Triumphant Martin - DIRECT LINE by Boy Abunda

Martin Nievera is back from a triumphant US tour. Starting with a back-to-back show at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas with Zsa Zsa Padilla, he proceeded to perform at the Hunter College Auditorium in Manhattan on Sept. 30, with G Toengi as guest.

The New York concert was a smashing success that the promoters, the Ole Group, headed by our friends Ramon and Ching Legarda, has already invited Martin to hold another concert in The Big Apple next year.

Right after conquering New York, Martin received another heartwarming welcome in Chicago. This is the nth staging of Martin’s XV3 Concert set at the Pickwick Theater last Oct. 7, and this time, Jolina Magdangal was guest performer.

Promoter Danny Tinimbang of Donnarich Production was very happy Martin’s concert in Chicago had been sold-out three weeks before the show. The show was such a big hit that Tinimbang and Martin’s business manager, Joji Dingcong are already discussing the possibility of having him perform with the world-class Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

After Chicago, XV3 went to the Cox Arena in San Diego last Oct. 13 and was produced by TFC (The Filipino Channel), a subsidiary of ABS-CBN. For the first time in San Diego, Martin’s magical madness attracted the biggest gathering of Filipino-Americans in the area.

After the victorious concert in San Diego, Martin capped his tour with a final performance at the massive 10,000-seater Cow Palace in San Francisco. The TFC management was pleasantly shocked with the massive support people in the Bay Area have given the Concert King. It was the biggest attendance ever for a performance in the San Francisco area by a Filipino entertainer. For a moment, it felt like home. "Heavy traffic!" blurted an enthusiastic fan. For both performances, Jolina was Martin’s special guest and she, too captivated the audience with her style of singing and humor.

The tour simply reaffirmed that yes, even to Filipinos in the US, Martin is the Concert King!!!

Gaybar attraction

Women go to gaybars. And women are not gays. So why do women go to gaybars? I’m not talking about women who go to gaybars for an occasional nightout or a fun shower party. I’m talking about women who are gaybar habitues. Gaybars are for gays. They are the places of relaxation for gays. Women are now grabbing this territory away from gays. And I’m protesting.

Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against women. I love women. Some of my best friends are women. Some of the most important people in my life are women. Women are an amazing lot. And very powerful too. So I simply want to make it clear that I’m not quarrelling with women.

I’m simply protesting about some women who are encroaching into gay territories. And what’s sad is that they may win out in the end. If we don’t do something. I don’t think these women are aware of the injustice they are committing against gays.

OK, consider this. When men want to have good time, they go to places like Pegasus, Lexus, Alibangbang. What they do there is none of my business. I’m not interested and I wish all of them joy and happiness. When gays want to relax after a hard day’s work or after an arduous week – they go to a gaybar. What happens inside – is exciting, interesting – and fun. If you’re straight, you can go once or twice in your lifetime just to get exposed to the realities of the world and beyond. If you go more than twice, face the mirror and look at yourself with pride and courage and tell yourself that, "It’s OK sister!" If you’re a girl and you go to a gaybar more than two times, you are treading on somebody’s territory, you better find your own place.

This is what’s happening right now. In major gaybars like Adonis and Gigolo in Timog, women pay double at the gate. This is meant to punish them for going to the place often. Gays pay P80 while women are charged P200 for entrance. The message is clear but no one seems to listen considering that women abound in gaybars especially during weekends. And gays are complaining that more and more women are invading gaybars. And of course, they’re stiff competition.

But here’s something women should know. It is said that male entertainers prefer gays than women because gays are generous tippers unlike women who are generally lousy tippers. But when a girl is drop dead pretty, no amount of tip will dazzle the boys. They will probably get the gays’ tip and then run after the girl.

It’s scary. This must be stopped. Generations have already abused gays. This time, while something can be done, we have to move. Kung hindi ngayon, kailan?

And where do we start?

Let’s help these women who frequent gaybars find a place for them – similar to the Chippendales in the US where gays are not allowed to enter. Here’s calling on rich women who believe that you deserve a place of convergence where you can have fun while your husbands or boyfriends are in Salaguinto, Grand Inihaw and Pink Panther having a great time with friends and GROs.

But please after centuries of deprivation, leave the gaybars to the Gays. They rightfully belong to gays.

Please!

If you insist, we will go to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. After the testimony of Ricaforte, this one may aid legislation about men, women, gays and their respective lawful territories. Just like jueteng! It has clear geographical boundaries. Tayo pa kaya?!?