THE party which was organized for Albert Martinez at The Fort last Thursday didn’t turn out to be a birthday celebration for Albert Martinez.

It was a special birthday thrown in his honor by his ABS-CBN family dahil at 50 (he was born April 19), he still looks 30, which is the number of years he had been in showbiz. Which is why, aside from his children, Alyanna, Alfonso at Alissa, naroroon ang entire staff, artista, including the business unit head of ABS-CBN Raymund Dizon, in charge of Albert’s current top-rating series Nasaan Ka Elisa? to help him entertain his guests.

Na ’di lang pawang mga taga-showbiz, kung hindi mga kaibigan din niya at ng kanyang pamilya. Some of whom from the business sector.

Earlier, a presscon was held for him in the same venue. Itinanong sa kanya kung wala siyang balak lumipat sa TV5, considering nga naman that among all stars ng ABS-CBN ay siya ang naunang gumawa ng project sa nabanggit na network, ’di nga lang tv show  kung hindi sa pelikula.

Remember that Rosario, which was a Metro Manila FIlmfest entry last year at nag-garnered din ng ilang awards was a TV5 project? Well, no need to remind you that it was Albert who both directed and produced Rosario.

Ang sagot ni Albert: “Paano naman akong aalis sa ABS-CBN, eh, sa tuwing may matatapos akong project, isinasalang kaagad nila ako sa isang bagong show.

“Tulad ngayon, ’di pa man natatapos ang Nasaan Ka Elisa, heto at may inihanda na raw silang bagong series for me. And always, ’di lang magaganda kung hindi challenging palagi ang role na ibinibigay nila sa akin,” dugtong pa ni Albert.

Right now, busy rin si Albert shooting for the movie, You Light Up My Light, first movie ng Star Power winner na si Angeline Quinto with Coco Martin playing her leading man.

Ayaw banggitin ni Albert kung ano ang role niya sa pelikula.

* * *

Albert credits his healthy style of living as one of his secrets for staying young. Not to say that he is a favorite endorser of the beauty clinic, the Belo Medical Clinic. Hence, by the way, Dr. Vicky Belo’s daughter’s Cristal, presence at his party.

“Nineteen pa lamang ako, I was conscious of my diet na. and, of course, my body. Nagba-body building ako noon pa man. I stopped doing this when I turned 40.

“Ngayon, at 50, I’m conscious of my cardiovascular exercises,” kuwento pa ng aktor.

Between him and his younger brother, William (Martinez), naunang puma-sok sa showbiz si William. For a time, he served William’s driver.

Albert’s loyalty to a company he works for was proven when he was offered a significant role in the now still considered most significant movie, directed by Peque Gallaga, Oro, Plata, Mata.

Still a struggling Regal Baby at that time, Albert was offered a role of a bida, which he had to turn down dahil, ayon sa kanya, Mother Lily, Regal matriarch, advised him  not to do it.

His loss turned out to be Joel Torre’s gain, who was assigned to replace him. Joel was still a film student at the De la Salle College in Bacolod and would have worked for the movie bilang member of the staff.

Do you know that Albert was also the original choice para maging leading man ni Sharon Cuneta in her first movie Dear Heart? Since again, ’di pumayag si Mother for him to do the project, ni-replace siya ni Gabby Concepcion.

The rest, wika nga, is history.

But Albert is one to admit that his loyalty to Mother Lily and her film firm paid off, as he was assigned roles one after the other. Mostly teeny bopper roles.

It was after his return to the country, after he had Liezl (Martinez) migrated to the U.S. that Albert started doing films, which were critically acclaimed and won him awards as an actor. Like Rizal sa Dapitan and Magnifico.

Albert’s dream is to portray the late President Manuel Quezon in a movie. For him, Quezon is the most interesting President the country ever had.