Martin & Pops: The magic still works

MANILA, Philippines - The truth behind that familiar and sentimental song Love is Lovelier the Second Time Around was once again proven as we watched the lively and romantic performance of these two resplendent people whose love and friendship would remain unmatched in the world of entertainment.

Martin and Pops, or Pops and Martin, in whatever order you may want to bill them, will always be in the hearts of their adoring and loyal fans.

And my wife, Mila, is one of such fan whose devotion to Pops Fernandez is beyond compare that I had to immediately buy our tickets to their recent One A-More Time Valentine concert or face a Valentine-less evening.

The concert is another hit and a spectacular show that Pops and Martin (ladies first now) fans will, as always, forever remember. It was a jam-packed crowd, standing only show at the SMX Mall of Asia where the audience sang and swayed with the love songs belted out by these two beautiful and versatile thespians whose spectacular musical talent could make you forget, for a moment, that they are estranged from each other due to apparent misunderstanding or sheer miscommunication.

Their rendition of their respective versions of Julio Iglesias’ To All the Girls I Loved Before gave the audience the kilig to the bones kind of feeling knowing very well their respective past and present love affairs. For two solid hours, without break, and with many love songs appropriate for the occasion, they made the audience declare them in unison as... still... the undisputed Concert King and Queen.

But what fascinated the audience more was how Martin could make flawless but romantic adlibs on the “whatever happened to our relationship” kind of question, which Pops answered with a sweet smile.

Seeing and hearing them tease each other with romantic undertones, before and after each song, would make their fans sigh and say “sayang naman.” Yes, how unfortunate that such a lovely couple could just part ways when their eyes and even their hearts seem to be so in love... still with each other.

In a word, their fabulous performance, the way they held each others’ hands, the warm embrace and the repartee when they slightly departed from some of their scripted dialogues, make you feel the “heat” is still within them... and that time can only tell if they are still meant for each other.

Their emotional rendition of Aiza Seguerra’s Pagdating ng Panahon. Their hopeful fans could only sing with them when they sang the portion “Umaasa kahit di man ngayon... pagdating ng panahon, baka ikaw rin at ako..”

My wife and our kids, Jinel and Michael and our friends, Ed and Cora Capulong who also brought along their children, Lance and Ina, and all members of the audience could only look forward for Pops and Martin to be together again, not only in a concert but to a complete realization of that divine teaching that “What God has put together, no man can put asunder.”

Yes, not only Pagdating ng Panahon... but Somewhere in Time could be a good title for their next concert for 2011 Valentine.

How I wish I could invite Pops and Martin to read love poems in my radio program where they themselves could realize that indeed, “The Law of the Heart is Love.” Only problem is, do they know me and my program?