Big mouth has brought Martin places

Unlike most showbiz denizens who become amnesiac at the slightest taste of success, Martin Nievera has a photographic memory. He always gives credit where credit is due, like last Saturday at the presscon for Big Mouth. Big Heart. Big Night., a concert for the Katutubong Dumagat produced by the Outbox Media Powerhouse Corp. of the Taberna couple Anthony and Rossel.

“Do you know who gave me the ‘title’ Big Mouth?” Martin asked the movie writers. “It was Bob Castillo who wrote it in his column. He was also the first to call me Concert King.”

How nice of Martin to always remember our good friend Bob who died in 1989 when he was Entertainment Editor/Columnist of People’s Journal. Martin doesn’t get tired of paying tribute to Bob every chance he gets.

“My Big Mouth has brought me places,” admitted Martin in all humility. “It has gotten me jobs and it has gotten me into trouble.”

Of course, the public knows most of the troubles that Martin has gotten enmeshed in, including those that involved his personal life, so well publicized that there’s no need to mention even a bit of it here.

Oops! His love life. At last Saturday’s presscon, as the topic turned to his kind of music (trivia: his version of Kahit Isang Saglit is so heart-tugging that it never fails to make people cry, this one included; it’s also former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s favorite song), Funfare casually asked Martin if his is, well, “active.” Unlike before when he guarded his private life with ferocity, Martin readily said yes, he has a new love (a few years after he broke up with Katrina Ojeda who is based in Las Vegas with her and Martin’s son).

“In fact,” he added, “she is there outside” — that is, outside of the room where the presscon was, held at the Tabernas’ Ka Tunying Restaurant on Timog Ave., Quezon City, with two outlets on Visayas Ave. also in Q.C. and at the NAIA 3 — but begged the press’ pardon, “but don’t take her pictures because she’s not in showbiz. I’m trying so hard not to get her involved in showbiz. I’m very much in love with her and I’m very happy.”

He has learned his lessons, hard ones, especially during his controversial break-up with wife Pops Fernandez which was dissected to bits and pieces not just by newspapers but on national television.

Martin Nievera (rightmost) with Anthony Taberna and wife Rossel.

Explaining why he’s keeping his personal life to himself, Martin said, “The moment I make public the identity of my girlfriend, it becomes yours and no longer just mine, and everything I have belongs to all of us. As far as my love life is concerned, I want to save whatever I can. Kawawa naman ang girl. She doesn’t know what could happen to her once na-exposed na siya.”

And what is his favorite song for his girlfriend?

“The Last Time,” said Martin, adding, “the last time I am falling in love.”

Now into his 35th year in showbiz, Martin replied when asked about his current state of being, his status in the industry.

“I’m glad that I am still here. I’m still being asked to do things. I’m not as in-demand as I used to be and that’s the reality that we have to face. That my phone still constantly rings means a lot to me.”

In the next breath, he conceded that there are talents cropping up every other week, ruing over the sad reality that the new breed of stars is far removed from the older breed.

“They don’t even know how to say ‘hello’ or how to say ‘thank you,’” said Martin. “They don’t know how to be humble which is one of the traits that keep you (long and strong) in the industry. To stay in the business, you have to be not just humble but also to be current, updated and to keep both feet on the ground.”

And speaking of charity, Martin said that he doesn’t have his own foundation unlike some of his colleagues although he is ready, willing and able to donate his service to fund-raising projects such as the Tabernas’ Big Mouth. Big Heart. Big Night.

“If you’re being charitable, you shouldn’t be talking about it. That’s why I don’t have my own foundation.” (When Derek Ramsay celebrated his birthday a few years ago by helping build houses for Habitat, Martin was among those who helped Derek.)

For Big Mouth. Big Heart. Big Night., Martin will have as co-performers Cacai Bautista, KZ Tandingan and the Taberna daughters.

“Martin has such a big heart,” said Anthony. “Kahit mataas maningil sa iba, he didn’t have any second thoughts when we asked him to do the concert.” (Anthony didn’t reveal how much Martin is paid or if he’s doing it gratis et amore.)

Outbox Media Powerhouse Corp. couldn’t have made this event possible without its media partners: Waterfront Hotels and Casinos, Chinese General Hospital, Foton Motors Philippines, Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corp., Tapa King, Bounty Fresh Chicken, San Miguel Corp., Chelsea Logistics Corp., New San Jose Builders, Hotel Sogo, P.A. Properties and Development Corp., Acacia Hotel Manila, Petrol, Royce Motors, Ferna Corp., Mega Soft Hygienic Products, Inc., Uratex and ARC Refreshments Corp., WheninManila.com, ClickTheCity and Crossover 105.1.

For tickets, call 703-4239.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)