Romantic balladeer Christian Bautista tells TTO readers about life in the spotlight

Words by Ben Hopkins

A gathering of teenage girls has formed in the lobby of Bangkok’s Grammy building. Many of them, dressed in tight skirts and school uniforms, are hoping to catch a glimpse of Filipino pop sensation Christian Bautista – a huge hit throughout Southeast Asia thanks to his romantic ballads and the kind of looks that melt teenage hearts and sell magazines.

When he arrives the reaction isn’t as wild as you’d expect. A few muted gasps, wobbly knees and a polite surge for autographs. They’ll save the hysterical screams and body shaking hysteria for his live performance.

Christian Bautista, with a voice as smooth as his complexion is in town to perform at the Pattaya International Music Festival. It’s a fly by night visit. When the festival’s over he’ll be back in Manila planning his next tour.

Dressed in casual black with a pair of Ray Ban’s in one hand and an itinerary in the other he’s attuned to the attention and the tight management procedures that assure these events are pulled off with aplomb. “I wasn’t always so confident” the 28 year old admits a few minutes after we’re introduced. In the early stages of his career he found the challenge of singing and dancing far less daunting than talking with strangers and dealing with an entourage of staff and hangers on. “I was a shy guy” he admits. “I didn’t really know what to say and how to deal with all the people around me”.

Born in Manila in ‘81 Christian tuned his vocal chords as a choir boy from the age of seven. It’s no surprise he’d be noticed in the years to come. He’s handsome, he can dance and he has a voice that lends itself perfectly to the romantic ballad. Shortly after graduating with a degree in Landscape Architecture fame was thrust upon him. At 21 he reached the finals of the Philippine talent show ‘Star in a Million 2003’. “I haven’t mowed a lawn since” he jokes. These days his songs are more likely to woo the affections of teenage girls than Jesus.

There was a time when musicians would spend years on the breadline, learning their trade by belting out gigues across the country – think of the Beatles. Nowadays you strike it big on a talent show and hey ho you’re a star. Warner were quick to snap up Christian and his first big hit, “The Way You Look At Me” has become his most enduring, gaining airplay throughout Southeast Asia and multi platinum status in the Philippines and Indonesia.

To be fair Christian hasn’t rested on his laurels. A string of albums has followed accompanied by a grueling tour schedule that sees him woo the crowds from Australia to Canada. As a fractured nation of 95 million people a deep routed passion for music is the one constant that unites Filipino’s of all creeds. When it comes to covers and karaoke they rule the world.

“When I play overseas the venues are always full of Filipino’s, especially when it’s as far away as Vancouver”. These followers are among the 10 million Filipino nationals who work overseas but yearn for the Philippines, its music and its people. Spread-eagled across the world they assure a fan-base for wherever the balladeer may travel.

“It’s always great to play to your own people but I would like to broaden out” Christian says. “Playing in Indonesia was special. My fan base there is mostly Indonesian. It’d be good to break into more countries like that.”

Another ambition for Christian is to write his own songs. Only last year he released an album of Jose Mari Chan covers. Widely regarded as the most respected singer in the Philippines, his hits would have been danced to at a time when Christian was no more than a glint in his mother’s eye. The old master gave his approval and feedback and the album has been a huge success. In a sense the baton was passed on but to emulate the old master Christian needs to break new ground.

“I’ve finally started to write my own songs” he says before shrugging them off as not very good. The answer is self deprecating but with his ability no one would be surprised if an album of accomplished self penned songs were to appear. When I ask him what he writes about he says, “Loves songs, songs about my own experiences.” Is he free to write as he feels and play where he wants? “Earlier in my career I had less control but now I meet with my manager and we work things out to suit both of us.”

There are no Malcolm McClaren types at Grammy and this probably suites Christian fine. A talented singer who wants to please everyone he values his fans, takes his trade seriously and works hard on maintaining and improving his voice.

The following night I catch sight of Christian at the Pattaya International Music festival. On stage he appears different, more confident but less real, reminding me of Frank Sinatra without the danger. There are now tens of thousands of girls ready to let loose. When he breaks into the first line of “The Way You Look At Me” a chorus of screams erupts and splits the moon in two.