NEWSFLASH

RICKY LO'S UPDATE ON MARTIN NIEVERA
(Philippine Star's Funfare)

Manila, May 11, 2000 - A few issues ago, Funfare reported on Martin Nievera's "triumphant" performance on Easter Sunday at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, with his own father, Bert Nievera, and Ara Mina as co-performers. Funfare's Big Apple DPA (who was in the audience during Martin's show, along with Sen. Loren Legarda and husband Tony Leviste and their children, and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza with his wife and son, Manila Councilor Kim Atienza) has a follow-up to that Funfare item -- a sad story, I must say.

"The show was successful, all right," according to the DPA, "and, you're right, it was a full house. Among those in the audience were Americans who were terribly impressed by Martin's performance and showmanship. In fact, Martin and his dad Bert were such good performers that the SRO crowd was asking for more, more, more!"

And now, the sad story...

"But you know what happened?," continued the DPA. "There must have been some confusion somewhere as far as logistics were concerned because instead of being paid in big bills (you know, $100, etc.), Martin was paid in barya -- literally! The payment was taken from the box-office receipts that night, some in $1 bills, some in $5 bills, some in $10 bills and, would you believe, some in coins (dimes)! He was paid, no doubt about it, but in such a sorry manner."

Later, Martin told his mom, Conchita Razon, how humiliating the experience was. "I've never been so humilitated in my whole life," the DPA quoted Martin as saying.

Oh, well, at least he was paid (and, presumably, his dad and others involved in the show). In some cases, Filipino performers "imported" into the USA would wake up empty-handed, with the producer nowhere to be found.

Take a bow, Martin! You're better off than some of your colleagues. That bow is also for a job well done which, I'm sure, you'll duplicate on your HBO concert (with Zsa Zsa Padilla, Jaya and the Side A Band) on Saturday, May 13, at the Folk Arts Theater. This time, I'm sure Martin will be paid in cold cash (big bills, count 'em!), if not in manager's check (cash it, quick!).