Martin Nievera IS.. Forever

He's globally famous and he's probably doing a concert somewhere in California as I write. He's not young either, but when he was 20 I wasn't that crazy over him because he struck me as smug and his movie "Always and Forever" was disappointing. Ten years after he started, I heard a song and asked "Who is singing THAT well?... " and it was him. I've been a Martin "fan" ever since, and THAT feels like forever.

Except that Martin Nievera does not have fans. He has "friends" instead and he's pretty good at keeping up with millions of friendships he had made. Alright, he is quick to the draw when it comes to interviews and would probably say the first honest thing that comes to his mind, but one cannot fault him for being phony or "too conscious" of his being a celebrity. He's vulnerable and human - and he does quarrel and make-up with his ex-wife in public but that is exactly what makes him what he is. He's not into the celebrity-game and NEVER have I heard him complain about his "privacy" because he's probably pragmatic enough to KNOW that being a celebrity means you frankly cannot have a typical life, hard as you might desire it sometimes. Thus he lives he life as the dice of fate rolls, and yes, he does break down and cry during TV interviews sometimes. He also has this rather impudent penchant for involving himself in the personal affairs of his ex-wife which can does make him look "silly" at times but he would always say that he feels that she is the mother of his children and that he should always be THERE to defend her. Yes, he can be an absolute fruitcake but where can one find such a lovable one these days when it isn't even Christmas yet?

His You Tube hits are considered "low" if they only hit the half million mark. How many people can claim that? Take this song for instance and click it - and you see that more than a million people have listened to it, and that is ONLY one song out of a hundred or so. Yet, he was never "discovered" at You Tube, he's just there forever to stay. Twenty five years ago his first hit that I recall could have been his version of "You and I" until someone wrote him the song "Be My Lady" and that made him THE Concert King. No, he isn't absolutely handsome, but his talent is on the same level as that of Josh Groban and the only reason why he was never interviewed by Oprah is that he's been the king of concerts for as long as Oprah was queen of talk.

He's probably in his very late forties, and he admits his age -- but if he were 25 today, he probably would be as popular as Lady Gaga and Josh Groban combined but he was born about 20 years "technologically late". In all of his 30 years we've never heard him of whining about his need for privacy and neither has he ever spoken down to anyone. He takes the world as it is with a smile (or a cry) and that is exactly what makes him so refreshing even after 30 years. Yes, he also has his string of love affairs with women - he chooses his muses well - and even admits to some of them with candid "grace" (or disgrace) but button line is always "what can I do, I fell in love?". Take that part away from him and he probably would be unable to sing a song.

Recently I saw Martin Nievera walking through the Trinoma Mall and he looked beat after signing his new CDs and singing in the mall, but when I called out "Hi Martin!" , he smiled and said hello and even chatted a bit. Years ago when he had one of his Vegas concerts, I asked a member of his band to please tell him to send me his Vegas poster. He did. He actually scanned it and sent it by email. Then I protested, NOT only the poster, I want YOUR autograph -- and again, he accommodated my request. WHO WOULD DO THAT IN SHOW BIZ FOR ANYONE AND VIA EMAIL? You tell me.

No he doesn't have an entourage. He has his "friends" everywhere in the world whom he makes and spends time with and makes sure that he knows what's happening in their lives as well. What makes him awesome, is that he spontaneously and naturally connects with his millions of friends anywhere they are in the planet -- and he does it without exuding any of the celebrity "air". Neither does he have reporters waiting in line every time he does anything "good".

There can only be ONE Martin Nievera and he is already immortal because of his songs. More so though, he is "forever" because of all the good things he has done - little or great- for people whose lives he has touched just because they listened to one of his songs OR had the chance of getting to know him as he REALLY IS - a natural performer with a big heart.

Martin, you will always be Mr. Forever. You are etched in our hearts because of your songs and you will "always and forever" be LOVED. Martin, we will always support you -- and we will never be judgmental all because we, your friends know, how much YOU love us. (But Martin, can you also sing with David Soul in Manila the same way you sang with Kenny Loggins ? )

Please read HOW a man whose wife took her leave to heaven was comforted by Martin.. below is a husband's letter of thanks to him.

As Ricky Lo put it : " Martin Nievera can be "faulted" for once being, well, unfaithful but you can't accuse him of not having a big heart."

Dear Mr. Lo,

(here are parts of that letter)

"Last March 30, my wife Aileen died of complications due to her stage 4 cervical cancer condition. She died at her hospital room at St. Luke's Medical Center where she had been confined since March 20. Aileen had long been a fan (I don't know why) of Martin Nievera and was sort of obsessed with meeting him personally as she could not watch his concerts due to funding constraints and lack of interest on my part."

"Egay and Michelle Gonzales are close friends from a Bible Study Group and it was they who asked Martin to visit Aileen in response to her long-standing wish. Last March 22, late afternoon, Martin visited my wife in the hospital room. No press, no fanfare. He came in, kissed my wife who was on a wheelchair and shook hands with everybody. He stayed for more than an hour telling stories, cracking jokes and exchanging pleasantries. He sang Be My Lady a cappella as requested by Aileen."

And like most (some?) of us, we feel this way about celebs :

"I'm not really fond nor impressed by showbiz people. I always feel they're not real. Seeing Martin personally entertaining my wife in a hospital room opened my eyes to another side of him. He was human, he was real and he had compassion."

"At my wife's wake, Martin sent a very beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers. Please print this letter in your column. It is my way of thanking a man who made the remaining days of my wife's life happier and more meaningful."
-- LOUIE CESAR

Before I wrote this part, I was talking to a close friend of Martin by the name of Kristie C. who said that she actually cried when he read some of the comments here (and this thing hasn't been UP at Hubpages for a day yet... ) Kristie knows what a kind of a man Martin Nievera REALLY IS. Like me and millions of his friends, we will NEVER pass judgement on anything that Martin ever does -- we will simply support him through "hell or high water " (not literal hell). THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR:)

Martin, I know you've read this. You are "extremely" LOVED globally. Thank you for being you - a father, our brother and our friend.