..the Asian Star

Christian (Bautista) wins Asian TV, movies

By: Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CHRISTIAN and Karylle worked together earlier in a local stage production of “West Side Story.” TITIKPILIPINO.COM

Christian Bautista’s star continues to burn brightly over the whole of Asia.

After releasing records in Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia, the 29-year-old Filipino pop singer is crossing over to regional television and movies.

Bautista recently finished shooting the film “Simfoni Luar Biasa (A Special Symphony)” in Indonesia. He plays a despondent Filipino rock singer who embarks on a journey of discovery after signing up as music teacher for special children in Jakarta.

He got to work with Indonesian actress Iwa Ribowo, who plays his mom in the movie. “I thought she would be my leading lady. She looks so young, even though she’s a veteran actress. She’s generous with acting advice, too. She made me feel relaxed on the set,” Bautista recounts.

He also shared the screen with a Filipina singer, Maribeth, who’s now based in Jakarta. He recalls, “She’s been living there for a long time. She taught me about Indonesian culture.”

He also had a blast working with the kids – particularly one child actress with Down syndrome. “She got along very well with the other kids,” he says. The experience was an eye-opener for him: “Even if you are differently abled, you can lead a full life.”

Plus Karylle

Christian is also set to invade Asian TV, as he top-bills “The Kitchen Musical,” produced by Singaporean firm The Group, with Karylle and other Filipino actors Ikey Canoy, Arthur Acuña and Joseph Reyes in the cast.

The series will be aired by four Asian channels: nTV7 in Malaysia, Metro TV in Indonesia, cable channel AXN (all over the region) and Studio 23 in the Philippines. All in all, it will be seen in 19 Asian countries.

Producers hope to air the show in other territories like Guam and Hawaii and launch a touring stage production, too.

Taping for the show will take Christian and Karylle to Singapore, where they will stay for four months.

In light of the popularity of singing-and-dancing shows on TV, he asserts that “The Kitchen Musical” is no “Glee” clone.

“The main difference is that our show is set in a restaurant, and we play chefs,” he says. “Apart from the music, we will also showcase the food. We will teach viewers how to prepare the meals. It’s like a cooking show crossed with a musical.”

In this regard, Christian and Karylle are set to embark on an intensive Food Boot Camp in Singapore.
“We will learn how to slice and sauté, broil and bake,” he says. “We’ll get the chance to be singing cooks and waiters.”