld and SM Tickets outlets.

Tickets are priced from P1,500 (Bronze), P3,000 (Silver), P4,500 (Gold), P6,000 (VIP), P7,000 (SVIP) to P8,000 (Platinum). Among his special guests is the “Nation’s Girl Group” BINI.