Christian wants to re-establish himself in local showbiz
Despite his international success as a singer-actor, Christian Bautista wants greater visibility and “establish a foothold again” in local showbiz.
Christian was absent from the local scene for most of 2011 because he was taping the international TV series “The Kitchen Musical” in Singapore. He also made several appearances in Indonesia, where he is a certified pop star.
“I feel na kailangan kong magbigay muna ng something interesting sa mga tao para panoorin ako. Ngayon, ang goal ko, ipakilala ang sarili ko ulit na ‘hey, I can also do other things,’” he said during the press conference on Wednesday, June 27, to announce his ABS-CBN TV special “The Way You Look at Me: The Christian Bautista 10th Anniversary Special.” The program airs July 8, Sunday, in ABS-CBN’s “Sunday’s Best.”
Aside from his regular stint in “ASAP Rocks,” Christian is part of the cast of the TV series, “Princess and I,” where he plays opposite Gretchen Barretto.
K-pop is a challenge
Christian is aware that the prevalence of K-pop and younger singers poses a new challenge.
“Kapag makikita mo ang mga Top 10 sa Astrovision, makikita mo ang trends eh. The trends are sila Daniel Padilla, Angeline Quinto or the K-pop. So, kami-kami nila Erik Santos, mag-uusap kami on what’s something new we can offer,” he revealed.
And with the rise of a new breed of singers, Christian said that he and his contemporaries must step up and offer something new to the audience.
‘I can’t be Piolo’
“Ayaw ko naman sabihin na old guards kami, pero beterano na kami, kami nila Erik, Sarah (Geronimo). Ngayon, ang kailangan na lang namin gawin ay ipakilala muli ang aming mga sarili. Sarah is doing a wonderful job, sold-out concerts in Araneta,” he said.
Christian also refuses to compare himself with other artists, saying that all have their own niche.
“I’m not comparing myself because I’m built for something else. I’m built for Southeast Asia. I’m built for ballads, so that’s where I focus. Hindi ko na inaasahan na gusto kong maging Piolo kasi dito ako, eh. Ito ang lugar ko,” he said.
His willingness to fight
Christian also answered network transfer issues, saying that he is happy and feels the love from his home network ABS-CBN.
“I’m really, really happy where I am now. As for the future, hindi ko na lang iniisip, I take it one day at a time. Whatever happens, I will cherish whatever is given to me,” he said.
In his 10 years in showbiz, the award-winning singer said that he learned “How to fight for relevance, how to fight for position, how to fight to stay there.” From being a product of a talent search, Christian worked his way to where he is now.
His failures and his future
“Always show a different side, something that will excite new and old audiences. Pero, huwag rin masyadong lumayo sa core mo. Yung willingness mo to fight should always be there,” Christian said about what he learned in the course of carving a career.
His TV special “The Way You Look at Me” shows “my beginnings, my failures, my drama, my future,” he said. “Sana kapag nakita nga mga tao masabi na ito pala mga dinaanan ni Christian,” he said.
The special also guests Iza Calzado, Carmina Villarroel, Sam Milby, Angeline Quinto, Rachelle Ann Go, Marcelito Pomoy and Khalil Ramos among others. It airs July 8, Sunday, in ABS-CBN’s “Sunday’s Best.”
