Nagluluksa si Ogie Alcasid sa pagpanaw ng long-time manager niyang si Leo Dominguez ng LVD Management Corporation.

Pumanaw ang veteran talent manager noong May 23 sa edad na 56. Ang kanyang pagyao ay kinumpirma ng kanyang pamilya sa pamamagitan ng isang Facebook post.

Bukod kay Ogie, naging alaga rin ni Leo ang iba pang celebrities gaya nina Lovi Poe, Paulo Avelino, Janine Gutierrez at marami pang iba.

Sa kanyang FB at Instagram accounts ay nagbigay ng maramdaming tribute si Ogie para sa kanyang manager, kaibigan at dating classmate sa high school.

“When we were in 4th year high school and members of the high school singing group the Kundirana, Leo Dominguez told me that i should be a professional singer songwriter and I thought he was kidding me. As fate would have it, he eventually became my manager for almost 34 years,” simula ni Ogie.

Kasunod nito ay inalala ng singer-songwriter ang mga pinagsamahan nila ni Leo.

“Leo was family to me. He was my carpool mate, my classmate, my neighbor, my kachismisan, my travelling companion, my critic, my fan, my brother, and perhaps my biggest protector. There are just too many stories. Just so many.

“All of them give me a huge smile in my heart because Leo and I just had a fantastic working relationship that was easy and uncomplicated. We were a perfect match. We always had a good laugh.

Inspite of the many challenges we faced, tumatawa lang kami,” aniya pa.

“During the recent years, Leo could not watch me perform because of his limitations with mobility but one concert of mine that he didn’t want to miss was my concert at the Araneta in 2018. Sabi nya, ‘naiyak ako ogie noong nakita kita mag perform lalo na nung kasama mo family mo. Eto yung pinangarap natin noon pa. Naiyak ako.’

“Sabi ko ang dami kong concert doon ka pa naiyak. Yun pala ang huling malaking concert ko na mapapanuod nya,” pagbabahagi ni Ogie.

“As far as my film and tv career was concerned, siya ang unang humihikayat sa akin that i could do it as he was a huge music and movie fan as well.

“One time naman we were in Spain and throughout all the land trips nagkukwento si Leo tungkol sa movies and music. His knowledge about these topics is immeasurable. So he was telling us the story of one of direk Gil Portes’ films ‘merika and how he enjoyed the film.

“I remember we were about to board this train that would take us to the mountain top church of the sacred heart in barcelona. Lo and behold as the train stops, guess who comes down from the train? None other than direk Gil Portes. What are the chances di ba?” pag-alala pa ni Ogie.

Inalala rin niya ang isang nakakatuwang insidente na nangyari sa kanila ng manager.

“One of the funniest stories was when i had to perform in a tiny japanese bar in Tokyo. Nag aaway at nagtatalo kasi sila ni Rey Lanada kaya habang nagpeperform ako so naririnig sila ng audience na nagmumurahan sa likod. Hahahaha…,” kwento ni Ogie.

Ayon sa singer, habang isinusulat niya ito ay umiiyak siya and at the same time ay napapangiti sa masasayang memories nila.

“While I am writing this, i am weeping with so much pain in my heart and at the same time smiling at all the good memories. This was your effect on us Leo. You drove us crazy but you made us laugh so hard and this is why we love you so much,” he wrote.

Kasunod nito ay taus-pusong nagpasalamat si Ogie at nagbigay ng mensahe sa pumanaw na manager.

“Leo, my dear Leo. I thank you for believing in a short singer like me. Thank you for taking this journey of taking life as it is and making the most of what it could offer.

“You are a priceless and most precious friend and mentor Leo. Go rest with Jesus now and listen to all the blondie songs with the angels.

“Go tell them how Genevieve Bujold was the best ever actress when you were growing up and Kate Blanchett took over when you got older and that Snooky was our fave.

“Go wear your heavenly Hermes bags and cuddle up with your new pet animals there. We miss you already leo. We so much miss you. I love you,” pagtatapos ng singer-songwriter.