Martin Nievera dedicates repeat concert to Yolanda victims

Martin Nievera is dedicating the repeat in his anniversary show “3D: Tatlong Dekada” at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. He has decided to make it a concert for a cause so that they could help the victims of the most recent calamities that befell the Visayas region and left many people homeless.

Martin was deeply touched by the suffering of our kababayans who are still reeling from the effects of the catastrophe.

That Martin is extremely talented is really no question. He had been sharing his music to his countless fans for three decades. He has carved his name in the annals of the local music industry. His music continues to inspire and mesmerize his legion of followers. The magic of Martin’s music has endured through the years.

“I will continue sharing my music for as long as I can and for as long as the fans want me to,” said the Concert King in his last presscon. He has shown so much love and devotion to his craft as a singer, a trait that has endeared him even more to his fans.

At his 30th anniversary concert held last Sept. 13 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Martin showed his audience why his artistry endures. The music — well-loved romantic ditties, chart-topping songs — is a given. So is the Martin trademark of intelligent, decent and always humorous ways he entertains his audiences. And perhaps the magic that weaves all these together in one neat package is the fact that everyone knows that by just listening to and watching him, they are one with Martin, the man and the artist, in this very personal journey.

And this is what we can expect when our undisputed Concert King essays a repeat of the successful “3D: Tatlong Dekada” concert happening on Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m., in the same venue. The same brilliant production team is behind Martin in this repeat — musical director Louie Ocampo, the formidable ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra at the helm, stage director Rowell Santiago and the special guests which made the night doubly special for everyone.

Produced this time by Nolstead, Inc., “3D: Tatlong Dekada” caps Martin’s 30 glowing years in the business.

Tickets for (VIP P4,225; patron P3,700; lower box P2,640; upper box A P1,060; upper box B P530; and general admission P265) are now available at Ticketnet 911-5555.

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OPM or Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit will have an Open Fair 2013 billed as “363 Days of OPM” to be held this Sunday, Nov. 24 at the South Road Properties open field in Cebu City.

Ribbon cutting ceremonies will be at 11 a.m. to 12 noon while the Open Fair starts as 11 a.m. and lasts until midnight. The OPM Bazaar Fair exhibit has, for its theme, My OPM Playlist Exhibit: A Thematic Exhibition of 365 Songs from the Playlists of Influential Filipinos.

There will be games and raffles, plus a free concert. Proceeds of the event will be donated to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

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Newbie singer MJ Cayabyab revives the hit song “Larawang Kupas” of Jerome Abalos which became a chartbuster in 2000. The song is the carrier single of MJ’s debut album released under Viva Records.

The album was formally launched at Historia Restaurant which was witnessed by his fans, members of his family, including his mother who came home from Malaysia to be with her son on that special day.

“Larawang Kupas” is already enjoying extensive airplay on radio and if you are an avid listener, you’ve probably heard MJ’s version of this Jerome Abalos original.

A native of South Cotabato, MJ had been joining singing contests the past two years. Somebody saw him and that enabled him to go to Manila and introduced him to Boss Vic del Rosario of Viva Records. Boss Vic liked MJ’s voice and signed him up for a five-year contract together with his road manager Tom Adrales.

“I was so happy when I met Boss Vic because I felt that my dream is slowly becoming a reality,” said MJ.

The other songs included in his debut album are “Dahil Sa ‘Yo” (MJ’s own composition), “Kahit Ika’y Nagbago” ( Tito Cayamanda), “Mahal Na Mahal Kita” (Vehnee Saturno), and “Muntik Na Kitang Minahal.”

“As a singer, I’m really into love songs. You can easily feel the lyrics of the songs and relate with it because it comes from the heart. I tried other types of songs before pero hindi ko masyadong maramdaman ang meaning ng song,” said MJ.

He had been singing since he was a child. He was a member of a singing group in high school and had regular training until he finished high school. That developed his singing talent even more.

When he was still in the province, people would laugh at him whenever he says he will be a recording artist someday. Now he has proven to them that there is nothing wrong in dreaming big as long as one works hard for it.

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Launched last Nov. 15 at the Sofitel Hotel was the I am The Issue Foundation headed by Jerika Ejercito, the daughter of former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and former actress Laarni Enriquez. Mayor Estrada attended the event to show his support for his daughter.

I Am The Issue Foundation is an organization focusing on Mental Health Awareness spearheaded by Jerika who bravely admitted that she herself experienced depression. This prompted her to put up the foundation which aims to help people who are likewise suffering from depression and help tide them over the condition.

Based on her research, Jerika found out there are only very few psychologists in the Philippines, most of them based in Metro Manila. If a patient suffering from depression is referred for treatment, said person is often brought to National Center for Mental Health even if the patient’s condition is not yet severe and does not need confinement in a mental institution.

“A person who is suffering from depression sometimes just needs someone to talk to just to get over his or her situation,” said Jerika.

According to her, she suffered depression when she was taken out of her comfort zone. She stayed abroad for quite some time because it was there where she took her Business course. When she came home to the Philippines, she found it difficult to adjust. For someone who had lived independently for a good number of years, she needed quite an adjustment period to cope under a new environment. This led to bouts with depression.

Thru I Am The Issue Foundation, Jerika wants to help her fellow kababayans who are suffering from depression. These people can approach the I Am The Issue Foundation so that they could be assisted in their needs.