Richard Merk, nagpakasal kay Nora Aunor: “I lost my ex-wife.”

NOEL FERRER

Richard Merk has revealed that he and National Artist Nora Aunor are 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

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

“Ang sagot lang ni Matet [de Leon] 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 ang fond memories nya ke and gaye?

“Oh, many, many, many.”

Beautiful music na collab nila.

“Hindi lang yun. Ahhh, we would talk at nights about movies, what to do. She would ask me to act,” napangiting pagbabalik-tanaw ni Richard.

“We were like crazy, you know. ‘ Umarte ka nga ng parang ano,’ ganyan-ganyan. So I would. Parang sira-ulo. I would. ‘Magaling ka, ah?!’ sabi niyang ganun.

“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 in the 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.

“Nagpapa-coach siya, e. ‘Coach me in some of my songs,’” kuwento ni Richard.

Naging musical arranger din siya ni Ate Guy, di ba?

“I rearranged ‘What Now, My Love,’ then I taught her how to, alam mo yung, ahhh, ganyan,’ pagmumuwestra niya sa istilo ng pagkanta na “may ipit.”

Dagdag ng jazz singer, “You know what, she learned fast. Ang galing niya.”

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 merong isa, e, na ang title, e, Todo Pong Chow and Paningit. May cast na ako. 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.

“Alam mo, she didn’t like doing it. Guess what, five years later, may lumabas na Joy Luck Club. Tungkol sa mahjong…

“So, I felt so bad. Sabi ko, ‘Sayang, e. If we did it, you know, nakauna ka sana.’”

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. Ano siya, e, very supportive sa akin as well. Kunyari may show sa Canada, Winnipeg. ‘Ikaw na ang magdirek. Alam mo ang gagawin.’

“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.”

Ano ang love language niya kay Ate Guy?

“There’s one word, sentence, that she told me, na napakasarap pakinggan.

“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, hindi pa. It took a while. Actually, pag-marry namin, ano, e… we watched Tom Jones,” paggunita ni Richard.

“And then nung matapos yung show ni Tom Jones, out of nowhere, sabi niya, ‘Tara, pakasal tayo!’ So I said, ‘Okay.’”

Nora was the one who asked them to marry.

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