Ogie Alcasid's wish for "I Do Bidoo Bidoo"

Ogie Alcasid, Tippy de los Santos and writer-director Chris Martinez attended the special press preview of the movie “I Do Bidoo Bidoo” held at the Ultra 7 Theater of Eastwood Cinema last Wednesday.

Ogie, who is celebrating his 45th birthday on Monday, August 27, was congratulated by the members of the media for his fine performance in this one-of-a-kind musical comedy movie that celebrates love, life and family. For those who love musicals, “I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila” is a must see.

“Mahirap gawin ang movie but we were able to finish it on time kasi we already have a playdate which is August 29,” said the current OPM president who is glad to be a part of this ground-breaking movie produced by Studio 5 (the movie arm of TV5) and Unitel Pictures.

But he misses his co-star Zsa Zsa Padilla who is not very visible in the promo of “I Do Bidoo Bidoo” owing to the Divine Diva’s current state of health. Zsa Zsa is in the United States for a checkup for the growth in her kidney which turned out to be stage one cancer. “When we were still shooting, she told us that she has to have a check. This was after Tito Dolphy was buried. It was a shocker. But she seemed very strong. Ayaw niya siguro na maawa kami sa kanya. She didn’t want us to be affected. But you know, she said there was something there. So when she had her tests and confirmed it was cancer, we all felt sad for her. I texted her. She replied naman. I told her na she will be victorious over this,” related Ogie.

She said that even his wife Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, who is close with Zsa Zsa, is in touch with the Divine Diva. “But her message to me is that she will pray for this film. She will pray for the success of our movie, ‘I Do Bidoo Bidoo.’ She’s an incredible and remarkable lady.”

“We always pray for Zsa Zsa. We always pray for her everyday. Kaya iyan. We should always think positive. I believe Zsa Zsa also would want us to think positive despite what is happening to her. Sabi nga niya, she sees life differently now. She should be an inspiration to all of us. Alam natin na ang buhay natin sa mundo ay panandalian lang. She says that now that she knows there is something inside her, malaking bagay ang realization na iyon. We are mortals so we have to do our best while we are here. Feeling ko iyon ang message na gusto niya sabihin sa atin.”

On a lighter note, how does Ogie feel now that “I Do Bidoo Bidoo” will hit the theaters on August 29, two days after his birthday? “I am happy because it’s also my birthday. It’s very, very exciting and as I see in Facebook as well, everybody is excited with this movie. So far, we’ve only done the rounds of a few TV shows but we are very, very thankful to all the TV shows who have allowed us to promote our movie. We hope to get more mileage, even in Facebook as well. We hope that many will watch our movie,” said the singer.

Ogie said he had a great time working with Direk Chris Martinez. “I’ve worked with so many talented directors. But Chris is a writer-director. He knows his story inside and out so ‘yung involvement sa pelikula mas intense kasi siyempre material niya. The passion that he shares with us is contagious. Seryoso kami sa set although nagbibiruan kami palagi. And if he decides to do a movie using my songs, ready ako. Kaya lang puro love songs ang mga kanta ko. I guess I have to write some more music. Pero saka na siguro. Bata pa naman ako.”

What is he going to do on his birthday? “I have a celebration on Party Pilipinas on Sunday. Then on Monday, which is my birthday itself, I will have a golf tournament on Capitol Hills from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Then we have a small party at the Clubhouse. All the proceeds of the golf tournament will be donated to the typhoon victims. It’s a small tournament billed as 45 Na, Kakasa Pa,” he said.

His birthday wish? “Since I am 45, sana continued health for me and my family, for my in-laws and my children, to all those who are close to me and whom I loved. Sana okay kami palagi,” added Ogie.

The singer, who returns to acting in “I Do Bidoo Bidoo,” did a music video which he says is the most expensive MTV he had done. He said they used a very sophisticated equipment for the MTV which was produced by Unitel and also features Jim Paredes of APO (whose music was the inspiration for the making “I Do Bidoo Bidoo”). The MTV is directed by Pancho Esguerra, an award-winning Pinoy MTV director.

Direk Chris Martinez said he was impressed and was pleasantly surprised with Ogie’s acting in “I Do Bidoo Bidoo” and said that he hopes Ogie will get an acting nomination for his performance, if not the award itself. We mentioned this to Ogie and his reaction was, “When did he say that?” We told him that Direk Chris said it when we interviewed him after the first presscon of “I Do Bidoo Bidoo” some two weeks ago. “Teka, wait, magmo-moment muna ako. Pang-best actor daw kasi,” he said jokingly. “Huwag naman ganyan nomination. Baka manalo ako. What can I say? Kasi naman when I read the script, I really studied the character. Sabi ko, isa akong laos na songwriter tapos they were kind of meticulous with my looks. So when we had our look test, parang medyo na-imbibe ko na ‘yung character.”

Ogie said he didn’t have difficulty with his role. “Ang nahirapan lang ako was ang init-init sa location namin and we were working long hours. I was also working on the movie Boy Pick-Up at that time kaya medyo may kahirapan sa sked. But I don’t have any expectations for the movie. Basta every time I do a film, I put my best foot forward pero I do hope it becomes a commercial success,” he said. “I really pray that this movie becomes a huge box-office success. Kailangan lahat ng Pilipino at kahit hindi Pilipino, panoorin ang I Do Bidoo Bidoo. Kailangan na mapanood not only because maganda ang movie but even the music of APO ay maipagmamalaki mo. Bawat eksena ay highlight. Kaka-recover mo pa lang sa isang iyakan, mayroon na naman isang magandang eksena na kasunod. Tatawa ka, iiyak. You will love the film.”

“I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila” also stars Zsa Zsa Padilla, Gary Valenciano, Eugene Domingo, Sam Concepcion, Tippy de los Santos, Jaime Fabregas, Frenchie Dy and Sweet Plantado. It opens on major cinemas nationwide on August 29.