Ogie Alcasid

Philippine luminary Ogie Alcasid, already a dozen years deep into his recording career, sustains himself through stand-up routines, acting parts, and vocal performances, yet the once-reserved youth from Kunidirana finds his professional momentum building rather than waning. Three breakout singles—“Nandito Ako,” “Sa Kanya,” and “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang”—propelled that momentum forward. Sensing the unpredictability of audience tastes, he pivoted to television, channeling his natural comedic timing into a partnership with Janno Gibbs that quickly expanded his credits. Screen roles followed, among them portrayals of genies and dwarfs, while his restless curiosity also led him onto theatrical stages in several musical productions. Success has accompanied nearly every venture; he wed an Australian beauty queen, and the couple welcomed a daughter, yet domestic life alongside such a figure did nothing to stall his output. After departing OctoArts Records for MCA/Universal, he delivered the album Then and Now, widely regarded as the strongest of his catalog. The project contains seven original compositions from Alcasid himself plus seven reinterpretations of classic love songs, one of which updates “I’ve Never Been to Me,” the Charlene hit. Marking his first full-length release in two years, the collection succeeded where its predecessor, All the Best, had faltered; that earlier effort, viewed as overly ambitious, featured an experimental rap track that alienated segments of his audience. Multiple MTV Award nominations in the Philippines have recognized his work, and he regularly joins the nation’s leading entertainers at charity golf events such as the Omega Cup Invitational Opening.