Albert Martinez Happy To Be An Official Grandpa And Excited To Soon Visit His First Grandchild With Daughter Alyanna Who Lives In California

ALBERT MARTINEZ is turning 57 on Apil 19 but he looks younger than his age. He’s the busiest Kapamilya actor these days and has appeared in all of its primetime shows lately, playing villain Tomas Tuazon in “Ang Probinsyano”, the scientist Prof. T in “La Luna Sangre”, the ill fated poisoned father Victor Buenavidez in “The Good Son” and now the role of Agos in “Bagani”. He also played the lead role of Manuel in the afternoon soap “All of Me”.

He is now officially a grandpa. His eldest daughter, Alyanna, who’s married to Rey Macam, has given birth to his first apo last January, a baby girl named Adalynn Riley Macam. “I’ve seen her only in pictures as they are based in California, but I will visit them next month, with my son Alfonso and our youngest, Alyssa,” he says. “Doon na ako aabutin ng birthday ko and I will stay there for one and a half months. I’m doing some advanced taping for ‘The Good Son’ and ‘Bagani’. My characters in both shows are both dead na. Sa ‘Good Son’, I appear sa flashback scenes at sa ‘Bagani’, I appear as a spirit whenever Enrique Gil needs my advice.”

with Eula Valdez, Jerome Ponce &Nash Aguas of The Good Son

He says his son Alfonso intends to tie the knot soon with his girflriend of 8 years, designer Mikki Hahn. His youngest, Alyssa, also has a BF for three years now and he won’t be surprised if they also get married in the near future. So he will be having an empty nest? “Hindi naman maiiwasan yun and I’ve prepared myself for that. And up to now, I’m still the grieving over the loss of my wife Liezl. Hindi na siguro mawawala yun.”

How is his mother in law Amalia Fuentes? “She’s stable naman. She spent last Christmas with our family. She loves watching teleseryes at favorite niya ang ‘Luna Sangre’. Kung tawagin niya ako, Prof. T, my name in that show.”

Did they inform her about the death of her ex-husband, Romeo Vasquez? “We decided not to tell her anymore. Kasi baka ma-stress lang siya. That was so sudden. He was diagnosed to have pancreatic cancer after he collapsed while in New York. He had a scan then he went back to California where he stays. When he got the confirmation that may cancer siya, na-stroke siya and was rushed to the hospital. He never regained consciousness and passed after one week.”

with manager Shiley Kuan and writers

Albert joined showbiz in 1980 as a bit player in “Totoo Ba ang Tsismis” then was officially introduced in “Blue Jeans” in the same year. He admits he was then going steady with Sharon Cuneta, who he met in “GMA Supershow”. He’s supposed to be Sharon’s first leading man in her launching movie. “Pero hindi ako pinayagan ni Mother Lily as I was paired with Snooky Serna in ‘Bata Pa si Sabel’, kaya napunta kay Gabby yung ‘Dear Heart’. We shot ‘Sabel’ in Vigan at pagbalik ko rito, Sharon accused me of being a two-timer, which is not true. Naging kami lang ni Snooky nung tapos na yung movie namin.”

In 1984, he fell in love with Liezl and they eloped to America, where Alyanna and Alfonso were born. They returned home in 1991 and it was like Albert was starting all over again. “I was paired with Snooky in ‘Yakapin Mo AKong Muli’ but it didn’t click and for a while, walang kumukuha sa’kin. Tumatanggap ako ng assignments on a per day basis.”

Until the Manila Filmfest scam happened in 1994. Gabby Concepcion is supposed to start “Pangako ng Kahapon” for Viva, but after the scam, his career took a nosedive so he was replaced by Albert. It was a turning point for Albert who was then already managed by Shirley Kwan, who advised him to focus on character roles.

In 1995, he did two films that gave him acting awards, “Muling Umawit ang Puso” with Nora Aunor and “Segurista” with beauty queen Michelle Aldana, and his career took off once more, this time no longer as a matinee idol but as one of our most capable actors. He went on to win more acting awards for “Rizal sa Dapitan” and did more acclaimed films like “Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa” with Vilma Santos, “Pusong Mamon” with Lorna Tolentino, “Nang Iniwan Mo Ako” with Sharon Cuneta.

He also did sexy films like “Sidhi”, “Scorpio Nights 2”, “Laman” and “Ekis”. He even got into directing, “Rosario” starring Jennylyn Mercado. “Looking back, I really can’t complain,” he says. “Pati sa TV, tuloy-tuloy ang trabaho ko. Never akong nababakante. God has really been so good to me.”