Martin: Sunrise/sunset and the scent of a woman

"I think I’m the only artist at ABS-CBN who doesn’t have any contract. If you’re a Kapamilya, you don’t need a contract, do you?"

Martin Nievera was at a presscon yesterday, explaining why until now he hasn’t signed any contract with ABS-CBN and why he didn’t have to.

"Everytime I’m home," Martin said, "I make it a point to appear on ASAP Mania and I don’t need a contract for that."

But in Las Vegas, Martin is on the brink of signing a juicy contract with a big venue the name of which he said he’s not yet at liberty to disclose. As you all know, Martin is a big name in Vegas, drawing record crowds during his weekend stints at the Golden Nugget where the likes of Frank Sinatra have also performed.

"The dressing room I was using was the same room used by Sinatra," said Martin. "I also slept in the same room he slept in and used the same bathroom where I sat on the same ‘throne’ that he sat on. When I sang My Way, I could feel him all over me," he added. crossing his arms over his chest in mock shiver. "It’s a pity that I didn’t meet Sinatra when he was here. Sayang!"

Sayang that Martin didn’t have a chance to perform with The Chairman. What a show it would have been!

But this week, Martin is reuniting with Patti Austin for more concerts, tomorrow (April 22) at the Araneta Center and on April 23 at the Expo Filipino in Clark, Pampanga (for tickets, call 551-7777), with more shows on July 9 at the University of Guam, July 23 at the Sydney Convention Center and on July 31 at the Suntec City Convention Hall in Singapore.

(Asked in jest if he’d sign another "contract" – marriage contract, that is – with ex-wife Pops Fernandez if and when, Martin said, "If I’d marry again, it would have to be with Pops and nobody else."

Martin has been coming and going; now you see him, now you don’t. After his concerts with Austin and another to-look-forward-to appearance on ASAP Mania, he’ll fly again to Las Vegas and who knows when he’s coming back.

Somebody asked the Vegas Boy if he ever slept in a $20,000-per-room mansion at The Strip, Martin smiled – knowingly! – and said, "No, unfortunately not. I haven’t. But I know that there are suites for that price, that’s for sure. But I’ve never heard of that $20,000-per-night suite. If ever there is, it’s reserved for high-rollers for free because the (hotel-owner) wants high-rollers to spend $20,000, or more, a night. When I was singing at The Bellagio, I stayed in what they called the ‘secret wing’ because nobody knows about it and my room had a swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a barber shop, a gym and three bedrooms. Everything was by remote control, including the bathroom, the curtains and the huge TV set."

Meanwhile, let’s go over Martin’s list of favorites:

• SONG (His Own) – Say That You Love Me.

• SONGS (By Other Singers) – Forever by Kenny Loggins, Rainbow by the South Border and Sana Maulit Muli by Gary Valenciano.

• SINGER(S) – ("I’m not my favorite singer, by the way.") Jay Durias (of South Border. "I love his voice") and Anna Fegi’, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion and Josh Groban.

• MOVIE (His Own) – "My own? Yet to come!"

• MOVIES (of Other Actors) – Jerry Maguire and Spider-Man II. ("I’m a fan of action movies," like my sons Ram and Robin.)

• ACTOR(S) – Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise.

• ACTRESSES – Meryl Streep, Meg Ryan and Vilma Santos.

• HERO – "My mother (Conchita Razon). Why? Because she has lived through it all; like she has super powers...she can make everything well, from a headache to a cold to a broken heart."

• SAINT – "I’m not so much of a saint guy. I believe in Jesus Christ."

• COMICS CHARACTER – Superman.

• CAR – Mercedes Benz.

• COLOR – Blue. "Why blue? I don’t know why but ever since I was a kid I liked blue. The sky is blue, the ocean is blue. Blue, blue, my world is blue!"

• PERFUME – "The one she wore last night. My favorite cologne is the scent of a woman."

• FLOWER – Tulips.

• SNACKS – Caramel popcorn and freshly-baked cookies.

• DRINK – Orange juice and water.

• SPORT(S) – Basketball and golf.

• HIDEAWAY – "I can’t hide away; it’s so hard to hide if you are in showbiz. But I like the hill where the sun sets in Hawaii. I simply lived watching that sunset on that hill while I was growing up in Hawaii."

• HOBBY – "Collecting memories. It’s true. I’ve been writing them all down."

• SLEEPING WEAR – Boxer shorts..."And nothing else."

• BOOK – Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach.

• FRUIT – Suha (pomelo).

• PART OF HIS BODY – None. "I don’t like any part of it. I know I could do a lot in improving every part of my body."

• PART(S) OF A WOMAN’S BODY – Fingers and toes.

• PART OF THE HOUSE – The sunset deck of his new house. "I built it just to be able to watch the sunset. When I was a kid, I used to climb on trees and on roofs just to watch the sunset. Now, I don’t have to climb anything to watch the sunset. Who’s living with me? My mom! She’s the mestiza I’m living with."

• RESTAURANT – Red (in Shangri-La Makati).

• TIME OF DAY – Sunrise and sunset. "It seems to me that they are the most peaceful time of day for me."

• DAY OF THE WEEK – "Tomorrow. Basta, tomorrow!"

• CITY – New York City. "It gives me a feeling that I’m successful. I don’t know why."

• MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION – "My children."

• If He Were Somebody Else, Who Would He Be? – "I want to be somebody who could give me the best advice on life, whoever he/she is. He could be a father or she could be a mother. Or a saint. or a spirit. Someone who’s wiser and stronger."

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