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Regine: A
Real Friend Through And Through
DIRECTLINE by Boy Abunda
Friday, Oct. 4 2002
Their story of friendship, a partnership minted in platinum is a
rarity in the business of show. Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid
have maintained their respect and admiration for each other through
the passing years.
They met at the old Rizal Theater in a concert of Dingdong Avanzado,
where Regine was the guest while Ogie was the front act performer.
And in this "small" world called showtown, Regine and Ogie often
bumped into each other after that initial encounter 16 or so years
ago.
"I even guested in his shows in small venues like Heartbeat," Regine
beams. "I was always his surprise guest in concerts!" For his part,
Ogie has also been a loyal and trustworthy buddy through the years.
"Once, I even invited him to my house," Regine looks back fondly.
"It was for my 20th or 21st birthday and he went all the way to
Bulacan!" It was a star-studded bash, Regine reminisces. "Pops
(Fernandez) and Martin (Nievera) were there. I even kept the photos
from that party. Like that one of Ogie and me. He looked smaller
then!" Regine roars.
Regine says that his thoughtfulness is precisely the trait that
endeared Ogie to her. "He is a good friend, first and foremost,"
Regine enumerates Ogie’s exceptional qualities. "And he’s very
reliable, as a person, as a friend, as an artist. You only need to
tell him something once and he’ll be there. He is super dependable.
And in this business that’s a very rare quality."
Now they’ve grown "super close," in Regine’s own words, especially
because they see each other at least once a week for their hosting
chores on the GMA-7 Sunday noontime musical extravaganza S.O.P.
Their platinum partnership was strengthened when they collaborated
once again – this time, with Regine as singer and Ogie as composer.
Actually, the first time they worked together on a song was for
Regine’s 1990 album. "He composed the love song, I Have To Say
Goodbye." Almost a decade passed before Regine and Ogie once again
teamed up for the theme song of her hit movie, Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw.
"That was super memorable for me," Regine opines. That chart-busting
collaboration led to a slew of songs – all certified record-breaking
hits, like Pangako and Hanggang Ngayon... Ikaw Pa Rin.
Among all those platinum hits, Regine considers Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw
as her personal favorite. "He gave that song to me," Regine remarks.
"One day, we were just making chika and I casually mentioned that I
needed a theme song for my movie with Robin Padilla. And he
excitedly told me that he had just the right song for me! He even
sang the song to me right there and then!"
Needless to say, Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw further cemented their bond as
today’s singer-composer tandem to beat. "What I love about Ogie’s
songs is the melody," Regine explains. "I’m a melody person e. I
listen to the melody first before I take note of the lyrics."
And Ogie’s music never fails to touch the Songbird’s heart.
"Haunting," Regine elaborates. "His songs are simple yet melodious.
And on top of all this, his songs are very commercial. They really
stick to the minds of the masses. I think it’s also because his
lyrics are in beautiful Tagalog. May kurot. They’re comparable to
the classic love songs made by the likes of George Canseco in the
past. But Ogie’s style is very now, very young, very modern."
If she were to "co-produce" a record for Ogie, Regine says she would
like for him to wax something like Al Jarreau’s Spain. "He’s known
as a balladeer," Regine pipes up. "He’s famous for singing love
songs. So I would like for him to do something different. Jazz
naman, for a change. I know that Ogie can sing almost anything and
get away with it."
As special "thank you" to the man who gave her her most
unforgettable songs, Regine will grace Ogie’s biggest concert to
date, OA Sa Hits at the Araneta Coliseum tonight along with guest
bands Side A and Freestyle. "Imagine, this is his first time to do
Araneta," Regine muses. "If there is one artist who deserves a show
of this magnitude, it’s Ogie. I think all Filipinos know his songs
by heart – like Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang and Nandito Ako. Even young
kids sing his songs. He has given us numerous hits. That’s why I am
extremely happy when I heard that Viva is trying hard to schedule a
repeat of his concert even weeks before the actual show date!"
Regine, who will gladly act as publicist for Ogie’s Araneta concert,
attests that she would do anything for Ogie. "I’ve already informed
our respective handlers that if Ogie asks for something and I am
free, he doesn’t have to ask twice." Case in point: she even did a
cameo in Ogie’s latest music video from Viva, Sana portraying one of
the jolly jeepney commuters, along with fellow S.O.P. hosts Jaya,
Gabby Eigenmann and Dingdong Dantes. Seems there is nothing she
wouldn’t do for her dear pal. "Whatever it is. Whether it’s a small
show or recording a duet. Even if he asks me to cook in his house,
I’ll always be there because I know that he will do the same thing
for me!"
And that’s precisely why she swiftly agreed when the idea of
guesting in his Big Dome concert was first broached. Regine will not
only be singing the requisite solo and duets with Ogie, she will
also provide priceless moral support and act as the lead...
"cheerleader!" Regine quips.
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