Pagkatapos ng mga concerts nila ni Martin… Pops, aminadong hirap na, gusto nang tumigil sa pagkanta

Julie Bonifacio / Winner!

Inamin ni Concert Queen Pops Fernandez na gusto na niyang tumigil sa pagkanta. May mga pagkakataon kasi na nahihirapan na siyang kumanta due to acid reflux. Palagi siyang namamalat, plus naging busy din siya sa pagpo-produce ng pelikula at iba pang events.

“So, partially, it’s my choice also to rest a little bit. Uh, but somehow, when we did the tour, parang nakaka-excite. Nakaka-excite! Akala ko, hindi ko na-miss,” lahad ni Pops.

Sa appreciation dinner para sa ikalimang taon ng The Theater@Solaire na ginanap sa Red Lantern Restaurant ay nilinaw ni Pops kung bakit gusto na niyang mag-quit sa pagpe-perform.

“I’ll be honest,” pag-amin ni Pops, “sabi ko, ‘No, it’s okay. I’m fine now and I’m good. I don’t really have to perform anymore. But, ‘pag nasa stage ka pala, tapos, it’s something that you really love to do, parang it brings back a lot of memories, and of course, the thrill of performing and the thrill of being in front of the light also.”

Ang tinutukoy ni Pops ay ang balik-tambalan nila ng ex-hubby na si Martin Nievera sa concert scene. Naging matagumpay ang US tour ng concert nila ni Martin for the past months.

And now, sa ‘Pinas naman nila gagawin ang kanilang concert titled The Royal Affair: 2020 New Year’s Eve Countdown na gaganapin sa The Tent ng Solaire.

Pumayag si Pops na magkaroon muli ng show sa Manila dahil si Martin ang kasama niya.

Sa kabila ng maraming taon, asahan daw na exciting pa rin silang panoorin ni Martin sa isang concert.

“I think it’s always exciting, every time with Martin. It’s somehow… believe it or not, sometimes we sing the same songs, but I think the rapport and the chemistry, that makes it different all the time.”

It might be the same show, pero kapag nasa stage na sila ni Martin, unpredictable raw ang mga nangyayari.

“We both don’t know what are we going to do. We both don’t know what we are about to say until we get up on the stage. Even the songs, it’s the same songs. But somehow, the approach is also different the way we sing. It depends on, uh… I guess, our mood, our thoughts that day. So, people always say there’s magic. And I have to say there is magic whenever we are on stage.”

Kaya marami raw dapat asahan sa The Royal Affair concert nila ni Martin sa The Theater@Solaire on December 31.

“Siyempre, it’s New Year’s eve ‘no? We want everyone to have fun with us. It’s gonna be a start of brand new year and end of a decade. It’s 2020, so, siyempre, we want everything to be positive, happy, exciting, entertaining and all of the other positive adjectives.”

Kung ano raw ‘yung napi-feel at ini-expect niya sa Bagong Taon, that’s exactly how she wanna feel for their audience.

“So, it has to be very happy. Hopeful, happy, kung meron mang sad songs, because love songs are sometimes sad. Uh, still, the feel and the whole ambience should not be sad. And it is our duty as performers. Do you know what I mean?

“We may bring back senti songs, songs that you can probably relate to. But ang ending pa rin niya is a happy, hopeful feeling by the time we welcome 2020.”

Samantala, natanong din si Pops kung ano ang maibibigay niyang advise sa mga artista na nakatakdang magpakasal sa 2020.

“I think they… Kasi kami nu’ng ikinasal kami, ang bata-bata ko pa, eh. Ang bata-bata ko pa. I think that’s number one. But I think, ‘yung mga ikakasal ngayon, they really took their time. Uh, they really concentrated in their professions first, and their careers. So, they are really of age.

“But then again, a relationship can be very tricky. Any relationship. It’s not just husband and wife, any relationships is tricky.

“So as long as they remember why they love each other and I think the key word is… as long as they respect each other, I think respect more than love is important. I think that’s very, very important. Then, ‘yun lang ‘yun.”

Siyempre, natanong din sa appreciation dinner ng The Theater@Solaire ang estado ng puso ni Pops ngayon.

“My God! My heart?! Wala na. Pinag-uusapan pa ba ‘yun? Hahaha!”

Okey naman daw ang puso ni Pops.

“I’m very, very okay. Uh, when it comes to love life, if that’s what you mean, ang saya-saya ko! Dahil single na single ako! Hahaha!”

May nag-wish kay Pops na sana ay may mabago sa estado ng puso niya sa 2020.

“Sana… Pero I’m not, I’m not sad. Believe it or not, I’m not sad. I’m very happy. I’m not lonely. I’m not waiting. But then again, I’m not closing my door. But I guess, when the right time comes, and if it’s the right man, why not? Gusto ko nga, ma-surprise ako. Hahaha! But totoo ‘yun, ‘di ba? Sometimes, you really… out of the blue, don’t expect it and it just happens.”

Sa huli, kinumusta namin kay Pops ang mga “bagets” nila ni Martin na sina Robin and Ram.

“Hindi na sila mga bagets. Mas matanda na sila kesa sa akin. Hahaha! Kuya na nga ang tawag ko sa kanila. Pareho ko na silang kuya.”

Nasa US daw si Robin and doing very well.

“He likes it there. I think he’s gonna be there for a while.

“Ram naman is doing quite well here also.”

Kasama ba ni Robin sa US ang girlfriend nitong si Zia Quizon?

“Siya lang, siyempre.”

Break na ba ang dalawa?

“Hindi ko alam. I don’t know. But uh… si Kuya kasi has his own work in the States. He’s doing something for his… they bought a Wish bus in the US,” pagri-reveal pa ni Pops.

Going back sa The Royal Affair concert nina Martin and Pops, magpe-perform din sa New Year’s concert nila ang 3rd Avenue, the leading men and leading ladies of Philippine Theatre – Arman Ferrer, Floyd Tena, Gian Magdangal, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez, Carla Laforteza and Yanah Laurel.