ONE of the most prominent hitmakers since the start of his career in the 1990s until today, Herminio Jose “Ogie” Alcasid, Jr. will be back onstage to sing about the Soundtrack of His Life, a Nov. 3 concert at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila (RWM).
“A huge chunk of my life is music,” he said during a press conference on Oct. 2 at RWM’s Passion Restaurant, before adding that the concert will be about his musical journey — from the songs that influenced him, to the songs he created through the years, and, of course, the songs he wrote for his wife and fellow singing star, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid.
“The soundtrack of my life is my family,” he said.
Mr. Alcasid started out in 1985 as a member of the talent incubator that was the all-male high school glee club of La Salle Greenhills, the Kundirana (other famous performers it hatched include Gary Valenciano, Randy Santiago, Louie Ocampo, Carlo Orosa, Juan Miguel Salvador, Monet Silvestre, Rannie Raymundo, Dingdong Avanzado, Dingdong Eduque, Montet Acoymo, Vince Alaras, Von de Guzman and Gian Magdangal of Philippine Idol, Mel Villena, and Mon Faustino). Four years later he successfully turned pro, releasing a self-titled album which reached gold certification. His debut single, “Nandito Ako,” was named Song of the Year by the popular radio station Magic 89.9.
He was certainly no one-hit-wonder. “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang,” which was released in 2001, garnered several Awit Awards including Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist and Best Movie/TV/Stage Theme Song (it was one of the theme songs of the film Pangako… Ikaw Lang starring Aga Muhlach and Ms. Velasquez).
Among his other notable hits are “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw,” which won the 2001 Star Awards Best Movie Theme Song of the Year, the 2001 FAMAS Best Movie Theme Song of the Year, Awit Awards Song of the Year, and Best Ballad Recording; and “Kung Mawawala Ka,” which was awarded the 2000 Awit Awards Best Ballad Recording and Song of the Year. In all, he has been given more than 70 awards and citations for his work.
Throughout his career, he has released more than 20 albums, with 12 reaching gold, five platinum, and three double-platinum.
His string of hits garnered him the monicker, “The Singer/Songwriter” — it was revealed during the press conference that he dreams of someday being in the same league as George Canseco and Ryan Cayabyab.
Aside from being a singer/songwriter, Mr. Alcasid has also had an extensive TV and movie career, which often takes advantage of his comic talents — he was, for example, an original member of the long-running comic skit show Bubble Gang on GMA.
For his upcoming concert, Mr. Alcasid said that while the songs are romantic — he is known for his tongue-in-cheek and heart-on-his-sleeve approach to songwriting — there will, naturally, also be comedy.
He will be accompanied by the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Rodel Colmenar — Ms. Velasquez will make an appearance on the show.
The concert will be directed by Roxanne Lapus, a long-time collaborator of Mr. Alcasid.
“I’m excited over being accompanied by an orchestra [because] it blends well with the kind of music I write,” he said. — Zsarlene B. Chua
Mr. Alcasid’s Soundtrack of My Life will be on Nov. 30, 8 p.m., at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila. Tickets, which range in price between P2,000 and P6,000, are available at the RWM box office and all TicketWorld outlets (www.ticketworld.com.ph).
