Mark Bautista (again?) June 21, 2007

Right on the Mark

By Arlene Paredes
Inquirer

The following article was published on page C4 of the June 20, 2007 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

It takes more than just voice, looks and talent to create a mark in the music industry; one needs to be a fiery, passionate dreamer with a serious sense of discipline to be a truly remarkable performer.

In his “reMARKable” concert last May 31 at Club O (formerly Dish) at the ABS-CBN Compound in Quezon City, Mark Bautista took his audience on a little journey down memory lane, singing covers of 1980’s hits from his latest album entitled “Every Now and Then.”

“Every Now and Then,” Mark’s third album from Viva Records, contains 12 tracks—all of which are Mark’s favorite English and OPM hits from the 1980s, including the carrier single, a remake of Angela Bofill’s “Break It To Me Gently,” which was re-arranged by Mon Faustino.

“This is my most favorite album so far kasi personal favorites ko ‘yung songs, at saka ang ganda ng arrangement ng bawat kanta,” Mark said.

The other songs in the album are “Every Now and Then,” “These Dreams,” “Got to Let You Know,” “Naaalala Ka,” “Kasalanan Ko Ba?” “I Don’t Want You to Go,” “Hold On,” “I’ll Be Over You,” “It’s All Behind Us Now,” “Special Memory” and “See You There.”

Eloisa Matias produced all the tracks except for the carrier single, which was produced by Mon Faustino.

Aside from his third album, the most recent milestone in Mark’s career is becoming the new image model of Le Froge. Mark said, “Even before Le Froge sponsored my clothing, ganu’ng style na talaga ang preferred ko. ‘Yung hindi lang panlakad, nagagamit ko pa talaga sa shows ko. Stylish at edgy ang Le Froge kaya it gives me even more confidence on stage.”

Incidentally, Le Froge is one of the major sponsors of his “reMARKable” concert in Club O.

Mark is also included in “Paano Kita Iibigin,” a light drama/romance movie co-produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films, starring Piolo Pascual and Regine Velasquez.

Piolo and Regine, who both came to watch Mark in his concert, wound up singing the movie’s theme on stage after much prodding from the rest of the audience. Mark later on joked that the movie was a hit because he was there.

Humble beginnings

At Club O, Mark got a bit nostalgic as he shared with his audience his humble beginnings as a singer, recalling his own “boyband” gigs in small bars in his home province of Cagayan de Oro.

“Dati, hindi kasing-ganda ng Club O mga kinakantahan ko,” he said, apparently still amazed at the cinematic turn of events in his life. After all, his mother had to ask a friend from a cargo ship to allow him to board for free to get to the weekly competition because they lacked the needed fare for the ride from Cagayan De Oro to Manila. Just a few months later, he emerged as Sarah Geronimo’s runner-up in the grand finale of the now defunct “Star for a Night” on IBC 13.

The sexy heartthrob image that Mark is now known for is in stark contrast to the pale and thin young man that wowed the judges and the audience of “Star for a Night” five years ago.

Since Viva Records saw Mark’s natural singing talent and raw passion for music, the studio took good care of him, and helped him all the way. Now, Mark is not just a singer, but a multimedia performer.

Soon enough, studio albums, TV shows, endorsements and movies came streaming toward Mark’s way, along with several concerts across the world.

“Hindi ako makapaniwala na ibe-bless ako ni God ng ganu’n,” Mark said. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos at talagang iniingatan ko lahat ng binibigay Niya.”

Today, Mark has finished building a stylish home in Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City, with more than enough room for him and his family. Evidently, the trip from his hometown in Cagayan de Oro to Manila will never be a problem again.

On June 21, Mark will be leaving for his second European tour with Sarah Geronimo. Another US tour will soon follow. Does Mark Bautista still wish for more?

“Sa totoo lang, masaya na ko nu’ng nakapag-release ako ng first album. Pero kung ibibigay ni Lord ang isang acting award someday, tsaka isang studio album na major hit talaga, alam ko sobrang happy ko na nu’n.”

Asked about his lovelife, Mark smiled sweetly, and said, “I’m just hoping for the best.” I’m sure that his loved ones, as well as his fan base here and abroad are all hoping for nothing but the best for this remarkable talent, too. (2bU! link here)

For more information on Mark Bautista, log on to www.markbautista.com.

E-mail the author at crypticmess@gmail.com

I was a fan, indeed! April 25, 2007

Starry-eyed over ‘Star for A Night’
By Arlene Paredes
2bU! Correspondent

I WAS 22 when I became a fan for the first time. It all started when “Star for a Night” (now defunct) began airing on Channel 13 five years ago.

One lazy weekend when I was channel surfing, I saw this one pale and thin guy with a soothing baritone voice and lovely chinito eyes singing “Love Always Finds a Way.”

Right off the bat, I noticed his eyes were cute. Also, he really knew how to project to the camera and take his audience on a journey by singing with the right emotions. It was really entertaining to see a budding singer doing what he was passionate about, and doing it so well.

I thought if this guy was really a natural just like he seemed to be, then he has a place in show business. (I later learned that he had been singing for parties and was even part of a “boy band” in Cagayan De Oro City.)

I stayed tuned to find out if he would win, and he did. He emerged as the “Star” for that night. As for me, I found myself campaigning for Mark Bautista during the grand finals of “Star for a Night” months later.

Later on, I joined an e-group created by some girl from Southern Manila who would become one of my most cherished friends. I even designed a website for Mark! At the time, you couldn’t find much information about “Mark Bautista” on Google. I couldn’t even find more than one photo of him online.

Mark himself gave me some pictures for his website. But that’s getting way ahead of the story.

The girl from Southern Manila is Tina Cruz. She found my Mark Bautista entry in my blog and told Mark about the article I wrote.

Apparently, Mark read it and was flattered. He left a message in my blog and even left his mobile number. Naturally, I called him. The instant I heard that low, sexy voice on the phone, I knew my life as a fan had reached a milestone. We later met in person and were text buddies for a while.

Tina was the one who walked me in much further into the world of fans. I did manage to cross the threshold somehow, on a special occasion—my birthday in 2003. Tina texted Mark about my birthday; then Mark texted to greet me, and told me he was going to a show in Tagaytay, which was just 20 to 30 minutes away from our apartment in Dasmariñas, Cavite. Politely, I asked if he could come over and join me, Tina, and some other friends.

Of course I was expecting him to beg off. After all, celebrities always had excuses for invitations like mine.

But his reply was: “Puwede daan na lang kami ’pag pauwi na? Mga 6 p.m. kasi ’yung show eh.”

My heart skipped a beat. Did Mark just say that he was coming over for my birthday?

He actually came and met some of my friends. It was a small and simple dinner, so my late mother was a bit embarrassed (and very amused) that I had the nerve to invite a celebrity over.

My mother didn’t know any young stars, not anyone outside the Vilma-Nora generation, but she knew Mark Bautista because of me. Still, she seemed unconvinced that a young celebrity was in her home. So she asked him to sing a few lines, a capella, of course, and he gamely did.

Mark sang a few lines of “Because of You.” Seeing my mother smile the way she did was priceless. After Mark sang, my mother became more embarrassed. She wouldn’t even kiss Mark when he attempted to buzz her before leaving, saying she was sweaty from all the cooking. Mark kissed her on one cheek, anyway.

The next morning, the entire neighborhood already knew that the singing voice they had overheard the previous night was Mark Bautista’s, thanks to my starstruck mother.

When I became a trainee at ABS-CBN, I kept in touch with Mark. Tina and I saw the final taping of “Sarah The Teen Princess” and were later invited to, and joined the cast’s farewell party.

It’s been years since Tina and I last watched a concert. We got busy with our lives and eventually realized that being a fan had an expiration date for us. But we still keep in touch. Mark, after all, has never kept his distance.

As far as Tina and I are concerned, we are so damn proud that the young balladeer we admired during a weekly singing competition has gone this far, and our being fans has left a lasting souvenir—our cosmic bonding. The experience of being a fan was worth all the time and money spent on concerts, because fanhood bonded Tina and me.

At some point, we all have to let loose and be a little less ordinary. I was a fan and I definitely enjoyed being one.

E-mail the author at crypticmess@gmail.com