Thank you for the music, Gary and Martin - DIRECT LINE by Boy Abunda

We often say that show business is a thankless job. It’s not always true.

Last week, I wanted to Shout for Joy when Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera sang solos and a duet in The Boy Abunda Radio Show (TBARS) live from SM Megamall. I didn’t blink Kahit Isang Saglit, afraid that I’d miss the magic of their presence and the supernatural powers of their voices. I was lucky and grateful that I was there when Gary and Martin (the two greatest pop singers in this country) sang I Will Be Here together. It was a magnificent moment of music and friendship.

It was also a humbling experience to watch two great entertainers – so generous, so giving – no wonder they’re so blessed. In my heart, I knew how undeserving we were of their presence – we’re not even a big radio show. We’re just a small radio program on 1026 AM – where Ronnie Carrasco, Jobert Sucaldito and I talk, laugh, rant, natter everyday (Monday to Friday, 4 to 5:30) about the things that happen in a business we love passionately. We also argue about things that don’t happen at all. We report on the horrific traffic situation in the city – straight from the motorcycle riding angels who roam around the city to help the despondent and the helpless. We even tirelessly discuss the incomprehensible anatomy of Manila’s traffic.

During the impeachment trial, TBARS devoted enormous airtime on our honest, wild, impassioned viewpoints on the goings-on in the trial. Some listeners would complain that they wanted to hear more about Dino Guevarra and Kim de los Santos, Ate Guy and Mayor Vi. But there was no stopping us. We would talk about the opening statements of both prosecutors and defense lawyers, the testimony of hostile and adverse witnesses, the admissibility of evidence, the manifestations of lawyers, the clarificatory questions of senators – in between all these, we would talk about Piolo Pascual and Judy Ann Santos, Rico Yan and Claudine Barretto. It was radio at its most exciting – when hardcore entertainment merged naturally with mainstream politics. We had fun, Your Honors!

So last week at Megamall, we felt it was a celebration of sorts – of all the new tricks we would learn everyday, of all the laughter we would share with our loyal listeners, of all the mishaps that we continue to commit on air, of all the fun that come straight from our hearts. And we had Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Jamie Rivera and Zhar to celebrate this with us. How can you not be grateful?

When Martin sang You Are My Song, Jobert turned catatonic. When Gary sang Love is the Answer, Ronnie’s big smile became a validation of all the love he is capable of giving. I repented, when I heard Gary sing Hindi Kita Malilimutan.

Can you imagine the Philippine music industry without Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera? It would be like an ocean without a fish, a forest without trees, a sky without stars, a stage without actors, a song without a singer, a movie industry without Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos.

Thank you Gary and Martin for the music – the great music that have inspired people to live and love. Thank you for the songs that gave company to countless lovers who found and lost love. Thank you for saying the words that people would not normally say. Thank you for being the perfect friends most of us will never physically see and hold in a lifetime. But your songs will always be the background of our life stories.

When Gary sings ‘Di Na Natuto, we smile at our own foibles and silly hearts. When Martin sings Be My Lady and Forever, we all become blushing, virginal debutantes. When Gary asks Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos? we realize that He isn’t. We dance in celebration of His infinite goodness when Gary Shouts for Joy and we continue to jump and swing in good fun when he tells us to Hataw Na.

My soul quivers and my body succumbs to human temptation when Martin looks at me straight in the eye and tells me I’m a Wildflower. I hate myself when he doesn’t let go of me whispering You Are My Song, You Are My Everything. The Best of Me simply becomes a helpless victim of worldly infatuation.

But when I listen to Gary say Take Me Out of the Dark, I run to Him and kneel and pray for strength and propriety. And He never says Di Bale Na Lang. But deep inside my heart, I pray that Sana Maulit Muli. And when things don’t work, I try.

And Martin is there to say what I can’t say in Before You Say Goodbye or Never Ever Say Goodbye, you and I pray for a Miracle or Gary exhorts us Could You Be Messiah? We try to Smile the way Martin does but sometimes we just have to live Separate Lives. And when we listen to Gary say, Until Then – Martin continues to haunt you that yes, there is Forever More.

Salamat Gary. Salamat Martin.