Nobody wants to be lonely

For the man of the street, menudo could really mean a mixed dish with potatoes, meat and some veggies. Menudo isn’t exactly one of my favorite dishes, unless it was the last ulam I could buy at the “jolly jeep” across the street. But I do remember that I used to listen to a Latin American boy band called Menudo. Yup, that band that visited Manila during the 80s. And I remember, Ricky Martin eliciting shrieks and shouts from fan around Manila.

Born December 24, 1971, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, his parents divorced when he was two but he grew up in a Catholic home and even became altar boy until he joined Menudo.

Today, those fans will probably accept the fact that Ricky Martin has finally come “out of the closet.” In an announcement posted at his website last 29 March 2010, he said, “I Am a Fortunate Homosexual Man.” His statement also read. “These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed."

Martin also says, “The word "happiness" takes on a new meaning for me as of today. It has been a very intense process. Every word that I write in this letter is born out of love, acceptance, detachment and real contentment. Writing this is a solid step towards my inner peace and vital part of my evolution." Martin has twin sons who probably inspired these words and the source of his happiness. The babies were delivered via gestational surrogacy.

It may have come as a surprise to some fans who danced and sung to the tune of “La Vida Loca.” Others simply shrugged off that “news” as they had long suspected that Martin was gay. Me? His sexual orientation didn’t really matter. What mattered most were his songs and his moves.

His "Livin' la Vida Loca" (composed by Desmond Child and Draco Rosa) which means “Living the Crazy Life” reached number one spot in 60 countries. It continues to be a popular request in karaoke bars around the country. The song also became the battle-cry of1998 FIFA World Cup. Martin performed it at the 1999 Grammy Awards show.

And we all smiled when Antonio Banderas and Eddie Murphy sung it in “Shrek 2.”

The song is generally seen as the song that sparked the Latin pop frenzy of 1999 with artists like Latin artists Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, and Enrique Iglesias penetrating the Western pop music market.

But more than being a popular song, "Livin' la Vida Loca" is also a tech breakthrough. It was the first No. 1 song to be recorded, edited, and mixed totally on a DAW (digital audio workstation). Audio-production enthusiasts see it as the song that “marked the shift from analog recording to digital recording.”

Martin also did a duet with Christina Aguilera called "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely". And with Martin finally coming out of the closet, he just reiterates the fact that nobody wants to be lonely.