Niken Prathivi , The Jakarta Post , Sanur | Sun, 10/19/2008 1:33 PM | Asian Beach Games
Filipino idol Christian Joseph Morata Bautista said he was excited to be part of the male trio performing "To Be One"during the first Asian Beach Games opening ceremony.
"I've always wanted to perform at such a beautiful place like Garuda Wisnu Kencana,"said the singer of Southeast Asia's most popular songWay You Look At Me", once a big hit in Indonesia.
Bautista, who celebrates his 27th birthday Sunday, said he was familiar with Indonesia because of his album tour, flying frequently from Manila to several cities across the country.
"This is my second time coming to Bali. In March, on my first visit here for touring, I was amazed by the greatness of (Garuda Wisnu Kencana), how they built it,"he said.I wished that someday I would have my own concert there. And now, I get the chance."
After coming fourth in the Filipino reality TV show Star in a Million in 2003, Bautista signed a recording contract with Warner Music Philippines.
His self-titled album was released with "The Way You Look At Me", and "Hands To Heaven"topping music charts in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
In 2005, alumni of Landscape Architecture at the University of Philippines-Diliman released his second album, Completely, with the hits "Everything You Do", andCould Be".
"This year, I just released my third album, called Captured," he said."It is already available in Indonesia. The first single is "Still The End Of Time", which is a cover of Indonesian song Sampai Akhir Waktu"by Ungu.
"Hopefully, Indonesian fans can enjoy my new piece,"said Bautista, whose album offers romantic melodies with soft, all-about-love lyrics.
Bautista collaborated with Indian Mark Lazaro and Indonesian Andre Hehanusa at the opening ceremony."It always challenges me a lot to sing in such an open space.
"I must take full control over the position of the microphone, location of the speakers and my own ear control.
"It's always a pleasure to be on one stage with good singers like Mark and Andre," said Bautista, who also stared in a Filipino soap opera, Kampanerang Kuba (Hunchbacked Female Bell Ringer), in 2006."
I'm hoping all the best for the organizers of the first Asian Beach Games."
V3 (not verified) — Tue, 12/02/2008 - 6:59pm
The song is 'Till the end of time'. It's " Hingga akhir waktu " by nine balls not ungu.
Reva (not verified) — Mon, 10/20/2008 - 1:16am
christian is really a great singer and an actor also...he has been so blessed specially in his career and now one of his wishes wich is to perform in Garuda Wisnu Kencana came true...he is such a wonderful person that's why he is still on top but his feet is still on the ground!! keep up the good work and stay as good person as you are!!!belated happy birthday christian!!