MARTIN Nievera is turning half a century on February 3. “Yes, I’m 50,” he says. What’s his wish? “I just wish to age gracefully.”

We tell him he need not worry as he looks younger than his age. Has he resorted to Botox to keep his face creaseless? “You know, before, I’d say I’ll never do that. But now, it’s never say never to Botox. I don’t have reason yet to see my friend Dr. Vicki Belo, but I’m no longer averse to the idea of perhaps seeing her one day. At 50, I want to do more shows, more projects with other artists, like my Valentine concert with Sharon Cuneta, ‘Once in a Lifetime’, at the Araneta Coliseum on February 11. Since I already have a great family in each and every country, I also wish peace of mind, have a good night sleep every night. See, my needs are getting simpler.”

Sharon is celebrating her 46th birthday on the day we interviewed him? What’s his wish for her? “Just a simple happy birthday. She deserves all the blessings she’s getting.”

She has left ABS-CBN for TV5. What about him? “I have nothing against TV5 but I’ve decided to stay with ABS. My first show with them in my new contract is being one of the judges in ‘X Factor’ which will be hosted by KC Concepcion, so I’d be working with both the mom and the daughter. After that, they promised to give me a talk show.”

What can people expect from his ‘Once in a Lifetime’ concert with Sharon? “Sharing the same stage with someone I admire as much as I admire Sharon will really be a ‘Once in a Lifetime’ thrill, unforgettable, not only for me but also to all those who’d watch our show. We’ll be doing a lot of duets. But I guess I’ll go solo whenever Sharon  changes her costume. That’s my duty when I do concerts with top female singers. Ako nakasalang sa stage while they change their outfits. I’m proud to be a friend of Sharon through the years and I’m glad that we’ll do a duet of a song that Vehnee Saturno and I composed to be the title song of this concert, ‘Once in a Lifetime’. One night lang ito, so people shouldn’t miss it, directed by Rowell Santiago and with Louie Ocampo as musical director.”

Tickets are priced from P800 to P5,000, available at all Ticketnet outlets at 911-5555, at the Araneta ticket booth, or Viva Concerts at 687-7236. We heard Viva is trying its best to invite the exes of Sharon and Martin to be special guests in their concert. We just don’t know if Gabby Concepcion and Pops Fernandez would be amenable to the idea.

DANICA, OYO AGAINST PAULEEN FOR VIC?

VIC Sotto's kids, Danica and Oyo, have always been supportive of their dad’s past affairs with various women after his separation from their mom, Dina Bonnevie. We never heard them complaining when he was linked to Coney Reyes (with whom he has a son, Vico, now a freshman at the UP College of Law), Chiqui Hollman, Christine Jacob, Kristine Florendo, Pia Cabreira and Pia Guanio (who’s now officially on the second month of her pregnancy after her marriage to Steve Mago). But now, we’re told they don’t approve of Pauleen Luna and, Oyo in particular, is vocal about this in some social networking sites although he won’t mention her name directly.

Pauleen’s family is said to be hurting because the insinuation is that she’s only after Vic’s riches. “Ang daming mayayamang nanliligaw kay Pauleen, kung kayamanan lang ang gusto niya,” they say. “Also, maraming investments na properties si Pauleen, mga townhouses na pinagagawa niya’t binebenta niya.”

They add that the two are not yet officially on. Vic is still courting Pauleen. He’s been visiting her at her parent’s home for several months now. They’ve not been remiss in warning Pauleen about the possible consequences if she’d agree to be Vic’s girl, considering their age gap.

Someone said Oyo might not like the fact that Pauleen is even younger than him and Danica. Also, Pauleen had a feud before with his wife, Kristine Hermosa, when she was still a teen at ABS-CBN. Remember? Kristine was alleged to have gotten so jealous when her BF then, Diether Ocampo, was reported to be also wooing Pauleen. Obviously, if and when Vic ever offers to marry Pauleen (which is unlikely as, basing on his track record, we don’t think he’s still the marrying type at this point), Kristine and Oyo are not exactly jubilant to have her as their stepmother.

CHRIS NOT TRANSFERRING

ASIDE from the seven dramas that GMA7 officially presented to the press by Atty. Felipe Gozon for their first quarter programming, they also have other shows in store for their loyal viewers. First is a new info-tainment show, “I Bilib,” to be hosted by Chris Tiu (which disproves rumors he’s transferring to another channel) and Isabelle Daza.

Then they have a special Valentine offering for “Spooky Nights Presents” plus a Valentine special, “Hearts,” recorded for them by Charice last month yet, to be shown on February 12, with Mark Bautista and Jay-R as her guests.

JOHN WANTS KC TO WIN SURVIVOR PHILIPPINES

JOHN Odulio admits people don’t recognize him before he joined “Survivor Philippines Celebrity Doubles”. “Now, everywhere I go, may nakakakilala sa ’kin and it’s creepy as I’m not used to it,” he says. “Recently, in a mall, a father approached me with his two kids. He’s got a pentel pen and asked me to sign my autograph on the back of the children. Nakakatuwa.”

John is a member of the Philippine Volcanoes rugby team. How did he join “Survivor”? “Arnold Aninion and I were invited by GMA after we appeared on the Bench billboards. I’m basically competitive so I said, why not?”

Born on Sept. 22, 1987 and the only boy in 3 kids, John finished nursing at Perpetual College and is now taking up his masters in hospital administration at St. Jude College. His family owns the South East Asian Medical Hospital in Molino, Cavite. How did he get into rugby? “I’ve always been into sports then a friend introduced me to it after I graduated from college. I started playing rugby for Alabang Eagles. We were playing in Subic when the coach of the Philippine national team offered me to join them. I did and I played with them in Malaysia, Australia, India and China. This January, we’re going to Bahrain and in April, in Australia for the Asian Nations Rugby Event. In May naman, we’re going to Sri Lanka and Malaysia.”

Standing 6’2” and weighing 128  lbs., is he willing to try showbiz? “Why not? I’m already under contract with GMA as of now.” Who does he think would win in “Survivor”? “Everyone deserves to win, but KC Montero, I admire the way he plays the game. He’s very cool about it.”

LANI APPROVES OF KRIS FOR JOLO

LANI Mercado originally thought she’s just playing a special role as Dal’Lang, the mother of Marian Rivera in “Amaya”. “Eh, humaba nang humaba ang role ko,” she says. “I’m there pala from start to end.”

The show is ending this coming Friday and she got an offer to do another soap but she begged off. “I chose to accompany my son Jolo to Stanford in California for his checkup kung bakit recurrent ang migraine niya. His dad (Sen. Bong Revilla) is supposed to be with us kasi may migraine din siya, but he already left ahead of us. Kasi ako, tinatapos ko pa ang taping ng ‘Amaya’ and Jolo, taping ‘Binondo Girl’ naman. So ako na lang ang sasama sa kanya. We’ll be gone for two weeks. Bong wasn’t able to wait for us kasi he has to be back here next week for the Corona impeachment hearings sa Senate.”

What’s the new show offered to her? “’Hiram na Puso’ as the mom of Kris Bernal.”

Oh, and how does she feel that Kris and Jolo are now rumored to be an item? “I have no objections. Mabait naman si Kris. Naisama na siya sa amin ni Jolo noong New Year’s Eve. He told me, Mama, may bisita ako, and at past 12 midnight nga, dumating na si Kris.  I got to work with her na before in ‘All My Life’ and she’s okay.”