After being cast as Daniel, the budding cook on the first ever pan-Asian television musical drama series The Kitchen Musical, Christian Bautista will be joining the rest of the Pinoy cast, which includes Karylle, Thou Reyes, and Ikay Canoy of Akafellas, in Singapore for four months where they will be subject to an intensive boot camp with the rest of the production.
Auditions for the original series, which took place last year, was a cutthroat competition of the country’s best musical talents.
Unfortunately, Christian was not able to participate in the initial screening.
“Ang ginawa nung production group na ito, called The Group from Singapore ay binuo muna nila yung show bago nila binenta. So gumawa sila ng pilot, so yung pilot na yun may isang buong storya tapos nung nagustuhan na nung ibang mga companies, saka sila nag-final casting. Nung gusto nila ako i-interview for the role, nasa Indonesia ako kaya natuwa naman ako nung ipinasok na lang nila ako. I’m just very happy that I got a call from them saying they were looking for me. It’s an honor naman. Kasi daw, meron na akong presence sa Southeast Asia. Kilala na ko,” he shared during the presscon for The Kitchen Musical held last May 30 at D’Ace Plaza in Pasig City.
The 29-year-old singer, who has already gained popularity in other Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia, admitted that foregoing the audition process actually put a bigger pressure on him instead of making things seem easier.
“I’m very happy and very excited. Pressured din. Nakakatakot talaga. Kasi kailangan galingan ko eh, hindi na puwede yung dadaya-dayain mo yung galing mo. Kung sasayaw ka, kailangan itodo mo yung sayaw mo so I’m excited also kasi matututo ako magluto, matututuo ako sumayaw. Malay niyo pagbalik ko na dito marunong na ako talaga ‘di ba? Hindi nila ako in-audition so kelangan mag-deliver talaga ako,” he said.
Christian, who was out of the country for two months last year to film a movie in Indonesia, said that his stint on The Kitchen Musical will be the longest he’s ever been away from the country.
He will be flying to Singapore this Sunday after his last appearance on ASAP until October.
“Ngayon lang ako mabibigyan ng experience na kahit mawala ako ng konti, after ng four months ay mapapakita ko naman sa madaming bansa so it’s a good investment. Okay siya na opportunity,” he admitted.
Christian also brushed off speculation that his extended absence might affect his popularity in the country.
“Meron din akong takot na ganyan. Yung perspective ko ngayon nag-iiba-iba na eh. Parang I’ve been wanting to do soap operas and movies here or a teleserye, something like that and wala pa, hindi pa dumadating and then here comes again a project from the regional scene,” he shared.
Christian credits his manager from Stages, Carlo Orosa, for helping him get to where he is today.
“Pero kami ni Carlo, iniisip namin na ganito pala ung resulta ng lahat ng sakripisyo na ginagawa naming effort outside the country, dahil lagi kaming wala, doing stuff sa Indonesia, doing this sa Thailand, parang hindi naman masyado nagre-reflect sa Philippines, parang mas nakikilala pa ako sa ibang bansa. And then this comes and then ipapalabas pa sa Studio 23 pa. It’s like an answered prayer,” he explained.
The singer-actor shared that his fans should expect to see a more diversified Christian Bautista in The Kitchen Musical, especially since there are a lot of exciting dance sequences required from all the cast members.
“Hopefully pagbalik ko, mas marunong na ako sumayaw at magluto (laughs). Mga pop songs rin kakantahin namin dito, parang Glee rin na mga remake. Hindi ako producer pero I believe na yes it was inspired by that show, but ito all Asian cast and crew,” he said.
Christian also sent out a message for his fans who will miss him in the local scene, saying they can always keep in touch with him through social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.
“I trust my fans and I believe in my fans. I love my fans na talagang susuportahan nila ako kahit saan, wherever I am and I’m very thankful and I love them,” he said. (report from Rhea Manila Santos/Push.com.ph)
