Valentine's Day is still their day

One of Barbra Streisand’s most popular songs, Some Good Things Never Last, may, at first blush,  seem to be an apt summary of what befell celebrity couple Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez after they parted ways.

Years later, the two proved their story is actually that of a different love song — Love Always Finds A Way.

Well, at least One Amore Time.

Indeed, Martin and Pops will again celebrate love and share the feeling with their fans when they stage their Valentine’s Day concert (Feb. 14, 2010) at SMX Convention Center inside SM Mall of Asia. Produced by Mauve Management and Entertainment under the direction of Rowell Santiago, One Amore Time is one of many ultra-successful Valentine’s Day concerts Martin and Pops have done together since 1984 when he held a back-to-back concert with his then-future wife at Manila Pavillion.

It seems art will imitate life in One Amore Time. According to concert producer Mae Vinluan-Dolonius, the show’s concept is inspired by Latin teleseryes and one that promises to be Pops and Martin’s most daring and sexiest concert ever.

And isn’t the Pops and Martin real life story straight from a teleserye script? Once deemed a fairy tale story — the standard by which other showbiz couple’s relationships were measured — it eventually revealed cracks that ultimately broke them and their fans’ hearts.

And yet, like all fairy tales, their story has a happy ending: Despite having found new loves and new lives, they also found a way to be friends again, anchoring it on their love for their children, Robin and Ram.

A recent interview with the two showed that perhaps love (albeit of a different kind and level) between them has not totally died. Martin, as always, was very vocal in saying that he wants someone who would take care of Pops because she deserves it.

Pops, on the other hand, revealed that she and Martin communicate constantly; mostly about their kids but also because they are still each other’s best friends.

“Sometimes Martin would text from out of the blue, ‘How are you’ and maybe it’s coincidence that when he does, I am going through something and I need someone who knows me well to just be there for me and listen,” she admitted.

Call it psychic connection. But could we also call that…love?

Martin explained why his tandem with Pops works, “There’s no other love like ours. When we do a show, it’s more real compared to others because we did have a past and we still have a present because of our kids….

“It doesn’t really matter who we’re seeing in our separate lives. No matter what happens on Valentine’s Day, it’s our day.”

Should we read between the line? Or maybe argue the case the way that Kathy Trocolli song, If This Is Isn’t Love, would?

“Why else do I want you like I do…if I’m not in love with you?”

“Basta, everything you need to know about our love life, you’ll find out at the concert,” Pops promised.

Now, if that statement were to have a song, could it be…Somewhere Down The Road?

It’s two months before the concert yet Martin and Pops already bring to mind songs about them.

It’s like the old times. Or at least, One Amore Time.

Happy New Year to everyone!