Ogie (right) with Leila Alcasid —OGIE ALCASID INSTAGRAM

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The mind says yes, but the heart says no.

It may sound “cheesy,” Ogie Alcasid said, but that’s how he feels about his eldest, Leila, marrying her boyfriend of five years, Curtismith, in the future.

“I’ve pretty much accepted that we’re going to go down this path sooner or later,” Ogie said when asked by the Inquirer about his daughter’s deepening relationship with the singer-rapper.

“When Gary (Valenciano) talks about his and his wife’s (Angeli Pangilinan) experiences as empty nesters, it makes me say, ‘One day, that’ll be me.’ But I think I’m ready,” he said during a dinner with showbiz journalists to promote his upcoming concert, “Ogieoke.”

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, while lockdowns were still in effect, Leila and Curtissmith decided to live together. They believed that this setup would make it easier for them to maintain and manage their relationship amid uncertainties.

At first, Ogie had doubts about the couple’s decision. As a father with a more “old-school” view of family, he prefers his children to live with him as long as possible. His ex-wife and Leila’s mother, Michelle van Eimeren, felt the same way, he said.

But what is done is done. Ogie wasn’t about to stop or clash with his daughter. After all, Leila, 25, is old enough to make her own decisions. He had only one request: that they assume their adult responsibilities. “I told him, ‘I didn’t like what you did. Because it’s something I wish you’d told me about first. But it’s already done: nandyan na ‘yan. So you want to become an adult? Then face life like an adult. And I’m very proud that she doesn’t even ask me for money at all,” he said.

Open communication

But of course, he will always be there to guide and support Leila and he stressed the importance of maintaining an open line of communication with his children. “We’ll have a trip to Hong Kong soon and I’ll have a chance to talk to her…about what she’s planning to do. I will have time with my children,” he said. Meanwhile, Ogie said he and his wife, Regine Velasquez, are at the “peak” of their marriage. “We are so in love. We can’t get enough of each other. When I hear stories about relationships breaking up, I get sad. Once my wife and I spoke: “Paano ba natin nagagawa” to ? What do we do, right? And I think one of the reasons is because we laugh together,” he said.

Misunderstandings and tampuhan are inevitable and, in some cases, instructive. “I think those things are also important…situations that you can laugh about afterwards. We’re old and we have nothing to prove,” said Ogie, who has also become “more emo” in recent months.

“I cry so easily… There was a contestant (in “Tawag ng Tanghalan,” where he is a judge) who dedicated a song to his father. I was so emotional because I remembered my late father. And then there was this discussion with Vice Ganda about fighting for love despite past heartaches,” he said.

And so many emotions came out when I was talking about my first marriage and being blessed to have another opportunity to love and be loved again. I can’t say for sure why. But I’m very sensitive these days. I cry because of Korean dramas. Maybe I’m just getting old? he said laughing.

‘Mutual respect’

Ogie has two other children: Sarah, 21, with Michelle; and Nate, 11, with Régine.

He couldn’t be more grateful that everyone gets along in his family. Régine and Michelle are good friends, as is Ogie and Michelle’s husband Mark. What makes their blended family work?

“Mutual respect is important. The financial aspect, often neglected, should also be included. You have to be responsible. If you have commitments to your children with your former spouse, then you must fulfill them,” he said.

As the title suggests, “Ogieoke,” which takes place on September 29 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, will have a videoke theme, with Ogie curating a set list of songs that Filipinos love to sing at parties and reunions. family, including those of Frank Sinatra, Air Supply, Peabo Bryson, Barry Manilow and some of his own compositions of course. For tickets, call 0917 8189847 or 0917 8079387.

“The lyrics of all the songs will be displayed so the audience can sing along,” Ogie said. “Concerts can be formal and stiff. But I want this one to be fun and lively. I even wrote a song in which I incorporated some of my speeches.

“After chismisan, karaoke is the second most popular pastime of Filipinos,” he joked. “Because singing is fun… It’s a way to free yourself from a lot of the stresses of life.” It’s not really a new concept, but I thought it would be fun in a concert setting.

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