Christian Bautista

Christian Joseph Morata Bautista (born October 19, 1981), more popularly known by his screen name Christian Bautista, is a Filipino singer, actor and model. He was a finalist of Star In A Million, a Philippine reality show aired on ABS-CBN channel, winning the 4th place in the competition in 2003. After the contest, he signed a recording contract with Warner Music PhilippinesChristian Bautista - Wow! Celebrities and released his self-titled debut album, Christian Bautista. The multi-platinum album established his name as an OPM artist with songs such as "The Way You Look At Me", "Invincible" and "Hands To Heaven" topping the charts. The singer gained popularity not only in the Philippines but in other countries in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

The singer also collaborated with fellow Filipino singers Nina, Sitti, Rachelle Ann Go, Sarah Geronimo, Sheryn Regis, Erik Santos and Mark Bautista. He regularly appears in ABS-CBN's variety show ASAP 09.

Life and music career

Childhood and youth

Bautista was born in Manila, Philippines on October 19, 1981title=Christian Bautista Biography on IMDB. He is the eldest of three siblings of Jo and Ebert Bautista. He was a choir member in their church since he was seven years old.

Bautista studied grade school and high school at the International Christian Academy, which also hailed other Filipino actors such as Ryan Eigenmann, Geoffrey Eigenmann, Rico Yan and Billy Joe Crawford

. He then took up Landscape Architecture at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree.He was a table tennis varsity player during college before focusing on singing and entering showbiz.title=Christian Bautista's interview for the UP Fighting Maroons Web Portal He joined ABS-CBN's reality talent show Star In A Million in 2003.

2003-2004: Star In A Million and Christian Bautista album

First thrust in the spotlight as ABS-CBN’s Star In A Million’s most popular non-winner, his future was sealed soon after with a recording contract with hit-making label Warner Music Philippinestitle=Christian Bautista's Star Risestitle=Christian Bautista Profiletitle=Christian Bautista Discography. The partnership produced the phenomenal hit “The Way You Look At Me,” and life was never the same again for the 25-year old Landscape Architecture graduate from the University of the Philippines. Christian’s self-titled albumtitle= Christian Bautista launches album in A.S.A.P. today, which carried his first hit song reached Multi-Platinum status in the Philippines, and Indonesiatitle=Christian Bautista Takes On Asia.

Christian’s international success began with “The Way You Look at Me,” getting frequent airplay in Indonesian radio stations. The song became an instant hit among the country’s young music lovers, even if they had yet to see the artist behind the ballad.

The song, penned by American composers Andrew Fromm and Keith Follese, became so popular that record label Warner Indonesia decided to bring Christian there to the great delight of the fans whose support for the Filipino singer has been steadily growing and even spreading to neighboring countries.

2005: Completely

"Completely", Christian Bautista’s much awaited second album, received a Platinum Record Award on its first week of release in the Philippines. The album spawned hit songs "Everything You Do", "Invincible", and "She Could Be", a song which was later revived by teen idol Corbin Bleu, who is most known for his role in High School Musical. Completely has also reached platinum status in Indonesia.

In the Philippines, "Completely" was released in a different packaging. The first release of the album was on a DigiPack then on a standard version later on.

A special edition of the album "Completely", which combines Christian’s English songs from his debut and second albums, was recently launched in Singapore. His signature monster-hit single "The Way You Look Me" also hit the no. 1 spot in popular radio stations in the Lion CityCitation needed
In the first quarter of 2006, Indonesia’s largest TV station, RCTI, aired "Completely: Christian Bautista", the young balladeer’s first-ever Indonesian TV special. Christian performed with the biggest names in the Indonesian music scene—the famous 40-piece Magenta Orchestra, the young musical genius Andi Rianto, and the country’s two female divas, Krisdayanti and Titi DJ.

On June 2006, Bautista was cast in Kampanerang Kuba, a fantasy soap opera television series broadcast by ABS-CBN in the Philippines, and played one of the lead roles.

Banking on his massive following among young fans in Indonesia, Bautista has been tapped by San Miguel Corporation to endorse its new line of soft beverage products in the Asian region, starting with Indonesia. Christian also endorses a new mobile content provider based in Jakarta called Star SMS, and soon for Oishi food products in the Philippines, and Indonesia.

Locally, he has been the face for Bench clothing and body spray, St. Augustine School of Nursing, Smart telecommunications, Trumpets Musicademy, Bed Head products, Skechers, and Swatch watches.the end

2006-2007: Just A Love Song...Live! and Inspired Tour

Bautista released his third major album, Just A Love Song...Live! in 2006 also under the Warner Music Philippinestitle= Christian Bautista woos CD buyers back with ‘Love Song’title=Just a Love Song... Christian Bautista, Live! . The album, the first live album by the singer, is mainly composed of covers of different old-time hit love songs and was recorded live in a Teatrino Bar in Greenhills with a small number of audience, which are mostly specially invited fans of the singer. Follow up to the success of the live album was the release of his very first live DVD under the same title in early 2007.

Bautista debuts as an actor on the big screen in Regal Entertainment’s 2006 Metro Manila Film Festival entry Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di. In this film directed by Joel Lamangan and written by Abi Lam-Parayno, Dode Cruz and Andrew Paredes, Christian plays Timothy a.k.a. Felix Yan, an Asian pop star, providing support to the bankable love team of Angel Locsin and Richard Gutierrez. The single "My Heart Has A Mind of Its Own" from "Completely" is used as one of the film’s soundtrack.

He launched a 4-city tour in Indonesia on January 26 to February 2, 2007. The tour included visits in Jakarta, Makassar, Surabaya, and Bandung.

In October 2007, he embarked a concert tour named "Inspired", a one-night show in the Cuneta Astrodome with guest appearances by Gary Valenciano, Tricia Amper Jimenez, Joni Villanueva and Sam Milby.

He collaborated with Rachelle Ann Go in the song "Pag-ibig Na Kaya?", Filipino version of "Perhaps Love" (originally sung by Howl & J), that was used in the Koreanovela Princess Hours, aired on ABS-CBN.

Bautista re-released his latest live album "Just A Love Song...Live" that now includes a CD compilation of different Christmas Songs.

2008: West Side Story and Captured

Bautista is included in the Valentine Concert in February 13, 2007 "Ol 4 Luv" in the Araneta Coliseum with Rachelle Ann Go, Erik Santos and Sarah Geronimo.

Bautista's live album, "Christian Bautista Just A Love Song...Live!" is closely approaching the Double Platinum mark especially after the release of the repackaged Christmas edition of the album containing his remake of Gary Valenciano-original "Pasko Na Sinta Ko" as well as other Christmas songs.

"The Christian Bautista Show," a musical talk show set to go on air on Makisig Network, will showcase the hosting abilities of the balladeer and multi-brand endorser.

Bautista also won as "Favorite Musical Artist Act" in the very 1st Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards Philippines 2008.

Along side with Filipina singer Karylle, Bautista will also be a part of the theatrical cast of "West Side Story" later in 2008.

In July 2008, Bautista's third studio album "Captured" was released. The album features Bossa Nova singer Sitti.

2009: Re-invented

Early 2009, Bautista released his last single for Captured, Limutin Na Lang which featured a Music Video containing compilations of his videos and pictures from his past albums/album tours.

In 2009, Christian Bautista releases his very 1st compilation, "The Platinum Collection", features his past songs in his compilation album.

By Early August 2009, Bautista had transferred to Universal Records. His first project under the recording label is a 19-track album, featuring songs originally performed by the legendary Jose Mari Chan. The album entitled Christian Bautista-Romance Revisited shot to the top of the charts immediately after it's release. Bautista performed several duets in the album, with popular pop stars Sarah Geronimo, Lani Misalucha and Regine Velasquez who early in her career also collaborated with Chan.

Personal life

Bautista was raised in a Born-Again Christian Family. As a Born-Again Christian, he was trained to wake up every 3:00AM in the morning to pray to God and seek His word. He is also known as the Ambassador of Operation Blessing, a Christian foundation that is helping the poor in the Philippines. In one of his interviews in The 700 Club Asia, He said how music can help unite people, and reach out for nations about God's love. At the interview, he intercedes and prays for the Filipino people abroad and their families. He is the former boyfriend of Rachelle Ann Go.

Theatre

Trumpet's production of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe was Bautista's first big break. He earned raves from critics for his acting debut.

2002: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
2002: Joseph The Dreamer
2008: West Side Story

Discography

Studio Albums

2004: Christian Bautista
2005: Completely
2008: Captured
2009: Romance Revisited: The Love Songs Of Jose Mari Chan

Compilations

2009: Christian Bautista The Platinum Collection

Live Albums

2006: Just A Love Song...Live!

DVDs

2007: Just A Love Song...Live!

Other Albums

2003: Return Of The Champions
2004: Star In A Million
2005: All Star Christmas Collection
2005: ''So It's You (OST Dream Boy)
2005: Nasaan Ka Man (CD Single)
2006: Hotsilog
2007: Tunog Acoustic 3
2007: Just A Love Song...Live!: Special Christmas Edition
2008: Pinoy Biggie Hits Vol. 2
2008: GV 25: A Gary Valenciano All-Star Tribute Collection
2009: Love Songs Vol.2
2009: Paalam, Maraming Salamat Pres. Aquino (A Memorial Tribute Soundtrack)

Film career

Films

Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di(I Love You)

Mano Po 5 is Regal Films' entry for the 2006 Metro Manila Film Festival, in which Christian (Timothy) rivals Richard Guttierez (Nathan) for Angel Locsin's (Charity) love. This movie is the fifth installment for the somewhat successful series, Mano Po.

Signed Music Artists