‘It hurts,’ says Pops

Pops Fernandez makes no bones of the fact that she cried the first time she heard Katrina Ojeda, girlfriend of Martin Nievera (Pops’ ex-husband), is pregnant.

"I’m also human. That (crying) is a normal reaction. I asked myself, ‘How did it happen?’ But I’ve learned to accept it. Sa dami ba naman ng nangyari sa amin ni Martin, why can’t I?" she says.

The shock must have stemmed from the fact that despite their separation, Martin promised Pops and their sons he won’t have a child by another woman. So when she read about Katrina’s pregnancy in The Star, she was taken aback. Like any mother, she was worried for her sons, who were in school at that time.

So she sat down with Robin, 19, and Ram, 16, when they got home. Was Pops beside herself with joy when she learned how her sons reacted. They didn’t sulk or throw a fit. Robin and Ram took the news calmly and well.

"After explaining the situation to them, my kids reassured me they’re okay," Pops says with justifiable pride.

Things were totally different when she saw Martin in Europe, where they had a series of back-to-back shows. Martin had a lot of explaining to do to Pops at that time. It was their first time to see each other after news of Katrina’s pregnancy broke out.

Pops admits she felt uncomfortable at first. But the show must go on. The dam had to break. And it did, right there on stage, with overseas Pinoys watching.

Those who knew about Katrina’s newly-discovered pregnancy surely understood why Pops shed tears while singing on stage (Martin cried unabashedly, too).

"The emotions just came out during the show," Pops recalls how she got carried away.

After that, she was okay. Pops and Martin talked about the situation the way they should: like two mature adults. And, like other crises in their lives, the un-couple came to terms with it.

"I’ve been very mature about it. I’ve accepted that part of my life," relates Pops.

But it seems the public has yet to feel the same way, she adds. They still have to realize that she and Martin are already kaput, albeit good friends to this day, Pops adds.

"That’s the hard part of the business. We’re not puppets (to the public’s whims)," states Pops.

This is why she refuses to succumb to the pressure of having another baby even if others tell her Robin and Ram are almost grownup now and her marriage is annulled.

Giving birth is easy, relates Pops. Raising that baby, giving him or her a good life, is something else. And Pops admits she is not emotionally prepared for it yet.

"I can’t afford to have a baby at this point. I’m too focused on my career," she goes on.

But she’s willing to accept Martin and Katrina’s baby.

"I’ll probably even fall in love with the kid. Who knows, I’ll even be back to strollers and changing diapers in the airport," Pops reveals.

Besides, Martin himself has half-siblings, and Pops thinks denying her sons the pleasure of having a half-brother is downright wrong.

"Things happen that we don’t want to happen. I didn’t want a broken family nor a separation. But you just have to make the most of it," she muses.

Making the most of what’s at hand also means focusing on the here and now, not on what might have been.

Pops is looking forward to her back-to-back concert with Ogie Alcasid called Two of a Kind on July 29, 9 p.m. at Dusit Hotel (with dinner at 7:30 p.m. and GMA 7, Calayan, Play & Display, Bench, One card and Don Henrico’s as sponsors).

She speaks of Ogie in superlatives.

"He’s the nicest, most professional, most big-hearted and most hardworking performer I’ve met. It’s fun to work with him. He even wrote a song for my new album (still untitled, under Universal Records)," gushes Pops.

The show, directed by Al Quinn, introduces Ritchie Paul Gutierrez (Ruffa and Richard’s brother), with the special participation of Gladys Guevarra.

Before Two of a Kind, Pops will leave for San Diego to perform with Jim Brickman in a show.

Her new album will also be waiting for Pops once she returns.

The album is special to her mainly because it carries her duet with son Robin. He himself wrote the track Friends upon Pops’ prodding.

"At first, Robin didn’t want to sing with me. He’s shy. But I used my powers as a mom and prevailed upon him," admits Pops.

Martin himself has a contribution, a song called – would you believe – Still in Love.

The movies have also beckoned once more. Years after her last movie, Videoke King with Robin Padilla was shown, Pops is set to make a movie comeback via Regal’s Metro Filmfest entry, ZsaZsa Zaturnnah.

Pops gets to don a costume that shows "a bit more skin" in the film.

Pops will show more skin than the public has seen so far next month, as she appears on the cover of FHM.

To those who will raise their eyebrows upon knowing this, Pops has this to say, "I see nothing wrong with it. It’s tastefully done. I won’t agree to do the pictorial had it been otherwise."

She even urges women her age to feel sexy and proud "we still look okay."

And sexy doesn’t refer only to one’s body. It’s a whole way of looking at things, says Pops.

"Sexy is how you carry yourself. You may be all covered up, but still look sexy," she asserts.

Words of wisdom from someone who has seen the worst, licked her wounds and got up on her feet not once, but many times over.