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Ogie Alcasid shares the reason he has lasted 20 long years in such a fickle industry.
Ogie Alcasid shares the reason he has lasted 20 long years in such a fickle industry. Surprisingly, it’s not rocket science—it’s as simple as having great music for inspiration and even greater friends for motivation. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. Ogie the pogi? First off, why is he called “Ogie?” He tells us a funny story on how his name evolved from “Herminio Alcasid Jr.” to the “Ogie” we know of today. “Alam mo kasi, 20 years old na ako, kaya medyo hindi ko matandaan yung kabataan ko!” he jokes of his real age. (He’s looking young at 41 years old.) He says it started when his family called him “Pogi” as a little boy and it eventually carried over to his adolescent years. “So parang naging palayaw ko yun. Kaya ‘Ogie the pogi’ ang tawag sa akin.” “Eh parang hindi hindi naman masyadong cute yung matanda ka na, ‘Pogi’ pa rin pangalan mo!” he remarks with a laugh. “[Kaya] inalis na lang nila yung ‘P,’ naging ‘O’ na [lang].” Since his entry into the entertainment industry 20 years ago with the first single “Peksman,” followed by “Ako’y Iyong-Iyo” and “Nandito Ako,” Ogie has been known not just as a singer, but as a respected composer, actor, endorser, and host as well. He says, however, that singing will be his first love, and that he will always make time for it no matter how busy his schedule gets. Music he loves Ogie doesn’t just create music—he loves listening to it as well. His play list includes The Beatles, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, and Barry Manilow. He says of Barry, “Siya yung tinatawag nating quintessential singer-songwriter-performer hanggang ngayon. Alam mo for a while nga, parang nakalimutan yung mga kanta ni Barry Manilow. [Pero] noong napanood siguro siya sa [American] Idol, bigla na lang nakilala na rin siya ng mga kabataan sa Amerika. Biglang sumikat na naman, na tuwang-tuwa ako. Kasi hero ko siya, eh.” He shares, “Ewan ko kung nakapanood na kayo ng mga concerts niya kahit sa DVD (wag lang pirated, ha!) pero pag pinanood mo siya, makikita mong yun yung passion niya. Mayroon nga siyang sinulat na ‘Dito ako nabubuhay. Wala akong kino-compromise, wala na akong ibang mahal.’ Pero hindi naman ako naniniwala [na ganoon dapat], but music lang talaga ang kabuhayan niya. Doon siya nabuhay, at yun ang buhay niya.” Since he has never watched a concert of Barry’s except in DVDs, Ogie says it’s one of his dreams to get to do that someday. Things to do! As someone who started from the bottom and worked his way up, Ogie knows he has come far and would want to help local artists trudge a similar path. “Marami akong gustong matulungan,” he says. “Parang nangyayari na nga yun, medyo marami na tayong natutulungan, pero I’d like to be able to serve as an instrument for a young talent to really make it.” He explains, “Kasi nakakalungkot minsan [when] talent is wasted. And it takes someone to be able to recognize that talent. At pagkatapos, ipakikilala mo. Eh nandiyan ka na, eh. Dapat maging tulay ka. It’s also a way of giving back what you have received. I have been very blessed sa career ko, [kaya] dapat lang ibalik ko yun.” When it comes to achieving things for himself, Ogie says that he’s pretty much satisfied with what he has accomplished. “Marami pang dapat gawin pero ine-enjoy ko na lang. I’m a very happy person already. I’m very satisfied na sa mga ginagawa ko. Ayoko nang i-complicate yun.” Treasures to keep Ogie speaks fondly of two close friends in showbiz: Janno Gibbs and Michael V. He starts off with Janno: “Kumpare kong buo yan, and we’ve been performing together for so many years now. At kung hindi ako nagkakamali, 20 years na rin kaming magkakilala! So kung baga parang kapatid ko na [siya].” He says that the two of them look up to the Apo Hiking Society’s bond, which has remained intact after all this time. “Tinitingala namin yan, eh, kasi kung baga ang layo na ng narating ng mga haligi natin [sa musika], pero hanggang ngayon, magkaibigan pa rin sila. Nakikita mo yung respeto nila sa isa’t-isa, kaya hanggang ngayon magkasama pa rin sila. Successful pa rin yung tandem nila. So palagay ko, ganoon rin kami, eh. Sa tagal ng panahon na magkasama kami, hanggang ngayon, yung tandem namin ni Janno, [okay], lalo na pag tuwing Linggo sa SOP. Kaya siguro ganoon ka-successful yun dahil sa respeto namin sa isa’t-isa.” “Si Bitoy, alam mo, parang kayamanan ko yan, eh,” he says of Michael V., his co-star in Bubble Gang. “Si Bitoy at si Janno ang mga kaibigan ko na ubod ng talent[ed]—kung baga noong biniyayaan ng talent ng Panginoon itong dalawang ito, nakanganga! Haha! Salo lang nang salo!” He adds, “I think tulad ni Janno, si Bitoy, napakabuting tao. So pag may kaibigan kang ganoon, magiging ganoon ka na rin. Kumbaga osmosis yan, eh!” On second thought, he clarifies, “Although ako hindi ako late. Si Janno, laging late! Yun lang problema doon! Haha!” Ogie and Bitoy met when they were teamed up for an Octoarts movie. “At hindi ko akalain na may flair pala siya sa comedy! Kasi rapper talaga si Bitoy, eh! Aba, nakakatawang tao pala siya! Yan, ilang taon na kami [magkakilala], halos 13 years na kami, at si Bitoy ang secret weapon talaga namin [ni Janno]. Swerte lang ako na mahuhusay mga kaibigan ko.” Keep posted on iGMA for updates on Ogie’s 20th anniversary concert on September 27, 2008 at the Araneta Coliseum! More on Ogie: 20 years of song Ogie Alcasid gallery Serious comedian Ogie and Regine, partners in rhyme Text OGIE to 4627 to Feel the Fun with Fanatxt! To receive pictures from his mobile phone, text GOMMS OGIE ON and send to 4627. (Each SMS costs P2.50 for GLOBE, SMART, and TALK 'N TEXT, while it costs P2.00 for SUN subscribers. Each MMS costs P5.00 for all networks.)