Ogie Alcasid (center) is shown in photo with from left, Jose Laderas Santos, Marlene Ruth Sanchez, Adel Suemith, and Urbana Cadiz

MANILA, Philippines -- Our congratulations go to multi-awarded singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid for having been appointed by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as Heritage Ambassador.

For him, this is an exciting and challenging role to take even if he is already saddled with work as TV host, actor and entrepreneur, and president of the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM).

Promoting heritage is not entirely new for Ogie as his family, particularly his mother Mini Alcasid, is active in heritage advocacy. And so, he did not hesitate to help out when the NCCA asked him to endorse and promote the activities of the National Heritage Month, which incidentally kicked off with a grand opening ceremony at the Rizal Park and National Museum last May 1 with a pre-program that included a Santacruzan, an exhibit on the Vintage Scenarios of Manila; Philippine National Cultural Treasures and World Heritage Sites; and Heritage Conservation activities of the Esuella Taller and Intramuros Administration; a food festival of authentic Filipino cuisines and delicacies.

Program proper includes performances by the Kalanguya School of Living Traditions group, Alonzo Saclag and the Kalinga Budong Dance Group and Uwang Ahadas as well as Filipino folk dances by the Barangay Folk Dance Troupe. These will be capped by kundiman performances by Aretha Ancao and Ogie himself accompanied by the Banda Kawayan.

Ogie will be utilizing his popularity to call attention to the Philippines’ heritage, generate greater awareness on its plight and foster wider appreciation of its importance and beauty. These he will do for the celebration of National Heritage Month which the NCCA is spearheading this month of May.

This year’s celebration is led by the NCCA’s Subcommission on Cultural Heritage headed by Regalado Trota Jose, with a lineup of activities for a whole month that will surely feed the soul. This year’s theme, “Taoid: Weaving Our Stories, Threading our Paths” will give us a glimpse of the legacies of the past and how it remains to shape the present and the future.

Other activities are Angat Kabataan! Preservation of the Philippine Churches Declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and National Cultural Treasures, a three-day youth camp initiated by the NCCA-National Committee on Archives (NCA) in Iloilo this month, a Cordillera textile exhibit at the Tam-Awan Artists Village in Baguio City, a pilgrimage to the country’s old churches, a Sta. Ana Church misa cantada; a performance by Coke Balipata and the Pundaquit Virtuouis at St. Peter and Paul Church in Calasiao, Pangasinan.

The National Heritage Month will end on May 27 in Dapitan City, ushering in the main celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of our National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

By the way, NCCA is led by its OIC-Chairman, Jose Laderas Santos, and its executive director, Malou Jacob.

‘My Chubby World’ airs today

A weekly morning children’s show, “My Chubby World,” which will “teach us a lot,” begins airing on Saturday at 8:15 on GMA-7.

The show is hosted by four intelligent children, Renz Valerio, Zyrael Jestre, Daniela Amable and Gianna Cutler.

In every episode, the hosts enumerates top seven things that kids like for the topic or theme of the week – be it children’s favorite sports, pets, earth-friendly habits, entertainment and more!

For the first episode, Renz, Daniela, Zyrael and Gianna will give a timely presentation on the top seven activities which kids love to do during summer.

Gianna, an eight-year old charming girl, said: “We will learn a lot from the show.” She speaks fluently and exudes much confidence on herself. It is not her first time though to appear on TV. She was seen in “Beauty Queen.”

Daniela herself would also like to become an actress. She was also seen in Beauty Queen. Her father, whom she has not seen yet, is a German.

“My Chubby World” will help kids be updated with the latest and coolest stuff, and it will also guide parents through things that get their children enthusiastic and all fired up.

Anna Ledesma’s  ‘white house’ blessing

Anna Ledesma, a famous leading lady of the Philippine movies during the late ’60s, had a house blessing last April 15 at Urdaneta Village, Makati City.

She now calls her home “white house” because it was painted white and decorated with her rare ivory collection.

Anna, was a former Miss Lux, and leading lady to Victor Wood in “Sweet Caroline” (1971), Roberto Gonzalez in “Hari ng Karate” (1969) and even the great Dolphy in “Ang Banal, Ang Ganid at Ang Pusakal” (1968).

Thanks to her business savvy, Anna is now living luxuriously indulging in some businesses and charitable works on the side. She has two children, Pat and Ashley, who are both in the US.

The intimate gathering was attended by Anna’s friends in and out of showbiz, led by movie icon Amalia Fuentes, who came along with a colleague from Sampaguita Pictures, Liberty Ilagan.

Also seen were the sexy stars of the ’70s: Azenith Briones, Liz Alindogan & Dinah Dominguez; Anna’s associates from the civic circles like former Miss Caltex Elsa Payumo; and the jukebox queen herself Imelda Papin, who announced that she will have a concert this July 2 at the Resort World with the “men of the ’80s” – Randy Santiago, Louie Heredia, Raymond Lauchengco and Gino Padilla.

With Anna entertaining guests was her special friend, businessman and former Roxas Mayor Carlito Feras.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, May 14, go to Judge Corona Ibay Somera, former beauty queen Chita Z. Arnaiz, artist Rachel Lobangco, socialite Becky Garcia, Sandee S. Masigan, Rose Prudencio, Vic Revilla, Kylle Adrien B. Espiritu, Rudolph Armas and Joseph Anthony Parlan of New York, USA; Angel Joshua Velasco of LA, California; and the “Crystal Voice” Marri Nallos… Happy wedding anniversary to Boy and Shirley Dominguez of London…