What do you miss about Martin and Pops?
A few years ago it seemed impossible to see and hear Pops and Martin onstage performing beautiful music together again. Back then I would excitedly watch them every week on Penthouse Live. I didn’t know them then but I felt I was part of their love story, part of their lives, watching every move they made. It felt like I was on a roller coaster ride as I watched their love story unfold. I was happy when they announced they were getting married, happy when their two sons came, cried when Pops cried on TV, sad when they went their separate ways and eventually smiled when they each found their own happiness.
On February 6, my husband and I will definitely be at the Araneta Coliseum to experience and enjoy one full show of Pops and Martin — once again, together again.
GARY VALENCIANO, singer: I will never forget the times we used to be invited to their house in Alabang on Sundays. They would come from ASAP and I would come from my house. We would swim at their place and sometimes even stay until dinner. Our children were very young then. I miss those days of friendship but I am thankful that even with all the events that have taken place God has kept this friendship burning still. Our children have grown up and they, too, have good a friendship with each other. It’s good to see them both doing well as friends now and because of this I catch myself missing the times when our families could get together for great moments of fellowship.
ANTON SAN DIEGO, editor in chief, Philippine Tatler: I have known Pops since the first grade and we have remained the best of friends through the years. I have seen her grow — from when she began her career in show business during the Penthouse days, to her wedding, her children and her separation — and watched her become the fantastic woman she is today. As a musical force, I believe in Martin and Pops’ partnership. There is no other couple in the Philippine entertainment scene that has their chemistry and musicality — they’re the perfect tandem. They are both at a place in their lives where they are living life as best they know how, and I wish them all the best!
BUTCH JIMENEZ, senior VP, business transformation, PLDT: I miss the unique chemistry they had — their wit, talent, eloquence and musical excellence that have yet to be matched. Their tandem helped put GMA 7 on the top and for that our family will always be grateful. And notwithstanding the fact that we are friends, I am and will always be a fan of Martin and Pops.
ROCKY FLORES, businesswoman: I miss their being together in concerts, parties and most especially on ASAP.
MIKE SICAT, businessman: I miss their commercials. They really looked good together endorsing different products.
TINA MARISTELA OCAMPO, businesswoman, entrepreneur: I miss their innocent romantic insinuations onscreen. These moments happened when they were not officially together yet.
ANTON SAN DIEGO, editor in chief, Philippine Tatler: I have known Pops since the first grade and we have remained the best of friends through the years. I have seen her grow — from when she began her career in show business during the Penthouse days, to her wedding, her children and her separation — and watched her become the fantastic woman she is today. As a musical force, I believe in Martin and Pops’ partnership. There is no other couple in the Philippine entertainment scene that has their chemistry and musicality —
they’re the perfect tandem. They are both at a place in their lives where they are living life as best they know how, and I wish them all the best!
KIT ZOBEL, businesswoman, entrepreneur: What I miss most about Martin and Pops is the playful and witty exchanges they had when they had their show in the ‘80s. They obviously had a certain chemistry on camera and it was a pleasure to see their relationship blossom back then. Although they’ve both moved on and are happy with their respective partners, it’s nice to see that they can still have a working relationship as their fans, myself included, still enjoy watching them perform together.
ARIEL RIVERA, singer/actor: I miss so much our dinners and trips together as couples (Pops and Martin, me and my wife Gelli).
PERCY INTALAN, head for creative and entertainment, TV5: I miss their onstage chemistry and those duets like Always and Forever and many more.
Atty. DOT GANCAYCO: What I miss most about Martin and Pops is a real husband and wife celebrity couple comparable to today’s Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie combination, echoing the life-long union of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward (although in both cases, the unions were not with first-time partners, and in the latter case, they were not so high profile). I miss the television shows and concerts showcasing not only the onscreen partnership but a real husband and wife tandem, where both are talented, speak fluent and intelligent English, and who every once in a while reveal their human side as lovers in real life. They were a glam showbiz pair so much in love that I wanted to be with someone and end up like them. I ended up with a non-showbiz lawyer and we are still together.
