LATIN ''crossover'' singing sensation Ricky Martin may be currently focused on making it big in Europe and the United States, but he has a specially soft spot for Asia. That's why, even as the Sony contract artist's star continues to rise in America, he spent five days in Singapore last week, performing for and meeting with Asian entertainment reporters from print, radio and TV. On hand from the Philippines were Regine Velasquez for "S.O.P," the Bulletin's Crispina Belen, the Star's Ricky Lo and this writer.

The media event started last Sunday, with Ricky performing in a mini-concert exclusively for the Asian media and Ricky Martin contest winners from different countries. Held at the posh Alkaff Mansion, the presentation was quite brief, with only five numbers from the hit ''Ricky Martin'' album, but Ricky was still able to whip the crowd of 300 into a musical frenzy.

That's one thing you can say about Ricky: he may be the most popular Latin singer in the world these days, but he still works hard for the glory. Having struggled for many years to become internationally famous, he doesn't take his success for granted. He keeps pushing himself so he can continue to please his fans and gain new adherents with every show he does.

So, there he was again on the concert stage, singing for all he was worth, shaking his bon-bon and connecting urgently and even passionately with his audience.

And he wasn't the only one onstage on a musical high: a gorgeous solo dancer who looked like a cross between Raquel Welch and Cyd Charisse (wow!) shook and shimmied for all she was worth, eliciting appreciative whoops from the guys in the audience.

After the show, some ''VIPs'' were invited to stay behind to witness a unique awards ceremony: Ricky receiving hit citations and other testimonials from Sony managers from many Asian countries. Ricky was thrilled to receive so many awards, some of them done up in the folk arts unique to the countries from which they came.

Last Monday, Ricky met at noon with the Asian media at the elegant Beaufort on Sentosa island. The press conference was preceded by a long video documentary cum MTV on Ricky and his music.

While the video production was being screened, we noted that its scenes were geared specifically to the Asian market and sensibility. Thus, the presentation stressed Ricky's spiritual affinity with this part of the world, his having gleaned substantial insights from visits to India and Nepal, his incorporating meditation into his daily activities, his refusal to think negative thoughts even in the face of scathing criticism, etc.

In the video presentation, some American media movers heaped praises on Ricky's head. They called him the ''muy caliente (very hot) Ricky Martin.'' An obviously bowled-over Rosie O'Donnell predicted that he would become ''the biggest superstar in the United States in the next five years'' (you can't get more effusive praise than that). ''America's in love with you, Ricky!'' she exclaimed, and it was all she could do to keep her hands off him.

The presentation also noted that Ricky's crossover bid actually began in Europe, then moved to Asia, before the singer and his managers trained their sights on the United States. With 11 million copies sold, his album in English, ''Ricky Martin'' has certainly done wonders for Ricky's international career.

As the docu ended on a high note, Ricky's arrival at the press conference was announced, and dozens of cameras flickered like fireflies on an electric high and blazed like strobe lights, providing the dim unknowns in the audience with a definitive visual correlative for superstardom.

As Ricky himself recalls, it has taken him 15 long years (since his Menudo days) to merit such lavish and unstinting media attention, and even adulation. The wonder is that, despite the huge success he's currently enjoying, his hat size hasn't increased, and his feet are still very firmly planted on terra firma.