What made Pops cry during the presscon
Time heals all wounds and Pops Fernandez knows that.
During the presscon last Wednesday at the ballroom of the West Avenue Suites for Two-Gether Again, her week-long concert with ex-husband Martin Nievera at The Theatre at Solaire next month, Pops confessed that all’s a-okay not just with her and Martin but also with her and Katrina Ojeda, the lady perceived to have figured prominently in the couple’s breakup.
That breakup was reported as a scoop by The STAR in 1995 (how time flies, ‘no!) and was vehemently denied by the couple already “un-coupling” at that time, only for Pops to admit several months later that it was true in an exclusive interview with, ehem, The STAR (of all papers!) headlined When It’s Over, It’s Over!
I have to mention that sorry incident because it was relevant to what Pops related vis-à-vis her coming to terms (with the (painful) past and how she has moved on. (She used the words “surpassing” instead of “surviving” the past.)
It was Your Funfarer who asked the question (as a follow-up to Pops’ “surpassing the past” remarks): So how did you get to the point where you and Katrina became okay?
Still smiling, Pops replied, “I don’t think I’m gonna be a normal human being if I would say na ganoon kadali. It took a while. As they say, time heals all wounds. When I see that my life is going okay and I am blessed with good children (Robin and Ram, her sons by Martin. — RFL), nawala ’yung galit ko kung ano man ‘yon.” (Martin is always vocal about his admiration for Pops and his appreciation for her having nicely raised their two sons.)
At this point, Martin mentioned the name of Santino, his 13-year-old son with Katrina, whom Martin described in another interview as a child “having special needs.”
That was when Pops’ voice cracked and she choked on her words, recalling how the cute Santino moved her to tears when they met.
“Such a sweet child,” said Pops.
Sweet, indeed. Santino is very friendly and easily wins people’s hearts with his charm and warmth, ready to build bridges even with strangers.
Last Christmas, Santino spent wonderful time with Martin and Pops and his half-brothers Robin and Ram (pictures on these pages taken from Pops and Martin’s Instagram accounts show how happy they were; Katrina not in pictures).
“I would say that things are not yet really normal,” added Pops, “but somehow we are trying to make it normal. Lahat ng emotions pinagdaanan ko and I have gotten over them. Once you recover from those emotions, you just strive to keep getting better.”
But for that dramatic moment, the Two-Gether Again presscon was generally fun…easy-breezy…with Martin and Pops gamely answering every question, even including if they share a bed (no, but they do share a dressing room during concerts), how much Pops pays Martin when she hires him for concerts she and her mom Dulce Lukban are producing (“We never discuss money matters,” assured Pops) and if they are truly friends (“No, we are not,” Pops answered tongue-in-cheek, and burst out laughing, “Yes, of course, we are.”).
To be mounted on Feb. 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21, the concert comes after Martin and Pops’ US concert tour late last year (with repeats planned in December in San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas and a few other US cities). Two-Gether Again is co-produced by Ana Puno’s Starmedia Entertainment, Production House and DSL (Dulce S. Lukban) Events, together with Dadie Wowie, Alex Martos, Salve Garcia and Stella Marie Ancla. Guest performers include Rita Daniela and Ken Chan (14 and 15; Joaquin Domagoso (Yorme Isko’s son, 17, 18 and 19); and LA Santos (20 and 21). And probably Robin (who’s in the States) and Ram. Martin said that they’re trying to bring in Santino but then it’s a Valentine show and not a family show.
Pops credits Martin for helping her get over her “anxiety” and “nervousness” since she doesn’t perform as often and as regularly as he does.
“Performing with Martin is super-easy. There’s no more tension.”
“It’s automatic with Pops and me,” said Martin. “Nothing is plastic. When we go onstage, it’s like magic. Nothing is ‘forced,’ everything comes naturally.”
They shrugged off questions about them getting back together again…not even for, uhm, old times’ sake. After all, they have remained good friends and that’s enough. Martin has separated from Katrina (they’re likewise good friends, too) and has found a new love.
Asked what keeps her and Martin going, Pops mentioned the song that fits their current set-up pretty well — How Do You Keep The Music Playing.
“Yes,” said Pops, quoting a line from the song, “If we can try with every day to make it better as it goes, with luck then I suppose the music never ends…”
(The Philippine STAR is among the sponsors of Two-Gether Again, with PLDT as co-presenter. Tickets are priced P7,500; P5,500; P3,500; P2,500; P1,500; and P1,250. Call Ticketworld at 8891-9999.)
(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)
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