MikeLigalig.com

When Pops Fernandez mounts the stage of the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, Dec. 8, for her 25th-year-in-showbiz concert Divalicious, she will treat the audience not only to a repertoire of songs that mark milestones in her life and career but also to a fashion show consisting of gowns specially designed for the event by the country’s top designers including Dennis Celestial, Ito Curata, Randy Ortiz, Puey Quinones and Maxi Cinco.

“Yes, it’s a fashion musical,” said Pops’ manager Arnold Vegafria who sent Funfare sketches of some of the gowns and a story of how blessed Pops feels with good friends who have stuck with her through thick and thin.

Among her closest friends in the biz are Gary Valenciano, Kuh Ledesma and Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, all of whom agreed to be her special guests in Divalicious.

Aside from sharing their gift of song and passion for music, Pops’ friends have a lot to share about their enduring friendship.

Legendary OPM icon Kuh recounts, “We first worked together around 1998 for the Power of Two series of shows at the Music Museum. The best moments I’ve shared with her are all those private talks we’ve had about love and life, and when she shows me that she appreciates what I say. Also, when she laughs at my jokes (which is very seldom), but seriously, I love seeing the twinkle in her eyes when she talks about Robin and Ram.”

If she could share a duet with Pops, Kuh picks Love Moves in Mysterious Ways. “We’ve sung it in our tour and we have great harmony,” she says. “And we both believe in the Power of Love.”

Asked to cite Pops’ most significant achievement, Kuh adds, “Being here after all these years is a remarkable feat … staying gorgeous, stylish and beautiful. Many people don’t know it, but Pops is a techie. She loves laptops, gadgets and cameras. She sleeps with her computer beside her. Ha, ha, ha!”

For his part, concert livewire Gary Valenciano has known Pops for more than two decades. “One of my best moments with her was when we did a special many years ago under the direction of Fritz Ynfante,” he recounts. “It was a first for me and I was totally thrilled to be working with her.”

“My fondest memories go back to when Martin and she would invite our family to their house in Alabang,” Gary continues. “We would swim, eat, play games and best of all, talk about life. Sometimes, we’d just go there for the afternoon on Sundays and stay ‘til past dinner. This is when I’d see her somewhat complete and lacking in nothing. It was a great time with great moments of friends just being there for each other.”

And how does Gary assess Pops as a performer? “Every artist is unique and Pops is no exception,” he avers. “She can sing, move and talk. She has an uncanny way of effectively reaching out to her audience, which is a plus factor to have as an entertainer.”

He adds, “I think there aren’t many people left who haven’t heard of what Pops has gone through in life. So much emphasis has been placed on her relationships, and not all her stories are that of a princess who lives happily ever after, BUT, just like she’s managed to touch her fans, I too feel that there are songs that can touch her. I recorded this one song called It’s OK, a remake of a duet I recorded with Mayanne Casal-Soriano and I believe that it’s one of those songs that can help mend the wounds of yesterday and make her know that with God in our hearts … it’s OK.”

Asked to cite Pops’ greatest legacy, Gary says, “The fact that she’s still around is a feat in itself. Her sons have been brought up well, too. This for me stands as her greatest achievement because at the end of it all, it’s not what we’ve achieved for ourselves that counts, but rather what we leave behind for others to be achievers, too.”

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