But what if Martin... - DIRECT LINE by Boy Abunda

In retrospect, I must admit how scared I was while watching this year’s Metropop. My fat belly wobbled and my knees weakened because Martin Nievera was the interpreter of Louie Ocampo and Joey Ayala’s entry, Pag-uwi. It dawned on me as I quivered in anxiety that regardless of the clear emphasis of the hosts that the Metropop is a songwriting contest, not a singing competition – it was, it still is a singing competition and Martin Nievera was a contestant to millions of people watching TV in their homes all around the country.

What if the song lost? Then Martin Nievera would have lost. Then the Concert King would have been crushed into embarrassing, pathetic pieces of musical notes by his opponent. I remember sweating profusely like a nervous expectant first-time father, praying that his baby is well. I haven’t been an expectant father but I’ve seen them in movies.

A couple of weeks before the Metropop, I met up with Martin in Juday’s resto-bar, Kilimanjaro. After an interesting, light African dinner and the normal verbal skirmish that Martin and I would indulge in, he bodily dragged me and Bettina (Aspillaga, my production manager) to his car where he made us listen to Pag-uwi. He declared that night, that yes, he was interpreting the song in the Metropop. I listened intently to the song and I remember having been moved by it. It was a beautiful song. And Martin sang it like it was his last song.

I didn’t weep but I was immensely impressed by the song but the Metropop was farthest from my mind even if he had already told me it was a contest-piece for the Metropop.

Back to that night of terror, I was consumed by the toxic repercussions of Martin’s possible loss. I had various disparaging headlines in my head – "The Concert King Loses Singing Contest!" "Martin Nievera Talo!"

Oh my Lord, what do we do? How do we explain to everyone Martin was simply interpreting a song in a songwriting competition? Who would listen? Everyone would say we are defensive idiots. I wanted to call each judge in the Metropop and beg and cajole them to make him win – in exchange for anything we possess in this world, my body included! But that would have been indecent. I decided to pray.

And in retrospect, I must give it to Martin for his faith in the talent of his best friend Louie Ocampo and Joey Ayala. Would Martin have done it for someone who is just as talented as Louie? Quite frankly, I don’t think so. Martin is a fiercely loyal friend who loves and sings unconditionally.

Thank God he won the Grand Prize of this year’s Metropop. Thank God Louie’s song (lyrics by Joey Ayala) is brilliant. Thank God I didn’t have to be defensive. Thank God Martin is bold and courageous at a time when he can afford to take a nice walk in the park!

But what if ... he lost?

Oh well! He won and he deserved it as well. Oh yes, it was not a singing contest but Martin won as best singer in the hearts of millions of fans watching that night.

Mesmerizing performance

Two weeks ago, I saw Martin at Onstage. For three straight hours, I watched him as if I have never seen him perform. He never fails to mesmerize me with his voice, his wit, his sensuality (he has this extraordinary talent to seduce and withdraw just at the nick of time when you are about to undress) and his amazing, awesome energy. He must have been a boxer in a previous life. He is a delicious warrior inside the ring. And when he sings Louie Ocampo’s Kahit Isang Saglit, he knocks me out completely.

(By the way, to me and to my fickle heart, Louie’s best song bar none is Kahit Isang Saglit).