"The leading man of concerts."
Ito ang bagong titulo na ibinigay sa local concert king na si Martin Nievera ng Viva Entertainment boss na si Vic del Rosario.
Kaugnay ito ng pre-Valentine concert niya kasama si Sharon Cuneta sa darating na Pebrero 11, ang "Once in a Lifetime."
"I'd like to see myself as 'the leading man of concerts.' Kasi, ang dami ko nang nakakasama—si Sarah [Geronimo], there's Pops [Fernandez] and I, and then Gary [Valenciano] and I," pahayag ni Martin sa panayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at iba pang invited media.
Naganap ito sa press conference ng nasabing Valentine concert kanina, Disyembre 6, sa Viva Entertainment Office, sa Pasig City.
Matatandaang nakasama na rin ni Martin ang Popstar Princess na si Sarah noong nakaraang taon sa concert na "What is Love."
Ito ay nagkaroon pa ng ilang repeat sa iba't ibang bahagi ng bansa.
Noong 2010 naman, muli silang nagsama ng dating asawa niya—ang tinaguriang Concert Queen na si Pops—sa isa ring Valentine concert na "One Amore Time."
Taong 2009 naman nang makasama ni Martin ang kaibigan niya at kapwa mang-aawit na si Gary sa concert na "As 1."
Hindi raw alintana ng local concert king kung mabago ang bansag sa kaniya dahil aniya, "It's a lot easier to live that one than 'concert king.'"
Sabi pa niya, "Mahirap ang 'king,' But 'yong leading man...pwedeng [palitan] ang leading man, di ba?
"Lalo na, for instance, kay Sarah, marami siyang leading men. That's why Boss Vic said, 'Why don't we give you a title na 'leading man of all concerts.'"
Ang titulo ng concert nila ni Sharon, ang Once in a Lifetime, ay hango mismo sa kantang ginawa ni Martin na ganoon din ang titulo.
Akma daw ito dahil ang pagsasama nila ni Megastar "only happens once in a lifetime."
"Actually, the tandem, kaming dalawa ni Sharon, of all time, after so many years in the business, ngayon lang kami magsasama sa isang stage.
"So, it's a story of Sharon and I, our story together and our stories apart, how we both believe that things can happen once in a lifetime.
"First time ever, ever. I've guessed in her few TV specials, but [not] in one concert together, in one stage."
KEEPING FAITHFUL WITH ABS-CBN. Ang primary presenter ng concert na "Once in a Lifetime" ay ang TV5, ang bagong mother network ni Sharon Cuneta.
Kaya naman sa concert, hindi naiwasang tanungin si Martin kung nagkaroon ba ng pagkakataong naisipan niyang lumipat rin ng network.
Nagtapat si Martin na minsan na siyang inalok ng Kapatid network subalit tinanggihan niya ito.
Pagkatapos ay nakuha niyang magbiro sa pamamagitan ng pasalit-salit na paghawak ng mikropono ng mga TV crew ng ABS-CBN at TV5.
Pakwela niyang sinabi sa mga nakapanayam sa kanya, "I wanna thank them [TV5], really, because to get an offer, and they know how loyal and how faithful I am to Channel 2, it's really quite an honor.
"I'm a very dear friend of Manny or MVP, the big boss [of TV5].
"And to be offered by any station is a great, great honor. But I had such a hard time, such a hard emotional attachment to [ABS-CBN].
"I wanted to be in [TV5], but I was attached to [ABS-CBN].
"I felt by going to [TV5], I might be unfaithful to [ABS-CBN].
"The good news is, [TV5], thank you and I love you.
"But [ABS-CBN] love me also."
Sa ngayon ay nakatali raw si Martin sa two-year exclusive contract sa ABS-CBN, bagay na hindi naman ginagawa noon ng Kapamilya network.
Kaya noong muling tinanong kung hindi na talaga siya lilipat, muli siyang nagbiro, "I'm not moving... not tomorrow."
Patuloy pa niya, "I'm gonna be with Channel 2 for another two years. I never had a contact with [ABS-CBN], ever.
"I don't think everybody knows that. I work with the handshake and a hug.
"I used to make milkshake for the boss of [ABS-CBN].
"I don't know, believe it or not, I'm the most unfaithful person in the world.
"But when it comes to Channel 2 and the artists and those who made my career, I have a hard time leaving them."
Matapos ang mga pahayag na ito, nilinaw naman ni Martin na iba pa rin ang paraan niya ng pagdedesisyon sa ibang mga artistang lumilipat ng network.
Sabi ni Martin, "The bottomline is, at the end of the day, business ito.
"Alam ko na 'yong mga emotional attachments, hindi dapat kasama sa business, pero nandiyan pa rin ako sa emotional attachments."
At sa paglipat ni Megastar, ani Martin, "I'm sure Sharon had a hard time because she's been a big, big help to Channel 2, and Channel 2 to the Megastar as well.
"So, wish her luck."