Martin, nagpasalamat kay Pops
ni: Allan Diones

Mukhang na-miss ng kanyang fans si Martin Nievera dahil maraming nanood ng 25th showbiz anniversary concert niyang XXV nu’ng Biyernes nang gabi sa Araneta Coliseum.

Kahit na-late kami ng dating ay naabutan namin ang opening number ni Martin dahil 9:00 PM na nagsimula ang show.
Kwela pa rin ang mga patawang hirit ni Martin at natatawa pa rin ang au­dience sa kanyang jokes.

Naikuwento niya na nagsimula ang kanyang singing career nu’ng Hul­yo 5, 1982 nang maging once-a-month guest siya sa TV show ng mag-inang Pi­lita Corrales at Jackie Lou Blanco, na hindi nagtagal ay nakansela agad sa ere.
Biglang umentra ang surprise guest (at first showbiz girlfriend) ni Martin na si Jackie Lou at nag-duet sila ng Friends in Love.

Naghiyawan ang audience sa isang spiel ni Martin na nagdayalog siya ng, “I do not lie anymore!” na obviously ay may koneksyon sa kontro­bersyal na revelations ng ex-wife niyang si Pops Fernandez sa YES! magazine na naging dahilan para maungkat ang mga sama ng loob nila sa isa’t isa (pero kamakailan lang ay nagkaharap at nagkaa­yos na ang ex-couple).

Sunud-sunod ang pag-awit ni Martin ng pinasikat niyang mga kanta mula nu’ng nagsisimula siya tulad ng Holiday, Paradise, Pain, Each Day With You, atbp. na kadalasan ay nakiki-sing along sa kanya ang crowd.

Tawanan ang audience sa hirit niyang, “To all the men who killed this song in every karaoke, please stop! Enough!” bago niya inawit ang hit song niyang Be My Lady.

***
Sina Mark Bautista at Erik Santos ang u­nang guests ni Martin, na sina­mahan siya sa pagkanta ng senti song na Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin.

Panay ang kantiyaw niya sa first manager/discoverer niyang si Gina Godinez na sa sobrang bilib daw sa kanya ay wala roon sa Araneta nu’ng gabing ‘yon.
Bumaba si Martin sa audience sa kanyang Kenny Loggins medley at ibinigay ang mic kay Rachel Alejandro na nakaupo sa harapan kaya sing ang Rachel ng Footloose. Pati ‘yung isang babaeng naka-wheelchair ay nakatuwaang paandarin ni Martin across the front area.

Sunod niyang tinawag from the audience si She­ryn Regis at nag-duet sila ng Never Gonna Let You Go. Sa kanyang Chicago medley si Jed Madela ang naka-duet ni Martin.

Nabanggit niyang may mga nagawa siyang pelikula noong araw pero ami­nado ang Concert King na hindi siya marunong umarte. Hindi rin daw siya marunong sumayaw.

Bukod sa tumaba na si Martin, napansin namin na ‘yung energy niya ngayon ay hindi na kagaya nu’ng energy level niya sa mga napanood naming concerts niya noon.

Nandu’n pa rin ang maganda niyang boses na kanyang-kanya lang, pero parang hindi na rin ito kasim-powerful at kasim­brilyo ng dati.
***
May isang portion ng show na pahapyaw ulit na nabanggit ni Martin ang ‘nightmare that just doesn’t wanna go away’ (‘yung hindi magandang nakaraan nila ni Pops), pero halatang iniiwasan niyang mapadako roon ang usapan.
Panay ang puri niya sa ABS-CBN. Ani Martin, nag-offer sa kanya ang GMA, pero hindi niya tinanggap dahil bilib siya sa ABS (kahit wala siyang kontrata rito) dahil na rin sa TFC (The Filipino Channel). Para sa Kapamilya network ang song niyang Because of You.

Ang ganda sana ng acoustic medley niya with the Sabado Boys (Paolo Santos, Top Suzara at Jimmy Bondoc), pero nakakairita ‘yung pumuputuk-*** na audio ng mikropono na ewan kung bakit hindi nagawang ayusin.
Naka-jamming niya ang ex-sweethearts na sina Rachelle Ann Go at Christian Bautista sa love ballad na Say That You Love Me. Kinarga pa ni Christian ang ex-GF na si Rachelle pag-exit nilang dalawa.

May spot number din si Martin at ang Bossa Nova Diva na si Sitti, na ginawan niya ng kanta para ma­ging bagong theme song ng Crossover FM station.
Nang kantahin niya ang Forever sa kanyang mo­vie theme songs medley ay big­lang umentra si Regine Velasquez at nag-duet sila.
Ang taba ni Regine at mukha itong buntis sa suot na asul na gown. Walang sapatos ang Songbird at naka­yapak lang nang pumanhik ng stage.
Nang awitin ni Martin ang theme song ng teleser­yeng Lobo (Ikaw Ang A­king Pangarap) ay si Piolo Pascual naman ang umentra at nag-duet sila. Hiyawan ang Araneta kay Piolo.

Gandang-ganda kami sa potential hit na Lobo theme song na nilikha ni Ogie Alcasid. Pag-exit ni Piolo ay pinuri-puri ito ni Martin. Aniya, si Piolo ang “humblest, sincerest, most successful man in ABS-CBN history.”
Kahit napaka-busy ay nagawa pa raw nitong pumunta ng Araneta para maki-duet sa kanya.

Si Zsa Zsa Padilla ang sunod na umentra at nag-duet sila ni Martin ng Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin. Ang taba rin ni Zsa Zsa sa suot nitong yellow dress.
***
Seryoso si Martin nang sabihin niyang may isang babaeng #1 sa kanyang listahan (bukod sa kanyang inang si Conchita Razon) na nais niyang pasa­lamatan para sa nakalipas na 25 taon niya sa industriya.

Hindi niya binanggit ang pangalan ni Pops dahil alam na raw ng audience ang taong tinutukoy niya. Sa halip ay tinawag niya ang dalawang anak nila ni Pops na sina Ro­bin at Ram.

Nagpasalamat din siya sa fans ni Pops, pero sumundot siya ng, “They’re not here tonight!” na ikina-react ng ibang Pops fans sa audience.
Nilinaw ni Martin na ‘yung solid Pops fana­tics ang ibig niyang sabihin. Bumawi siya agad dahil baka madiyaryo na naman daw siya sa kataklesahan niya.
Habang kinakanta ng mag-aama ang You Are To Me ay ipinakikita sa video­wall ang mga pictures nina Pops-Martin and the kids noong isa pa silang happy family.

Ang lalaking tao nina Robin (21 y/o) at Ram (18 y/o). Si Robin ay medyo may boses, pero si Ram ay hindi namana ang singing talent ng kanyang ama.
‘Heroes in my life’ ang tawag ni Martin sa kanyang dating misis at sa kanilang two boys. Pagkakanta niya ng Kahit Isang Saglit ay tinawag niya si Gary Valenciano at bumanat sila ng isang kakaibang duet.
Cute ang pagre-remi­nisce nina Martin-Gary ng past nila at ang pang-i-spoof nila sa isa’t isa. ‘Katuwa na ‘yung dating mahigpit na magkaribal ay best of friends ngayon.

Broadway medley ang sunod na binanatan ni Martin. Mahusay ng 28-piece Filharmonika Orchestra sa ilalim ng baton ni Gerard Salonga at ang musical director ng show na si Louie Ocampo, pero inaantok na kami sa puntong ito dahil lagpas 12:00 AM na.

Ang daming kinanta ni Martin (na karamihan ay birit-biritan), pero in fairness ay hindi siya namaos at hindi nagbago ang boses niya.
Binigyan siya ng stan­ding ovation after niyang kantahin ang This Is The Moment. Ang iba ay nag-aalisan na, pero may mga nagmu-“More!” pa.
You Are My Song at Forever ang encore songs ng Concert King. Sa haba ng show ay halos 1:00 AM na ito natapos.

Kung sa ibang concert ay umuuwi kaming bitin, kay Martin ay kami ang sumuko dahil gusto na naming umuwi ay ganado pa siyang kumanta at parang ayaw niya pang tapusin ang show.

http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/feb0408/entertainment_diones.htm

February 04, 2008 07:47 PM Monday

By: Nitz Miralles

* * *
ANG haba ng Martin Nievera: XXV concert ni Martin Nievera at parang wala itong balak tapusin ang show.

Nakadagdag pa sa haba ng show ang maraming guests na karamihan ay kasama niya sa ASAP.

Kapag walang na-edit sa guests at sa ibang numbers ’pag pinalabas sa TV, aabot ito ng five hours. Grabe!

Hassle pa ang sound system na *** nang *** at ’yung videowall na may permanent line, ano ba ‘yun?

Hindi alam ni Martin na darating si Jackielou Blanco at makikipag-duet ng Friends In Love and after their number, ang dialogue ni Martin patungkol kay Jackie ay

“I’ve kept her for 25 years and now, I’m given the chance to acknowledge her as someone I love.”

Twice binigyan ng standing ovation ng audience si Martin at magandang send-off ’yun sa pag-alis niya sa February 6 to be with his family in Las Vegas at para sa three-month series of shows na gagawin niya with Society of Seven and Lani Misalucha sa Bellagio Hotel.

People's Tonight

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-02-04&sec=3&aid=48192

Mga kanta ni Martin maraming maling lyrics
SEEN SCENE
Monday, February 4, 2008

Seen: Nag-enjoy ngunit na-bore ang mga tao dahil masyadong mahaba ang anniversary concert ni Martin Nievera sa Araneta Coliseum noong Sabado. Nabasa rin ng audience ang spiels at lyrics ng mga kanta ni Martin sa malaking screen na nagsilbi na teleprompter at nakalagay sa magkabilang-dulo ng Araneta Coliseum. May negative effect ang lantarang pagkakalagay ng  malaking screen dahil kitang-kita na mali ang lyrics ng kanta na lumalabas mula sa bibig ni Martin. Hindi rin naitago ng all-black outfit ni Martin ang kanyang katabaan at double-chin.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Showbiz&p=50&type=2&sec=58&aid=20080203137

Martin, panay ang tuka kay Gary!

KALOKA, walang space kahapon, kaya hindi agad nailabas ang kolum ko.

Anyway, si Martin Nievera naman ang topic ko, kaya sure ako na read pa rin ninyo ang kolum ko.

Sa ginanap na concert ni Martin last Friday sa Araneta Coliseum, itinodo na niya nang husto ang husay niya sa pagkanta, pagchika at tatag ng katawan dahil uma­bot nang halos apat na oras ang kanyang 25th anniversary concert, ang Martin Nievera XXV.

Aba, sa concert na ‘yon, isang beses lang umeksit ng stage ang Concert King para magpalit ng damit! Babad na babad talaga siya sa stage kaya naman sulit na sulit ang perang ibinayad ng tao para panoorin siya.

As expected, walang Pops Fernandez sa concert. Tanging ang mga anak na sina Robin at Ram ang naging representative ng kanilang ina na sa video clips lang nakita ang mukha.

Maganda rin ‘yung hindi babad na babad ang mga guests ni Martin. Ilang linya lang ang kinanta ng mga ito at umeksit na.

Tanging si Gary Valenciano lang ang tumagal sa stage. Siya ang nagbukas ng concert at sumayaw ng ilang parte ng kanta niyang Hataw Na. Hindi man bago ang joke, kuwela naman ‘yung lumabas ng naka-bath robe si Martin at sinita ang kaibigan na XXV ang title ng show at hindi Gary V!

Epektibo ang naging number nila na talaga namang pinalakpakan nang husto ng audience.

Kaya naman sa anniversary concert ni Gary sa November, expect nin­yo ang presence ni Martin bilang kapalit ng guesting ni Mr. Pure Ener­gy, huh!

Kahit na matagal ang concert, hindi naman na­bigo ang follo­wers ni Mar­tin na marinig ang lahat ng naging hits niya.

Todo-todo rin ang pasasalamat niya sa audience na pumuno ng Big Dome.

"You are the blessing in my life!" sukli niya sa dumating na tao.

Unang lumabas na guest si Jackie Lou Blanco na na-link noon kay Martin. Ang show na Pili­ta-Jac­kie kasi ang

unang show na pinag-gues­­t-an ni Martin nu'ng nagsisimula pa lang siya 25 years ago.

Nang kantahin naman ng Concert King ang Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin, naka-trio niya sina Mark Bautista at Erik Santos. After mag-exit ng dalawa, ani Martin, "Praise the people who would extend your music!"

Sumulpot din si Gab­riel Valenciano na nagpamalas ng konting pag­sayaw. Then nag-duet sila ni Sheryn Regis na ga­ling sa audience. Si Jed Madela naman ay naka-duet niya sa Chicago hits.

Guest din ang ex-lo­vers na sina Rachelle Ann Go at Christian Bautista.

Gayundin si Piolo Pascual na naka-duet niya sa theme song ng Lobo. Pati na sina Paolo Santos, Top Suzara at Jimmy Bondoc na bumanat ng You're My Everything.

Wala namang sapatos si Regine Velasquez nang mag-duet sila ni Martin ng Forever. Ang ganda-ganda naman ni Zsa Zsa Padilla sa gown niyang kulay yellow at ang Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin ang piyesa nilang da­lawa.

Yellow rin ang suot ng Bosa Nova Queen na si Sitti na naka-duet ni Martin sa theme song ng Crossover na producer ng concert.

Si Gary nga ang last guest ni Martin after ng mga anak niyang sina Robin at Ram. Sa pre­sence na ‘yon ni Gary, da­lawang beses siyang hinalikan ni Martin bilang pasasalamat.

Kahit nga tinapos ni Martin ang main part ng concert through his version of Broadway hits, hindi pa rin siya tinantanan ng tao para buma­lik sa stage na kinanta ang You Are My Song at Forever!

Congratulations kahit na nga inantok, napagod at nagutom kami pag­labas ng Araneta Coli­seum, huh!

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/feb0508/ent_jn.htm

REVIEW
A master performer

By Pocholo Concepcion
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:28:00 02/04/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Crackling noise from the PA system and a defective video screen couldn’t spoil the success of Martin Nievera’s “XXV” (25th anniversary) concert Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The 46-year-old singer sustained a high-energy performance that stretched for some three hours — catching his breath only by taking swigs of yellow-colored liquid between tiring numbers.

Excellent backup

Nievera — with vocals in fine shape — had an excellent backup led by music director Louie Ocampo on keyboards and the Global Studio Orchestra, whose conductor Gerard Salonga strode onstage in a black suit and white sneakers.

The presence of Ocampo, the orchestra and Salonga made a tremendous difference. The revised arrangement in the “Pain/Paradise” medley, for instance, put some swing into the songs; the other numbers, whether truly pop classics or MOR tunes picked for sentimental reasons, enjoyed heightened power and enhanced appeal through the musicians’ big band approach.

Some 10,000 people showed up to watch and gamely engaged in reminiscing through familiar hits that propelled Nievera to stardom in the mid-1980s. The crowd had a good laugh as the perky performer introduced “Be My Lady”: “To all the people who killed this song in every karaoke...”

Audio distractions

It was at this point when the PA speakers started acting up with popping sounds. But Nievera was thoroughly a professional to be bothered by it. And the sheer number of guests, starting with Gary Valenciano (who opened the show with the Maneuvers), compensated for the intermittent audio distractions.

Jackie Lou Blanco, who was acknowledged, along with Pilita Corrales, as the ones responsible for Nievera’s first TV appearance, sang a short duet with him. A lot of songs in fact were done in snippets to cover as much material as possible.

Mark Bautista and Erik Santos walked in, as Nievera was into the first few verses of “Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin.” The two young singers had different yet equally impressive styles; Nievera described them as the new batch of pop stars who help keep his old songs alive with the great way they cover them.

Nievera’s strength as a concert artist was seen through his warm, at times wild, interaction with the audience. After introducing a Kenny Loggins medley as the tunes that allowed him to stretch his vocal range, Nievera went down the stage and sang while greeting and kissing friends, peers and his mother Conchita Razon; at one point, he gave the mic to a surprised Rachel Alejandro; the next moment, he was running and giving an old lady on a wheelchair a fast ride on front row.

There were at least three high points in the night: Jed Madela lending his powerful vocals in Chicago’s “Hard Habit To Break”; Rachelle Ann Go moving the crowd to erupt in cheers in “Say That You Love Me” (Christian Bautista’s entry was anti-climactic); and Nievera’s interpretation of George Canseco’s “Ikaw” as well as his repertoire of movie/TV themes, one of which featured Regine Velasquez who sang barefoot.

And all those times, the crackling audio sound kept turning up, as sound engineer Jaime Godinez lost his wits trying to lick the problem.

There were low points, too: Sitti and Nievera singing a jingle of radio station Crossover 105; and sons Robin and Ram joining their father in “You Are To Me” as a tribute to Pops Fernandez — which had Nievera shaking his head and chuckling over his children’s wayward voices. A reported plan to sing a newly written song for Pops, also with Robin and Ram, was scratched at the last minute.

Given its unusual length, the show was still interesting — no matter if it seemed to have accommodated as many ABS-CBN talents, including Piolo Pascual whose four or so lines in the theme to his new teleserye “Lobo” had fans swooning out loud.

If new songs were to keep coming, or in case old classics would be recorded, not with machines but with Salonga’s orchestra, it’s safe to assume Nievera is off to a good start for his golden anniversary.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20080204-116780/A-master-performer

MARTIN hugs dear friend Gary Valenciano on stage.

REUNITED with Jackie Lou Blanco, who helped him in the early years.

LEA Salonga enjoys the show on front row.

MovieGoer 
Nestor Cuartero

BY THE WAY...

• Martin Nievera filled up the Araneta Coliseum last Saturday for his 25th anniversary concert. The King of Concerts presented a wonderful show, which ran longer than 3 hours. Guests, like Gary Valenciano, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Piolo Pascual, Mark Bautista, Christian Bautista, Regine Velasquez, among others, fitted in and out of production numbers built around the story of Martin’s first 25 years as an entertainer. It was a joyful show marred only by a sound system that suffered from technical glitches every so often. Martin also conveniently skipped the Pops Fernandez episode in his life, although this was sufficiently provided for by his song number with his sons by her, Ram and Robin.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=36552

‘XXV’ is Martin’s generous serving of music and talk



Leah C. Salterio, Shirley M. Pizarro

Not every entertainer gets a chance to mark the 25th anniversary of an illustrious career in music.

Lasting that long, especially in the local entertainment scene, is really cause for a big celebration.

Martin Nievera marked his silver anniversary as a singer last year, but the celebration via a major concert had to be delayed for a lot of reasons.

The big day happened only last Friday when "XXV" was staged in grand fashion at a packed Araneta Coliseum. The Crossover-produced show, (which bore every stamp a of ABS-CBN beginning with the celebrity-audience, down to the guests and production numbers) was a nostalgic look at Martin’s first 25 years in the business.

He had promised "it would be a long night of music" and it indeed it was. It was a four-hour trip down memory lane as he sang (and spoke!) mostly his hits and the other tunes identified with him. There was an expectant mood from all those Martin fanatics who came to watch the show unfold. For them, the repertoire was predictable but there were surprises too.

It was 25 years ago when he first appeared on local TV after flipping burgers in Honolulu, where he grew up. It has been that long since he first sang a duet with Jackie Lou Blanco in the latter’s primetime program with her mom, "Pilita and Jackie."

Since then, there was no turning back for Martin as he churned out countless hits, staged successful concerts here and abroad, amassed multi-platinum record awards and sent his way into the hearts of his millions of followers.

The concert was obviously a huge success. It was well-attended which surprised those who doubted Martin’s ability to fill the venue. Martin, after all, was getting some bad press last year.

An hour before Martin sauntered onstage, Araneta was already packed with his supporters.

Among the namedroppables in the audience were Lea Salonga and mom Ligaya, Ara Mina, Toni Gonzaga and Paul Soriano who left way ahead of the concert’s conclusion, Rachel Alejandro and her non-show biz boyfriend, Girlie Rodis, Angeli Pangilinan, Gina Martinez, William Martinez and Yayo Aguila, among many others.

The show traced the many highlights of Martin’s career. Some of the songs were squeezed into a musical spectacle , which was directed for the stage by Rowell Santiago. Johnny Manahan was TV director, while Louie Ocampo was the musical director, with Gerard Salonga as conductor of the 28-piece Filharmonica.

Martin opened the show with the bouncy hit, "Tonight," then went on to croon one hit after another – "Pain," "How Can I," "Holiday," "Be My Lady," "No Way To Treat a Heart," "Kahit Isang Saglit."

The audience was given another glimpse of the important career chapters. His first music video,"Each Day With You," was screened and it featured a very young Panjee Gonzales dancing with him.

Jackielou was Martin’s first guest for the night and they sang "Friends in Love." The song was the popular theme of Jackie’s ‘80s movie with Sharon Cuneta, William Martinez and Rowell Santiago.

Quite expectedly, there were the Kenny Loggins medley – "Footloose" (which had an impromptu duet with Rachel Alejandro, who was seated on the front row) and "Heart to Heart" – as well as the Barry Manilow hits ("Weekend in New England," "Even Now," "Looks Like We Made It, " "Somewhere Down the Road," "I Write the Songs").

Toward the end of the show, the Broadway medley was beautifully accompanied by Gerard Salonga’s orchestra Filharmonica. The medly included "Seasons of Love," "For Good," "Something’s Coming," "Maria," "All I Ask of You," "Memory," "Somewhere" and "This is the Moment."

Lining up the repertoire for the concert proved to be a challenge for Martin as well as his concert director and musical director. "What I lined up was cut by Rowell into half," Martin ranted onstage everyone must have felt relieved. What time would the concert have ended if Rowell hadn’t?

Nevertheless, "XXV" did not shortchange the audience in any way. (On hindsight, there was never a Martin show in the past that ever did, anyway.) But how can one complain when Martin performed for nearly four hours without hardly leaving the stage? He has shown how generous his heart is, giving his all in his every performance. He is perhaps the only local artist who would does that. He was telling the truth when he said, "I will sing at the drop of a hat." Professional fees have never been an issue for this superstar singer. Everyone can attest to this fact.

Martin chose not to announce his guests in the concert. It turned out "XXV" was loaded with prominent names, most of whom were talents of ABS-CBN . Christian Bautista and Rachel Anne Go carried out "Say That You Love Me," Sheryn Regis was plucked out from the audience to sing Sergio Mendez’s hit, "Never Gonna Let You Go" with Martin. Bossa nova diva Sitti performed the "Crossover" theme with him.

Regine Velasquez emerged onstage minus her footwear to belt out "Forever" with Martin. Zsa Zsa Padilla dished out "Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin" with him and Piolo Pascual sang "Ikaw ang Pangarap," amidst the shrieks and screams of the crowd.

The Sabado Boys – Paolo Santos, Jimmy Bondoc and Top Suzara – played an acoustic version of Martin’s hit revival, "You’re My Everything." Erik Santos, Mark Bautista and Jed Madela also had their share of the spotlight.

What made the concert more special to Martin was the guesting of his two sons, Robin and Ram, who volunteered to perform with him. Father and sons rendered "You Are To Me," a song which Martin especially penned for Pops on her 18th birthday. Robin carried out a "rock star" kind of rendition for his part of the song, while Ram was feeling his way into the song for the most part.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of "XXV" was Gary Valenciano’s numbers with Martin. The two were virtual rivals in the music scene, as far as their respective careers are concerned, but the rivalry never became personal at any point. They’ve been friends ever since. Together onstage, they clowned around doing their inimitable yet amusing imitation of each other’s distinct way of performing but the musicality lent excellence to the entire production.

Al Jarreau’s "Rondo," which is identified with Gary, was rendered as a duet with Martin. They also beautifully sang "Greatest Love Affair of All," best remembered as Martin’s well-loved duet with his dad Bert Nievera.

With a huge venue like the Big Dome, Martin tried to be as intimate as possible with the audience. He teased, jested and laughed with them. He shared amusing trivia and interesting anecdotes.

Crossover spared no expense in ensuring a grand production for Martin’s "XXV." Aside from the 28-piece Filharmonica and the two musical geniuses onstage (Louie Ocampo and Gerard Salonga), the concert had huge monitors instead of mere prompters for the spiels and song lyrics, as well as giant screens – accoutrements that a concert king truly deserves.

Yesterday, February 5, Martin turned 46, but he had to return to Las Vegas where he is based with his partner Katrina Ojeda and their 16-month old son, Santino.

Martin is also set to fulfill his next commitment to perform with the Society of Seven at the Flamingo Hotel in The Strip from February 13 to April 13. The group still sings with Lani Misalucha and Martin will substitute temporarily for Mark Escueta.

"I’ve watched my dad (Bert) perform with SOS when I was growing up," Martin shares. "I know the group so well and I know the songs they sing. Since I was a kid, I’ve dreamt of being a member of SOS. I cannot be thankful enough to have been given a chance to perform with them this time even only for two months. I’ll be doing songs by Josh Groban, Johnny Mathis and songs my Dad used to sing when he was with the group."

When Martin returns to Manila in May, "XXV," according to the producers, the show will also be staged in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio and at Pampanga. We’re kinda sure that he will do a shorter version of the show for the provincial tour.

http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR20080207116356.html

February 09, 2008 08:33 PM Saturday

Non-showbiz GF, karay-karay ni Robin sa concert ni Martin

By: Nel Alejandrino

Tattle

HANDA na bang maging lola si Pops Fernandez? How about Martin Nievera? Nakikinita ba niya ang sariling may apo na?

Well, the former husband and wife might as well be prepared that their eldest son, Robin, 21, will soon bring home a wife.

Bitbit daw ni Robin ang kanyang girlfriend nang mag-perform ito with younger brother, Ram, 17, sa concert ni Martin sa Araneta Coliseum last Friday. Hindi taga-showbiz ang girl.

This early, maging si Pops ay convinced na ’di muna siya mapakakasalan ni Jomari. Tulad ng alam na nating lahat, naipangako ni Jomari sa anak na si Andrei (mother: Aiko Melendez) na ’di siya mag-aasawang muli hangga’t hindi tumutungtong si Andrei sa edad na 18. Eh, nine years old pa lamang si Andrei.

Pero, bilang boyfriend ng ni Pops, mukhang kasundo naman ni Jomari sina Robin at Ram. They go out to eat and watch movies together.

Pops, however, said na hindi pa niya puwedeng sabihing super close na sa isa’t isa ang tatlo. Feeling daw niya, nasa stage pa rin sila ng getting-to-know-each other.

“Ganunpaman, ang pinakamahalaga,” sabi nga ni Pops. “Magkakasundo kaming tatlo.”

People's Tonight

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-02-09&sec=3&aid=48826

Ni Ryan Mark
Saturday, February 9, 2008

Martin Nievera

Gidungog nga dunay bag-ong iring-iring si Martin Nievera dinhi karon sa Pilipinas ug dugang pa nasayud na si Katrina Ojeda niining tanan, gani ang nauwahi duna may hulagway ni Martin ug sa duha ka mga anak sa maong babaye samtang nag-swimming. Ang tsika nga nahagdaw sa PEP mao nga step daughter ni Prince Henri Bolkiah, manghud sa 29th Sultan sa Brunei, ang maong babaye. Gihulagway nga "petite, nothing extra extraordinary, cute lang," ug nagpangidaron og 30 above, nga silingan ra ni Martin sa Ayala Alabang Village.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Showbiz&p=51&type=2&sec=144&aid=2008020879

Martin talks about his ‘special girl’
By Ricky Lo
Monday, February 11, 2008

For several weeks now, DPAs have been sending "feelers" to Funfare about an alleged "new girl" in the life of Martin Nievera (photo) who is based in Las Vegas with his beloved Katrina Ojeda. Just finished with his successful 25th-anniversary-in-showbiz concert last week at the Araneta Coliseum, Martin has flown back to the US, unwittingly leaving a trail of juicy whispers about, yes, that "new girl" who was spotted at the patron section of the Big Dome during the concert.

Does Martin really have a girl other than Katrina? According to one rumor, the girl is the daughter of a "prince" and that makes her a "princess."

Funfare contacted Martin for his comment on this latest "kink(?)" in his love life and here's his texted reply which he requested to be published verbatim, with not a word changed:

Sorry for the late reply. This is about a very dear friend of our family. Her father is not the prince. We have spent time together. Yes, she was at my concert and, together with her family, has watched my past concerts. Yes, she is special, but there's nothing to report at this point except that I'm so sorry to have their names come out here and there.

I would like to apologize to all the families affected by all this, most especially to Angie and her family. It would truly be sad if our relationship was affected by all this. They are all very special to me and my family, and I would not want them involved in our world of intrigue.

Thanks so much for always calling me first (before printing anything) and trusting me. I would have rather told you face-to-face, but this will have to do for noe. Thanks again, my friend.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Entertainment&p=49&type=2&sec=31&aid=2008021035

Martin douses rumor about his ‘new girl’



Shirley Matias-Pizarro

Just a couple of days after starring in a hugely successful concert at the Araneta Coliseum, Martin Nievera flew to Las Vegas to fulfill a month-long singing engagement.

This was when gossip about Martin having a new girlfriend began circulating. It had everyone in show biz circles whispering — because as far everyone knew, Martin is still very much with his long-time partner Katrina Ojeda, the mother of his one-year-old son Santino.

We didn’t want to ask a confirmation or denial from Martin – we knew he was still reeling from an issue involving his ex-wife, who had revealed some devastating details about Martin to the media late last year. So we decided to go easy on him.

But some well-meaning people have been trying to confirm this bit of news with us so we felt it was time to send Martin a text message to explain the situation. Martin wasted no time in calling us back to give us his side, straight from the US.

He said we should assure our readers that there is no truth to the rumor and clarified that the girl isn’t a daughter of the Prince. As it turned out, the girl (whose name we promised to withhold) was a daughter of the Prince’s ex-wife from a previous relationship with a radio personality. The controversial lady, whom according to our source, is not more than 30 years old, has been living in the Philippines for a long time now and has kid(s) herself by a previous relationship.

Martin explained why he and this girl were linked. "We may have been seen a lot together while I was there. We hang out a lot because she is a family friend."

Martin wanted his reaction to be simple and short. "Tell them all, it’s not true," he told us .

When we noted how this new rumor could again lead to more negative publicity and enhance his "womanizer image," he calmly replied, "So what’s new, Shirley? People choose to believe every fairy tale love story about me when I share them a bit of my life. They believed I had a perfect relationship with Pops when we were married. When they saw my child Santino with Katrina, they believed in the happy ending. But the truth is, there is no perfect life. My life is not perfect. I am far from being perfect. Definitely my relationships are far from being perfect at all."

Martin said he and Katrina are okay right now. "We’re doing good. But we’re not perfect. We’re partners in raising our son Santino. But of course, Katrina is ripped again by all these rumors going around. And so’s her family. And I’m so tired of always having to explain myself. I am done with all those paranoia, of trying to live my life attempting to please everybody."

Martin feels bad about this piece of gossip because "they hurt the people around me. I’ve been painted as the bad guy for all the world to see before. I’ve admitted before the world that I was this bad guy. How many do you know who would go to such lengths as admitting their mistakes publicly?"

The singer is taking this new issue in stride. Says he, "Being rumored with another girl is just another mark on my bench. I’ve been talked about that way in far worse conditions before - while I was married. They just have to remember that I am not married right now. Does that make any difference?"

Regarding the alleged confirmation of his relationship with this new girl being done by the latter’s family, Martin said, "we have to really define if these people are really family. As far as I know, her family is not like that. They are prone to secrecy if you ask me. Maybe this people wish that that is what’s gonna happen to this girl and me, I don’t know."

Before the conversation ended, Martin reiterated, "tell everyone to relax. There is nothing to announce here. Thing with this rumor is they truly shake my loved ones. They hurt them and that’s what makes me so sad," he ended.

http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR20080214116930.html

February 14, 2008 03:45 PM Thursday

By: Ed De Leon

Dream

*  *  *

Kung kami ang tatanu-ngin, mukhang unfair naman yata kay Martin Nie-vera  ang mga usapan nga-yon  tungkol sa kanya at sa  sinasabing pa-nibago niyang love affair.
   
Mukhang napaka-unfair din ang  sinasabi ng iba na tila mala-pit na rin niyang iwanan si Katrina Ojeda.
   
Para bang may mga taong gusto ring sirain ang   pakikipag-relasyon ni Martin sa kanyang nobya ngayon, dahil siguro sa  katotohanang si-la  mismo ay hindi rin happy sa kanilang love-life. Para bang ang attitude nila,  eh, ‘ dahil hindi sila  happy, dapat ganoon din  si Martin.’
   
Hindi namin alam kung bakit ganoon sila.          Inili-link nila si Martin ngayon sa isang babaing sinasabi nilang related sa isang foreign  royalty.

Unfair ang mga ganyang tsismis.

People's Taliba

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-02-14&sec=3&aid=49311

TAKE IT! TAKE IT! Ni Lolit Solis
Friday, February 15, 2008

Nag-deny na si Martin Nievera tungkol sa non-showbiz girl na natsitsismis sa kanya pero hindi mamatay-matay ang balita.

Iba ang kuwento na nasagap ko, true daw ang tsis­mis pero nasa getting to know each other pa lang ang drama ni Martin at ng girl na super-rich ang pamilya dahil may connect sa mga royalty ng isang rich-oil country ang kanyang madir.

Ang tsismis pa, mga taga-showbiz ang nagpakilala kay Martin at sa 28-year old girl. Sila ang naging tulay at kapag nalaman ni Katrina Ojeda kung sino sila, tiyak na magugulat kayo.

I’m sure, ang mga ‘bridge’ din ang may kaga­gawan kaya mabilis na kumalat sa showbiz ang mga balita tungkol kay Martin at sa mystery girl na nanood ng kanyang anniversary concert pero hindi natunugan ng mga reporter.

Siguradong tatanungin si Pops Fernandez ng mga reporter tungkol sa bagong kabanata ng lovelife ng kanyang ex-husband.

Knowing Pops, mapapangiti lang siya at baka ma­alala niya ang sariling sitwasyon noong nag-uumpisa ang relasyon nina Martin at Katrina, behind her back. Behind her back daw o! Kumanta kaya si Pops ng Karma Chameleon ni Boy George?

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Showbiz&p=50&type=2&sec=58&aid=20080214121