The craziest thing they did for love

Even before Ice Seguerra and Liza Diño announced that they have found a sperm donor (said to be the lookalike of the Hemsworth brothers Chris and Liam) for their IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) baby, Ai-Ai delas Alas has been vocal about having a baby (yes, at 54!) with her husband Gerald Sibayan as early as December 2017 when they got married.

But that’s not the craziest thing that Ai-Ai is doing for love. So what was it (her spoof of J.Lo’s semi-nude pose?)

“I got married (in Las Vegas) after going steady for one year and then separated (also in Las Vegas) after only 29 days,” she confessed. “O, di ba crazy ‘yon? Hahaha!!! But having a baby at my age is not crazy ha. I already had my eggs harvested. We’ll try it the natural way. Kung nagawa ni Janet Jackson at 50, why can’t I? Otherwise kung hindi pupuede scientific way na lang.”

The same question was thrown at Marco Sison and Hajji Alejandro with whom Ai-Ai is starring in the Valentine concert Hitmakers and Ai (set for Feb. 15 at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre of Resorts World Manila/RWM), plus Rey Valera who begged off from the presscon due to his judging duty as the punong-hurado (main juror) of Tawag Ng Tanghalan sa Showtime.

Mariel is having her ‘debut’ as a concert performer in Ogie’s show

“If you mean love for family,” replied Marco after thinking for a while, “it would be how I brought my family to the US because it seemed an impossible dream (suntok sa buwan) to secure immigrant visas at that time. But for love in general, I guess it was having a child out of wedlock. You know, when I get emotional, I can be suicidal ­— not that I would kill myself but that I would do anything drastic, ‘yung hindi ko na pinag-iisipan katulad na makabuntis. But I face my responsibility. Pinaninindigan ko ang ginawa o nagawa ko.”

What about Hajji?

“Getting married at an early age. I was 18 the first time I did it and I was immature. Isn’t that crazy? I wouldn’t advise anybody to get married that early. But then, the good thing is that I grew up with my daughters (from first marriage), Barnie (the ‘sexy chef’) and Rachel who were just like my barkada. If I didn’t have a show or wasn’t rehearsing, I would be at home playing with them. There was no age gap between us but the respect was there.

“Same with my son Ali (from second marriage to the late Rio Diaz). I had the pleasure of jamming with him as he grew up. I already have two grandchildren, one from Barnie and one from Ali. I’ll have to wait some time for Rachel and her husband (Spanish journalist Carlos Santamaria) to give me my third apo because wala yata silang balak magka-anak. They are just enjoying traveling together.”

Ai-Ai de las Alas with Hitmakers and Ai co-stars Marco Sison (left) and Hajji Alejandro, together with Rey Valera (not in photo).

Ai-Ai will provide the jokes during the Hitmakers and Ai concert since she’s believed to be the female counterpart of the late hitmaker Rico J. Puno (who usually performed with Hajji, Marco and Rey, sometimes with Nonoy Zuñiga). She might surprise the audience by wearing a tanga but being a papal awardee, she will be “tame” (not mahalay, “obscene”).

Incidentally, I hazard a guess that if he were to answer the same “crazy” question, Rey would recall how he composed most of his hit songs in the cemetery. Maybe Rey would tell the Hitmakers and Ai audience why.

(Hitmakers and Ai is presented by Starmedia Entertainent and Resorts World Manila, and sponsored by Mesa Filipino Moderne Restaurant and The Philippine STAR among the media partners. For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999.)

Why Ogie is in awe of Mr. C

 Also scheduled at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre of Resorts World Manila (RWM) is another Valentine concert, Master of Love (for tickets, also call Ticketworld at 891-9999) on Feb. 14 topbilling Ogie Alcasid who will be performing romantic songs by such “masters of love” as Basil Valdez, Hajji Alejandro and Rico J. Puno, as well as a medley of Barry Manilow songs. The musical director is National Artists Ryan “Mr. C” Cayabyab himself who will be joined by the Ryan Cayabyab Singers.

It’s understandable why Ogie said he’s “in awe” of Mr. C whom he considered not only “my master” but also “like a daddy to me” from whom he has learned a lot.

“I’ve known him for almost 30 years and I’ve never heard him talk ill about anybody,” adding that at 64, “Ryan has never stopped sustaining his music. That should be the case…the older music-makers become, the more productive they are. Walang dapat retirement sa kanila.”

Of Ryan’s hundreds of songs, Ogie picked three as his favorites: Tuwing Umuulan (“Because it was sung by my wife”), How Can I and Once Upon a Life.

“The third song was sung by Gary V, with music by Ryan and words by, if I remember right, a former Philippines Airlines president (Jun Cruz. ­— RFL),” noted Ogie. “I met Cory (Quirino) and she did mention that that song was written for her.” (Cory and Jun were married at that time. ­— RFL)

Ogie’s other guest is 2017 Bb. Pilipinas-International Mariel de Leon who’s having her “debut” as a concert performer. She is into classical music and doing a duet of All I Ask of You (from Phantom of the Opera, her favorite Broadway musical).

Anytime this year, Mariel is going to New York to enroll in a music school. She’ll be away for four years, away from her boyfriend (who is into computers, with whom she has reconciled after a short breakup) who will have to wait if and when he plans to propose to Mariel.

“I am 25,” said Mariel, “and I plan to settle down at 30.”

The other ‘Concert Queen’

When it’s Valentine season (especially), one lady who shares the limelight with the singers is Anna Puno (photo), touted to be the “Other Concert Queen” because she produces the most number of concerts both here and abroad throughout the year.

Head of Starmedia Concerts, Anna (former sister-in-law of Rico J. Puno) is celebrating her 15th anniversary as “Concert Queen” this year with even more shows.

• Valentine shows (local): Acoustic Love Journey with Ice Seguerra and Nyoy Volante, tonight at Palacio de Maynila; Timeless Classics with Martin Nievera and Lani Misalucha, Feb. 14 at PICC Plenary Hall; and Hitmakers and Ai (with the four singers mentioned at the start of this column), Feb. 15 at Newport Performing Arts Theatre of Resorts World Manila.

• USA Tours: Heart and Soul 3.0 with David Pomeranz, Nina and JayR in Temecula, Los Angeles, California, Feb. 22 and 24; He’s Back! Gary V with Gary Valenciano, Jona and Katrina Velarde, April 12 to 28 in six cities (LA, Cabazon, Pittsburg, Seattle, New York and Las Vegas); Vice Ganda in Chumash Casino/Pechanga Casino, May; and Laughing All The Way with Donita Nose and Super Tekla, May in LA, San Diego, Las Vegas, New York and Maryland.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)