Barbie & Martin: Cradle of Love

Things were supposed to be hush-hush – understandably so – but, probably overcome by excitement when she was named 2005 Best Female Recording Artist (for the song Just A Smile) at the Awit Awards last week (besting such worthies as Regine Velasquez, Rachelle Ann Go, Nina and Ella Mae Saison), Barbie Almalbis couldn’t help mentioning him during her acceptance speech, thanking her manager, Tommy Tanchanco, and "specially my husband, Martin Honasan!"

Was it a slip of the tongue?

"No," said Barbie in an exclusive interview with Funfare. "I wanted him to be part of my victory."

That confirmed rumors that Barbie and Martin got married in "secret" civil rites last May 21, with only very few selected poeple around. Martin’s dad, former Sen. Gringo Honasan, was reportedly not around – as I’ve said earlier, understandably so.

"We never denied that we were going steady although we didn’t, you know, flaunt it," explained Barbie. "But our families and friends knew. When we got married and people asked us about it, we said, ‘Yes, we got married,’ but we didn’t really announce it until I casually did during the Awit Awards."

"The media had been hounding us," said Martin, "but nobody was able to pin us down."

Martin is second to the eldest among the five Honasan children, an Interdisciplinary Studies graduate from Ateneo. Until she decided to go solo, Barbie was with the trio Barbie’s Cradle.

Was it a sudden wedding?

"No," said Barbie. "It was planned."

After all, she’s 28 and he’s 30, and they’ve been friends for more than three years, going steady only starting in October last year.

"We didn’t plan to go steady; it just happened," said Barbie. "One night, we went out with our friends who left just the two of us behind because they had to go somewhere. We spent the night talking, opening up to each other. In December, he made known his intention to court me. Last April 25, we got engaged na."

They became close at the Victory Christian Fellowship of which they are members.

"So we put Christ at the center of our relationship," said Barbie.

Being an artist, Martin proposed to Barbie in a romantic way.

Recalled Barbie, "He spread a banig at the rooftop of their house and planted lighted candles and flowers around it. And then we shared a bottle of red wine. Sayang nga there was no moon that night. It was cloudy kasi. Just the same, it was a memorable night for both of us. He simply asked me, ‘Will you marry me?’ Of course, I said ‘yes’."

Asked how she knew that Martin is "it," Barbie said, "I really prayed hard to God to give me my ideal person. Martin is everything that I prayed for. As I’ve been saying in interviews, I was looking for somebody who loves God so much, somebody on the same wave length with me. I’m so blessed to have found Martin."

They have many things in common, besides love of God.

"We’re both artists," said Martin. "I love music. But it’s my brother Karel who’s into music. He graduated from Berkelee. I’m a fan of Barbie."

Added Barbie, "We both love to paint and we’re learning how to cook."

Meanwhile, Martin joked, "All we can do is pa-prito-prito."

They plan to have a child soon

"Next year," said Barbie.

"We want to have a minimum of six children," said Martin, "even more, God willing."

When they sat for this interview at a friend’s house in Quezon City, the newly-weds were on honeymoon mode, enhanced by Barbie’s recent Awit victory and another award from Meg magazine as Teen Choice as Favorite Female Artist of the Year to be given tomorrow night.

The couple plans to have a church wedding next year, a bigger affair this time – perhaps when times get better?

They didn’t reveal where the church wedding will be but it will definitely be held here.

"We want to share that moment with every member of our families and our friends, too," said Barbie.

What’s up?

• Birthday greetings to Rachel Cruz (today), the friendly and ever-smiling lady at the PAL check-in counter at the Los Angeles Airport (LAX).

•Kris Aquino and Claudine Barretto are scheduled to go to the States sometime next month for the world premiere of their Star Cinema starrer, Sukob.

• Could it be true that Jericho Rosales, who’s taking a respite from movie/TV work to devote his time to music (which he calls "soul food"), will soon star in a concert with Gary Valenciano (planned by Jericho and girlfriend Heart Evangelista’s manager, Angeli Pangilinan, Gary V’s wife)?

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