Regine: A real friend through and through

Their story of friendship, a partnership minted in platinum is a rarity in the business of show. Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid have maintained their respect and admiration for each other through the passing years.

They met at the old Rizal Theater in a concert of Dingdong Avanzado, where Regine was the guest while Ogie was the front act performer. And in this "small" world called showtown, Regine and Ogie often bumped into each other after that initial encounter 16 or so years ago.

"I even guested in his shows in small venues like Heartbeat," Regine beams. "I was always his surprise guest in concerts!" For his part, Ogie has also been a loyal and trustworthy buddy through the years. "Once, I even invited him to my house," Regine looks back fondly. "It was for my 20th or 21st birthday and he went all the way to Bulacan!" It was a star-studded bash, Regine reminisces. "Pops (Fernandez) and Martin (Nievera) were there. I even kept the photos from that party. Like that one of Ogie and me. He looked smaller then!" Regine roars.

Regine says that his thoughtfulness is precisely the trait that endeared Ogie to her. "He is a good friend, first and foremost," Regine enumerates Ogie’s exceptional qualities. "And he’s very reliable, as a person, as a friend, as an artist. You only need to tell him something once and he’ll be there. He is super dependable. And in this business that’s a very rare quality."

Now they’ve grown "super close," in Regine’s own words, especially because they see each other at least once a week for their hosting chores on the GMA-7 Sunday noontime musical extravaganza S.O.P. Their platinum partnership was strengthened when they collaborated once again – this time, with Regine as singer and Ogie as composer.

Actually, the first time they worked together on a song was for Regine’s 1990 album. "He composed the love song, I Have To Say Goodbye." Almost a decade passed before Regine and Ogie once again teamed up for the theme song of her hit movie, Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw.

"That was super memorable for me," Regine opines. That chart-busting collaboration led to a slew of songs – all certified record-breaking hits, like Pangako and Hanggang Ngayon... Ikaw Pa Rin.

Among all those platinum hits, Regine considers Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw as her personal favorite. "He gave that song to me," Regine remarks. "One day, we were just making chika and I casually mentioned that I needed a theme song for my movie with Robin Padilla. And he excitedly told me that he had just the right song for me! He even sang the song to me right there and then!"

Needless to say, Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw further cemented their bond as today’s singer-composer tandem to beat. "What I love about Ogie’s songs is the melody," Regine explains. "I’m a melody person e. I listen to the melody first before I take note of the lyrics."

And Ogie’s music never fails to touch the Songbird’s heart. "Haunting," Regine elaborates. "His songs are simple yet melodious. And on top of all this, his songs are very commercial. They really stick to the minds of the masses. I think it’s also because his lyrics are in beautiful Tagalog. May kurot. They’re comparable to the classic love songs made by the likes of George Canseco in the past. But Ogie’s style is very now, very young, very modern."

If she were to "co-produce" a record for Ogie, Regine says she would like for him to wax something like Al Jarreau’s Spain. "He’s known as a balladeer," Regine pipes up. "He’s famous for singing love songs. So I would like for him to do something different. Jazz naman, for a change. I know that Ogie can sing almost anything and get away with it."

As special "thank you" to the man who gave her her most unforgettable songs, Regine will grace Ogie’s biggest concert to date, OA Sa Hits at the Araneta Coliseum tonight along with guest bands Side A and Freestyle. "Imagine, this is his first time to do Araneta," Regine muses. "If there is one artist who deserves a show of this magnitude, it’s Ogie. I think all Filipinos know his songs by heart – like Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang and Nandito Ako. Even young kids sing his songs. He has given us numerous hits. That’s why I am extremely happy when I heard that Viva is trying hard to schedule a repeat of his concert even weeks before the actual show date!"

Regine, who will gladly act as publicist for Ogie’s Araneta concert, attests that she would do anything for Ogie. "I’ve already informed our respective handlers that if Ogie asks for something and I am free, he doesn’t have to ask twice." Case in point: she even did a cameo in Ogie’s latest music video from Viva, Sana portraying one of the jolly jeepney commuters, along with fellow S.O.P. hosts Jaya, Gabby Eigenmann and Dingdong Dantes. Seems there is nothing she wouldn’t do for her dear pal. "Whatever it is. Whether it’s a small show or recording a duet. Even if he asks me to cook in his house, I’ll always be there because I know that he will do the same thing for me!"

And that’s precisely why she swiftly agreed when the idea of guesting in his Big Dome concert was first broached. Regine will not only be singing the requisite solo and duets with Ogie, she will also provide priceless moral support and act as the lead... "cheerleader!" Regine quips.