The ‘monkey’ on Martin & Pops’ back: He said, she said
In case you haven’t noticed, these past few weeks the tabs have been, so to speak, scratching the “monkey” issue involving ex-couple Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez, their children Robin and Ram, and Martin’s beloved Katrina Ojeda (with whom Martin has a seven-month-old son, Santino).
The bone of contention: Did Katrina, as the tabs reported, really call Robin and Ram “monkeys”?
Because she isn’t showbiz, I suppose Katrina will as usual be mum on this and any showbiz-related issue. She and Martin, together with Santino, arrived from the
Without much ado, let’s hear it from Martin and Pops whose long-drawn real-life “teleserye” goes on and on even now that their marriage has been annulled and they are living separate lives, with Pops saying she’s happy with Jomari Yllana, her new love.
He said:
Nine years ago, I was living in a one-bedroom apartment after I broke up with Pops. The furniture and interiors were done by Katrina’s sister. One day, Robin, who was then 11, and Ram, then eight, were in my apartment, jumping up and down on my bed and broke it in half. I called Katrina, who was in
Her story went like this: “Can you believe it,” Katrina was telling them, “Martin’s kids were jumping like monkeys on his bed and broke it in half.” It was just a figure of speech.
That was, I repeat, nine years ago.
Let’s talk about the present. When I was in
She started getting emotional and I let her be. When she was done, I began talking in a very calm voice. I told her, “I am not going to defend Katrina. Anything that has to do with our children, I am on your side.” I was asking who told her but she interrupted me. I reminded her na ang usapan namin walang interruption. She said, “I have every right to interrupt.” To make a long story short, we couldn’t finish talking. She was raising her voice, I was raising my voice. So I hung up so that there would be no more raising of the voice.
To this day, we haven’t spoken.
The funny thing is that, nine years ago, Pops and I went through this thing. I asked Katrina then, “What happened here?” And she said, “Oh no, no. What I said was ‘jumping like monkeys.” I called up Pops and said, “Here’s the story pala.” Nine years ago, Pops understood the story, so I’m surprised why she doesn’t understand it now. We never brought it up again.
Has she forgotten that it happened nine years ago? How come she sounds as if it’s happening only now? This I must make clear: I will not fight with the mother of my children. I respect and I love Pops very much, and I’m very happy that she’s happy with Jomari. If they get married I’ll be happy for her. If they have 17 kids, I’ll be happy for her.
* * *
She said:
Did Martin say it happened nine years ago? That’s what he texted me. In the beginning, he said three years ago and then it became nine years ago. Martin explained to me the situation about Robin and Ram jumping on his bed and breaking it in half.
I was upset because I heard it from a lot of people. You know, I’m the type who keeps things to myself; I never blurt out my feelings. Even before, when I should have been hysterical I kept quiet. I could have made sugod but I didn’t.
I’d been texting him that I wanted to talk to him. Nagpaparinig na ako that what I wanted to tell him had something to do with the kids and that, you know, when it comes to the kids I’m over-protective.
When we talked on the phone, I was crying because I was in pain. At the end of day, even if it was said as a joke or whatever, it doesn’t matter. I was saying that she should be careful with her words because she, of all people, if it comes from her it’s very touchy because of what she represents in our lives. Do I have to repeat what she did? She broke up my family.
Yes, he’s right. We hung up on each other because nagkagulo na kami when he insisted that I tell him who told me the story. Anyway, the phone call ended horribly.
I was telling Martin, “She’s also a mom now and if she hears something like that, even as a joke, I don’t think that as a mother she’ll find it funny.”
Did she use the word “monkey?” No, Martin told me that she used the word “gorilla” because the kids broke the bed. I told Martin, “I don’t think it’s funny.” Martin said that he explained everything to Ram but I don’t think Ram or Robin would find it funny. It doesn’t matter if it happened three years ago or, worse, nine years ago because at that time we just broke up.
Did we clear the matter nine years ago? No, we didn’t. I didn’t even know that it happened. I learned about it only a few weeks ago when I was in
I want to make it clear: I’m hurting as a mom. Terribly hurting.
* * *
Latest development
Martin and his sons, together with Martin’s nephews, were supposed to tape an episode for Kris Aquino’s Deal Or No Deal (DOND), but Martin said he had the taping scrapped because Pops stopped Robin and Ram from going, “Because she didn’t want our kids to be seen with Katrina when, in fact, Katrina would have been there not as a participant but just in the audience.”
Added Martin, “Years ago, we put the kids in a situation where they had to choose who they want to live with, their mom or me. Now, they’re being made to choose again between my plan (to guest on DOND) and their mom’s demand.”
Said Pops, “Then and now, I give the kids freedom to choose. I advised them against going to the taping because there might be some reporters on the set and they might start asking them about the (‘monkey’) issue. I didn’t want the issue to be blown out of proportion.”
Anyway, let’s hope that Martin and Pops iron out the “monkey” issue before it gets out of hand and hurts not only the “old folks” but the young ones who seem to be getting along very well — I mean, Robin and Ram and their half-brother Santino.
I will end this piece by publishing the poem Martin said he wrote on his way to a guesting on The Buzz last Sunday, entitled My 25 Years:
as i look back, at my 25 years
i remember the victories, i remember the tears
my father BERT, gave me a voice
my mother CONCHITA gave me many a choice
on how to live, and how to dream
i thank them both, for my self esteem
my champion GINA, yes she believes
she knows my heart, is always on my sleeve
she blessed me first, with my first years
i thank her today, on this 25th year
LUIGI, and his business sense
cracks some jokes, when things got tense
so many to thank, so little time
i better hurry, before i run out of rhyme
ROBIN & RAM, they inspire me so!
even though i was never there, to watch them grow
from boys to men, so good through it all
they have seen me shine, they have seen me fall
i owe my life, to my sons
now we are stronger, we’ve added one
to this rat pack, to the nievera name
now life wtih SANTINO, will never be the same!
but the best of the best, of these 25 years
was spent with my loveteam, who i’ve caused many tears
we’ve shared the stage, all over this world
POPS i owe you my life, no matter what you’ve heard
so now you know my secret, for staying on tops
my secret weapon has always been, the concert queen POPS!
so now a new chapter, another milestone
it felt like forever, a lot of time spent all alone
MARTIN’S best kept secret, is no secret no more
or she owns my heart, you’ve heard her name before
for today i will not hide, but instead reveal
for her love is true, her love is for real
she gives me happiness, she gives me love too you know
today we celebrate love, with our son SANTINO!
my beloved KATRINA, you never gave up & don’t regret
from me you took so much crap, you take all my shhhhhhhhhh...... amen.
and to my golden BOY ABUNDA, CRISTY RUFFA & yes even KRIS
she made me game na game, it’s really her smile that i miss
you take good care of us, you make such a fuss
”ABANGAN... SUSUNOD!, dito lang sa THE BUZZ!!!
my 25 years ......
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