- Martin Nievera will stay a Kapamilya no matter what happens.
- Martin Nievera has no plans of leaving ABS-CBN despite renewal woes.
Concert King and ASAP Natin ‘To host Martin Nievera will remain faithful to ABS-CBN despite threats of its franchise’s nonrenewal.
In a sideline interview with the press at the presscon of his upcoming concert Twogether Again, Nievera was asked about his take on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.
Martin said he knew that it’s a hot topic now but clarified that he doesn’t know the exact details about it. He said it’s a matter of concern for him and other Kapamilya artists but one thing’s for sure he will go wherever ABS-CBN goes.
“Well yung usapan na renewal I think I speak for all ABS-CBN artists. I think we are very concerned, we don’t know the logistics of all of this, [I dont] I cannot speak about it because I don’t know much about it. All I know is where ABS-CBN goes I go,” he said.
ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal continues to be a matter of concern in Philippine showbiz.
The media giant’s franchise is about to expire in March 2020 and the franchise renewal bills have yet to be discussed in Congress.
Currently, there are 9 bills filed by 11 Congressmen seeking to renew the Kapamilya network’s franchise. The Committee head that handles franchise renewal in the House of Representatives promised to start deliberation on the bills once Congress resumes session on January 20.
Meanwhile, asked if he will remain loyal or has any plan of switching networks if ever ABS-CBN fails to secure a franchise renewal, Nievera said he will stay faithful as a Kapamilya no matter what happens.
“I will not turn my back on them just because it looks like you know stormy weather is coming. You know, I really don’t..again let me repeat I really don’t know the logistics of this renewal thing. I don’t know how that happens, how that works, all I know is I will not turn my back on my Kapamilya,” Martin answered.
“I will remain, I’ve been loyal since the very beginning. I remain loyal to a fault. I should have been somewhere else doing something else but I am so in love with every person I worked with, both in front and behind the camera that I think I would be unfaithful if I even dreamt of moving on.
“I could be a much, you know this, I could be a bigger name somewhere else because there’s bigger names now that have surpassed me in ABS-CBN but there’s a purpose for me there. I don’t know what it is but I’m just happy to be with them. I love them all so much. It’s not about money, it’s not about fame, it’s about relationship, talagang Kapamilya kame,”
“Ang dami kong offers lumipat sa ibang network. Napaka-tempting. And I have nothing against any network. Channel 7 is where I came from. And the owners of Channel 5 are dear friends of mine. I have offers left and right.
“And It’s just… I don’t know what it is, because for someone whose crime was being unfaithful… (sabay-turo kay Pops which means, naging unfaithful siya sa kanyang ex-wife), I’m very faithful pala. I don’t know,” Martin continued.
“If I would think about only myself, and the money that I could be earning and prostituting myself in all over the place, then I don’t think I would be the kind of artist worth watching. I think, I’d rather watch someone who really is in the business for all the right reasons.
“And after 37 years, I’m happy where I am,” he added
Nievera’s career in ABS-CBN
Nievera first came to ABS-CBN in 1987 via the show Twogether with former wife Pops Fernandez. But the show didn’t last long as Nievera transferred back to his former network GMA.
It was in 1993 that Martin started his long career with the Kapamilya network via the late-night talk show Martin Nievera After Dark.
Since then the Concert King did many programs with the Kapamilya and is currently a mainstay of the network’s Sunday musical variety show ASAP Natin ‘To.
But Nievera’s relationship with ABS-CBN was never perfect.
A couple of times, Nievera aired his grievances against the Kapamilya network with regards to his shows.
In 2013, Nievera took to Twitter to air his disappointment over the short stint of his late-night talk show Martin Late at Night.
Same scenario in 2015 when Nievera also tweeted about his reaction to the reformatting of ASAP which was then trailing behind its rival Sunday Pinasaya.
But still, everything ends well between him and the Kapamilya management as he remains as one of the prized Kapamilya talents until now.
