That Christian spirit

Curtain-raisers:

• Dina Bonnevie has two ardent admirers/suitors, both non-showbiz. One is "T" and the other is "M." Dina is having a hard time making up who between the two is "it," although she tends to favor the one who’s a Born-Again Christian like her.

• No, Mickey Ferriols wasn’t "killed" in the new ABS-CBN soap Hiram because, according to her detractors, she was unprofessional. From the start, Mickey knew that her character had to be eliminated to let Kris Aquino’s character adopt Mickey’s character’s child. Mickey will soon be cast in a new soap.

• Reaction from reader Vivien Gerasmia: Seeing Gretchen Barretto’s mother, Inday Barretto, on The Buzz last Sunday was quite embarrassing. It’s not good to hear and see a mother accusing her own daughter. As a mother, she should protect all her children. She should pacify, mend, understand and mediate in the situation. It’s very obvious that she was one-sided. Our hearts melt when she said that Gretchen needs more prayers among her children.

* * *

So who says that losers lose and only winners win? Often, also-rans and runners-up eventually outrace the winners.

A case in point is Christian Bautista, turning 22 on Oct. 19, who lost to Erik Santos in the 2003 Star in a Million search but is sharing the spotlight with the same prominence, especially since his debut single, The Way You Look at Me, has become a smash hit and is heard all over the place.

Even Kris Aquino loves the song, particularly the line that says, "...you’re the missing piece." In fact, everybody is singing that song which is actually a revival of a European love song sung by a German who didn’t make it.

The same song is included in the repertoire (pop songs, theater songs, love songs, etc.) of Christian’s first solo concert, aptly titled The Way You Look at Me, tomorrow night at Onstage (Greenbelt, Makati City), with no less than Kuh Ledesma as special guest along with newcomer Rebecca.

"It’s a dream that has been fulfilled unexpectedly," said Christian, "so soon. They told me that tickets are sold out and I couldn’t believe it."

A native of Imus, Cavite, Christian can’t believe everything that’s happening to him. Coming from an average family ("Not poor and yet not rich"), Christian is the eldest of three brothers. He never dreamed nor planned to land in showbiz. Everything came, in his word, "unexpectedly."

"I sang in our church in Imus," said the Born-Again Christian, "and I sang in school (International Christian Academy) and I thought my singing would be limited to that – in church and in school."

After finishing Landscape Architecture (designing gardens and parks, etc.) at UP, Christian wanted to relax a bit and try something new. He auditioned at Trumpets and got into the cast of the musical The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Carlo Orosa, one of Trumpets’ brains and now Christian’s manager, advised Christian to join the ABS-CBN Star in a Million search. To make a long story short, Christian got into the finals, lost to Erik Santos but found a new career as a singer.

"My losing piece was Magsimula Ka," said Christian who’s very thin at 147 lbs. (he stands 5’10"). "My winning piece during the elimination round was You Are Still You."

Even now that his face is plastered on huge billboards all over the Metropolis and he’s recognized everywhere he goes, Christian said that he’s still the same (he’s still him, to paraphrase his "winning piece").

"Our family has become closer. Because they saw me on TFC (The Filipino Channel), many of our long-lost relatives abroad have gotten in touch with us."

Tomorrow night’s Onstage concert might change the way people look at Christian – for the better.

"I’ve been preparing hard for this concert," said Christian. "I promise to give a performance worth everybody’s time and money."

Why Baby A. Cried On Her Birthday

When Rose Marie "Baby" Arenas invited friends to a thanksgiving/birthday lunch at the Mandarin Oriental’s Captain’s Bar Tuesday last week, she didn’t expect an SRO attendance.

"I felt that I was truly loved," Baby told Funfare, overwhelmed by well-wishers who included nuns and priests, government officials and Manila’s socialites. Captain’s Bar so overflowed with guests that some of them retreated to the hotel’s other dining areas (The Clipper, Paseo Uno, Tivoli and Tin Hau).

Traffic stood still around Mandarin Oriental, reminiscent of the monstrous traffic jam around the Araneta Coliseum when Baby put up the Andrea Bocelli concert.

Mandarin Oriental went out in full force for "the philanthropist with a big heart" by serving turkey and all kinds of international cuisine. The centerpiece of the buffet table was a mixture of fresh blooms of oriental flowers. Each table was covered with crisp white linen, highlighted by red roses (the celebrator’s favorite). The waiters wore black tails.

A surprise mini musicale was held, featuring tenor Frankie Aseniero and Baltimore-based pianist par excellence, virtuoso Reynaldo Reyes, and US-based piano scholar pianist Oliver Salonga.

What made Baby cry was when ABS-CBN presented her with a silver trophy for producing (in cooperation with ABS-CBN) the "super production ever to be held in Manila" – the Bocelli concert, that is.

The Department of Tourism also gave Baby a plaque of appreciation for her "exceptional and noble effort in mounting the Andrea Bocelli concert in Manila that not only benefited the marginalized sector of Filipino society but also showed to the world that the Philippines is a great destination for tourists and investors."

What’s Up?

• Chona Vera-Perez Ampil wants to remind her schoolmates of the Assumption Bazaar at the Intercontinental Hotel grand ballroom on Sept. 12 and Oct. 3. Contact Chona at 0918-9118412.

• The Philippine Tong Ho Institute alumni will have their 13th grand homecoming on Oct. 9, 8 p.m. at the Philippine Tong Ho Institute grounds. For particulars, members of this batch may contact Yolanda Yap at 0917-6200528, (6342)7103257 or (6342)7102975; or Fatima Sia at 0917-7911833 or (632)8926266.

• The Regina Rosarii Center for Contemplative Prayer is inviting you to attend a seminar on "The Passage" which is a journey toward wholeness and fullness of life. The seminar will be held at the Regina Rosarii Center for Contemplative Prayer, # 55 Scout Santiago St., Timog Q.C. on July 31 to Aug 1. Seminar is 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.. For more details, please call 3725327; Sis Eppie Brasil, OP-0917 7963622; Sis Menchi Advincula,OP,MD- 0920 2469736 .

(E-mail reactions at [email protected])