‘This will surely open doors for other local singers. — Martin Nievera’
MARTIN Nievera’s shows in the US are usually sold-out affairs, like his coming concert with Morisette at Grayton Casino in San Francisco. It’s still on June 2, but all tickets have already been sold!
There’s a second show on June 3 at Fantasy Spring Resort Casino and this one still have remaining tickets left.
Martin has worked with the best Pinay divas like Sharon Cuneta, Regine Velasquez, Lani Misalucha and of course, Pops Fernandez. How does it feel doing a concert now Morisette?
“When I work, I always like to work with the best,” he says. “And no doubt that Morisette is one of the best today. Everybody just loves her. She has a beautiful voice and personality.
When she sings, it’s mind blowing.
Performing with the internationally renowned David Foster also excites him. “David is doing his residency at Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas and he wants me to perform with him. This will surely open doors for other local singers.”
Since he shared his experience as the father of a special child with autism, Santino, Martin has been active in the foundation that aims to foster awareness about autism, Sing Out for Autism or SOFA. “My son Santino is now 16 years old and taller than me at 6 feet tall. I want parents with kids like him to be proud of them. God gave them to us.”
***
Gerald Santos’ stint as Thuy in “Miss Saigon” in Copenhagen ended on May 7. He will now stage two concerts for Pinoys who are based in Denmark as his way of thanksgiving for they have all been very supportive of him and the show.
One is on May 12 in the city of Elsinore (Helsinger) in Eastern Denmark and on May 13, at Copenhagen, the capital. His special guest on May 13, is a Bulgarian singer-actress Alexandra Yoana Alexandrova, who plays Ellen in “Miss Saigon Denmark.” Then he will tour Europe and spend his 32nd birthday on May 15 in Barcelona.
He will also go to Paris, then fly to New York City to watch some Broadway shows, then will do concerts for the Filipinos based in Los Angeles and San Francisco. So how would he describe his stint in Denmark?
“Oh, ‘Miss Saigon’ Denmark journey is truly very rewarding. I get to travel and even got paid for it. During my days off, I also got to visit Amsterdam, Milan, Prague, Sweden and Poland. I really want to thank God for all His blessings.”
When he gets home, he wants to record a new OPM song. “I feel fulfilled doing more than 600 performances as Thuy in the international theatre scene, but I want to have a song that will make a memorable connection with our millennial and Gen Z listeners. ‘Yun ang isang kulang sa career ko, having my own major hit song. ‘Yung kapag narinig nila, they’ll say, ay kanta ni Gerald Santos ‘yan. We will work on that.”
***
Valerie Concepcion is back to full villain mode in GMA afternoon new soap, “The Seed of Love.”
“Viewers will hate me here as the scheming Alexa, a successful doctor,” she said.
“Obsessed ako rito kay Mike Tan as Bobby na naging boyfriend ko. Pero very demanding ako so he left me at hindi ko ma-accept na magpapakasal na siya kay Glaiza de Castro as Eileen, kaya nilasing ko siya so we can sleep together. I will really do everything para maagaw ko siya from Glaiza.”
She’s happy “The Seed of Love” is finally being shown. “It took us three years to complete it kasi inabot kami ng pandemic and Glaiza got married in Ireland and also here in our country. In the meantime, I started a new show with Jennylyn Mercado, ‘Love, Die, Repeat,’ but she got pregnant and it was shelved.”
With regard to her personal life, she is happily married to Guam-based hubby Francis Sunga. “We just celebrated our 6th anniversary last January. Palitan kami ng pagbisita, ako sa Guam, siya naman, dito and it works. We always miss each other.”
She is so happy Francis is not only a good husband but also a great stepdad to her love child, Heather, who she raised by herself and is now 19 years old.
