Martin: I haven’t gone bankrupt

Martin Nievera was in town recently, not to pawn his jewelry, but to visit his sons, Ram and Robin. Before coming to town, Martin had his first born by lovely partner Katrina Ojeda baptized.

Santino Martin Ojeda Nievera was baptized at St. Francis Church in Las Vegas. Santino’s ninongs include internationally renowned singers Bryan McKnight and Michael Bublé, who unfortunately were not able to attend Santino’s christening. Martin says that the absentee ninongs are excited about seeing Santino. “Michael Bublé will be in Las Vegas and he wants to see Santino.”  

The couple’s friends were around to witness the important event in their son’s life. “We had a great time during Santino’s baptism. Naubos lahat ang giveaways. Santino was a very good boy. He did not cry all throughout the ceremony.”

Martin will star in a series of shows in Las Vegas. The production has been met with financial difficulties that prompted some quarters to say that Martin is broke. It was reported earlier that Martin had to sell some of his expensive watches to keep the production afloat. “I did not sell my watches. Katrina stopped it. By stroke of luck, an investor came in. Katrina is like a fortune teller who can foresee everything. My watches are intact but my car is gone. I had to sell it to pay the band.”

Martin admitted that indeed he is poor at producing shows but not necessarily bankrupt. “Hindi mahirap si Martin. Nahihirapan lang. The show’s producers are good people and we are not angry at them. I got pissed off when one of them left for San Diego and did not come back. I had to save the whole production so I had to produce the show. Ako ang nagbayad sa banda para hindi mawala ang show. Sayang maganda yong show e.”

In my book, Martin is not only a beautiful human being. He will always be the undisputed Concert King.

The Norie Sayo I know

Who is Norie Sayo? Everybody is talking about Norie Sayo, the woman who reportedly married Superstar Nora Aunor. The wedding according to reports happened on May 22, 2000 in Clark County, Nevada. 

I got to know Norie before she was linked to Nora. She is a Scholastican. She plays beautiful piano and she is cool. She and Nora are old friends and Norie is Ate Guy’s spokesperson and manager.

Eldest son Ian (by Christopher de Leon) admits that his mother is the picture of a happy and contented woman when he saw her in the States. Ian says that his mother is more relaxed. She even cooked for them.

This issue on gay marriage is nothing new to the Superstar. She has been through a lot of storms, small and big but always she survives.

I love Nora Aunor. I am a rabid fan of the Superstar. I remember those days when we would stay up late in the morning just to get a glimpse of Nora. One time, it was announced that Nora would be at a certain place. My equally rabid Noranian friends and I would prepare ourselves like it was World War III. We would be armed with bangko, pamaypay and chicheria. We knew that we would wait for long hours and we would be staying up late. I did not mind the long wait, as a matter of fact, I enjoyed it. I would feel delirious the moment I get a glimpse of the Superstar.

My friends and I would go home floating on Cloud Nine. Even today, I am still in awe of Nora Aunor. I get goose bumps in her presence. There is not one actor in history that would make me faint but Nora Aunor. I tremble. I get tongue-tied. I cower. Such is the power of the Superstar.

When I first interviewed Nora Aunor, words would not come out of my mouth. It was a mess. I just stared at her like I was bitten by a snake.  

I used to have a collection of Nora Aunor memorabilias. My sister Mana Fe (who is now vice mayor of Borongan, Eastern Samar) and I would compare notes on who was the better actress: Nora Aunor or Vilma Santos. Mana Fe is a ferocious, rabid Vilmanian. We would quarrel like two deranged idiots. And no one would win. We both end up being punished by either Tatay or Nanay. I love Ate Guy and I wish her all the best. I love Governor Vi. I have become an admirer of how she has reinvented herself and made a difference in both worlds of entertainment and politics. 

Cocoy Laurel in Concert

Iwi Laurel, Denise Laurel and Nicole Asensio join Cocoy Laurel in Cocoy Laurel in Concert on June 22 at the CCP Main Theater.

Iwi is the youngest among the Laurel siblings. She is the voice behind the hit single Special Memory which earned her a Cecil Award for Best Performance by a New Artist in 1983.

She is also the female vocalist for the ‘80s classic rock band Overdrive. Denise was in the CloseUp commercial with Sam Milby.

She is a member of Star Magic and appears every Saturday on Pedro Penduko at ang mga Engkantao.

Nicole, an honor student at De La Salle University, was a voice talent of Soundesign, Hit Records, Jam Records, Adfarm and Audiopost. She sings classical and rock.    

Cocoy Laurel in Concert will showcase the world premiere of Cocoy’s original compositions like Uliran which won a Famas Award; Love Song, Tango, Ahay and Tunay na Pag-Ibig. The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany Cocoy.

Cecil Go and Edna Ledesma will do a tango number while violinist Coke Bolipata will play Cocoy’s Tunay na Pag-Ibig using the Stradivarius violin of the late President Jose P. Laurel which was given as a gift by Generalissimo Franco of Spain.

Also guesting is Chorus Paulinos.

Tickets are available at Ticketworld. For details, call 723-8420.