The new, more assertive Pops

Concert Queen Pops Fernandez amazingly juggles several exciting projects in the air and seems primed to tackle more thrilling tasks.

The Concert Queen is also the Queen of Reinvention, after all.

Constantly reinventing herself, Pops recently donned a new hat as line producer for the TV-movie Sabi Nya, Sabi Ko which she headlines with the Concert King himself Martin Nievera. It will be aired this Sunday, Aug. 24, 9:30 p.m .on GMA 7.

Pops has always expressed a desire to take control of her life and career. This new telesine signals the birth of a new, a more assertive and focused Pops.

"It was very fulfilling," Pops, who owns the story of this TV movie, says with enthusiasm."From the start, I pictured it as a whole already. So when I saw the finished product, I felt extremely proud."

In spite of the countless challenges she and her staff met along the way, Pops is certain, she says, that "we came up with something interesting and fun."

In the romantic musical Sabi Nya, Sabi Ko, megged and written by young director Mark Reyes, Pops and Martin play rival deejays who inexplicably end up together–professionally and personally.

Working with Martin is always a blast, Pops reveals.

"It’s always a good experience," she reiterates. "It’s always fun working with Martin. It’s because we already have a working chemistry. That’s why it never is a chore to team up."

Moreover, the new telesine allows their fans to reminisce their favorite Penthouse Live! love team.

"Our goal is to produce something cute, nakakakilig," Pops pipes up. "Something entertaining. And I think we were able to achieve that."

With a little (or is it a lot of?) help from their friends, of course.

"Direk Mark is a good friend of mine," Pops continues. "He’s very hip, very talented. He is really in touch with the times, with the youth culture. Even in terms of lingo. The music scene. And our ideas match. That’s why we click. I must say we work well together. And he’s also a very patient director. Considering we only had two days to shoot a one-and-a-half-hour TV-movie, we were all inspired to give our very best."

Also giving their full support are Pops’s performer-friends.

"I think the line ‘This is Pops’ first line-produced TV-movie’ is kinda overused by now," Pops guffaws. "I was telling direk Mark, ‘Thank God, we both have lots of friends’!"

Co-starring with Pops and Martin in Sabi Nya, Sabi Ko, aired by GMA 7 this August, are Jackie Castillejo, Philip Lazaro, Jan Marini, Gerard Pizarras, and Cholo Escano. Making special appearances in the TV-movie are Troy Montero, Greg Turvey, Jeff Rodriguez, Richard Gutierrez and Chynna Hortaleza.

"We couldn’t have done it without our friends," Pops shares. "It wouldn’t have worked. And it was really fun. Jackie is ecstatically funny. So is Philip. It was really an enjoyable experience. Never a dull moment on the set."

Moreover, she acquired just as numerous lessons as line producer, in terms of balancing the artistic and business sides of an enterprise.

"I remained true to my vision, what I wanted, but still it wasn’t as expensive as my dream," Pops acknowledges. "We wanted to do something that couldn’t be seen in other shows kasi. We didn’t want another musical-variety show. So we had nice sets. Great costumes. A little special effects. I really wanted it to have the look and feel of a movie. We were able to get what we wanted but at the same time we were able to keep it within the budget."

Sabi Nya, Sabi Ko was truly a learning experience for Pops.

"Now I understand the viewpoints of both the artist and the line producer," she quips.

These business lessons she’ll be able to put to good use in her other venture: the Pipay fashion line which will open two new free-standing outlets, the flagship store in Shangri-La Plaza Mall (which will have a grand opening on Aug. 31) and the Greenhills branch in Shoppesville.

"I still have a lot to learn and discover," Pops says. "Pipay is just a baby. It’s just a year old. We are still feeling our way through."

 She has always wanted to go into the retail business.

"That has always been my dream," Pops says. "I asked myself: ‘I’ve been in showbiz for such a long time and I still don’t have a business I could call my own.’ And since I wanted to set up a business outside of showbiz, I decided it should be something I enjoy. It’s really because of the kikay part of me. I like dressing up. Even with my friends, I help dress them up. I like putting things together."

Truth be told: Shopping and clothes are two of Pops’s most enduring passions, just a notch below music and performing.

Pops, after all, is the new image model of Shangri-La Plaza Mall and Confident sanitary napkin.

"It’s good I was able to meet and hook up with Ricco Ocampo of Anonymous," Pops remarks. "Pipay items are still available in Anonymous outlets but we will have more new stuff in our own two stores. More tees. More semi-formal tops. More bottoms. More accessories. More bags. Scents. Even one-of-a-kind jeans."

In doing the interiors of the store with designer Leah Bautista, Pops wanted something that hews closely to her vibrant personality.

"I wanted something comfortable," Pops says of her stores. "Parang the minute you walk in, you’d feel right at home. In fact, the stores look like my house, my bedroom pa nga. It’s very colorful. The colors are very bright: pink, red, yellow. I’m into colors now. I like to be surrounded by colors."

True to form, her career is rainbow bright.

Aside from her TV-movie and Pipay stores, Pops is also busy with her new soap opera, Twin Hearts with co-stars Rudy Fernandez, Dingdong Dantes, and Tanya Garcia, also under GMA 7.

The Concert Queen is also raring to return onstage. She has just returned from two successful shows in Vancouver and Toronto, Canada, and there is already talk of taking the Martin-Pops reunion concert on the road to North America.

 Indeed, Pops is brilliantly blooming and beaming in spite of (and maybe because of) her busy sked.

But, what about your love life? I asked.

Pops, the Concert Queen, roared with laughter!