Christian, special guest sa Pattaya Festival!

GINAGAWA na lang Cubao ni Christian Bautista ang pagpunta sa iba’t ibang panig ng Asya. Heto nga at pupunta na naman siya sa Thailand sa March 18 para i-represent ang Pi­lipinas sa Pattaya Festival.


Ang Pattaya Festival ang pinakama­laking summer event ng Bangkok. Isang linggong festival ng music, dance, beauty contests, parades, sandcastle contests at party ito, na sasamahan pa ng sound and light shows at fireworks displays sa beach para ma-promote ang Pattaya bilang premier tourist destination. Makakasama ni Christian sa Thailand sina Universal Records’ Executive Vice President Ramon Chua­ying at ang kanyang Business Manager na si Carlo Orosa.Dahil siya ang tinaguriang Asia’s Pop Idol at Romantic Balladeer, pinili si Christian ng Grammy, ang pinakamalaking independent record label at media conglomerate entertainment company sa Thailand para mag-perform sa main event ng Pattaya Festival sa March 20.


Dinadaluhan ito ng mahigit 30,000 na tao. At habang nasa Thailand, magiging busy si Christian sa TV guesting at presscons doon.


Malaking opportunity ito para kay Christian at hindi ito mangyayari kung hindi dahil sa kanyang record label, ang Universal Records. Ang ABS CBN, na home studio ni Christian ay magpapadala rin ng mga TV crew para i-cover ang Thailand trip para makita ng mga Pinoy ang achievement na ito ni Christian.


Anyway, matapos ng success sa Indonesia ng kanyang latest single na Anagurah Cinta kasama ni Noryn Aziz at ni-launch na rin sa Malaysia, ang kasunod na Bahasa single ay inihahanda na para mapabilang sa release ng kanyang album ngayong Abril na idi-distribute rin ng Universal Music Malaysia.


Magandang balita ito, ayon sa Universal Records General Manager na si Kathleen Dy Go, kaya handa silang itodo ang marketing kay Christian sa Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea at iba pang parte ng Asia.


Pangako ni Christian, patuloy niyang itataas ang bandera ng ating bansa at iba­bahagi ang “colors of romance” hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong Asia.


Siyanga pala, magkakaroon si Christian, na isa ring Swatch endorser, na 2-nights concert sa Music Museum, ang Romance Revisited sa March 12 at 13 at special guests niya sina Karylle at ang A-POP.


Si Christian at Swatch ay limang taon na ring nagsasama sa tagumpay
at ligaya.

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Christian Bautista topbills Lyceum concert

Asia’s Romantic Balladeer, Christian Bautista, is slated to perform at the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Cavite Campus (General Trias) on Feb. 20. Entitled “Sunset Romance,” the musical event also features the Manila Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Professor Arturo Molina, Soprano Jennifer Uy, and rising actress-singer Denise Laurel.

This event is the second in the series of yearly concerts held at the sprawling and ultra-modern LPU Cavite Campus since it opened in June 2008. Last year’s extravaganza featured acclaimed alto Isay Alvarez and the young tenors, Angelos, together with the Metro Manila Community Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Chino Toledo.

Event proceeds are for LPU’s outreach community in Manggahan, General Trias, Cavite.

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Christian Bautista gets offer to topbill soap opera in Indonesia

Tuloy-tuloy ang magagandang nangyayari sa career ni Christian Bautista. Simula nang lumipat siya ng recording company at ni-release ang kanyang Romance Revisited: The Love Songs of Jose Mari Chan last November, halos pulos tagumpay na ang natatamasa niya.



Wala pang three months nang pag-release ay nag-double platinum ang Romance Revisited.



Kasabay nito ang pagpasok ng iba't ibang endorsements, the latest being ang Ink All-You Can. "Dream come true," ang turing ng mga may-ari ng ink refilling franchise sa kanilang first celebrity endorser.



Para kay Christian, isang paraan daw ito ng pagtulong niya sa kapwa Pilipino niya.



"Ako kasi, I'm using the product. It saves me and my family as well dahil mas cheaper, unlimited pa. So sabi ko, in whatever I do, I want to be of help sa mga Filipino. Sa panahon ngayon na ang hirap na ng buhay. So, kung makakatulong ako as endorser, sabi ko, tamang-tama because this is one product I can endorse to help them."



MAKING IT IN ASIA. Isa pang goal niya sa taong ito ay ang magtagumpay sa Asian scene, na mukhang nakakasatuparan na.



Masasabing isang household name na siya sa Indonesia. Sa katunayan ay inalok na siya ng isang TV outfit na maging lead sa isang teleserye doon.



"Hindi pa naman sure na sure yung soap na yun. Pero, nag-meet kami ng isang company. Yung company is Cinemark, yun ang pangalan nila. Cinemark has done 5,000 teleserye, 20 movies, so, talagang one of the leading production outfit sila.



"I'm excited kasi noong nag-promote ako sa maraming TV shows dun, parang they offered me, they wanted to meet with me. Pero yun nga, ang kondisyon, dapat marunong muna akong mag-Bahasa [ang lengguwahe sa Indonesia]...



"Ayoko rin naman na mag-teleserye ako run, tapos, buckle ako nang buckle, hindi ako sigurado. So, it's up to me kung gaano ako kabilis matuto."



Nagsisimula na raw siyang mag-aral ng Bahasa.



"Noong nandun ako, tanong na ko nang tanong. Unti-unti, minsan nagpo-form na ako ng words."



May idea na ba siya kung anong klaseng teleserye ito?



"Ang palaging gusto naman nila romantic teleserye. At gusto nila, dapat singer rin ako. Para hindi mawala yung identity ko as a singer. Kasi, dun naman talaga, kilala na ako as a singer. Kilala yung name ko, my songs... not so much face kasi hindi naman ako lumalabas sa TV run, more on my music talaga."



INTERNATIONAL ACTOR. Natawa si Christian nang sabihin namin na sa nangyayari, mukhang sa Indonesia pa yata matutupad ang pangarap niyang maging actor.



"Why not? It's a better offer. They pay well. And I'm an international artist there. Just the same kung sila ang pupunta rito, siyempre, mas malaki ang bayad, di ba?"



Magandang umpisa na nga ang Indonesia sa balak niyang ma-conquer ang Asian market. At three hundred million, third or fourth daw ito sa mundo sa laki ng populasyon



Pero kung sakaling meron ding mga opportunities sa kanya dito sa bansa, tatanggapin pa niya ang chance sa Indonesia ?



"Well, in business, who gave the first opportunity... get it if it's good. So, since wala pa namang offer, and someone's offering, very good, you go for it."



Dahil sa past relationship niya with Rachelle Ann Go, hindi rin nakaiwas si Christian na tanungin siya tungkol sa isyung sina Rachelle at Kian Cipriano na raw ay nagde-date.

Sey na lang ni Christian, "I've been gone for two weeks. Tatanungin ko siguro siya pagdating ko sa ASAP."



SPREADING LOVE IN INDONESIA. Wala naman daw siyempreng problema kung totoong the two are an item na.



"We're friends naman and I support her naman kung anuman ang ginagawa niya."



Idinepensa din ni Christian si Rachelle sa intrigang siya ang dahilan kung bakit nakipag-break si Kian sa girlfriend nitong si Arci Muñoz.



Ayon kay Christian, "Hindi siya ganun. Hindi siya basta-basta makikipag-break sa isang lalaki for another guy. Hindi siya ganun. At yung nang-aagaw, hindi rin po totoo yun, hindi siya nang-aagaw."



Binabase ito ni Christian sa pagkakakilala niya kay Rachelle noong mag-on pa sila, pero "right now, we don't really talk about the private stuff masyado kasi, it's weird," natatawa niyang sabi.



Weird din na hanggang ngayon ay si Rachelle pa rin ang tinatanong sa kanya, even though two years na silang wala. Wala pa kasi siyang naging sumunod na relasyon after Rachelle.



"I'm not like any other guy na maghahanap na lang ng kapalit. So, kung maghahanap man ako ng kapalit, yung seryoso palagi. Pangkasalan na yun," nakangiti niyang sabi.



Itong darating na Valentine's Day ay magko-concert siya sa Indonesia kasama ang Indonesian singer na si Bunga Citra Lestari.



Given the chance daw, puwede rin siyang ma-in love sa isang Indonesian.

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Christian Bautista conquers Malaysia

Ikons Muzikon, one of the newest recording labels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is all out in getting foreign recording artists to collaborate with their local talents. This will greatly help in boosting the interest and business of music in the Asian region.

For its initial salvo, Ikons Muzikon handpicked Asia's romantic balladeer Christian Bautista to record the song "Anugerah Cinta," with Malaysian singer Noryn Azis. The song is the Malaysian version of "Ngiti," originally performed by "Pinoy Dream Academy" scholar Ronnie Liang, composed by Rod Katindoy and released under Universal Records Philippines.

"Christian has the advantage of being chosen for the recording project, given his profile and success in Asia," says Richard Voon, managing director for Muzikon. "That is why why we selected him to record with Noryn, who is also a very established recording artist in Malaysia."

Voon added that because of the problems of piracy, they are pushed to be creative and innovative in their approach to selling music. "We hope that with this exchange, we can
easily introduce Noryn and other Malaysian talents to the Philippine market."

In recent years, the decline of CD sales in the region has pushed many record labels to new forms of marketing music, like digital downloading. In Indonesia and Malaysia, mobile ring back tone downloads have greatly replaced the business of the actual purchasing of CDs. It was reported that Christian's first hit single, "The Way You Look at Me," is one of the biggest ring back downloads of the decade in Malaysia and Indonesia.

"Promotion is key to making this a success, that's why we laid out an extensive trimedia campagin for Christian," said Voon.

From Jan. 17 to 21, Christian and Noryn did the rounds of TV guestings in Media Prima (the largest TV conglomerate in Malaysia), radio interviews and press conferences. The two artists also shot a music video to complete the promotional materials for their duet. Other creative collaborations will follow suit.

Christian also recorded the song "Perpisahan Ini," with another Malaysian artist, Hannah Tan. Another Filipino artist, Kyla, did a duet of the song, "Tenman," with Noryn, while Regine Velasquez is set to record with Sheila Majid, according to Voon.

Meanwhile, Christian's "Romance Revisited: The Love Songs of Jose Mari Chan," will soon be released as a repackaged version with the two Bahasa duets.

The Christian-Noryn duet, "Anugerah Cinta," is now available for downloading in Malaysia at musicunlimited.com.my.

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Christian guests in 10 Indonesian TV shows

Christian Bautista recently returned to Indonesia to promote his latest single, “Tetaplah Dihatiku,” the Bahasa version of “Please Be Careful with My Heart,” from his “Romance Revisited: The Love Songs of Jose Mari Chan” album. Christian recorded the song with popular Indonesian singer-actress, Bunga Citra Lestari.

He tirelessly did a week-long guesting, starting in the TV game show, “Missing Lyrics,” on Trans TV. This was followed by his appearance in the famous morning show, “Dahsyat,” in RCTI TV and “Gebyar BCA” in Indosiar TV.

Christian was also seen in “Bri Dihati,” Online Trans TV, MNC Music Channel (also aired in Singapore and Malaysia), “Playlist” on SCTV, the showbiz-oriented show “Sinden Gossip,” “Bukan Empat Mata” on Trans TV-7 and “TV1 Auto Expert.” Other than the TV guestings, Christian’s schedule was filled with magazine, newspaper and radio interviews for his Indonesian visit.

* * *
Mike Defensor: QC is entertainment capital

Though he admits that he had no deep involvement in the local entertainment industry, particularly movie productions, former Secretary Mike Defensor said he supports all initiatives and efforts to promote and develop local showbiz.

“Quezon City can really be developed as the entertainment center of the Philippines by establishing entertainment theme parks, like an ala-Universal Studios of Los Angeles,” Mike said. “We have all the land resources in Quezon City. And the entertainment theme park must be a part of the development of a business district in the city.”

Mike added that in Quezon City, a museum for the stars can also be established, and this is an added attraction not only for QC residents but also for local and foreign tourists. It can also serve as a historical library for the local entertainment industry – and where students interested in all aspects of productions can go and enhance their knowledge about the industry.

“We also have 26 protected areas in Quezon City which can be developed further as areas of wholesome and environmentally friendly recreation spots,” Mike added.

“As a major incentive, the developers shall be given tax holidays during the initial operations of their establishments,” he also stressed.

Anyway, Mike Defensor, who has spent quite a number of years in public service either as an elected or appointed by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is running for the mayorship of Quezon City with Aiko Melendez as his vice mayor teammate.

Mike believes in the principle of continuity. “I will continue the growth of the city, provide political leadership.”

For a leader to be effective, he must already think in terms of legacy projects.

In showbiz, among his favorites celebrities are Ms. Susan Roces, Angel Locsin, Aiko Melendez and Ai Ai De Las Alas whom he said is the favorite of his children.

“Tanging Ina” is his favorite movie, and the most recent is “Panday.”

* * *
The best of Follies de Mwah

Club Mwah in Mandaluyong City continues to define the true meaning of class and elegance in its shows and to be known as an upscale, cutting-edge and world-class theater.

The only Broadway-themed entertainment venue in the country, it has presented a lot of shows that always leave the audience awed and impressed with its spectacular and fabulous costumes and dance-and-sing showcases. Right now, the club’s current presentation “The Best of Follies de Mwah” will run till February when it will be replaced by “Bedazzled 10.”

As the title connotes, “The Best of Follies de Mwah” is a compact show that is made up of excerpts from the most loved Broadway shows, as well as spoofs culled from a span of five years, shows that are strung together into seamless and technically polished one-hour-and-a-half show comparable to those shown in Las Vegas, Paris and New York.

Club Mwah’s success is brought about by the hard work of its executive producer and vice president, Pocholo Malillin, and his partner, Cris Nicolas, the choreographer, director, costume designer and set designer all rolled into one. Pocholo and Cris are real trailblazers in this of entertainment business.

For those who haven’t seen Club Mwah, it is designed like any world-class theater. You will be dazzled by its lighting and state-of-the-art interiors.

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Christian Bautista has four leading ladies in the music video of "Beautiful Girl"

Kung sa music video ng "Tell Me Your Name" ay si Paula Taylor ang nakapareha ni Christian Bautista, dapat sigurong mapanood ng fans ng popular balladeer ang bagong music video naman ng "Beautiful Girl." Mula pa rin sa bestselling album na Romance Revisited na nagtatampok sa mga awiting pinasikat ni Jose Mari Chan, sa bagong versions ni Christian, ang follow-up single na "Beautiful Girl" ay mas kaabang-abang.



Apat na naggagandahang dilag ang kasama ni Christian sa music video ng "Beautiful Girl." Very interesting nga ang istorya ng music video na makaka-date niya ang bawat isa kina Angel Locsin, Anne Curtis, Georgina Wilson, at Solenn Heusaff, pero sa bandang huli ay magsasama-sama sila to come up with a surprise.



Binisita ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ang shooting ng music video na ito ni Christian kahapon, January 6, sa atrium ng Eastwood Mall.



Sumasabay ang bagong music video ng "Beautiful Girl" sa lalo pang paglakas ng album ni Christian, which has already reached the platinum mark. Kasama ang iba pang changes, gaya sa partisipasyon niya sa ASAP, na talagang marami ring surprises sa regular viewers nito.



"Pag nasa country kami nina Mark Bautista, Jed Madela, at Erik Santos, tiyak na may special number kaming magkakasama sa show," sabi ni Christian. "Maganda ang segment na ito dahil bosesan talaga.



"Marami pang inaasahang changes and surprises, pero this year, nasabi ko na nga na gusto kong bumalik sa acting. Naghahanap ako ng roles ngayon. Kinakausap ko ang mga direktor kung ano ang puwedeng maibigay sa akin. Matagal-tagal na kasi yung nagawa kong movie, yung Mano Po 5 (2006).



"Gusto kong bumalik uli sa acting, and willing to do workshops. Kakayanin ko siguro, kasi gusto kong makaganap ng bigger roles. Parang kulang na ako sa experience. Ngayon, mas singer ako kesa aktor. Kailangan kong humabol sa acting. Huhusay ka lang naman sa isang craft kung lagi mong ginagawa. Nararamdaman ko na kailangang makabalik ako sa akting para pagtiwalaan ako ng bigger roles," saad ng singer.



Puwedeng small roles muna ang ipagkatiwala sa kanya, pero sa katagalan, masanay siya to get bigger roles. Magandang move na rin itong ginagawa ni Christian sa music videos para sa goal niyang ito.



"Because of West Side Story sa theater kaya nagkainteres ako nang husto sa akting," ani Christian. "Kaya ko naman pala sa teatro, so okey lang siguro kung sa TV o pelikula naman. Na-miss ko'yung acting sa TV. Nakalabas ako noon sa Kampanerang Kuba. This time, gusto ko, seryosohan na, mas magaling."



Among the girls in the "Beautiful Girl" video, si Anne Curtis daw ang pinakamaganda para kay Christian.



"Biased kasi ako d'yan, matagal ko na kasing kakilala si Anne," paliwanag ni Christian. "Lahat naman kasi sila, talagang magaganda. Iba't ibang klase ng beauty nila. Mas matagal ko lang kasing nakasama si Anne.



"Isa lang ako sa pumili sa kanilang apat para sa video. Kasama yung managers ko, at yung people from Universal Records. Maraming factors na kinonsider, kasi nariyan yung availability...



"For this video, upgraded and more modern version ito ng music video na ginawa ni Jose Mari Chan noon. Mas marami nga yung kay Jose Mari Chan. Nandun sina Sharon Cuneta, Sheryl Cruz, Vilma Santos.... matitindi! Sa akin, thankful na ako na nakasama ko sa video sina Angel, Anne, Solenn, and Georgina."



Balanse naman kasi ang choices dahil mas masa sina Anne at Angel. Si Angel nga ay nakasama rin ni Christian sa Mano Po 5 noon.



"And we have two top-of-the-line models, sina Solenn at Georgina. May representative lahat. Perfect!" sambit ni Christian.

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