100 on stage, 30 and counting
Ogie Alcasid aims to have the audience at hello in his concert tomorrow.
Original Pilipino Music (OPM) hitmaker Ogie Alcasid marks his 30th anniversary in show business with his concert “OA: Ogie Alcasid 30th Anniversary With The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra” on Aug. 24 at the Araneta Coliseum.
“We will have a big fiesta atmosphere during the opening number, with 80 to 100 people performing on stage,” he shared.
“It’s been a great journey for me, 30 years is really a blessing. It’s an incredible time for me. My songs all came from the things I had experienced in life and this is what I could offer to them.”
His guest performers are close to his heart. First on the list, Rey Valera served as “one of the biggest influences in my singing-songwriting career.” He also invited “two of the youngest most celebrated singers-songwriters today” – namely Yeng Constantino and Moira dela Torre.
Then there’s Vice Ganda who has become one of his good friends since the former transferred to ABS-CBN. The other guest performers are Michael V., Janno Gibbs, and Leila, Sarah, and Nate Alcasid; as well as his wife Regine Velasquez and dance ensemble Hotlegs.
A spot in the program sees Ogie transform into K-pop idol Ban Sot Mee known for the hit “Taba Koo Na Bes.”
Versatility
What’s the secret to his longevity in showbiz?
Well, Ogie said it’s a combination of everything that he does as songwriter, singer, actor, and comedian.
“I started my career as musician then built my name little by little. But actually, I became a household name when I started appearing on television,” he explained.
“I was always on TV. I mean I was able to do movies, I was able to do a little bit of theater, I was able to do many, many concerts – but everything else was a supplementary. TV was an often thing.”
On the music he offers, the singer is grateful that despite changes in trends, he has stayed “relevant;” moreso, he said, when he came home to ABS-CBN.
But he cleared that he will be forever grateful to GMA that helped him create iconic characters Angelina and Boy Pick Up. He also credited the network for supporting him to become an established singer-songwriter-turned-comedian.
Fading charm?
Asked if he is afraid his popularity would fade, Ogie laughed and said “not at all.”
“I just enjoy everything I had done,” he said. “I’m used to doing hard work that’s why I never really have a problem on whatever kind of projects is offered to me.”
Ogie said he knows there will come a time that people will no longer be as eager as before to see him. And, really, he said that’s “fine.”
Ogie simply added that as long as he can sing and perform, he will do it and ever gladly.
“I will never stop being an entertainer because that’s my life,” he said.
Failures? Ogie laughs at the face of failure.
“It’s so important for you to acknowledge failure and for you to recognize it. Failure is but an indicator that you need to change direction.”
It’s been a great journey for me. It’s an incredible time for me.