The Mall of Asia Arena is definitely the place to be on Feb. 7 as the Philippine Concert King and Queen, Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez, celebrate both Valentine’s Day and their 40th anniversary as an iconic musical tandem in the special concert, “Always & Forever.”
No one can argue that their decades-long partnership remains unmatched. It’s a testament to the magic they create as performers, even as their personal relationship took a different path when their marriage ended. What followed, however, is a rare and inspiring evolution of love into friendship — one that continues to power their synergy on stage.
At a pre-Christmas media conference for the show, Pops revealed the deeper reason behind their decision to celebrate their milestone as a team.
Philippine Concert King and Queen Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez INSTAGRAM PHOTO/POPSFERNANDEZOFFICIAL
“We both celebrated our showbiz anniversaries,” she began. “I celebrated my 40-plus years this Feb. at The Solaire, and Martin, of course, had his own in Araneta Coliseum. Then I realized our team is also 40-plus years old.
“So, I said — and this is really the truth — ‘Since we can’t really celebrate our wedding anniversary, we might as well celebrate our team together.’ And that’s why ‘Always & Forever’ is happening,” she added with a laugh, prompting Martin to quip, “Better late than never!”
Faithful Martin and Pops fans will know that the title “Always & Forever” is significant to the duo. It was the name of their 1986 hit movie directed by the late Danny Zialcita, as well as the title of their collaborative album, that cemented their status as the country’s most beloved musical couple.
Today, they are still beloved whenever they perform together and, for many, for showing that having a beautiful blended family is also possible.
As everyone knows, despite their personal challenges, Martin and Pops have always prioritized family. The best example is the recently concluded holiday season when they flew to Chicago together before Christmas to celebrate the first birthday of their first-ever grandchild, Finn. The bundle of joy is the son of Martin and Pops’ eldest, Robin Nievera, and his partner, Mian Acoba.
“We’re very excited,” shared Pops a few days before the trip. “Although they’re very far, thank God for technology, we still manage to stay in touch. But, of course, we want to spend more time with them, especially Finn, so we’ll really make the most of this trip.”
Very much on the same page as “Lollipops” — the name Pops has declared her grandchild should call her — Martin echoed, “It’s a big milestone for Finn — and for us as grandparents.”
The Chicago celebration was followed by a family Christmas gathering in Las Vegas, where the former couple reunited with their youngest son, Ram, and Martin’s son, Santino, from his previous relationship with Katrina Ojeda, who also joined them for the holidays.
“This blended family setup wasn’t easy at first,” Pops said when asked how they make their unusual setup seem perfect. “But now, it’s a blessing. Everyone gets along, and it makes life much easier for me and everyone else.”
Martin mirrored her sentiments, noting how their evolving relationship has also enriched their professional collaboration.
“First of all, that’s all thanks to Pops because she allowed it to happen,” he gratefully stated. “But even more on stage, we bring out the best in each other, and that’s the magic of Martin and Pops — it’s the connection, the chemistry, and the history we’ve built over four decades. It’s something you can’t manufacture.”
Produced by Viva Live, DSL Productions, and Starmedia Entertainment, the “Always & Forever” is a tribute to enduring partnerships — not just between Martin and Pops but also with their loyal fans who have supported them through the years.
As the Philippine Concert King and Queen prepare to return to the stage together, they look forward to creating more unforgettable memories for their audiences. After all, in their own words, “Always & Forever” is more than just a title; it’s a promise to keep the magic alive for as long as they can.
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