Pops Fernandez reminisces 25 years of her career in "Divalicious" concert
Updated: 01/14/2009
Views: 203210
More than 34 songs, 14 costume changes and variations, and a jampacked Araneta Coliseum for Pops's 25 years in showbiz!

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Pops Fernandez says about her sons with ex-husband Martin Nievera:
"Now, my life is complete because I have Robin and Ram. They're my
heroes, my greatest gifts."
The Concert Queen sings Jim Brickman's
"The Gift" with Robin playing the guitar, and Ram singing the male
vocals—a totally moving number by a mom and her sons.
Indeed, they are
a gift, three times over, to the rapt audience on Saturday, December
8, at the Araneta Coliseum!
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Tickets and publicity materials put 8:00 p.m. as the start of the concert. At 8:45, there was still no sign of the Concert Queen. The crowd was already calling out her name.
Backstage, Pops Fernandez is oblivious of the audience's eager anticipation. She's not nervous at all. PEP's camera catches her from behind, in playful banter with Sharon Cuneta and Fanny Serrano.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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When Ruffa Gutierrez and Vina Morales arrive, they head to Pops's dressing area to personally wish their good friend, "Good luck."
Later, the two lovely ladies are seen with the Gomezes—Richard, Lucy Torres, and Juliana.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Ten minutes before 9:00 p.m., there's a commotion among the crowd. It turns out, La Greta has arrived. Clad in a basic black get-up, Gretchen Barretto makes heads turn.
She is seen beside (right) sister Marjorie (left) and Julia, the latter's daughter.
Claudine and daughter Sabina (not in photo) also watched the concert of Pops.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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The crowd goes wild when the Concert Queen emerges. With G-Force, she opens the show with a medley of upbeat numbers: "Telephone," "Together Again," "Believe," "Street Beat," and "Jump."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Turning 42 this December 12, Pops is still in top form. She's one of those rare performers who can both sing and dance. She owns the stage!
Photography: Noel Orsal
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The moves that make her worthy of the Concert Queen title.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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After her powerful opening number, Pops says: "I won't get too emotional tonight. But it's very hard not to get too emotional when you're celebrating your 25 years. 25 years, that's pretty long. 25 years, and we're still all here."
Her fans let out a loud shriek, and give their idol a round of applause.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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This time she's giving her version of Beyonce's and Shakira's "A Beautiful Liar."
Notice her props—very inventive! The concert is considered "the most expensive."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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R & B Prince Jay-R and Star in a Million winner Kris Lawrence sing Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls":
"You're way too beautiful girl/ That's why it'll never work/ You'll have me suicidal, suicidal/ When you say it's over."
And Pops sings Jojo's reply: "I'm way too cool for ya boy/ That's why it'll never work/ I'll have you suicidal, suicidal/ When I say it's over."
Pops, Jay-R, and Kris are talents of Arnold Vegafria.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Ooopps, that's not a head dress, it's just a prop!
Here, she sings "Little Star" with a splash of stars as her backdrop.
The lady who used to be "a shy little introvert" has already performed in front of
so many people and conquered a lot of concert stages in different parts of
the world.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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This is the moment when she reminisces the songs that legitimized her being a singer: "Just Say You Love Me," "Don't Say Goodbye," and "Kaya Pala."
She gives her thanks to Ninong Tito (Tito Sotto) for discovering her, and Rowell Santiago, her director, who "unfortunately for me, napakabagal po niya kaya ang kapatid [Randy] niya ang naging syota ko."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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"This song I dedicate....to a man very, very special to me, who I wish...were here with me tonight. And I am hoping that if he sees me, he'll be very, very proud of me."
Then she gives her heartfelt rendition of "Dito."
"Dito, sa batuhang ito/ Dito, may naririnig ako/ Sabay sa paghampas ng alon sa bato/ Tinig mo'y tumatawag sa akin, giliw."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Sans Martin Nievera, Pops renders the songs for duet that made the Pops-Martin tamdem famous: "Tonight I Celebrate my Love For You," "Almost Paradise," "With You I'm Born Again," and "Maybe."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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The fashion segments feature the hunkylicious wards of Pops's manager Arnold Vegafria: (from left to right, clockwise) Luis Alandy, Doug Kramer, a model, and Patrick Garcia.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Jeffrey Hidalgo (bottom) and Marco Alcaraz (top) are also the evening's men in black.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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The Concert Queen does her "Umbrella" version, the current rave in the U.S., with G-Force. Choreograhy is courtesy of Georcelle Dapat.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Pops says her concert is a huge "party," so there's a dj in the house and a John Prats to show the latest dance moves!
Photography: Noel Orsal
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She calls this portion a "Madonna number," featuring some of the greatest hits of the said music icon and the dance steps that made us love the '80s.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Pretty ladies Bianca King, Iya Villania, Cheska Garcia, with John Prats. All of them, including Pops, are being managed by Arnold.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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This is what the spectators call the "power of two," which also became the title of their show series at the Music Museum way back in 1998. After 11 years, the Concert Queen and the Pop Diva, Kuh Ledesma, reunite on stage.
This year, they did a concert tour in the U.S. and Canada.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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The two perform a Motown Medley: "Stop in the Name," "Ain't No Mountain," "Baby Love," and "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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One of the highlights of the show is the first-time appearance of Mr. Pure Energy, Gary Valenciano, in a Pops Fernadez concert.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Pops and Gary show that they can be a great flamenco tandem on stage!
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Flamenco is a highly passionate yet disciplined Spanish dance, which Pops and Gary perform superbly...
Photography: Noel Orsal
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...and then they sing "You're My Everything."
Coincidentally, the song happens to be a favorite concert piece of Martin Nievera.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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"Flamenco" which is synonymous with "gitano" or gypsy has a following in Manila. Lucy Torres-Gomez is a fan of the this Southern Spanish art.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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After their powerful number, Pops asks Gary V., "Bakit ngayon lang tayo nagkasama sa stage?"
He quips, "E, kasi kapag Concert Queen ka, siyempre may Concert
King ka. E, ako Mr. Pure Energy lang."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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These two ladies have so many things in common: 1) they were both discovered by Tito Sotto 2) they both went to I.S., or International School 3) they both became icons of the '80s and big stars of the '90s 4) and they are good friends.
"Nakakasilaw naman ang suot mo," says Pops referring to the diamond earrings of the Megastar.
Sharon Cuneta answers, "O, etong isa, isuot mo."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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So the two ladies perform wearing only one earring. Mega says, "It's a symbol of our friendship."
"Natatakot akong isuot," giggles Pops, like a teenager. Sharon assures, "Don't be scared."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Sharon and Pops sing the ever popular Burt Bacharach medley.
Pops: "Linya ko ito dati...'I'll never fall in love again.'"
Sharon: "Ay ako rin. Eto dapat ang sabihin natin, 'Make it easy on yourself/ cause breaking up is so very hard to do...'"
Their last piece is "That's What Friend Are For," the theme song of their friendship.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Pops introduces his sons as, "My family. My heroes."
"After their touching number, the moms tells Ram and Robin: "Guys, you did well." The spectators agree.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Pops: "They are here because I forced them." The Big Dome vibrates with laughter.
"Guys, this is Ram. Ram, say 'hi, everyone!'"
Ram: "Hi, everyone!"
The younger son is funny, and not only that, he also sings well. In fact, he sounds a bit like his dad.
Inset: The proud mom felt like she won a lottery when Ram hit the high note of Jim Brickman's song, "The Gift": "But baby in my eyes, you'll still be beautiful."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Robin seems the quiet type. But he plays the guitar so well. After their song, the people scream "More!!!"
But the trio prepare only one song. "Hayaan niyo't mas dadamihan namin sa susunod kong concert," the Concert Queen says.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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"Nung nag-uumpisa po ako, akala ko po, hindi ako magtatagal. Dahil akala ko po, pa-cute lang ang showbiz."
Apparently, the Concert Queen was wrong. She's been with the business for 25 years now. She's had her share of pain and gain, and the realization that being in showbiz is no easy job.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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She makes a heartfelt rendition of Karen Carpenter's "A Song For You"
and dedicates it to the press people, the directors and crew she worked
with, and to the fans. "Dahil sa inyo, nasusuportahan ko ang mga anak
ko. And I thank God for all of you."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Before the show's finale, models paraded in their wedding gowns, including Pops.
She says, "Kaya ko ginawa ito ulit para makasuot ako ulit." Then adds, looking at boyfriend Jomari Yllana, "No pressure. Don't be pressured."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Pops, in a Patrice Ramos-Diaz bridal gown, gives her bouquet of flowers to bride-to-be Cheska Garcia.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Her last song is for her mom (inset). "Just when I thought na hindi ko
na po kaya, siya yung nagsasabing, 'kaya mo 'yan, anak." She proudly
calls Ms. Dulce Lucban, "my mother, my queen."
Then she sings her finale, "What I Did for Love."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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After her performance, the Concert Queen receives bouquets of flowers from friends and supporters.
The people are shouting, "More!!!"
Photography: Noel Orsal
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The Concert Queen returns with a medley of 80's dance hits.
Photography: Noel Orsal
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She even sits on the lap of Jomari and says, "Just say, 'yeah!'"
The camera-shy guy obliges, "Yeah."
Photography: Noel Orsal
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Two hours of dancing and singing, Pops is still full of energy. She's a dynamo!
Photography: Noel Orsal
