A rare occurrence in Philippine recording happened recently. And, what’s that?
A pop artist and an orchestra collaborating on an album has never happened in the annals of local recording until lately.
I am referring to NakaLokal, Ogie Alcasid’s debut on Star Music.
After his refreshing return to ABS-CBN last year, Alcasid makes another soaring move as a Kapamilya with NakakaLokal, a first-of-its-kind musical collaboration with the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra.
This is the first joint project of the orchestra with a solo artist in an album, a history-in-the-making in the local music industry.
The symphonic music of the orchestra, led by its music director Gerard Salonga, complements Alcasid’s music.
“A song always sounds best when it’s with the orchestra as there are a lot of things you can’t do with a software that the orchestra can deliver. One of my biggest dreams was to work with the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra and it was a blessing they said ‘yes’,” Ogie shared.
The award-winning artist’s new collection has 10 tracks, six of which are original including “Nakakalokal,” “Ikaw ang Tanging Pag-ibig Ko,” “Akala Ko,” “Di Na Muli,” “Di Ka Pababayaan,” and “Do You Wanna Dance With Me.”
He is most excited about the song “Nakakalokal,” which has been chosen as the official theme song of this year’s songwriting competition, Himig Handog PPop Love Songs.
“It has brasses, with the horn section, with guitar and strings. It proudly showcases Pinoy music at its best,” he revealed.
In addition to his new songs, Alcasid has a medley with another OPM icon and Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez who is his wife. These include classic hits “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw,” “Pangako” and “Hanggang Ngayon.”
The singer-host-actor also has three cover songs in this highly anticipated album. These include “Kailangan Kita,” the theme song of Star Cinema’s film with the same title starring Claudine Barretto and Aga Muhlach; “Ikaw ang Aking Pangarap” from the top-rating ABS-CBN teleserye Lobo starring Angel Locsin and Piolo Pascual; and “Ikaw Lamang,” the theme song of the film Dubai,” also a Star Cinema production starring John Lloyd Cruz, Barretto and Muhlach.
The multi-awarded artist has released more than 20 albums in the past with gold, platinum and double platinum feats, highly contributing to the local music scene with songs he wrote that incude well-loved and timeless love songs and unforgettable performances.
NakakaLokal is out now on digital stores worldwide and available at all record and video stores nationwide for only P350.
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It was a night of glitz and glamor as Mary Divine Sagaral Austria celebrated her birthday. July 16 at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City saw the gathering of Manila’s beautiful set that includes Cory Quirino, Ricky Davao, Jay Manalo, EJ Falcon, Ara Mina, Jean Saburit, Eva Eugenio, Imelda Papin, Aubrey Miles, Jessa Zaragoza ,Darius Razon, Andrea Brillante, fashion designer Boy Lizaso, and Becky Garcia, Al Perez, to name a few.
Austria joined by her famous husband Tam P. Austria, daughter Sistine A. Van Loan and son Mike Austria and their families mingled with their invited guests.
The celebration opened with a world-class production of the Club Mwah performers, thanks to Pocholo Malillin. A fashion show featuring Boy Lizaso’s creations followed. Mike Austria’s band provided music to the event hosted Johnny Litton.