Martin: I go wherever my music takes me

It happened halfway through one of his shows at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas where he performed for two months (January through February) to SRO audiences made up of 75 percent Filipinos and 25 percent other nationalities.

Martin Nievera was in the middle of a song when the lights went out. Blackout! It lasted for more than 10 minutes but – surprise, surprise! – not one in the audience stood up and left the room, maybe to find out what was wrong. Blackouts are a rare occurrence in America and in this age of terrorism, a blackout can send shock waves through the populace.

The Philippines’ Concert King was unfazed, even if, he now confesses, he was shaking with nervousness.

"I went on with my performance," said Martin. "I held a flashlight and that was the only light in the darkened room. I talked to the audience and cracked jokes. They forgot all about the blackout until the lights came back."

In the audience that night was Martin’s mom, Conchita Razon, and movie writer Gorgy Rula who was so proud of Martin that, according to Martin, "He actually cried."

Of course, those in the audience, including the Filipinos, didn’t know that blackouts are part of Philippine life and Martin, or all of us natives for that matter, are used to them.

It was "Martin in the Dark" at his best!

That "blackout" performance proved beyond any reasonable doubt that Martin is, more than a livewire performer, a real trouper who won’t let anything, just anything – even an earthquake, I daresay – spoil his show.

His two-month Golden Nugget stint was so successful that negotiations are now going on for him to sign up for a year-long engagement.

Meanwhile, Martin is taking it easy back home – the Philippines, that is. He flew in two weeks ago, guested on A.S.A.P. Mania, rushed back to San Francisco to perform at a show sponsored by Philippine Airlines, flew right back, started work on the album Best Wishes, Martin Nievera for EMI (to be released sometime in May), is flying back to San Francisco to perform at the ABS-CBN Global Limited 10th anniversary show on April 3 (to be beamed live on A.S.A.P. Mania on Sunday, April 4), fly back home and, after completing some more business, fly right back to America to prepare for the two-month (April and May) tour of his Golden Nugget show on both the East and West Coasts.

Whew!!! If Martin is not "pure energy," I don’t know what he is – Superman!?!

Asked how many miles he has logged so far – say, in the past three years – Martin said he could hardly keep track. In fact, he has lost track of time.

"If I were to count the miles," he joked, "I should be one of the owners of the airline(s) now."

Abroad, even when he’s busy with his show which he would start by ironing his own clothes backstage – "You should see me do it–without my shirt and jeans on! It’s my therapy before each show." – half of Martin’s mind would be in the Philippines.

"What do I miss most about the Philippines when I’m abroad? Everything and everyone."

Especially his ex-wife Pops Fernandez ("We’ve become better friends apart") and their children Ram and Robin.

"I get in touch with them all the time, through texting," said Martin. "Ang galing-galing ko na mag-text baka hindi mo alam."

Together, he and children would watch Jim Carrey (their favorite) movies on tape, the last one being Bruce Almighty.

After his US concert tour, Martin plans to spend a summer holiday (yes, in America) with his sons and Pops with whom he’ll be doing a month-long concert tour of Toronto and Vancouver and some US cities including Hawaii, their second home (where Martin started his singing career, working in the family-owned burger stand to earn his keep).

By then, he shall have finished all the tracks for Best Wishes, Martin Nievera which is a collection of wedding love songs such as You’re My Everything, Never Say Goodbye, The Promise, You Are My Song, True Love, Forever (a duet with Regine Velasquez), With You (which Martin wrote for the wedding of Julius Babao and Christine Bersola) and Promise of Love (which he originally wrote for Pops and later finished it for the wedding of Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres).

"How much do I charge for a wedding song? I don’t. I write it for free – if the marrying couple are my friends. If not, I would charge so high – you know, presyong ayaw – and if the couple who are not my friends say ‘Okay lang,’ then I do it."

Martin and Pops were married in June, 1986, and they would be celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary this year. But, sob and sigh, there’s nothing more to celebrate, only fond memories to recall.

The guy is now so busy working, working, working that he said he hardly has time for love (do you believe him?).

He gets – oops! pardon the word – his "orgasm" from the thunderous applause that erupts after his every song, the same high any artist craves for. Without it, a performance is like – oops! pardon the choice of words again – coitus interruptus.

Coming and going. Here today, gone tomorrow. Now you see him (here), now you don’t.

You wonder, what does Martin consider his home base?

"Wherever my music is," said the Citizen of the World. "I go where my music takes me."

Expanding, yes.

"I’m bringing my music to the world. I’m proud of my recent show(s) in Las Vegas. A lot of Filipinos told me how proud they were when they saw those huge billboards (showing his face against a sky-blue backdrop) along the Strip. I’m starting from zero in my quest for international recognition and I don’t mind."

Knowing Martin – who stops at nothing to hit his goal – it won’t be long before he travels from "zero" to being a "hero" in the international music scene.

Okay, play it again, Martin!

Even in the dark.

A Memorable Homecoming

Maricar Balagtas made a memorable homecoming to her native Bulacan a few days ago, a month after she was crowned 2004 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe.

Funfare’s "other beauty expert" Celso de Guzman Caparas was there. Here’s his eye-witness report:

A red-carpet welcome was accorded the newly-crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Maricar Manalaysay Balagtas, a native of Tabang, Plaridel, Bulacan, during her homecoming last March 15. A recognition program was held at the Don Cesario San Diego Gym and a two-hour motorcade followed.

Maricar was accompanied by her fellow Binibinis, namely 2004 Bb. Pilipinas-International Margaret Ann Bayot, 2004 Bb. Pilipinas-World Karla Bautista, first runner-up Tracy Ann Javelona and second runner-up Princess Jasmine Tiongson.

All of them received a plaque of recognition from the Municipality of Plaridel, Bulacan. The ceremonies were led by Mayor Rolando Javier and his wife Elizabeth, chairperson of the Plaridel Municipal Tourism Council.

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