Ogie welcomes actors who venture into singing with open arms

DUMAGUETE CITY – Ogie Alcasid believes the trend of actors going into recording “speaks well and speaks highly” of the local music industry.

“It (music industry) is something people want to be part of, and I suppose they realize it’s not easy,” the TV5 star told Philstar.com.

The move of actors to venture into a singing career is not new in showbiz, but the likes of Anne Curtis, who will release a new album next year after a successful debut recording and concert, puts their ilk on the spotlight again. Other recent actors-turned-singers include Paulo Avelino, Richard Yap, Carla Abellana, and Tom Rodriguez and Dennis Trillo.  

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For Ogie, more people in the music industry means more people get to appreciate OPM.

“I’m glad they’re able to do that and realize that because they appreciate the art form,” he said. “

Ogie further explained, “(They’ll realize) popularity alone won’t be enough. It’s really sheer love and passion for the music that they create.”

It is really no different, the singer-comedian said, from musicians who go into acting.

“I have no biases whatsoever,” Ogie said. “As far as trying to do things that are scary, as far as trying to do things outside your comfort zone, go ahead.”

He adds, however, that anyone who enters the industry should be ready for bashers.

Still transitioning

Ogie is in Dumaguete City until today, November 20 to be one of the mentors of the 4th Elements National Singing Songwriting camp. This is his second time to join the workshop.

“I’m so happy that I joined here again because there are so many talented kids here with star quality,” he said.

He said the aspiring musicians who talk to him in the camp usually ask him about whether or not to take the risk of making music full-time.

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“There’s fear kasi, syempre, the world out there, jungle yan, e,” he said. “But we’re here to tell them, ‘It’s okay to take that plunge.’ Just work hard and enjoy the music.”

As for the status of OPM right now, Ogie, who is also the president of the Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawait, said it is still in transitioning as  sales trend shifts from physical to digital.

“When we establish that, then we’re to see a real resurgence,” he said.

But the Kapatid artist sees no dearth of output when music is concerned.

“As a far as the creation is concerned, ang dami—Visayan music, independent music, the mainstream scene, so many companies holding songwriting festivals,” he said. “That speaks a lot.”