Richard Merk apologizes to Nora Aunor’s lips

NOEL FERRER

Richard Merk and National Artist Nora Aunor have been in a relationship for more than three years.

On July 7, 1988, ata concert with Tom Jones in Las Vegas, Nevada, he suddenly invited Richard to marry him.

The jazz singer, better known to the public as Richard Merck, was “okay.”

HOW RICHARD MERK AND NORA AUNOR PARTED WAYS

How did their relationship change during their marriage? Have they become more secure with each other? Do you think their love will last forever? Do they want to grow up together?

“Well, yes,” Richard replied seriously. “Yes, we have a plan.”

Richard said this during an exclusive interview with PEP Troika on Good Friday, April 18, 2025, at Heritage Memorial Park, Taguig City.

“I’m the one who’s going to be, Ed. “I’m a mess,” he continued.

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“That’s why I stood up kanina pa in front of her. I apologized so much to her.

“Talagang, ‘Forgive me if I’ve hurt you in the past.’ Kasi, I left her without saying goodbye.

“And I moved out of the house. I stayed in the house of Butch Dans for two months.

“And then Butch told me, ‘I have a monsignor uncle in Fairview. Good Shepherd Church. Baka gusto mong tumira doon.’

“I said, ‘Yes.’ Two years ako doon. Two years ako doon sa church. That stopped everything.”

Butch is an OPM talent manager who helped raise the Apo Hiking Society.

GORGY RULA

Richard Merk apologized to Nora Aunor for her abrupt departure at the time. He couldn’t even remember what had happened.

“That’s the very thing, uh, I think I’ve done something wrong—that I left without saying goodbye,” Richard revealed.

The wake for Nora Aunor will be open to the public until April 20, 2025.
Photo/s: Jerry Olea

“And I’ve never been … I never met again.

“Never again. I’m the only one who can see it.”

Was he trying to meet her?

Umiling you Richard, “No.”

RICHARD MERK ON NORA AUNOR: NO CLOSURE

Didn’t he have any plans to negotiate to bring closure to their separation?

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Richard hesitated for a moment before answering, “Not anymore.”

They had a life of their own.

“Yes, and we have a different relationship with each other. From a young age, e.g. “I love him,” Richard confessed.

“Nung bata ako, e. I was 10, she was 12. Two years ang tanda niya sa akin. So she’s turning 72 sana this May 21. Ako, I’m turning 70 sa October.

“So I don’t want to bother him anymore.”

Is it possible that they could have been in their hearts? Did that cross his mind?

“No, because I got married.”

Roni Tapia became Richard’s wife. In 2019 he passed away.

JERRY OLEA

Are you planning to live together with Nora Aunor, abroad or here in the Philippines?

“Dito. Ako yung nasa likod lang. That’s why, time came when I was looking for myself, kasi lahat ng nasa isip ko, siya. Siya.”

Wasn’t it hard for Nora Aunor to have a relationship with her when she was famous? He is a superstar. Factors and Variables.

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“No. It’s okay. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to get away with it!” exclaimed Richard.

“If you remember, I’m a young man. I know that, Ed. This is my youth. We built a combo back in the day at Nichols…

“Pearl Adea was with us in the band. And the distance between us and the distance between us.

“I worked for him as a kid, a sweeper. At the NCV, in the Samanillo Building in Escolta, he gave me a job.”

That was the 1970s. If so, does Nora really love him?

Richard clarified: “No. I went to see him, Ed. I said I didn’t have a job.

“He said, ‘Okay, go to Samanillo, 5th floor, NCV Productions.’”

Do you have a monthly salary?

“Minimum wage. PHP220.”

What did Nora like about him? “Your talent?

“That’s a very good question. Even I am asking.”

Hindi sila tatagal ng more than three years kung one-sided love lang, di ba?

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“That’s a hard question to answer.”

What do you think of Nora?

“My talent. My talent, my love. I’m not a woman, e.g. “My thoughts are all for him,” Richard said.

“I have another movie, The Girl on the Beach. He didn’t want to either. It’s all written.

“Then I coach her. I would choose [the song]. Sasabihin niya, ‘What song do you think ang bagay sa akin that you can coach me with?’

“So I said, ‘Why don’t you sing ‘What Now, My Love?’ Kasi maganda. So ni-rearrange ko. Very haunting yung kanta, e…”

Knowing Aunt Guy, even though Richard left her without saying goodbye, it didn’t seem to have any resentment in her.

“Hindi. Hindi naman siya nagtatanim talaga. Guy has a very good heart, not only for me, but for everyone,” saad ni Richard.

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