Regine goes on maternity leave

“MANILA, Philippines - Yes, Ogie and I are having a baby,” Regine Velasquez confirmed yesterday on the GMA noontime show Party Pilipinas what everybody already knew all along. “It’s the best birthday gift for me and Ogie,” added Regine who is turning 41 on Good Friday, April 22.

In a brief phone interview with The STAR, Ogie Alcasid, 44, said that Regine, who is into her seventh week of pregnancy, will go on maternity leave because she has been advised by her doctor to take a bed rest for three months (the first trimester) since she’s undergoing a difficult pregnancy.

“The leave will last until she gives birth sometime in December and then she will rest for a few months,” added Ogie who will be a father for the third time. He has two daughters with ex-wife Michelle van Eimeren who has remarried and is based in her native Australia.

Ogie and Regine were supposed to go on a “delayed honeymoon” in Europe but had to scrap it when Regine was confirmed to be pregnant. At first, the couple, who were married on Dec. 22 last year, kept Regine’s pregnancy until they got a go-signal from her doctor.

“I knew she was pregnant early last month when she nearly fainted after we sang a duet on Party Pilipinas,” recalled Ogie. “She also often suffered from dizziness but I suspected it wasn’t just due to her migraine.”

Two Sundays ago, Regine announced on Party Pilipinas that she was quitting the GMA sitcom I Heart You Pare (with Dingdong Dantes) and was being replaced by Iza Calzado. With her pregnancy, her other projects have to be put on hold, including her long-delayed movie with Aga Muhlach for Viva Films/Star Cinema.

“More than work,” said Regine, “what’s more important is my family and the safety of our baby.”