A hint to all of Pops Fernandez's wannabe suitors: You’ll have to up your game.
The 57-year-old singer and Philippines’ Concert Queen, set to have a two-night show this coming February 9 and 10 at Solaire entitled Always Loved, is living up to the aforementioned concert name—albeit not referring to her love life.
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Asked about her love life in her late 50s, she said she’s not active on the dating scene atm, mainly because she’s been enjoying her own company. "Okay, I haven't dated in a long time. So, I'll be honest. Why?"
"Because nga, yun sa huli, I told myself, baka naman parati ko minamadali ang sarili ko. So, I wanna take my time. Parang kasi, ako lang ba? O ang mga kababaihan ba after one relationship, you feel that another relationship can mend your heart? But, I realized, it's not the answer."
READ: What It's Like To Be A Single, Independent Woman Post-Pandemic
It’s public knowledge that Pops had been involved in a high-profile breakup with her ex-husband Martin Nievera. They were married for fourteen years and had two children, Ram and Robin. It was in 2000 when their wedding was officially annulled. Since the breakup, Pops has tried her hand at dating again—including younger men. Nowadays though, she’s happily single and enjoying her own company.
"So, after that, I said, teka muna, baka naman parati ko sinasabi sa sarili ko na having a new relationship is the way to go. So, sabi ko, teka, I will be single first."
Pops opened up about the fulfilment that comes with singlehood. "Ito nga, being single and discovering that you can be happy on your own makes you not really look for a partner."
"Ang nangyari is, I focus more on working, so that was a huge fulfillment for me. Because when I say success, that is a success for a woman, di ba? Being able to provide on your own for your family is a success for a woman. It doesn't mean that I provide so much, but yung nakakatulong ako. And it gives me a lot of pride kasi na that's me on my own. And doing it makes me happy."
She gushed about the peace that comes with living on her own terms. "Hindi ako lonely, hindi ako sad. Hindi na ako gising in the middle of the night looking for a lakad because, wait, my friends are out. I should be out, right? Hindi na."
"Comfortable na ako sleeping at an early time because happy naman ako. I'm not lonely. I always say in my spiels, yes, I'm single, but I'm not lonely and I'm not sad."
Despite being happily single and independent, Pops isn’t closing her doors to a potential romance, but hopes it comes naturally and will be for keeps this time. "I'm not closing my doors. It's not like I do not want to fall in love again. This time, gusto ko iba naman. Gusto ko naman this time yung destiny na talaga siguro. Yung ma-realize ko nung parang nag-meet naman na parang sya na yun. I didn't go out of my way to go somewhere to meet someone or whatever. Gusto ko yung siya na talaga. And I think that's gonna happen."
