Martin: Spare Katrina!

It’s still the same old story, isn’t it?

Reading the current development in Martin Nievera’s checkered love life, you get that deja vu feeling, don’t you?

The roles have been reversed but the pattern remains intriguingly familiar. Even Martin’s reactions and emotion-filled statements sound the same in his effort to take the blame for his breakup with his girlfriend Katrina Ojeda even as he "absolves" one-time TV "weather girl" Cutie del Mar as, according to persistent rumors, the "third party" in this new episode in Martin’s love life.

Guess who called early yesterday morning from Las Vegas, reacting to Funfare’s story about this latest, uh, love triangle — yes, of course, Martin no less!

He wanted to clarify certain things, to wit:

l. "I did not come to Las Vegas to rendezvous with anybody. Cutie and her family were in Florida taking a vacation. How could I stop her, even if I wanted to, from coming to Las Vegas to watch my concert?"

2. "I didn’t ask Katrina to leave Las Vegas. She had to go to Manila to attend her sister’s wedding. During the seven days she was in Manila, she heard all those rumors linking me to Cutie who, I must repeat, is a good friend of mine. My Mom (Conchita Razon) works in Congress (in Speaker Jose de Venecia’s office) and Cutie’s family also happens to be in politics."

3. "It was Katrina who wanted out of the relationship. I wanted to spare her from all these tsismis and if I could tell her one thing, it’s this: ‘Run, run away as fast as you can!’ I love Katrina and I don’t want her to get hurt. She’ll never understand showbiz and that’s what we usually fight about. That’s what I’m begging everybody now, ‘Please spare Katrina!’ I wanted to keep my private life private but obviously, it was impossible."

I reminded Martin that when he and ex-wife Pops Fernandez agreed to have their l986 wedding used as added attraction to boost the box-office appeal of their "honeymoon" movie Always & Forever, they all but forfeited their right to any privacy.

"It’s my curse," said Martin, meaning his being caught between his very public career as a topnotch singer and his desire fror privacy. Describing Katrina as "the wife I never had," Martin added that he should be happy now that he has penetrated the seemingly impenetrable Las Vegas market. "But I’m not happy. My concerts (he did 20 all in all, including special shows for high-rollers) were successful and Katrina should be here with me because she’s part of this dream, we shared this dream, and yet she’s not. I gained something in Las Vegas but I lost something very precious in my personal life."

I assured Martin that, contrary to his fears, this latest "kink" in his love life won’t adversely affect his career. In fact, I told Martin, it should add more spice to his image as a desirable man.

A big feather in Martin’s already well-decorated cap is the "B" rating respected Las Vegas music critic Michael Weatherford gave his concert(s), prompting top Las Vegas entertainer Clint Holmes to watch Martin "live" and find out for himself what made the Filipino singer tick. Holmes got a "B" from Weatherfort only after a few years.

Before he hung up, I asked Martin if there’s anything "romantic" in his friendship with Cutie del Mar and he said, "If there is, I will neither deny nor confirm it."

Martin is coming home this weekend for the repeat of his and Regine Velasquez’s concert, on June l4, Saturday, again at The Big Dome (and another one in Pampanga).

Rio’s nightmare

Now it can be told: There was a little "miracle" during Rio Diaz-Cojuangco’s l0-day coma which Rio described as "a long sleep."

On the l0th day of that "long sleep," Rio recalled having a nightmare in which she was being pur-sued by evil men whose faces she couldn’t see. Just when her pursuers were about to catch her, Rio saw a man in white robe standing on a mound, his back turned to her. Rio said that she shouted to the man, "Jesus, please help me!"

At that moment, her sisters and other relatives were around her at a San Francisco hospital, watching over her. Imagine how surprised — and happy — they were when they heard Rio screaming!

That was how Rio woke up from the coma.

Meanwhile, here’s another letter from Rio, direct from San Francisco:

Dearest Ricky,

Claudia, Jaime and I are together with my mother-in-law and father-in-law Gretchen and Danding who are here to visit us and celebrate his birthday on June 10.

I am so overwhelmed by the reactions of your readers. As I read each of them in tears, I can not stop thanking God for all the most encouraging words of comfort and support. How an affliction like this could be so rewarding and so glorifying to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Because we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose. Our Heavenly Father never said it would be easy but he has said, "Do not worry about anything instead pray about everything." Ask God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.

Jenny Omura, our God sits on the throne of victory, power, honor and glory, Jesus loves you so much, He died for you. Your life is a gift from God. Use it for His glory. Others may fail you but God loves you exactly the way you are. Teresa Ayong and Emmy, God’s ways are really not our ways but His ways are best. The time our Lord has given you to share special moments with your loved ones were also a gift from God. Jesus said, "Let not your hearts be troubled, Trust in God. For in my father’s house are many rooms and if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go I will prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you may also be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.

Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Noel Herrera, Chris Cox, Beth, Delia and to Sharon, my dear friends and classmates in school, as you have been through an intimate walk with the Lord, may this song guide you:

Change my heart oh! God, make it ever true,

Change my heart oh! God, may I be like you.

You are the potter, I am the clay.

Mould me and make me, this is what I pray.

Change my heart oh! God, may I be like you.

Jorge Dionisio, Alvin Avendano, Ulysses Lao and Lyn, as caregivers, don’t waste the opportunity God has blessed you with today. Put your arms around them, tell them how much you love them. Pray together. Don’t be ashamed. We like it when people pray with us. Say this prayer: Forgive me, Lord, of all my sins because I know that I have hurt you. Jesus, come into my heart. Be my Lord, be my saviour. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. I give you my fears and my worries. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Mon and Steph, Manalo Dayrit, Gen. Cayetano, Sister Divine, Mayor Binay to name a few, thank you for how God has blessed me with your prayers and good thoughts. May I now request you to be prayer warrior for a brother in Christ, Nestor de Villa who has been diagnosed with cancer. He is in very good capable hands and the doctors and nurses care for him dearly. I spoke to him today and this is what he had to say, "In 1984, I made a covenant with God that‚ I will do my best to serve you mightily for your glory. Ever since I received Jesus, I have never stopped sharing the gospel. When I was doing the sitcom last year, I would ask the Lord to make me sensitive to the people he wanted me to share with. I am not ashamed. I praise God. I say, "Lord, it is in your hands" then I pray about them. Sabi ko sa Diyos, anoint me I tell the Lord, if you want me home with you now, ok lang! I keep thanking the Lord for my life. He has given me a good life. I can not complain. I am willing and will continue to serve You all the days of my life, if You allow me.

Ricky, Nestor is coping. In spite of his trials, he loves the Lord. He is in the hospital. God has a perfect plan for him, in God’s perfect time.

When nothing on which to lean remains,

When strongholds crumble to dust,

When nothing is sure that God still reigns,

That is just the time to trust. It is better to walk by faith than sight

In this path of yours and mine;

And the darkest night when there’s no outer light

Is the time for faith to shine.

Yes, you are right, Jack and Baby Dumaop. IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS rather than our goodness. I trust in Him ALONE for my salvation. To the lamb who was slain, Glory and honor is yours and yours alone.

Love,

— Rio

P.S. For all the people interested in the Afflicted with Hope video, please email ccfi @ ccf.org.th or call 635-3410 to 17

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