Ikinuwento ni Martin Nievera kung bakit ang dating asawa niya na si Pops Fernandez ang isa sa napiling 50 Wall of the World judges mula sa iba’t-ibang bansa.
Si Pops ang tanging Pilipino na kasama bilang judge sa The World’s Best, ang bagong show ng CBS Network sa United States.
Hindi itinanggi ni Martin na kung tinanggap niya ang alok ng The World’s Best na magsisimula ng mapanood sa February 3, siya sana ang kinatawan mula sa Pilipinas.
Balita kasing bago si Pops, si Martin daw ang unang inalok ng show.
“I really got it," saad ni Martin tungkol sa pagiging judge sana sa The World's Best.
"They had this full list of people na mga for sure choices. I really had this Facetime audition, which I’ve never done. They asked me questions and I was just being myself. Then they said, this is exactly what we’re looking for.
“They gave their schedules and it just so happened that every day of taping for the show, I have a concert for different cities. I tried to go out of my commitments, but it was too late.
Si Anna Puno ng Starmedia ang producer ng upcoming Valentine’s concert ni Martin at Lani Misalucha titled Timeless Classic.
Willing sana si Anna na i-move ang February 14 show nila sa PICC Plenary Hall para makuha ni Martin ang international break na matagal na rin niyang pangarap.
Pero hindi pa rin daw naging posible dahil talagang hindi kakayanin ang schedules ni Martin sa iba pa niyang mga shows.
Kuwento pa ng Concert King, tinanong daw siya kung may mairerekomenda siya na pupuwedeng kuhanin mula sa Pilipinas. At dito nga niya ipinasok ang pangalan ni Pops.
“Then, they said, 'I’m sorry Martin, we really want you. We’re organizing your taping days but we can’t meet the days of your shows or your concerts.
“'Do you know anyone else that you think could play the role?'
"And I said, you know, I have a co-host for many, many years. And I think, she will be very, very good. And they said, what’s her name? I said, Pops Fernandez and they said, 'My god, she’s also one of [the names on] the list.'”
Nagulat pa raw si Martin sa tanong sa kanya kung bakit niya kilala si Pops.
“[They asked], 'How do you know her?'
"I said, how do I know her? Well, we have two kids. They went, 'What the hell? Are you serious?'
"They know that whole story that you all know and memorized.”
Ang gusto raw sana, silang dalawa pa rin ni Pops ang maging judges. Pero talagang hindi na raw kakayanin ng schedules niya.
“So they spoke with Pops straight and they we’re able to fix her schedule so that she could be there the most taping days.”
ON LOSING POPS
Pag-amin ni Martin, isa raw itong oportunidad na matagal na niyang pinapangarap talaga, pero nang nandiyan na, hindi niya nakuhang tanggapin.
“The funny thing is, I’ve always wanted that break whenever I talk about being international. I was so fixated that I lost Pops and the kids. We’re no longer together because I’m so hungry for fame, international fame.
“And finally, here it is, and who do I give it to? The person I lost, that’s God. 'Ah, ganun ha... here, give it to Pops,'” natatawang sabi niya.
“But I’m so happy that she has this break. I’m really rooting for her that she will represent the country well.
Masaya raw talaga si Martin na ang ex-wife niya na si Pops ang isa sa 50 judges ng The World’s Best.
"Very happy,” saad ng veteran singer.
Ano naman ang naging reaction ni Pops nang malaman nito?
“Well, when Pops and I talked about it, that I suggested her, she said that she also spoken to them but she hasn’t called back. So, I when I told them that I highly recommend Pops because she’s like the female me when it comes to looking for talents, hosting, in every aspects, Pops is like the female me.
“They like the idea and Pops took it to the next level and she was just...Pops is just Pops and the perfect representation for the Philippines to show how knowledgeable we are when it comes to talents, how we’re so rich and filled with talents in our country and to have her as an expert from the Philippines, I’m truly, truly proud.”
Nilinaw naman ni Martin na wala raw dapat ipagpapasalamat sa kanya si Pops.
“She didn’t have to say thank you. In fact, I told her, I didn’t want to make a big deal that me getting the gig first because I don’t want people to think that she’s the second choice.
“We’re all part of the masterlist that they want to finalize with. It was just me who didn’t get it because I have no more schedule. Pops is part of that list, finalist to be chosen for the Philippines.”