A night with Martin

Last Saturday, Richard and I together with family and friends went to watch Martin Nievera’s gala performance at Greenbelt Onstage. It was his 55th performance in that venue and I guess that more than speaks for how much the audience adores him. Prior to the gala, Martin had a matinee and the night before he also had a huge concert in Dagupan City–we’re actually talking about three full shows in less than 48 hours. Talk about energy.

Martin being one of our favorite artists, Richard and I always make it a point to hie off to wherever Martin performs. Considering the number of shows he has had in the span of one year one would think there’s nothing new to discover about him anymore. After all, it is excuse enough for a performer to come up with the same spiels, the same songs, the same gimmicks, right? How innovative can he and his scriptwriters get? Well, think again. With Martin, nothing is ever exactly the same. In essence, he always sings his songs and delivers his punch lines as if he were doing them for the first time. And the audience, naturally, reacts as if they were hearing them for the first time. He just never looks and sounds tired, his shows never seem dated.

The songs he sang this time were hits of Seals and Crofts plus other songs from the ’70s. He also did some cuts from his new album, "Chasing Time" (you should get a copy, it’s beautiful) and a couple of his old hits, as requested by the audience.

For me, there were two highlights: When Martin did a "Spiderman" and when a guy from the audience actually proposed to his girlfriend. If you saw the movie Spiderman I’m sure you remember that scene where Tobey McGuire was upside down on a pole and Kirsten Dunst kissed him. Well, imagine the exact same scene, this time onstage, where Martin sings upside down on a pole with a pretty girl kissing him in between his lines. I found that really cute and it was a real kiss at that, not the pa-tweetums kind one might expect. It wasn’t French, I’m pretty sure, but it looked genuine all the same.

I guess it was a given that the audience would call for an encore. It was then that Martin called out two names. I don’t quite remember the girl’s name but the guy was a Dr. Fuentebella (the girl was a doctor, too if my memory serves me right) who nervously proposed to his girl, complete with a ring, with the spotlight on and Martin beside them. Amid ooohs and aahhs from the jam-packed theater the girl, of course, said yes. If she said otherwise, the audience would probably have killed her. The moment was too perfect, the timing right and they both looked like a couple really in love. The groom-to-be looked really nervous though – he could barely smile but I think it made the moment even more candid. I just love love stories, in any shape and form and I hope those two lovebirds stay happy forever.

As expected, Martin was delightful. Normally, thanking the sponsors would be one of the so-so parts of any show but even that he turned into an opportunity to keep us laughing. Everyone was laughing so hard, some were actually teary-eyed. I believe Martin should be in every pregnant woman’s delivery room – his humor will surely make the pain fade away. He can make you laugh the same way he can make you swoon. When God was giving out energy and talent I think Martin was wide-awake. People like him are rare gems in the business. He is primarily motivated by what he loves to do. That night, he told the audience that singing is his whole life, even if there were no audience to speak to he would still be singing with all his heart. Somehow, watching him perform with so much passion gave me the impression that whatever perks come along his great talent is just icing on the cake. I am no authority in the concert scene but through the years, I’ve seen enough of his shows to say that one night with him is like an antidote. If you’re feeling low, his show can lift your spirits. And if you’re happy, you leave the concert scene feeling even happier. He is a performer who connects with his audience – people, friends and strangers alike. And that happens with no effort at all on his part. As industry insiders would often say, Martin is one of the well-liked persons in showbiz because he is consistently warm to one and all. That you cannot fake.

How much did the audience love him that night? There were actually two encores, each capped with a standing ovation – the first he obliged us, the second he simply indulged us. And we couldn’t have gone home happier.

The first time I met Martin was at the birthday dinner of Willie Revillame in Via Mare, Tektite. Richard and I had just gotten engaged and he introduced me to Martin. I was simply starstruck because I was face to face with my favorite singer and all I could manage then was a feeble "Hi, nice to meet you." Right then and there he said he would write us a song and true enough he gave us Promise of Love, which he also sang at our wedding. A few months after our marriage, Richard and I ran into him at a restaurant in Malate. He came over to our table, said hi, and a few moments later came back with a scrap of paper that he handed to me. On the spot, he had written me a poem and being the fan that I was, I couldn’t have had it better. I was happier than happy. That was way back in 1998 and I still have the poem safely tucked in an album, a copy of which you will find somewhere on this page. This is what he wrote:

looking through your eyes I see

the happiness I miss, what used to be

you shine so bright like a star

how I wish I could be where you are

lucy, lucy, what a sight!

no wonder Richard’s home at night

your smile; your stare; and all you do

that’s why the world’s in love with you

i’m blessed just to know

the magic of you

your heart and soul

you’re a dream come true

A couple of years back a family friend of ours from Ormoc, Tiling Pangilinan, fondly told me how nice Martin was to her two little boys. One of them, Nacho, was the ring-bearer during our wedding and he and his brother were on a plane ride by themselves to the States where relatives would be meeting them. At the airport, Tiling saw that Martin was on the same flight as her two boys and she told Nacho not to be shy and instead approach him. Off he went and introduced himself, telling Martin that they were at the same wedding years back. When he realized that the boys were by themselves, he took it upon himself to regularly check on them for the duration of the flight, often even staying long enough to chat and make them laugh. Tiling said the boys wanted to say "thank you" to their Tito Martin once again but didn’t know where to write or call him. So on their behalf, I’m thanking you, Martin. You didn’t have to do that for the boys really, but you chose to. And I guess it is that candor and sincerity you have in relating to people that sets you apart from the lot.