More than three decades after it first hit the airwaves, singer-songwriter’s Ogie Alcasid’s iconic “Nandito Ako” is enjoying an unexpected comeback.
Originally released in 1990 and written by Aaron Paul del Rosario, the song has found a powerful second life thanks to a new generation of listeners and now racks up over 3.3 million monthly streams on Spotify.
“For many years, halos steady lang yung Spotify listeners ko,” Ogie shared last Friday, September 19 at SuperSam in Quezon City. “Mga 450,000-500,000. Tapos biglang naging 3.3 million. Grabe. By God’s grace talaga. Sobrang grateful ako.”
The boost came after rising artist Rob Deniel performed a heartfelt cover of “Nandito Ako” during a tribute to Ogie on Wish 107.5. Rob’s emotional interpretation struck a chord online and went viral months after the show aired.
“Ang galing ng pagkakanta niya,” Ogie recalled. “Napapanood ko siya habang nasa audience ako, tapos in-awardan ako. Parang months after, bigla na lang nag-viral. Nandito Ako and then ‘Ikaw Sana.’ So people, especially the younger ones, started discovering the original versions. Tiningnan ko ‘yung Spotify ko, biglang tumataas na yung numbers. From 500k, naging 3.3 million. Ang saya. Parang hindi ako makapaniwala… biglang may bagong audience.”
Beyond the numbers, Ogie confessed that the song was originally written for a third wheel.
“Back then, si Manilyn Reynes walang ka-love team. Parang nawala yung tambalan nila ni Janno. Sabi ni Aaron, ‘What if si Ogie ‘yung third wheel, tapos siya ‘yung kakanta na parang nagsasabing, nandito pa rin ako para sa’yo.’ Kaya ganun ‘yung theme ng kanta. It was a song for someone left behind.”
“But now, after all these years, iba na ‘yung ibig sabihin sa akin,” he continued. “Parang naging kanta na rin siya about God. Yung ‘Nandito Ako’ — para sa akin ngayon, it’s like God saying to us, ‘I’m here. I’m not leaving you.’ Alam mo ‘yun? Ganun na ‘yung dating niya sa akin ngayon. Sobrang meaningful.”
Rob Deniel’s version, as well as Ogie’s spontaneous duet with “It’s Showtime” guest judge Kai Montinola of “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang,” helped open the doors wider for younger listeners. The “It’s Showtime” duet went viral on Facebook, drawing over 30 million views.
“Yung moment na ‘yun, hindi ko in-expect,” Ogie said. “Akala ko kakanta lang kami saglit. Tapos nag-trending siya. Kinabukasan, pati mga tao sa ‘Showtime,’ sinasabi nila, ‘Kuya Ogie, nag-viral ka.’ Pati ‘yung nagbebenta ng taho sa labas nagsabi, ‘Kuya trending ka na naman ha.’ Natatawa na lang ako. Pero sobrang saya. Sobrang appreciative ako.”
Asked if he had been intentionally strategizing how to reach younger fans, the singer-songwriter was candid.
“Actually, I was trying to figure that out for a while. Sabi ko, ‘Paano ko ba mapapalawak yung audience ko sa Spotify? Puro ka-age natin ‘yung nakikinig, ‘yung hindi naman masyado mahilig sa Spotify’,” he told members of the press, “Kaya nagsimula akong magsulat ng bagong kanta — ‘yung ‘Hanggang Dito Na Lang Ba Tayo?’ and ‘In Lab.’ Then unti-unti, nagkakaroon ng traction. Tapos dumating ‘yung tribute ng Wish. Parang ‘yun na ang simula ng pag-akyat talaga.”
Despite being known as a songwriter, Ogie remains vocal in crediting Aaron Paul del Rosario for “Nandito Ako.”
“Lagi akong tinatanong kung ano ‘yung kantang nagde-define sa akin. Lagi kong sinasagot, ‘Nandito Ako.’ Pero hindi ako ang sumulat nun. Si Aaron ‘yun. Kaya gusto ko talagang banggitin at pasalamatan siya. That song changed my life.”
The song has been covered by international stars like Thalía, David Archuleta, and even Hugh Jackman, who once sang a few lines of it during an interview. But Ogie’s original remains the definitive version — now heard in playlists of 20-somethings who weren’t even born when it first came out.
Ogie has plans to record a new version with a full orchestral arrangement.
“I heard the new arrangement habang nasa London ako. Sabi ko kay Bobby Velasco, my musical director now, gusto ko may strings, gusto ko may drama. Pinakinggan ko ‘yung demo, tapos sabi ko, ‘Oh my God. This is it. Ang ganda.’ I’m recording it soon.”
As for live performances, Ogie will return to the stage with Odette Quesada on November 7 at the MOA Arena.
“Last year nag-tour kami ni Odette, tatlong shows lang. Pero parang bitin,” he said. “So sabi namin, gawin natin ulit dito sa Manila. I’m super excited for that.”
Ogie is also in talks with Viva and ABS-CBN’s Jonathan Manalo for possible collaborations where younger artists will reimagine his older hits.
“Gusto ko silang bigyan ng opportunity to interpret the songs in their own way. Pwede silang gumawa ng sarili nilang version or pwede kaming mag-collab. Nakakatuwa kasi songs I wrote more than 30 years ago, buhay na naman. Buhay ulit.
“Ang saya kasi when people discover one song, usually they go deep. Nakikinig sila ng buong discography mo. Kaya biglang tumataas din ‘yung iba kong kanta.”
Reflecting on his current success, Ogie said he’s not just overwhelmed — he’s inspired.
“Sobrang nakaka-encourage. After 36 years in the business, andito pa rin ako. May mga bagong listeners, bagong pagkakataon. Hindi ko alam kung saan pa ito dadalhin ni Lord, pero I’m just thankful. Kasi ang tagal na ng kantang ‘yan — pero parang bago ulit ngayon.”
In the course of the interview, Ogie revealed that he will march with protesters against corruption on EDSA this Sunday, September 21 — just as he did in 1986, during the peaceful People Power Revolution thirty-nine years ago. He believes it’s the right thing to do, as does his wife, Regine Velasquez, and their 13-year-old son, Nate, who is already aware and engaged with what’s happening in the country.
At 58, Ogie has not lost the fire in his belly. He remains passionate about God and country, dedicated to his music and his family, and forever grateful to his fans.
“Kaya ko lang talaga gustong sabihin… thank you. Sa lahat ng nakikinig ulit. Sa mga bata, sa mga dati ko nang fans. Thank you. Nandito pa rin ako.”
