As he took a slow, deep and meaningful breath, his ever-friendly eyes fixed pensively forward, though still with that twinkle and one-sided smile, the Philippines' beloved singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid could have been threading together the lyrics to Original Pilipino Music's (OPM) next big hit. But no. On this quiet and cloudly January afternoon, the multi-awarded musician — add actor, comedian, host, "Tawag ng Tanghalan jurado," and all-around household name — was merely "thinking of the right word" to describe how he feels about his first project for 2024.

"It has to be 'honored,'" he exclaimed, the mot juste finally coming to him. "I am just honored to share the same stage with one of my music heroes, Ms. Odette Quesada, for my Valentine shows this year."

A fresh and ingenious pairing indeed — two iconic singer-songwriters who broke through the music industry in the intertwined generations of the '80s and '90s — Quesada and Alcasid are headlining a three-night concert at Cebu's Nustar Convention Center on February 13 and at Pasay City, Metro Manila's Newport Performing Arts Theater on February 14 and 15.Playfully titled "Love, Q and A," taking from the first letters of the OPM artists' surnames, the pair's unfinished and thriving legacies in Philippine music definitely guarantee sheer performance excellence across the three-night series. Not from incredible "conteseras," mind you, as Alcasid differentiates (singers famed for belting and an overarching vocal range), but from intrinsic and breathtaking songwriters who merely sing from a song's rawest emotions.

Fanboying over an "OG" (original), not only of OPM but of the elite singer-songwriter breed, Alcasid, could not help but recall how Quesada's music had influenced him since his amateur performing days with La Salle Greenhills' renowned singing high school group, Kundirana."Back in the '80s for Kundirana, one of my solo numbers [for our shows] was "To Love Again," written by Odette Quesada and sung by Sharon Cuneta," he reminisced. "Tumatak sa talaga sa akin yon and since then naging Odette fan na ako. (The song had such an impact on me, and I became a fan of Quesada's from then on)."And what high school graduate could ever forget the song "Farewell" — another great Quesada classic, originally sung by Raymond Lauchengco — be it in the '80s or the 2020s, for that matter?Fanboying again, Alcasid effused, "'Farewell' also became such a huge part of our lives. We sang it during graduation, and we were all in tears — just as all the following batches of high school graduates surely did from then on to this day.

"Suffice it to say, Odette Quesada's music was very much part of my childhood, and, more importantly, she's been an idol throughout my career because we're kindred spirits. We're both songwriters at the core, so I can identify with her work."Only ever sharing the stage with Quesada as a guest artist in one of her concerts many years ago, it comes as no surprise that Alcasid also uses the words "super exciting" and "thrilling for me" besides being "honored" to describe how he feels about their upcoming concert series."[In fact], during the pictorial [for "Love, Q and A,"] I got to talk to her, and she also said to me she was excited to do a concert with me. Syempre kinilig ako (I was thrilled, of course)." She was just as I remembered her back then — always quiet and so humble."What he most admires about Quesada is how she churned countless hit songs after she went from amateur composer to in-demand songwriter when she won second place at the 1982 Metropop composition for "Give Me A Chance," as interpreted by Ric Segreto. The famed ballad became Quesada's first chart-topper before the rest became history, as they say.Highly impressed, Alcasid, who himself rocketed to stardom after releasing his debut single "Nandito Ako" in 1989, noted, "The songs she's written are so simple but just so heartfelt, di'ba (aren't they)? And what, she must have only been 17 or 18 when she started out, so to have that kind of sensibility is just, wow!"Indeed, Quesada's songs — "Don't Know What To Do, Don't Know What To Say" (Segretto); "I Need You Back" (Lauchengco); "Growing Up" (Gary Valenciano); "Friend of Mine," "You're My Home," "Dito Lang" and "Wala Nang Nasa Isip," which she recorded herself, among many others — powerfully defined, promoted and propelled Original Pilipino Music in the '80s. And it is this fact which, in a compelling part, paved the way for Alcasid and other worthy OPM artists' music to be embraced by a ready public, already inculcated in the sound of their own singing and songwriting treasures.

The fan as an icon

If anything, this new year catch-up with Ogie Alcasid served not only as a lesson in one of the most prolific eras in OPM history but also as a reminder of why he himself is a veritable and precious OPM icon.To start with, how he fanboys the greats, mentioning the likes of Quesada, Kuh Ledesma, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Basil Valdez, Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera so sincerely as his idols and inspirations, shows that humility, which anyone who achieves such high statures in their careers could never have done without."When I was starting out, these names, parang ang layo-layo nila (were so out of reach to me)."One time I saw Kuh Ledesma at Shoppesville [an iconic mall in Greenhills, San Juan City], and I remember being so starstruck by her. Nakataas pa ang collar ng damit niya [she had the collar of her blouse standing up] and I was like, 'Ang ganda-ganda talaga ni Kuh. Iba talaga pag-artista' (Kuh's so beautiful and such a celebrity)," chatted Alcasid in his perpetually down-to-earth way."Up to now, I see Kuh that way. I also see Joey Albert and Louie Ocampo [another legendary OPM songwriter] that way, especially when their song "Tell Me" came out and I had just broken up with a girl," he laughed."Kapag nakikita ko pa rin si Basil Valdez, natatameme ako (whenever I see Basil Valdez up to now, I still get dumbfounded and become speechless). Basil has this enigma, and I'm still starstruck when I see him."No matter that Alcasid must have churned as many hits as Quesada or Valdez by now with such classics as "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang," "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw," "Pangako," "Ikaw Sana" and "Hanggang Ngayon" among countless others. The fact that he always recognizes and admires the works of those who came before him — as well as those who emerged after him, up to the likes of Arthur Nery, Zack Tabudlo and Adie today — only makes him fall deeper and deeper in love with OPM, thereby inspiring him and fuelling his passion to write more music, record more music and keep going.Moreover, and more significantly, this profound appreciation of his for OPM has unceasingly given Alcasid a genuine sense of responsibility to do whatever he can to ensure the thriving presence of OPM, especially amid this very globalized and digital access to music and performances today.

President emeritus, president friend

A true pillar and vanguard of OPM, not only via his storied career, Alcasid is all the more iconic among his peers for being the uninterrupted Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) president for 14 years already.Eager for the younger artists to soon replace him and ensure OPM's success in generations to come, Alcasid thoughtfully said, "I've realized my role in the industry already, and it's to be a friend of many people — of many artists — with no hang-ups [about my career]. No matter what comes my way today, I'm grateful. When young artists come to me for advice, I'm ready to give it and help them."It is for this reason that the 56-year-old icon Alcasid never tires of exploring the endless possibilities of his passion.For example, for his upcoming Valentine concert series, Alcasid expressed, "I want to experiment with Odette and maybe write a new song for the show. I will have to talk to her again and see what the two of us can come up with."His eagerness to collaborate — another attitude that sifts the enduring stars from the one-hit-wonders — doesn't end with artists of his caliber."I'll also be collaborating with younger artists this year. I'm excited for these ventures although I can't reveal who these young artists I'll be working with will be just yet."Alcasid further revealed how he loves going to Spotify more often these days because he sees all the new OPM artists emerging in the scene."I see them, listen to their music and think to myself, eto na yung mga bago. Eto na yung mga pumapalit sa amin. (These are the new ones; these are the ones who'll be replacing us). And I'm thrilled that most of them are singer-songwriters who will surely succeed at carrying on this special tradition of being on both sides of the recording process."Alcasid acknowledges that despite the times, he can always identify with the journey of singer-songwriters."It's very hard for a songwriter to be heard because there are many songwriters just as good as you or even better," he explained."And to put your song out there, that's neither an easy thing to do because it's your story you're putting out there. Compositions are a very personal thing. It takes a lot of courage to share them with the world, and that's why I take my hat off to these young guys."

Idol father

Alcasid sheepishly laughed when The Sunday Times Magazine suddenly pointed out to him during the roundtable that it's funny how he loves talking about OPM icons as if he's forgotten he is an OPM icon himself."I know," he humbly acknowledged. "And I am honored to be considered among to be in the league of my idols."Scrunching his nose in that familiar comedic way, Alcasid added, "But you know, I don't think much of it, being an OPM idol. Corny man pakinggan pero para sa akin (it may sound corny, but for me), my greatest achievement is still being a father to my children and husband to Regine [Velasquez]."Alcasid has three children — two daughters named Leila (born in 1997) and Sarah (2002) with ex-wife and Australian beauty queen Michelle Van Eimeren, and 12-year-old Nate with Velasquez, Asia's Songbird and wife of 13 years now.In fact, when this interview, specially organized for his concert with Quesada, began, Alcasid didn't go straight into talking about the project or his career plans for 2024.As soon as The Sunday Times Magazine comfortably asked him, "How are things?" just as any member of the media could of this perpetually friendly A-List celebrity, he went straight into talking about his family's current and major situation as the new year unfolds."Nate will be going to junior high school already!" he exclaimed in disbelief. "I drove him to take the test to one of the schools we're considering this morning, then rushed to 'It's Showtime' [his daily ensemble noontime variety show on ABS-CBN], and now I'm here with you," Alcasid smiled good-naturedly despite his hectic Monday.Very hands-on with Nate despite virtually working seven days week [Alcasid is still one of the mainstays of "ASAP Natin 'To" on ABS-CBN every Sunday], it is his children that make him most proud."Leila is graduating this year from Visual Arts in Australia, and Sarah's doing very well too," the idol dad happily shared."As for Nate, who's still very musical, we confirmed he's a very good writer too after he was required to submit an essay by one of the schools we're applying to."

While his daughters are based in Australia and shuffle between Down Under and the Philippines to see him, Alcasid said he and Velasquez are determined as ever to give Nate a "normal life."So yes, even if he has a live telecast most days, he makes it a point to drive his son to school and other activities despite the usual late-night commitments or rehearsals and amid the harrowing Metro Manila traffic crisis.The doting dad further shared, "When we can, we'd bring him out for a picnic in UP (University of the Philippines, where Alcasid graduated college) so he can experience regular things like that. You still get one or two people asking for photos, but on the whole, we get more privacy than, say, going to the mall."Despite his unwavering dedication to his music and OPM as a whole, it is clear where Ogie Alcasid, the music icon's priorities lie. Crystal clear.It is, therefore, no surprise that when another outlet asked the singer-songwriter if he feels he has anything left to prove in his stellar career, Herminio Jose Lualhati Alcasid Jr. wholeheartedly replied, "When you say 'to prove' that's a hard [concept] to grasp because there are so many things to keep learning. In terms of my career, I just deeply love what I do; I love OPM. I don't seek approval or validation from anyone but God, so I just want to keep putting things out there so long as it's for His glory and I make people happy."***Presented by Newport Resort Casino and NY Entourage Productions, tickets to "Love: Q and A" are available via SM Tickets and TicketWorld and at the Nustar Convention Center (February 13) and Newport Performing Arts Theater box offices.

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