What about ex-wife Pops Fernandez? “Yes, she was there, with our two sons.” How come Pops is missing in action? “Actually, she’s very busy with her businesses. She’s a card dealer now. Are you shocked? No, she doesn’t deal cards but she’s the one who supplies playing cards to casinos. I asked her if she doesn’t want to make a showbiz comeback and she said it’d defend on the project. But we’re going to have a concert tour in the U.S. with Ai Ai de las Alas starting April.”
Martin says his newest album, “Mga Awit at Damdamin” from PolyEast Records, is a perfect gift to his fans as he celebrates his 31st year in showbiz. “I was only 19 when I did my first recording, ‘Holiday’. At the time it was released, Rico Puno’s ‘Together Forever’ also came out and I told myself I wish I did that song. Now, 31 years later, I just did my own version and it’s part of the new album, along with 11 other songs that are all in Tagalog. I’m so happy I’m given the chance to do songs previously recorded by Rico Puno, Hajji Alejandro, Basil Valdez, Wency Cornejo, Regine Velasquez and other local music greats, like ‘Dadalhin’, ‘Habang May Buhay’, ‘Sa Kanya’, ‘Ang Lahat ng Ito’y Para Sa’yo’, ‘Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal’, ‘Kapalaran’, ‘Huwag na Lang Kaya’, ‘Hahanapin Ko’, ‘Ikaw Lamang’ and ‘Ngayon at Kailanman’. I really want to remake my own song, ‘Be My Lady’, with my voice now and today’s technology for better sound quality, but I was told by Viva that in the contract I signed with them, I’m not allowed to remake my own songs. Sayang.”
“Mga Awit at Damdamin” is a followup to his hit “Himig ng Damdamin” album that was just honored with the Gold Record award in ASAP last Sunday. Martin is also proud that his son Robin is launching his own debut album, ‘Over Wait’. “Not overweight because he’s not fat anymore. It’s just that he waited for so long to do the album. I’m so proud of my kids. They don’t want to have anything to do with Pops and Martin in pursuing their own careers. They want to make it on their own. Ram is now a graphic artist working with a big animation company.”
Martin said he wanted to audition for “X Factor” in the U.S. “If they’d ask me why I’m auditioning there when I’m considered Concert King in Manila, I’d tell them that it’s because at 50, I have yet to achieve the international stardom I’m dreaming of, so here’s my chance. But then, ABS signed me up to a two-year contract and assigned me to be a judge-mentor in the local version of ‘X Factor’. Also, they’re giving me a new late night talk show. So dito na lang muna ako.”