The sad and happy ballads of Bert Nievera

He’s as timeless as the songs he sings that’s why he’s called the "Timeless Balladeer." Bert Nievera, that is.

"All these years," said Bert, "my style has remained the same, although my feelings have changed through the years with every song I sing. It’s inevitable, I guess. You feel differently for a song today than you did many, many years ago for the same song, don’t you?"

Bert is turning 65 and he has a good reason to celebrate. On Oct. 17 and 18, Wednesday and Thursday, he’s mounting the same Timeless concert he has done (at the CCP, with the Philharmonic Orchestra) six times since 1990 and it’s to mark not only his natal day but also his 47th year in showbiz and the first anniversary of Country Waffles (Greenhills) where Timeless VII will be held, with Dessa as his special guest performer, Danny Tan as musical director and Emy Munji as guest conductor. (The show is sponsored by Smart Communications, Citylite 88.3, Joey’s Rhythm 92.3, Mossimo and Novelino Wines.)

All these past 46 years, Bert has been singing both sad and happy ballads, with most of his songs eloquently depicting episodes in his own life. His love life is an open book, chapters of which include his bitter-sweet separation from first wife Conchita Razon (mother of his children Martin, Vicky and Rachel) and his finding new happiness with his second current love, Carol Hernandez, herself finding love lovelier the second time around.

On the occasion of Bert’s 65th birthday and 47th year in showbiz, Conversations sat down with him for a nostalgic looking back, starting with his UP days (when he was taking up Foreign Service) where his singing talent was discovered. The Conversation was done at Country Waffles, owned and managed by Bert and Carol, which will soon have outlets in Rockwell (Makati City), Eastwood (Libis, Quezon City) and in Bohol Avenue (also in Quezon City). The Nieveras are also behind Hard Rock Cafe Makati.

Looking back now, if you were not a singer today, what would you have been?

"Well, looking back now… You know, when I was in elementary school back in Baguio City where I was born and grew up, I wanted to be a priest. I was in St. Louis School then, it wasn’t a college yet. At that time, I was deep into religion; I was such a good boy. In high school, I changed my mind; gusto ko nang maging doctor like my father. Kaya lang, mahina ako sa math, so I thought of going to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). When I got to college at UP, I changed my mind again, especially after I became a member of the UP Dramatic Club, with Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero as my director. From then on, my life changed completely."

What brought about the complete change?

"Well, Freddie (Ma. Guerrero) found out that I could sing. So he tried to mold me. During intermission in the plays, Freddie would ask me to sing. But even then, I would fool around with my friends, kumakanta-kanta kami. Even in high school, I was really fond of singing already so during school programs they’d always ask me to sing. During lunch breaks, I would entertain my schoolmates by singing to them."

I suppose you also joined singing contests.

"I did. I remember during one such amateur contest in Baguio, I was in my element singing the Vic Damone song Wonder Why. My parents, friends and relatives were in the audience, rooting for me. I was doing a good job – you know, I wonder why I’m not myself today – when toward the end of the song, pumiyok ako. Of course, I lost."

That must be one of your embarrassing moments as a singer.

"Well, one of them. There was another one, more embarrassing pa. It happened at the Buckingham Palace in Hong Kong. Nasa showbiz na ako noon. My mouth was wide open as I was trying to reach a high note when a fly flew right inside. But I didn’t let it interrupt my singing so I just swallowed it. My companions onstage noticed it but they pretended they did not see it. The audience didn’t notice it at all because I continued singing, with the fly inside my stomach."

At what age did you realize that you could be a good singer, that you would pursue singing as a profession?

"At around 16, the same age Martin also discovered that he could sing professionally."

So since then, talagang you focused your mind on becoming a singer.

"But I also had another ambition at that time and that was to be a newscaster. In the bathroom, I would read the newspaper aloud, pretending that I was a newscaster. Or a deejay."

You do have the voice for it (newscasting/deejaying).

"I thought so, pero mas matindi ’yung ambition kong maging singer, kaya nga I kept joining amateur contests not only in Baguio but also in Manila, such as Student Canteen where I won in the search for the Johnny Mathis of the Philippines. My piece was It’s Not For Me To Say. I started singing professionally at a club in Cubao (Quezon City) called Embers Club. It was the ‘in’ place then, frequented by the likes of Leila Benitez (Student Canteen co-host, with Pepe Pimentel, Eddie Ilarde and the late Bobby Ledesma), the late Elvira Manahan and Nelda Navarro. I was earning P15 a night. Malaki na ’yon noon."

Among Johnny Mathis’ songs, which one do you like most?

"Misty. (Proceeds to sing a few lines) Parang signature song ko ’yon when I was just starting in showbiz. It was very popular then, very memorable to me."

So it’s the "song of your life," just as What Kind of Fool Am I? is the song of Martin’s life. Favorite niya ang kantang ’yan because, according to Martin, it speaks a lot about him and his life.

"Ah, really? Ako naman, Misty. The line in it that touches me the most is the last one... I’m too misty and too much in love."

When do you sing with the most feeling?

"I guess when I’m deeply in love... when I’m deeply hurt. That’s when you feel the lines of your songs more intensely."

Like many artists, are you "heart over head, emotion over reason" when you’re in love?

"Oh, yes, I am! It’s only now that we are in business na medyo na-o-overpower ng aking head ang aking heart. But when it comes to love, ay naku, talagang I’m mostly heart and emotion. Romantic ako, e."

Does anybody else from your family sing (aside from you and Martin)?

"My father and his brother were good singers. But my father never heard me sing professionally because he died when I was 18." (Bert‘s mom died in 1993 when she fell into the swimming pool at Bert and Carol’s home, while walking unattended. – RFL)

Do you really have Igorot blood?

"It’s a myth. Maybe people concluded that I am part Igorot or Ifugao because I was born and grew up in Baguio. Actually, my father was from Ilocos Sur and my mother was from Bulacan. No, I haven’t worn a G-string in my whole life."

What was the very first song that you ever sang?

"When I was very small? Ang Binatang Caviteño. I don’t know why, but my mother taught me that song even if I’m not Caviteño. ’Yan ang pambato ko palagi whenever my mom asked me to sing to any group. I was perhaps 7 or 8 at that time."

Did you ever take formal lessons in music?

"I tried, when I was in UP, because one of my contemporaries, Grace Turla, the mother of Cathy Melendez (daughter of Jimi Melendez, who became one of my back-up singers), was an opera singer. I found it monotonous, so after only two sessions nag-drop out na ako. I resorted to self-study na lang. Through the years, I developed my own style, my own technique. Who knows, had I continued my lessons with Grace, baka naging opera/classical singer ako."

What were the other songs that you grew up with?

"Aside from ballads, ’yung mga semi-classics, like Be My Love, Because You Come To Me, No Other Love – mga songs nina Perry Como, Vic Damone, Mario Lanza and Jo Stafford. There were many others, like Till The End of Time, If You Are But a Dream and Inamorata."

You didn’t have a hard time getting to the top, did you?

"Even if I was already known then as Johnny Mathis of the Philippines, medyo nahirapan din ako and my male contemporaries (including Eddie Mesa as Elvis Presley of the Philippines, Diomedes Maturan as Perry Como of the Philippines, etc.) because ang mga kalaban namin ’yung mga sexy singers like Pilita Corrales and Carmen Soriano. To be noticed, hayun, we started imitating American singers. Dapat noon may ‘title’ ka, usung-uso ’yan noon."

Timeless singers – just like your new "title," Timeless Balladeer. How did you get to be known as "Timeless Balladeer"?

"It just came up. In 1990 when we first put up a ‘Timeless’ concert, the word ‘timeless’ just came up during our brainstorming and that was it. ‘Timeless’ is the word that best describes what I’ve been and what I’m still doing. Timeless VII will trace the evolution of my career, so the repertoire includes classical pop, a Mancine medley, a Sinatra medley, Gershwin medley, may mga Nat King Cole songs, may Platters songs, Michel Legrand, Broadway songs, mayroon ding Canseco selections and A Piece of the Sky as the finale number."

At 65, what do you think are the best things that ever happened to you?

"A lot, but I can name three. When I started singing, I nurtured three ambitions: 1) to go to America, 2) to record an album in Hollywood and 3) to perform in Las Vegas. I’ve fulfilled all those dreams. I’ve been to America several times, I recorded an album called Roberto in Hollywood in 1986 and I’ve performed in Las Vegas several times. Another best thing that happened to me was when I joined the group Society of Seven, based in Hawaii, and I stayed with them for 10 years, from 1966 to 1976. I learned a lot from the Society of Seven."

When did you first get to America?

"I don’t remember the exact date but I was already a singer then. Did you know that I even worked as a flight steward at the Philippine Airlines para lang matupad ko ang dream kong makapunta sa Amerika? I worked with PAL for two years but I was confined to the domestic flights; hindi ako na-elevate sa international flights. That was in 1959-1960. I already won as Johnny Mathis of the Philippines and one of my prizes was to perform at the Clover Theater for one week. At the same time, natanggap ako ng PAL as a flight steward. I thought at that time that PAL was more stable than a showbiz career, so nag-flight steward ako."

But you never got to America as a PAL employee, did you?

"After two years, I quit PAL and resumed my singing career, first sa mga clubs dito sa atin. Before long, hayun, I got an offer to sing in America."

And the worst thing that ever happened to you?

"If there’s any, I don’t dwell on it. I choose not to remember the bad. I try to be positive; I concentrate on the good things."

What’s the best decision that you’ve ever made?

"It was not a decision but something that I wanted to do. I was married before... to my first wife... the mother of Martin and Vicky (who are twins) and Rachel. We did have good times together but then... well, life is like that. Some good things never last. Something happened, so... I’m so lucky that I’ve found love the second time around... my family now, Carol and her three great kids (by Carol’s previous marriage – Cach, 29, who’s married with one child; Jansey, 27; and Kline, 24). Carol and I have our own child, Lance, who’s 11, and two adopted children."

Is there peace now in both families (Bert’s with ex-wife Conchita Razon’s children – that is, Martin, Vicky and Rachel – and Bert and Carol with Carol’s children who initially had difficulty adjusting to their stepfather)?

"Well, time heals all wounds. I should say that both families are close to me now. Everything’s okay now."

So, no more wounds that haven’t healed?

"No more, I guess. The ship is sailing very smoothly now. Carol and I are busy minding our businesses. Carol is a good businesswoman. Everything I know about business I learned it from Carol. We have a perfect teamwork. I have the contacts in the industry. Carol and I work together well in our projects, like this Timeless VII."

Would you consider Martin one of your achievements?

"Yes, definitely! Martin is probably my best achievement. I’m now 65 and, even after 47 years in showbiz, I’m now being recognized as ‘the father of Martin Nievera.’ It doesn’t make me feel insecure. In fact, I’m proud of being the father of Martin. He’s one of my best trophies."

A few years ago, you and Martin had some kind of a "cold war" (no need to elaborate on that now). How did you patch things up?

"What you called ‘a cold war’ lasted for about two years. I won’t go into the causes of it but suffice it to say that when we met accidentally during a show, automatically we embraced each other, as if nothing had happened. I guess nabigla lang kami pareho so what you called ‘a cold war’ happened. After we embraced, everything was back to normal. Martin and I never talked about what happened; we simply let bygones be bygones. The truth is that Martin is a good boy. He never fails to acknowledge me on his shows and that really touches me; I really appreciate it."

If you were to sing a song to Martin, what would it be?

"A Piece of the Sky, the finale number of my Timeless VII concert. But it’s a song that a son should sing to his father, not the other way around, so it should be Martin who should sing that song to me. The song is about a person who wants to show his parents that he’s got his own wings and is eager to use them and be free. It’s a song about a person ready, willing and able to face the world by himself."