Ang Sing Out for Autism (SOFA) ang foundation sa Amerika na magkatulong na itinatag ni Martin Nievera at ng kanyang dating karelasyon na si Katrina Ojeda dahil sa kanilang anak na si Santino.
Ibinahagi ni Martin ang makabagbag-damdaming pangyayari sa araw ng paglulunsad nila ni Katrina sa SOFA.
Read: Martin Nievera on having a child with special needs: "There is nothing to be sorry for."
Lahad ng Concert King, “We started a new foundation in America called SOFA, Sing Out For Autism.
"His mother and I who are still very good friends put this foundation together.
“We’re trying to raise funds to help other people who don’t really want to be vocal about their special children.
“A lot of people are ashamed of it. A lot of couples have broken up because of it, namely me and Santino’s mother.
"But we have realized that this is gonna be a lifelong journey so we’re trying to help other people who have similar journeys by doing this new foundation called SOFA.
“It’s so funny because the day that we started SOFA, Pops [Fernandez, his ex-wife] was there, Robin, Ram, and Santino, and the mother Katrina. All of us in one room, that itself is really weird.
"But see what we do for our children, how we have evolved through all of these, that we all know that we have to be there for our children.
“Thank God, Robin and Ram don’t have any special issues, are not on the spectrum as they say, the way Santino is,” paliwanag ni Martin tungkol sa kasaysayan ng SOFA.
Sina Robin at Ram ang mga anak ni Martin sa kanyang dating asawa na si Pops Fernandez.
Sinundan ito ni Martin ng kuwento tungkol sa eksenang nagpaluha sa mga tao.
“You know what’s the hardest thing to do? Is to be able to say words like autism and special or things… you don’t say those words to an actual child who has autism, yet we were talking this way in front of Santino in the audience.
“So I realized we’re saying words like autism and special needs, on the spectrum, and he’s right there.
“So that was the first time we actually told our child, through this event, that 'You are special. You have autism. You’re an autistic child,' which we try to not to tell our kids.
“We only realized that, we were on stage telling the audience about this new foundation we’re starting. So people were, like, in awe that, from there, he [Santino] raised his hands, in the audience, the special child raised his hand.
"And I said, ‘Yes, you, what’s your question?’
“He goes, ‘I’m not gonna play bad videos anymore!’
"He started repeating everything I used to teach him about things he shouldn’t watch that drives him crazy.
“He’s telling the audience about our relationship as a child with challenges and a parent trying to deal with his challenges.
“He went up onstage, started telling the audience, ''Thank you for being here.' The people were all in tears. Everybody was in tears.
“It was a special moment, and I think people should know that we’re very proud of our special child and we hope that we’re able to help other parents and their special needs for their children.”
Nagsalita si Martin tungkol sa SOFA nang mabanggit ang pangalan ng kanyang mga anak na sina Robin, Ram, at Santino sa nakaraang press conference ng Martin 4 Decades o M4D, ang 40th anniversary concert niya na magaganap sa November 19 sa The Theatre at Solaire.
Read: Martin Nievera, kakaiba ang itinuturing na highlight ng kanyang 40-year singing career
Sinabi ni Martin na hindi makakauwi sa Pilipinas para sa anniversary show niya ang kanyang tatlong anak na pawang naninirahan na sa Amerika.