NEWSFLASH

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POPS BEGS FOR PRIVACY "FOR THE KIDS' SAKE"

Manila, May 26, 1998 - If surveys were made Sunday afternoon between 2:20 and 2:30, the highest-rating TV program would have been ABS-CBN's "A.S.A.P." which featured Pops Fernandez finally breaking her silence on the problems of her marriage with Martin Nievera.

It will be recalled that two Sundays ago, Martin Nievera surprised televiewers by announcing that he was leaving the show, and leaving the country, to sort out some problems. Then he apologized to his fans and to his wife, his best friend, for hurting them with his lies.

Sunday, May 24, Pops Fernandez was supposed to "tell all" and add details to the soap opera that their private marital problem has become. She talked, and she disappointed many who tuned in to hear "blood and gore."

Instead of a fishwife baring her deepest secrets on public TV, what televiewers saw was a brave wife and mother stoically defending her private turf -- her home and kids -- and begging everyone to allow her children to grow up normally.

Her voice quivering, her eyes misty, Pops was a tower of strength in front of the cameras. She did not break down and cry, despite the tears that were welling in her soulful eyes. She ended the show by singing a song with lyrics that seem to echo her own dilemma --"I want to feel where love is, I know you can show it. I want to know where love is, I know you can show me .. and I'm not the only one..."

Here are some quotes from her appeal:

"I fell that whatever is going on is a personal matter. I know that we are public figures and our life is an open book. But I know you will respect my decision. Please, sana sa amin na lang ito.

"I feel that my children (sons Ram and Robin) are hurting and I am so sorry that they are. I don't want to add to the pain that they are going through.

"I know you (audience and fans) understand me, especially the mothers. This is between Martin and I, and it is our problem.

"I know many of you want to be part of it, and I appreciate your concern, but I have kids to raise and I want to raise them as normally as I can.

"I know wherever Martin is right now, he loves me and I love him, and hat he'll always be there for me."