CHRISTIAN Bautista’s “Romance Revisited: The Love Songs of Jose Mari Chan” from Universal Records, has been certified double-platinum in Indonesia.

Meidi ferialdi, marketing director of PT Aquarius-Indonesia which released the hit album in the said country, gave the double-platinum award to Christian.

A platinum certification in Indonesia is equivalent to 75,000 copies sold. So the “Romance Revisited: The Love Songs of Jose Mari Chan” has already surpassed sales of more than 150000 unites in that territory.

The single “Tetaplah Dihatiku” (“Please Be Careful with My Heart”) from the album has one million RBT download in Indonesia.

Due to Christian’s popularity in the said country, he will start filming a movie in Indonesia starting next month.

Christian’s fifth single from the international hit album, “I Remember The Girl,” is currently the No. 1 OPM music video in the MYX music channel’s Daily Top 10 Charts. The video features the sexy and alluring Christine Reyes, who was Christian’s date at the recent Star Magic Ball.

The much-awarded acting career takes an exciting turn as he plays Regine Velasquez’ leading man in the indie film “Mrs. Recto,” directed by Dante “Nico” Garcia.

Christian Bautista has topbilled successful live concerts in the USA, Indonesia, Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.

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The group will jumpstart their Manila engagement later this afternoon, July 30, at the Skydome of SM North Edsa in Quezon City. They will be performing tomorrow, July 31, at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City before concluding their tour on Sunday, August 1, at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Christian and the members of One Way became friends after both parties collaborated in the song “Wrong Number.” The tune is included in the Philippine edition of One Way’s album titled One Way Street.

One Way has been very open to collaborating with other artists. The group enjoys a close relationship with Super Junior—arguably the biggest and most popular export of the Korean pop group industry.

“We are close friends and we’re the same age with them. We get along well and our friendship started a few years ago. Musically, we’ve been in the studio a couple of times and a lot of collaborations are taking place,” revealed Chance.

HEARING CHRISTIAN. “Before coming to the Philippines, we got a list of Filipino artists and we were checking them out through YouTube and other music websites. We come across one of Christian’s music and we liked it—the genre and the musicianship. It really speaks a lot about his music and we were just impressed by that. We decided to get in touch with him,” said Chance.

The 28-year-old Filipino balladeer himself is no stranger to working and collaborating with foreign artists. Christian is in fact popular in neighboring Asian countries, particularly in Indonesia.

He became the only Filipino to ever appear in the Indonesian television program titled Dahsat, where he performed “Please Be Careful With My Heart” (originally popularized by Jose Mari Chan and Regine Velasquez) together with Indonesian singer Bunga Citra Lestari.

A lot of people are now looking at Christian Bautista “differently” after seeing his billboard for Bench. This is apart from his much-talked about appearance at the Bench Uncut Fashion Show held last July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum. The singer is now sporting a new look and an edgier style—in other words, a more mature Christian for his fans.

We sat down with Christian one Tuesday afternoon for an exclusive interview and here are excerpts from that encounter with the popular balladeer who is endorsing Blackwater Perfume from the Ever Bilena Line of products.

Q: So what do you think of the people’s reaction to your billboard and Bench Uncut Fashion Show appearance?

A: “Iba’t-iba ang reaction. May mga nagulat. Mayroon naman nagustuhan nila. May mga nagsabi naman na hindi kailangan. Ako naman, first and foremost what I’ve learned through these years, talagang bawat tao may iba’t-ibang opinion tapos eh. I just receive the comments and whatever is constructive, I apply it to myself. If there are negative comments, wala na akong magagawa. I am proud sa achievement na ito. I have more respect now for models and talagang naranasan ko kasi kung gaano sila magtrabaho. Some people think they are just models but what they don’t know is that they are strict with their diets. That’s their life – their body. Dapat pagandahin mo iyon. I went through with that to get the body that I have now.

Q: How long have you been working out?

A: Siguro, seriously, less than a year. Dati workout-workout pero wala lang. Ngayon may trainer na ako, may supplements at may instructions. Nakita naman ang result.

Q: Is this part of your reinvention?

A: Yes, it is and there’s more to come. I mean, through the help of my manager Carlo (Orosa) and Ms. Kathleen Go of Universal Records, we are doing many changes, not only in the way I look but also in my wardrobe as well. They are really taking care of my body, dressing me up well, getting me the right haircut and the right look. I’ve been partners with Gold’s Gym for sometime now and that is where I work out. I am one of their endorsers and I must say maraming naitulong sa akin ang Gold’s Gym.

Q: Does this mean that you are now more open to doing challenging roles—something sexy perhaps?

A: Well, I have to study the script first before I would accept it.

Q: You are now one of the officers of the revived OPM (Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit). Why did you join and what are your plans?

A: The officers met kanina (Ogie Alcasid, Joe Mari Chan, Gary Valenciano, Noel Cabangon, and Dingdong Avanzado) and we were discussing the future of OPM. What made me decide to be a part of it? Well, to be the channel to the younger generation. Kasi yung iba nahihiya i-approach sina Sir Gary minsan, Sir Joey or Sir Ogie. I can be that link to them. That would be my role. We had this vision when we joined the Kaya Natin ‘To concert which we did for Ondoy. We realized na dapat mas dumami pa kaming members ng OPM para makatulong sa mga singers, the country and the music industry.

Q: What is your initial plan?

A: Well, to be recognized. Inform the singers that OPM has been revived and that the OPM can protect and serve them, give them benefits and help them. There would be other plans but for now that is the focus. We are getting and accepting members and making them aware of our rights as singers.

Q: You’ve been getting the no. 1 slot in trending topics on Twitter. How do you feel about this?

A: Thanks to Indonesia. I got into the trending topics because nakasali ako sa isang high-rating show doon sa Indonesia. Pag-uusapan ka talaga ng Twitter community of [Indonesia] at sobrang dami nila. It’s a big thing that people from other parts of the world get to know you. I realized the power of Twitter just recently. So I encouraged everyone to follow me at xtianbautista.

Q: What was your reaction on Josh Groban’s tweet?

A: I was surprised. It was so hard to get a reply from anyone like for me from my fans. Let’s say I have 100,000 followers. How can I reply to all of them? That’s impossible. The only thing that would appear in your stream would be only 10 tweets. You can’t scan everything. It was probably a good chance, a coincidence, that Josh Groban saw my tweet that I sang his song at the inauguration. Thanks also to the followers who re-tweeted that.

Q: How is your album “Romance Revisited: The Music of Jose Mari Chan” doing?

A: It’s nearing Triple Platinum now. We are on our fourth single titled “Afraid for Love to Fade.” We did a music video with Carmen Soo, which is getting good exposure in MYX and other music channels. We are very happy with the success of the album. Even Sir Joe Mari Chan is very happy with it.

Q: You’ve always been a balladeer. Don’t you wish to sing other types of songs?

A: Actually now I do. I do want to try many things this year. I want to focus on acting, different kinds of music—more upbeat. I am not saying that’s going to be my direction, but mas kakanta lang ako ng more variety of songs. Ballads would always be my strength, but I will try other songs so I won’t be stuck at ballads. That would make my music more varied and interesting.

Q: When is your next major concert?

A: I do want to have a major concert but let’s face it, times are hard. There are many things to consider – the right time, the right venue, plus there are foreign acts. Do we have sponsors? Do the people have money to buy tickets? Are you popular on TV, radio? Once we’ve solved all these major concerns then that’s the time for us to say that I can have a major concert. Hopefully, if we have a new teleserye with a good following, good radio play, popular music video, then we can have a successful concert, unless you are a Martin Nievera or a Gary Valenciano, or a Sarah Geronimo na sure success pag nag-concert. It’s also a challenge for me to improve myself, improve my performance sa concert. And I have to learn dancing.

MANILA, Philippines – Don’t be surprised if Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista starts speaking fluent Bahasa.

That’s all part of his preparation for a possible movie in Indonesia, which starts shooting before the end of the year.

In an interview, Bautista said he is just waiting for the final contract before going to Indonesia to shoot the movie. “Siguro mga 60% to 70% sure na siya pero hindi pa din talaga sure until makita ko ang final contract. Kung mag-OK ang contract, workshop starts October and November ang shoot. Ang shoot ay one month and half,” he said at a press conference for EB’s Blackwater.

Bautista said that the movie’s theme is inspirational. He told the news site that if ever, he will be playing the role of a Filipino musician who will move to Indonesia.

“Basically ang synopsis ay music teacher ako dito sa Philippines na pupunta ng Indonesia at doon na magkakaroon ng istorya,” the singer said.

Bautista said that as part of his preparation for the movie, he is already studying Bahasa and will undergo different acting workshops.

“We are planning already. I’m learning Basaha. I’m doing acting workshops, I’m doing different kind of workshops. Getting ready for acting, getting ready for acting maybe in Indonesia or here,” Bautista said.

TV series cancelled

Last January, the romantic balladeer announced that he got an offer to do a television series in Indonesia.

In an interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com, Bautista explained that conflict of schedule is the main reason why he backed out from the said series.

“We decided na huwag munang gawin ang TV series kasi three months na mawawala, masyadong matagal. I have to take care of my career here in the Philippines. Tapos nagkaroon pa ng Singapore nag-record ako ng ‘Please Be Careful With My Heart’ in Mandarin,” he said.

Also dubbed as “Asia’s Pop Idol,” Bautista is part of ABS-CBN’s weekly variety show “ASAP XV.”

He is also the newly-elect vice president for special projects of Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-Aawit (OPM).

11:45a.m. Manila June 30,2010. In an effort to stretch the time for President Elect Benigno C. Aquino III ’s 12nn inauguration, the Presidential organizing committee went up to Christian Bautista backstage and asked if he could sing an extra song to fill the time since everything in the agenda ran so quickly. Christian immediately replied “why me?”. Singers Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez upon hearing this encouraged and pushed Christian to do so. In boldness & unprepared, he willingly stood in front of the Luneta Grand Stand crowd and sang You Raise Me Up in acapella.

Many mixed comments in texts, twitter and facebook asked “why did he sing in english?”, why did he sing extemporaneously?”, ” why was it sang in acapella? While others commended him for a great performance.

After leaving the grand stand Christian twitted “Proud to sing Josh Grobans’s YOU RAISE ME UP for the Aquino- Binay President and Vice President Inauguration here in Manila!” Moments later he gets a Twitter reply from no less than JOSH GROBAN himself it read ” Thanks very much I’m sure this is a huge day for the great people of your country. Enjoy!” Christian immediately twitted back ” Thank you for your message! This is a great day for my country and your song is now part of Philippine History!”

Christian’s name appeared in Twitter Topic Trends Worldwide shortly after his performance.

As guest judge in Indonesia Mencari Bakat (Indonesia Got Talent), the local franchise version of Britain’s Got Talent, on June 26, Christian Bautista’s name was in the top 10 of (world wide) Twitter Trending Topics 30 minutes during the show.

The Twitter Trending Topics reflect what new or newsworthy topics are occupying the most people’s attention on Twitter at any one time and the trending system records world wide.

By the time the show ended Christian name was on the no.1 spot and remained there consistently for two hours. Christians name was in the top 10 for a total of 5 hours.
To think that Kris Aquino took on the no. 1 spot in Twitter Topic Trends shortly after the announcement of her marriage break up with James Yap, Sr. Christian placed 3rd for his other TV appearance in Jakarta.

Despite the language barrier, Christian, with the help of the three female celebrity Indonesian judges, Rianti Catwright, Sarah Sechan, and Ti ti Sjuman, gave constructive comments to contestants.

Among the contestants were three children (two solo dancers and a drum player), singers, a fire dancer, traditional dancers mixed with contemporary moves, street musicians, and a sasando (traditional musical instrument) player.

Christian Bautista recently returned to the country after numerous commitments abroad. He said that he first went to New York, USA and celebrated Philippine Independence Day with Filipino communities. “Ang sarap po ng nangyari,” the singer began. “Nag-motorcade kami para sa Philippine Independence Day sa New York and Sarah Geronimo was there. Ang sarap ng streets of New York, nagwi-wave ka don.”

Then afterwards, Christian went straight to Indonesia and promoted songs from his current album. Aside from that, the singer—together with his manager—met with some producers in Indonesia for possible projects in the future. “Hopefully, we’re planning concerts and probably a movie before the end of the year. But I will make sure [first] if it cannot push through but I’m believing naman that it will push through,” he shared.

With his career on the rise, Christian admitted that his love life is not his priority, explaining that having one at this point of his life might require so much effort from him and his future girlfriend. “Going out of the country [regularly] really hinders that. Paano ka makaka-concentrate [on your career]? Parang iniisip ko nga if ever, if my next relationship will happen, it’s going to be really long distance. So I got to practice that… my next relationship is long distance,” he reasoned.

Though it could prove to be a real challenge, Christian says that a long-distance affair can still survive since he knows people who are in the same kind of relationship. “It can work if both parties are willing to commit to it,” he stressed. “I have had best friends who got married. I have friends na nakaya nila. It can work. It’s hard, it’s not for everyone pero it can work.”

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