Rumored couple Janine Gutierrez and Paulo Avelino will join the concerts of OPM icon Ogie Alcasid dubbed "OA sa Love in the USA" in California on March 26, April 2, and 3. It's the first time Janine and Paulo will appear together in a series of shows abroad, and they are simply excited.
"I'm super excited kasi first time kong magi-guest sa isang concert out of the country. First time ko rin nagka-working visa for the US so ang dami kong firsts for this trip. Ang sayang isipin na after two years meron uling audience na makakaharap. So super excited to see everyone in the US," said Janine during a Zoom with the entertainment press on March 14. The group is expected to leave for Los Angeles on March 24.
Paulo said there will be solo and production numbers during the shows. Aside from this, the actor said he can't wait to visit the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. "Excited akong mapuntahan ang Star Wars Galaxy. Gusto ko s'yang makita. Parang gusto rin pumunta ni Kuya Ogie sa Star Wars Galaxy."
"Alam n'yo naman na Star Wars addict din ako eh. Kaya lang hindi ko kasama si Nate at yung asawa ko kaya nagi-guilty lang ako eh. Bahala na," said Ogie.
Beyond sightseeing, Ogie said that he's a bit emotional now that the concert scene is starting to open up again.
"Alam n'yo naman na iyakin ako. Sabi sa akin ni Vice, nung pakanta na raw s'ya at naririnig na niya yung mga tao, grabe raw yung iyak niya. I'm pretty sure mararamdaman ko rin yun. So I'll try to keep it together. Sino ba mag-a-akala? Ano ba? Babalik pa ba tayo sa dati? Makaka-perform pa ba tayo? Tinamaan talaga ang entertainment industry (ng pandemic). Lahat yun bitbit ko. But I'm hopeful and excited that we were given this opportunity," he said.
Ogie said that his US shows were supposed to kick off in 2020, but they were rescheduled due to the pandemic. This time, he believes that the Filipino entertainers are ready for the concert scene here and abroad.
"This concert was supposed to be held in 2020. Nung tinamaan na tayo ng pandemic, na-delay na. Our producers said ituloy na natin. Itong January, nagkaroon tayo ng Omicron so parang di na naman matutuloy. And then nagsubside si Omicron at medyo gumaan ang health protocols. So binalak na namin ituloy. Ang dami na ring concert na nagtuluyan. I think the last one was Vice Ganda's tour. Then I think Dingdong and Jessa had a concert this weekend. So kami na yung susunod.
"Ang hudyat nito I think is manood na lang kayo ng NBA. Ang dami-dami ng tao. Super Bowl ang dami ring tao. So I think we're all ready. Maging dito sa Pilipinas pati sa kampanya ang dami-dami na ring tao. I think as long as we're careful, and we protect ourselves at all time, ready na tayo. Hindi mawawala ang pangamba. Hindi rin mawawala yung paranoia, but I think we have to get over that," Ogie also said.
Ogie said he is looking forward to bond with Janine and Paulo in the US. "Dapat magbonding din tayong tatlo sa US. Personally, I will have a music video shoot on the 30th with Troy Laureta, the musical director of Ariana Grande. Meron kaming collab we worked on it, so we will be releasing it pagbalik ko siguro. Trabaho pa rin. Janine and Paulo deserve a break. Kaliwa't kanan ang inyong mga taping. You deserve to enjoy each other's company and to tour the US together. Sabihin nyo lang kung saan nyo gusto pumunta. I'll be more than willing to chaperone you both."
For the US shows, Ogie said: "Bago lahat ang areglo ng kanta ko. I'm excted to sing with them. I think duet namin ni Janine is 'Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?' And then meron kaming tatlong production number. Yung duet namin ni Pau hindi OPM. Our number is 'When You Say Nothing At All.' Feeling ko yun ang kanta ni Paulo kay Janine. I want everybody to have a good time. Gusto ko good vibes lang talaga sa audience ko."
Ogie also announced the staging of his three concerts in the country this year. "I will have three concerts before the year ends. So andyan na yan. Sunod-sunod na yan. 'Kilabotitos,' I think, will be at the very end of this year. Birthday ko rin sa August at may concert ako. And then I have another concert. So tatlong concert here in the Philippines."
* Paulo & Janine: The real score
Paulo and Janine appeared together in the TV series "Marry Me, Marry You" on ABS-CBN. But their fans believe they are an item.
"I enjoy working with Pau and I think marami pa kaming magagawa together. So I'm looking forwrad to it," said Janine when asked about her working relationship with Paulo.
On the other hand, Paulo said he's hopeful that he and Janine will have a follow-up project soon.
When asked about the status of their relationship, Paulo said: "Busy ako ngayon. May ginagawa akong isang project ngayon na sikreto ako na kasama ako. Si Janine naman katatapos lang ng isang iWant series niya. So work muna."
Janine, 32, described her relationship with Paulo on a happy level. "Sa masayang level. Happy lang and I'm looking forward to this trip. Still grateful sa lahat ng pinagsamahan."
"HIndi ko alam kung may dapat aminin dahil may kanya kanya kaming trabaho at ginagawa. Tignan natin. Malay mo kausapin na ako ni Janine pag nasa US na since hindi niya ako kinakausap since 'Marry Me, Marry You,' " said Paulo.
While in the US, Paulo, 33, said he will visit his 11-year-old son Aki. "Actually, nasabi ko na sa mommy niya. Tinatanong lang yung dates pero andun na rin ako and I haven't seen my son."
Janine is expected to accompany Paulo when he visits his son in New York.
Asked how Paulo would introduce Janine to Aki, the award-winning actor said: "Direcho na. Aki, nanay mo! Joke lang! Pero excited na excited na ako makausap ang anak ko kasi nagi-school na rin siya run."