Martin & Pops: The Tie that Binds

Carmen and Rogelio.
Nida and Nestor.
Gloria and Juancho.
Zaldy and Shirley.
Susan and Eddie.
Amalia and Bobby.
Guy and Pip.
Vi and Bot
And there’s Martin and Pops.

Whether they like it or not, Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez, just like local filmdom’s other loveteams (reel or real), are locked together by destiny, for better or for worse, till annulment do them part, never mind if they are living separate lives, oceans apart, with new partners.

In the mind and hearts of their fans, Martin and Pops will forever be ONE, that’s why when they make-believe to be flirting with each other during their "twogether" concerts here and abroad, their fans (this one included) melt in vain though hopeful longing that they would end up happily ever after, not realizing that such happy endings happen only in fairy tales.

The un-couple’s lives have been intertwined, keeping us posted on the endless subplots that make Martin and Pops fare better top-raters than all teleseryes put together.

The latest? Well, as we all know, Martin is a brand-new papa. His beloved Katrina Ojeda gave birth to their first child, Santino Martin Nievera, in Las Vegas on Oct. 22, while Pops is enjoying what she calls her newly-found "singlehood" (not confirming up to now if she and Jomari Yllana are "committed" to each other) and at the same time being mom to her and Martin’s sons, Robin (20) and Ram (16).

Martin was here briefly for a show at SM Mall of Asia and he flew back yesterday morning to Las Vegas where he will start a year-long singing stint on Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve, at the Steve Wyrick Theater of the Aladdin Hotel.

Now (claiming to be) good friends, the un-couple reunited last Nov. 29 when their son Robin celebrated his 20th birthday.

The following Conversations were done separately, with neither Martin nor Pops knowing beforehand what the questions would be.

How is your Aladdin Hotel stint different from the one you had a few years ago at the Bellagio, also in Las Vegas?

Martin: Bellagio was where I started, with my father, but that was a Filipino-produced show. The one in Aladdin is for the whole world, catering to everybody and Filipinos. But I’m not closing my career here in the Philippines; I just want to spread my wings and try it out in Las Vegas. I’ve been dying to do this for how many years, even during my time with Pops. Ask her...she should know.

Let’s go to your being a father again. How have you changed since Ram was born? How differently does it feel?

Martin: It has been 16 years. The happiness and joy factor is the same because napaka-sarap to have a child. But I’m a bit older now and, believe it or not, I’m a bit more paranoid, more worried, more careful with the baby because, you know, I might break his neck or something. The baby looks so fragile. When Robin was born, I read all the how-to-be-a-good-father books I could lay my hands on. The tips I got then are helping me a lot in dealing with Santino. Santino is a great blessing in my life; he has inspired me to appreciate Robin and Ram even more.

That’s nice; that’s good.

Martin: What still feels new to me is the extended-family concept, even if I came from an extended family and I love my half-brothers and half-sisters. My mom (Conchita Razon) was married to a Tabuena before she married my dad (Bert Nievera, now married to Carol Hernandez). I didn’t see my life starting over this way. Robin and Ram are excited to meet Santino and I’m happy. My two older sons are cool to the fact that they have a new brother. It’s just me who’s having a problem.

What’s your problem?

Martin: I don’t know how to divide my time. I’ve been chasing my dream in Vegas, Robin and Ram are in the Philippines while Santino is in Vegas.

How soon do you and Katrina plan to bring Santino here?

Martin: We’re already talking about spending Christmas here next year. Robin and Ram were supposed to be with us in Vegas this Christmas but the plans have been changed. By that time, Santino should be walking and talking.

And saying, why not, Tita Pops. Oh yes, she won’t be one of the godparents at Santino’s baptism. (Among the godparents so far are Michael Bublé, Brian McKnight, Virgie Ramos and Manny Pangilinan.)

Martin: Not in the real sense but in the figurative sense, she will be. I just want Pops to be connected to my life. Many people think that just because Katrina, my girlfriend, had a child, wala na si Pops sa buhay ko, wala na sina Robin and Ram. It’s so wrong! Like I tell my two sons and Pops in so many text messages – which Pops hasn’t replied to so far – my love for them hasn’t changed...my attention and my priorities haven’t changed. I’ve just been blessed with another child. Think of it this way: What if it was Pops who had a baby by another man, how would I feel...how would you all feel?

And how would you feel if Pops did have a baby by another man?

Martin: Oh, I would be happy for her. I don’t know if she would get mad if I tell you this but there was even a time when, in front of our children, I asked her, "Do you want another child?" I asked her that.

A child by another man?

Martin: No. By me, of course! At that time, we were already separated. We didn’t even have to sleep together. With advances in science, it’s possible for a couple to have a baby.

You mean by "in vitro fertilization" (like what Brooke Shields and Celine Dion did)?

Martin: Whatever. Still, the baby would be hers and mine, ours. I was offering my genes. Not my maong but my genes. But that was a long time ago. Six years ago? The turbulent times between us were over then and we were starting to have good times.

How different is having a baby here from having a baby in the States? Here you have yayas.

Martin: There, we don’t have any yaya. We do everything. In the US, if the baby has no complications, he sleeps with you as soon as he’s born. I remember sleeping with Pops in the hospital when she gave birth but not with Robin or Ram beside us. In the US, you start being a parent the moment the baby is out. Santino slept in a cute wooden bed, Katrina slept in the bed and I slept in a makeshift bed by the window sill.

So how did Santino change your and Katrina’s lifestyle?

Martin: We hardly have sleep. Katrina and I alternate in changing Santino’s diapers. Katrina is breast-feeding Santino now. Katrina is on leave until Dec. 4. Then, I’ll be doing the diapers and, by then, maybe the feeding bottles mostly by myself. Katrina has an M.A. in Education. When you people were writing that she had given birth before, which was not true because Santino is our first child, she actually went to America to get her master’s degree. She’s the only one from her school – Meadows School, the No. 2 school in Las Vegas – who has a master’s degree.

I heard that Katrina is fond of children and she’s putting up a school for kids (a nursery or a pre-school).

Martin: You know, that’s her plan. She’s fond of children, other people’s children, and now she has her own child. Iba kapag sa iyo talaga, di ba? Katrina is great with children. She loves Robin and Ram. They stayed with us last summer, and I left them alone with Katrina a lot.

How do Robin and Ram call her?

Martin: Tita Katrina. They love her; they think she’s great. One thing they love about her is that she takes good care of me. Those are words coming from my own children, not from me. But I always remind them, "Tita Katrina will never be your mother. No one can ever replace your mother." Robin and Ram get along with their Tita Katrina very well. They like the fact that she talks to them; they talk about life, about the movies that they saw, kung anu-ano.

You seem to admire Katrina a lot.

Martin: One thing I admire most about Katrina is that she really has direction ever since I’ve known her. She has always wanted to be a teacher. She’s doing everything that she said she wanted to do.

How soon will Santino’s baptism be?

Martin: Baka next year pa, in the States. We’ll do it the Christian way, parang dedication.

Have you discussed marriage – the wedding – with Katrina?

Martin: It will happen but not in the near future. We talk about it a lot. We know that there’s a proper time to do it. We’re actually doing things backward. We’re not getting married and start a life; we’re starting a life and then get married. I think that’s even better. To tell you frankly, I’m the one who’s scared of getting married; I’m the one who’s not good at that. It didn’t work the first time; I was with Pops for 10 or 12 years, and maybe Katrina will be the one who will show me the right way. I’m not saying that it will be better than the first time, although I hope it will be.

But I guess you and Katrina are adjusted to each other.

Martin: We’ve been together off and on, off and on, for 11 years. In and out, in and out; make or break, make or break.

Oh, 11 years. You and Pops broke up only about nine years ago, with your marriage annulled a few years after that. Which means...

Martin: ...yes. Now, you know. That’s why I say that I did not fail my "history test" so I would never have asked Pops to be Santino’s ninang.

But you and Pops are okay now, I presume.

Martin: We have such a good relationship. Three days before Santino was born, she texted me out of nowhere, "O, may baby ka na uli? Are you a daddy again? Send me naman his photos by MMS." When she saw the photos, she texted me, "My God, he’s adorable!" She was naming everybody in our family who Santino looks like. Pops is very good; she’s very family.

* * *

Pops: I’m happy for Martin. I’m living my own life now and I’m very happy

How do you feel now that Martin has realized his, well. "Las Vegas Dream"?

Pops: Vegas is a big thing for him. He has been talking about it ever since we’ve been together. He has been pursuing that dream for a long time. I’m happy for him. I told him, ‘You already have one foot in Vegas, so it’s easier for you to get your other foot there.’ I wish him well.

To go back to the ninang issue...

Pops: I’m convinced that Martin was misquoted. I think what he meant was that he wanted me to be ninang, in a figurative sense as he pointed out, because he said I’m a good mom to our children. But I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to be a ninang in the real sense.

Martin did say that if there’s one person he and Katrina would entrust Santino to, it would be you because you brought up your sons Robin and Ram properly.

Pops: That’s a compliment, thank you!

How do you want Santino to call you?

Pops: Better if he calls me "Tita." Cool, isn’t it? Or Ate. If non-relatives call me "Tita," why can’t the half-brother of my sons?

Have you met Katrina?

Pops: Yes, several times.

By accident?

Pops: By chance.

What would you tell Katrina if, inevitably, you two come face-to-face?

Pops: You know, I really don’t want to talk about her...out of respect for her.

Martin said that three days before Santino was born, you texted him to ask when he would be a daddy again.

Pops: I wasn’t sure when the baby was gonna come out, so I congratulated him in advance, just to let him know that I’m okay and for him not to worry. At the time Katrina was giving birth, Martin was texting me.

He’s happy and you’re happy. Everybody is happy.

Pops: If he claims to be happy, I’m happy for him. I’m also living my own life now and I’m happy. Our sons are getting older and I think what’s important is that they’re okay. They’re mature, like most children today.

They must be excited to see their new brother.

Pops: Oh, I guess they are.

What about you?

Pops: I’m really curious. I even asked for the baby’s clear photos because the ones that came out in The STAR were a bit blurred. (The photos were sent by Martin via his cell phone’s MMS, moments after Santino came out. – RFL) Martin even asked me, "Who do you think does the baby look like?" So I told him to send me clearer photos.

I’m curious: Don’t you want to have another baby?

Pops: I don’t know. Do you think people will accept it? I’ve been thinking of that: What if ako ang nauna? How would the people take it? But if ever, I’d have another baby, I’d go to the process first. You know, get married first.

How are you and Jomari? There’s a rumor that you are planning to get married.

Pops: All I can say is that I’m happy with my life now. It’s only now that I’m having a life of my own. I used to be sheltered. I married young. Now I’m enjoying some degree of independence. Kumbaga, ngayon lang ako nagdadalaga and I want to enjoy every moment of it. I would like to marry again, why not? But that won’t happen in the near future. I also want to enjoy my sons’ company. When they were kids, I was often out working. They’re growing up so fast that before I know it...I want to make up for lost time and enjoy every moment with them.

You and Martin are separated and leading lives of your own. And yet, people are so fascinated with you.

Pops: Ay naku, I guess they are waiting for the fairy tale to have a happy ending. My life with Martin has been like a teleserye na walang katapusan. People saw us fall in love on Penthouse Live!, get married, have children and break up. Our life story runs like a never-ending soap. Naaaliw ang mga tao; pati ako, naaaliw din. Sa totoo lang, Martin makes my life exciting. He always has something to say, so the media always asks for my reaction. And then, we find ourselves exchanging views and statements all over again. There’s always something new to talk about. Walang katapusan.

In your new movie, Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, Ze Moveeh (Regal Films’ entry in this month’s Metro Filmfest), you play the villainess Queen Femina, dressed in sexy tights. Do you think Martin would have allowed you to do the movie if you were still married? (With Zsa Zsa Padilla in the title role, Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, directed by Joel Lamangan, is a mega-budgeted musical adventure based on Carlo Vergara’s award-winning graphic novels.)

Pops: I don’t think so. He’s such a conservative, you know.

What made you decide to accept a kontrabida role?

Pops: It’s not your usual kontrabida role. It’s a fun kontrabida role, very endearing. My character is an alien. Nakakaaliw, not nakakainis. The story is interesting, something new, komiks na komiks, something that has never been done in local movies.

How did you prepare for the role? Did you work out? Did you go on a special diet?

Pops: It’s a very physical role. Actually, I’ve always been very physical, even in school. Hindi ako lampa. I tell you, in real life, I’m really a boy, that’s why I enjoyed doing my action scenes with Zsa Zsa. Before the shooting, I dieted a little bit but I didn’t really have a chance to work out. Zsa Zsa and I did train with a professional trainer who taught us the stunts and the action routine. After doing the movie, I thought that I was really cut out to be an action star. Mali ang napasukan kong field (singing).

And how did Robin and Ram react to your Zaturnnah role?

Pops: When they saw the still pictures, with me in sexy tights, they said, "Wow, cool!" My kids are okay. They are broad-minded.

Martin is turning 46 (in February next year) and you’re turning 40 (on Dec. 12). Most women are scared of turning 40. Aren’t you?

Pops: Why should I be? Forty is the new 20. I’m enjoying a bit more now and, as I’ve said, I’m much more independent now. As far as I’m concerned, parang I’m just starting to enjoy life. No, turning 40 is no big deal.

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