Did he expect his concert last Sept. 13 to be that a big hit, affirming his Concert King title once more? “No, I was even worried then wondering if people would come,” he says. “I was shocked and pleasantly surprised that so many people came and filled up the Araneta. After that, Joy Alonzo said she wants to see it again and I said, you produce the repeat. At heto na nga, she did. The first concert was produced by Viva, now by Nolstead Inc.” Will there be changes? “There will be new songs as I will take out the ones that were not so well applauded.” Who’ll be the guests this time? “I’m not gonna announce that I invited Anne Curtis, Gary Valenciano, Bamboo. Aiza Seguerra, Arnel Pineda and of course, Pops (Fernandez) and our sons Robin & Ram. I invited them but hindi pa sila sumasagot.”
Who else who’d he personally like to invite? “Lea Salonga, because she makes everyone world class. If you’d notice, the guests in my concert, nag-perform lang. Hindi ko na pinagsalita kasi I’m sure they’ll just be praising me kasi it’s my 30th anniversary. E, di ba that’s nakakasuka if they’ll just praise me there. I also invited then the people who helped me in my journey, like my directors Fritz Ynfante and Johnny Manahan. My intention was to call them on my last number but you know people, nag-aalisan na agad so I wasn’t able to do it. This time, I’ll call them up sa encore pa lang, all the celebrities who’d watch, to join me agad on stage then when I’ve sang the last song, thank you, and we all exit sa backstage and not go back to their seats anymore.”
Martin will again work with the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, Louie Ocampo as musical director and Rowell Santiago as stage director. Tickets ranging from P265 for general admission to P4,225 for VIP are now available at Ticketnet 911-5555.
