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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
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