Martin and Regine: Superstars Turned Super Friends
Jojo P. Panaligan
posted:05.9.03


If people expect a vocal showdown between Regine Velasquez and Martin Nievera in their show tonight and tomorrow night dubbed “Martin Nievera and Regine Velasquez 2003 World Tour” at the Araneta Coliseum, then they can’t be blamed.

After all, Asia’s Songbird and The Concert King are not acknowledged as the biggest Filipino music artists nowadays for nothing. Both Regine and Martin have gained renown for their high vocal ranges, the catalogue of hits they’ve chalked up individually through the years, and the records they have set in other media yet to be exceeded by other Filipino artists.

Then again, Regine and Martin are likely to disappoint people.

After all, the superstars have become super friends.

“I got to know more of Regine, the person, during our recent month long tour in the States. We had lots of offthe-record talks that made me realize that there’s more to her than her public image has allowed for others to see. For one, madami sa aking na-advise si Regine that I didn’t even expect would come from her. Very deep siya as a person,” says Martin.

Ditto with Regine. If before, she saw Martin as the extroverted Madman, their trip to the U.S. served as an eye opener.

“There’s a side to Martin that somehow makes you forget he’s a superstar. Yes, he knows he’s good—kaya nga hindi siya naiinsecure to share the stage with anyone—but there are other things more important to him. One is in becoming the best father to his kids. I admire that a lot. At generous din pala si Martin! Binigyan n’ya nga ako ng bag, eh” tells Regine.

And though Martin acknowledges that there is “a secret competition” between his and Regine’s vocal prowess, he claims that they used it their advantage by forging an unbeatable team up “na walang sex.”

“So don’t even think of putting a romantic angle with this, ok?” Martin exclaims. “I think Regine is very sexy, yes. In fact, she can wear an armor suit yet still carry it like she’s wearing a negligee. Shapely ang back and hips ni Regine—tapos may butterfly tattoo pa! But seriously, Regine has become a good friend to me since that trip to the States. Madami kaming pinagsamahan.”

Regine supported this by sharing offstage anecdotes during the tour. “Para na kaming P.A. ng isa’t isa duon. We would wipe each other’s perspiration, share the same dressing rooms sometimes, consult each other with what to wear during shows, and would even go shopping together a lot. Once, when we went out to visit the tourist spots of a city, napagkamalan kaming bagong kasal! Naaliw kami sa speculation so we led them to believe this further by holding hands in public! Ganon kami kasaya duon,” Regine recalls, laughing.

One intrigue thrown several times at Martin concerned Pops Fernandez. It can be remembered that just before this team-up with Regine, Martin held a Valentine concert with his equally famous ex-wife also at the Big Dome.

Who Martin thinks is better between Regine and Pops, is what some people want to know.

“But you can’t compare the two nor this show with that,” Martin protests. “Yung show kasi namin ni Pops, bumenta because of our chemistry. People wanted to see kung andun pa din ang magic ng team-up namin despite what happened in our personal lives. Yung sa amin ni Regine ngayon, people would go because they want to hear our voices together. Besides, Pops is known for her fast numbers na malaJ.Lo while Regine, for her slow songs and birits.”

Adding to the difference, too, is Regine and Martin’s musical director, Gerard Salonga. According to Gerard, he made sure to craft a repertoire that would test both Regine and Martin’s range. “The concert is not only going to be biggest but the loudest,” was Gerard’s reported remark.

Second, the arrangement of the songs in the repertoire was purposefully thought of for Regine and Martin alone. That is, only Regine and Martin has the sole right to use it if ever they team up again.

And considering that it took Regine and Martin more than a decade to team up again (their last was in 1992 at the ULTRA), then this one is, indeed, a must-see!

The “Martin Nievera and Regine Velasquez 2003 World Concert Tour” is a production of Maxi-Media International. It is presented by ABS-CBN, Marie France Bodyline International, Facial Care Centre, Samsung Electronics, Nescafe, Coffeemate, Nestle Ice Cream Back to Back, Creamsilk Hair Conditioner and Smart.

Other supporters are Mossimo, Beam Toothpaste and Farlin Baby Care Product. The show is also brought to you by Solmux, Tokyo, Tokyo, Alberto Shoes, Wendy’s Hamburger, Makati Shangri-La Hotel and The Manila Bulletin. Official radio sponsors include K91 FM, Magic 89.9, Joey@92.3 Rhythms, RX 93.1, I-FM 93.9, Mellow Touch 94.7, 96.3 WROCK, Home Radio 97.9, 99.5 RT. RJ 100 and 105.1 Crossover.

The Araneta show culminates the first leg of Regine and Martin’s world tour that kicked off in the U.S.A. last March.

In the future, Maxi-Media Int’l. plans to bring the tour to Europe, Guam, Australia and other cities in the U.S..

Source:Manila Bulletin