Why not Martin?

LAS VEGAS — Lani Misalucha sang the Philippine national anthem in rites that preceded the first Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales fight at the MGM Grand here in March last year.

Then, Jennifer Bautista — whose father Angel is a Games and Amusements Board (GAB) commissioner (the GAB supervises professional boxing in the Philippines) — had her turn at the mike before the second Pacquiao-Morales bout at the Thomas and Mack Center last January.

To complete the trilogy, teenaged Sarah Geronimo did the singing honors in the ring for the rubber match, also at the Thomas and Mack Center, last Saturday night.

After three female singers, Filipino fans are wondering if Martin Nievera will ever be given the chance to sing the anthem for Pacquiao. Surely, there will be bigger Las Vegas fights in the horizon for Pacquiao after his sensational third round knockout over Morales last Saturday and Nievera now lives in the city where he will begin a year-long series of shows, six days a week, next month.

Last Saturday, Nievera was at ringside to cheer for Pacquiao and nearly lost his voice. Luckily, the hoarseness went away after a good night’s rest. He flew in from a sold-out concert in St. Louis, Missouri, that morning to catch the fight which he said, he wouldn’t miss for the world.

Filipino fans mobbed Nievera when he showed up at the stadium with Jose Mari Ojeda and his wife Christy and Jinggoy Llige. Nievera obliged the fans by signing autographs and posing for pictures. The night, however, belonged to Pacquiao.

The day after the fight, Nievera left for Manila to prepare for his concerts on Nov. 24 and 30 at the Mall of Asia.

I remember Nievera offering his services for free to sing the national anthem in Pacquiao’s next fight after the second Morales fight last January. "It would be my honor to sing the national anthem," said Nievera who visited Pacquiao in his Wynn Hotel suite to congratulate him the morning after.

It’ll be a busy December for Nievera who’s booked to perform at the Cache Creek Casino in Sacramento on Dec. 2 and two weekend concerts in Hawaii (one in Honolulu and another in Maui) before opening his much-awaited year-long show at the Steve Wyrick Theater at the Aladdin Hotel here on Dec. 26.

Aladdin signed Nievera to headline his own show, backed by a nine-man band led by keyboards artist and musical director Lorie Ilustre, for a year. He will perform six shows a week, every day except Friday, starting at 5 p.m. Each performance will run for about an hour and 15 minutes.

Nievera’s repertoire is guaranteed to appeal to audiences of all ages. He’ll sing his usual stuff (hits like "Be My Lady", "Say That You Love Me", and "You’re My Song"), a Broadway medley, Michael Buble favorites and timeless standards.

Nievera’s one-year contract is a dream come true for the singer. He has performed on stage here at the Golden Nugget, Rio, Marriott Hotel, Orleans and Paris but never on a long-term arrangement.

"Things are really looking up for Martin," said Ojeda whose daughter Katrina gave birth to Nievera’s son Santino or Nio last month.

Ojeda flew in from Manila last Thursday to see for the first time, his first grandchild, Nio, and a second grandchild, Emilio or Mio (born four days later to another daughter Sofia and Jinggoy Llige). Of course, he made time to watch the Pacquiao-Morales fight at ringside.

"Martin is a huge sports fan," said Ojeda. "A few years ago, we watched an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors in Oakland. He tries to watch every big fight in Las Vegas involving a Filipino. He thinks Manny is the greatest."

By the way, Lani sings with the Society of Seven, made up of Hawaiians of Filipino descent, five days a week (except Monday and Tuesday), starting 3 p.m. at the Flamingo Hotel Showroom here. Tickets are priced at $49.95 each.

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Filipino prospect Ernel Fontanilla was booked to make his US debut in the undercard last Saturday but his opponent Oscar Blanquet of Mexico backed out. Trainer Buboy Fernandez will have to wait another day to introduce the hard-hitting bantamweight to the American audience.

Another up-and-coming Filipino star Bernabe Concepcion took his first bow in the US and scored a unanimous 10-round decision over previously unbeaten Jokson Hernandez for the World Boxing Council Youth superbantamweight title.

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Showbiz stars Martin Nievera, Rudy Fernandez, Edu Manzano, Bayani Agbayani, Dennis Padilla, Julianna Palermo, Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama were spotted in the crowd at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Also in attendance were Rep. Mikey and Mrs. Arroyo, Sen. Lito Lapid, Gov. Chavit Singson, Gov. Ayong Malixsi, Gov. Willie Enverga, Gov. Dodo Mandanas, Rep. Prospero Nograles, Rep. Ding Roman, Rep. Aurelio Umali, Rep. Monico Puentevella, Rep. Eric Singson, Rep. Vincent Crisologo, Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia, Tarlac City Mayor Aro Mendoza, Secretary of Education Jesli Lapus, former world champion Morris East and Pacquiao’s first manager Polding Correa.