Christian Bautista

Childhood and youth

Bautista was born in Imus, Cavite on October 19, 1981. He is the eldest of three siblings, sons 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, Geoff 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.

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

Bautista gained popularity after becoming the first grand finalist on ABS-CBN’s reality singing competition Star In A Million. Though placing only 4th overall, he quickly become one of the most popular contestants, and was offered a recording contract with Warner Music Philippines shortly after he was eliminated from the show. He released the single "The Way You Look At Me," in 2004 from his self-titled album.

The song, penned by American composers Andrew Fromm and Keith Follese, received frequent airplay in Indonesian radio stations and Bautista became an instant hit overseas that record label Warner Indonesia decided to bring him there to perform for his growing Indonesian fanbase.

2005: Completely

"Completely", Christian Bautista’s second album, received a Platinum Record Award on its first week of release in the Philippines. The album spawned hit singles "Everything You Do", "Invincible", and "She Could Be", a song which was later covered by Corbin Bleu of High School Musical fame. Completely has also reached platinum status in Indonesia.

A special edition of the album "Completely", which combines Christian’s English songs from his debut and second albums, was later launched in Singapore where "The Way You Look At Me" also topped local charts.

In 2005, RCTI aired a musical special entitled "Completely: Christian Bautista" where he performed with Indonesian artists 40-piece Magenta Orchestra, Andi Rianto, Krisdayanti and Titi DJ. In the same year, Bautista was cast as one of the leads in Kampanerang Kuba, a musical fantasy television series broadcast by ABS-CBN.

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.

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 Philippines. 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 on 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.

Alongside 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: Romance Revisited

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, it would be his last album under Warner Music Philippines.

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 its 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.

In November 2009, Bautista is one of the guest in Sarah Geronimo's Record Breaker Concert where they sang their duet Please Be Careful With My Heart.

2010: Asian Pop Superstar

In February 2010, Bautista appeared again in "Dahsyat", an Indonesian Variety Show from RCTI in Jakarta, Indonesia where he performed a duet with Indonesian singer Bunga Citra Lestari with an Indonesian version of Please Be Careful With My Heart. He was the first and only Filipino singer who appeared in an Indonesian TV Show.

In November 2010, Bautista released his 7th over-all album and very 1st Christmas Album under Universal Records entitled, A Wonderful Christmas. On December 2, 2011, the album was certified Diamond by PARI a year after its release.

2011: New Album Outbound

Christian releases his 5th studio album and 7th over-all album. Outbound was launched in 2011. Christian also joined in a musical drama series, Kitchen Musical with his co-stars Karylle, Thou Reyes, Art Acuna and all other Filipino and Singaporean stars join forces.

2012

During the 1st quarter of the year, First Class (Outbound Expanded Edition) album was launched. Together with Karylle, they top billed Love & Laughter concert at the Resorts World last February 29. Christian is still active in Kitchen Musical for the new season and he will be also returned in the said series by 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2012. On the 3rd quarter of 2012, Christian lead "The Way You Look At Me: 10th Anniversary Special" that featured his 10 years journey in the showbiz industry. Currently, Bautista is also seen on a show "Princess and I" via ABS-CBN. Christian Bautista's latest album, 6th studio album, and 8th full-length X-Plus was later released in October 2012.

2013: Transfer to the Kapuso Network

In March 2013, Christian Bautista is confirmed to transfer to GMA Network after months of rumors of transferring. He is slated to perform for the first time on Party Pilipinas on March 24, 2013, also marking the 3rd anniversary of the said show. He is rumored to replace Ogie Alcasid, if Alcasid were to transfer to TV5. Bautista was under ABS-CBN for 10 years. He signed a three-year exclusive contract with GMA Network on March 20, 2013.

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.