Richard Merk, married to Nora Aunor: “I lost my ex-wife.”

“’Come on, let’s get married!’ So I said, ‘Okay.’”

Richard Merk (main) admitted that he and Nora Aunor got married in the US: “We lost a superstar. I lost my ex-wife. We were married, you know. In Vegas.”
PHOTO/S: Jerry Olea (main); File (inset)
Richard Merk revealed that he and National Artist Nora Aunor got married.

“We’ve been together for a long time. I felt really, really sad,” Richard replied when asked about how he felt when he heard the news of the Superstar’s passing.

PEP Troika exclusively interviewed Richard, also known as Richard Merck, on Good Friday, April 18, 2025, at The Heritage Park, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Richard Merk (2nd from right) with PEP Troika (L-R) Gorgy Rula, Noel Ferrer, and Jerry Olea

Richard continued: “Well, I was asking myself, ‘What happened?’

“Matet [de Leon]’s only answer is, Ahh, complication. So, I won’t ask anymore.

“So sayang nga, e. We lost a superstar. I lost my ex-wife. We were married, you know. In Vegas.

“So, we were not divorced. We never went to Vegas to divorce. So, malungkot.”

RICHARD MERK REMEMBERS NORA AUNOR

Anu-ano and fond memories of what did you do?

“Oh, many, many, many.”

Their collaboration is beautiful music.

“That’s not all. Ahhh, we would talk at nights about movies, what to do. She would ask me to act,” Richard smiled as he looked back.

“We were like crazy, you know. ‘You act like something,’ like that. So I would. Like crazy. I would. ‘You’re good, huh?!’ he said like that.

“So, we were a fun couple.”

Richard and Nora have been married for over 3 years. Richard couldn’t remember the date of their wedding.

However, according to an article that appeared here in PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in 2007, they were married on July 7, 1988.

This is based on records obtained from the Marriage Inquiry System of Clark County in Nevada, U.S.

According to Nevada Court Records, Nora Aunor got married twice. 
Photo/s: File

During their three years of marriage, Nora Aunor coached Richard Merk in singing.

“He was getting coaching, like, ‘Coach me in some of my songs,’” Richard said.

He was also Ate Guy’s musical arranger, right?

“I rearranged ‘What Now, My Love,’ then I taught her how to, you know, ahhh, like that,” he gesticulated to the “with a pinch” singing style.

The jazz singer added, “You know what, she learned fast. She’s great.”

Are they still friends even when they are separated?

“No, this is sad. The sad thing is, I had to leave. I was already looking for myself,” pagtatapat ni Richard.

“My career. Because everything, because I was writing scripts sa yellow pad for her.

“In fact there is one, eh, that’s titled, eh,  Todo Pong Chow and Paningit . I have the cast. Carmi Martin, Amy Austria, one more, and then Guy.  Todo Pong Chow and Paningit.

“I gave it to her. Sabi ko, ‘Produce it. It will be a hit.’ Even the shots, nakalagay dun. Top shot umpisa.

“You know, she didn’t like doing it. Guess what, five years later, Joy Luck Club came out  . About mahjong…

“So, I felt so bad. I said, ‘That’s too bad. If we did it, you know, you would have been first.’”

In 1993, the American film The Joy Luck Club was released about the relationship between four Chinese-American women and their Chinese immigrant mothers.

It is based on the 1989 novel of the same name by Amy Tan.

JERRY OLEA

RICHARD MERK’S FUN FACTS ABOUT NORA AUNOR

Richard has many fond memories of his more than three years of marriage to Nora Aunor, including the Superstar’s concert tours abroad.

There are the madness that they shared.

“Those were our trips to Hong Kong, to the States, to Canada, to Winnipeg,” Richard recounts.

“She would have me direct the show. What is she, she’s very supportive of me as well. Suppose there’s a show in Canada, Winnipeg. ‘You direct it. You know what to do.’

“Okay, so, I direct.

“Fun moments, you know what, Guy likes eating in the room. She never eats outside the room.”

What’s Your Sister’s Favorite Dish?

“Roasted Pig.”

What are your quirks as a couple? Gifts to each other?

“Hey, he’s a gift.”

What’s the most memorable gift from your friend?

“That I was stunned… You know my life, don’t you? “It’s an open book,” Richard smiled bitterly.

“I was a user of drugs. So, if there is, a bracelet, a bracelet that is large or a necklace that is large, which I can never redeem.

“But those were the days.”

What is her love language for Ate Guy?

“There’s one word, sentence, that she told me, that was so nice to hear.

“This happened when she was staying in Green Meadows,” pagsisiwalat ni Richard.

“We’ve met. He said, “You are the last man in my life!”

Did he believe it?

“Of course! I was surprised, Ed.”

They got married in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“No, not yet. It took a while. Actually, when we got married, what, we watched Tom Jones,” Richard recalled.

“And then when Tom Jones’ show was over, out of nowhere, he said, ‘Let’s get married!’ So I said, ‘Okay.’”

Nora was the one who asked them to marry.

“Yes. “I said okay,” the singer concluded.