Nina: The look of love

Is soul siren Nina in love?

That seems to be the question on everyone’s mind these days, seeing how Nina seems to be blooming the way people in love usually look.

"I am forever in love but am I blooming?" Yes, she is but that’s another story.

Anyway, Nina says she’s not in love. "I just came from a broken relationship. Right now, I’m enjoying Nyoy’s (Volante) company a lot but I’m not ready for another relationship this soon."

The "broken relationship" she had was with accoustic artist Jimmy Bondoc. Jimmy and Nina were an item for four years until they parted ways just recently.

At about the same time, rumors about Nina and Nyoy Volante began to surface. When they starred in their back-to-back concert, El Niño-La Niña, the rumors intensified but Nina and Nyoy were both noncommittal about it.

And now that Nyoy is not just guesting in Nina’s forthcoming concert, Nina Just Wanna Have Fun at the Music Museum on May 27 and 28 – but is also musical director for the show gratis as a gesture of support for her – rumors about their romance is once more reverberating in the four corners of show business.

The rumors actually started circulating much earlier, after Nina and Nyoy were seen together backstage during the concert of Nina’s brother, King, which was also held at the Music Museum. Incidentally, King will also be one of Nina’s guests in her forthcoming concert, along with classical artist Lemuel de la Cruz and the Groove Manila Dancers.

Nina syas that while she may be unattached – and while she may appreciate the many things Nyoy does for her – it’s too soon for her to think about another rleationship. Besides, the concert and the planning for her next album, Nina Live 2 (her follow-up to the highly-successful Nina Live, which turned triple platinum just two months after its release) is taking too much of her time, making it impossible to jump into a relationship.

But she does admit to having a soft sport in her heart for Nyoy. "Sobra siyang bait," she says. "Not only to me, pero sa lahat ng tao. I really appreciate everything he’s doing for me as a friend."

It’s said that even her mom, as well as Nyoy’s mother Helen approve of the growing closeness between the two.

The funny thing is, people seem to want to see more and more of Nina and Nyoy onstage. Nyoy reportedly volunteered to be in the show because he wanted to support Nina. As the show’s musical director, he did special arrangements for seven of the song she’ll be performing.

So, going back to the first question – is Nina in love? Yes, she is, but not with Nyoy (well, at least not yet) but with her music. Right now, Nina is focusing all her energy on her career. It sounds like a cliché but it’s true. "I’m overwhelmed by all the support I’m getting from my friends in and out of show business," she says about her current success. "Ma-touch ko lang ang hearts ng mga tao, sobrang blessing na sa akin yun."

And that, says Nina, is something to celebrate. that’s the whole idea behind her forthcoming concert, where Nina will get the chance to hang loose and have fun with her audience, which she does not get to do in her shows. "I’m just gonna have fun onstage – gagalaw at sasayaw ako. Masaya talaga yung concert," she ends with a big smile.

Tickets to the concert are available at Ticketworld outlets (891-5610) and at the Music Museum (721-6726).

Hiphop in Heat

After the temparture-raising Strictly Bikini beach outing, Monster Radio RX 93.1 is coming up with more summer events to make May ’05 the most sizzling month ever.

Hiphop in Heat is a summer party featuring the beats, grooves and verses of today’s hottest music genre tonight at the Prince of Jaipur at the Fort. It will feature top DJs and rap artists to raise the party to hiphop heaven.

The RX Summer Stick-On conquers Eastwood City in Libis tomorrow, beginning at 5 p.m. The hugely popular RX Stick-on always feature the RX DJs and newscasters (in eye-catching shorts!) putting the famed RX sticker on all vehicles from sporty sedans to striking SUV’s.

The Monster Movie Premiere of the latest computer-animated Madagascar unfolds for family audience at the Robinsons Galleria Cinema 6 on May 27 at 3 p.m. And on May 29, Saturday, at 4 p.m., one of today’s best-loved bands, Sugarfree, takes center stage at SM City North Edsa’s The Garden for The RX Concert Series at the Mall.

This May, the Golden Dove award-winning program The RX Concert Series (Mondays, 6 to 7 p.m.) showcases hot alternative bands in live performance — Velcro, Pedicab, and Hale — as well as the stylings of smooth R&B singer-songwriter Keith Martin. Listeners can also look forward to the latest hits and other artists features on the daily programs of Summer’s Hottest Pop Station, Monster Radio RX 93.1.