Ngayong Huwebes, Pebrero 5, 2026, ang ika-64 kaarawan ng Concert King na si Martin Nievera.
Nineteen years old lamang si Martin nang sumali siya sa California State Talent Competition sa Santa Clara, California, noong 1981.
Iyon ang naging daan para matupad ang kanyang pangarap maging mang-aawit.
Naungkat ang pagsali noon ni Martin sa singing competition dahil mga produkto ng reality talent shows ang mga kasama niya sa Valentine's Day concert na Champions of the Heart — sina Jed Madela, Jona, Klarisse de Guzman, at Sofronio Vasquez.
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Si Jed ay nanalo ng Silver Prize sa Voice of Asia noong 2003 at grand prize sa World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) noong 2005.
Si Jona, dating kilala bilang Jonalyn Viray, ang grand winner sa first season ng Pinoy Pop Superstar ng GMA-7 noong 2004.
Si Klarisse ay naging second place sa Batang Kampeon noong 2001, grand finalist sa Star For A Night (2003), at runner-up sa The Voice of the Philippines noong 2013.
Si Sofronio naman ay sumali sa "Tawag ng Tanghalan" ng It's Showtime noong 2017 (Season 2) at 2017 (All-Star), at winner ng The Voice USA Season 26 noong 2024.
TALENT CONTEST WNNER
Ipinaalala ni Martin na naranasan din nitong sumali sa singing contest at hindi pa ipinapanganak ang apat nang makipagtunggali siya sa California State Talent Competition noong 1981.
Lahad niya: “To be honest with you, before there was ever any kind of reality contests on television...
"Ito totoo ito, the reason why I became a singer, besides following my father’s [Bert Nievera] footsteps, I joined singing contests.
"Many that I lost but the one that I won was called the California State Talent Competition in Santa Clara, California.
“You had to win the first day, to compete the next day, to compete on the championship on the third day.
"And on the fourth day, the champions will meet against the champions to see who the overall champion.
“So I was fortunate to be the first and I think the only Filipino. There’s another Filipino who’s in the dance category.
"But I won the first day, won on the second day, I was champion on the third day, and I became the overall champion.
"That was 1981, none of you were born yet."
Hindi pa uso noong 1981 ang mga cellphone kaya hindi dokumentado o walang makikita sa YouTube na video ng tagumpay ni Martin sa patimpalak sa pagkanta na kanyang sinalihan.
Saad ni Martin: “Absolutely none so I could be lying, but I’ve been looking. We can see something, with Wikipedia or something that talks about that competition
“There’s no video. There’s nothing. We didn’t have cellphones, we didn’t have…nothing.
“Wala pang VHS that time. This is 1981.
"So, that was my championship.
"Although that was not my springboard to bigger and better things, but it made me decide that I will pursue my dream to become a singer.
“Back then, I was living in the States so, actually, it was not really international then. But if you think about it, maybe.”
Palaging sinasabing napakabilis ng takbo ng panahon at maraming mga bagong talento na lumilitaw kaya dapat pinahahalagahan ang bawat sandali at oportunidad na dumarating.
Gaganapin ang Champions of the Heart sa Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom sa February 14, 2026.
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