10 years in showbiz later: The way Christian looks at himself

Three very good reasons why Christian Bautista is in high spirits:

1. The misunderstanding over his having no working visa (not his fault but reportedly that of the show promoter who didn’t really mean it) during his last trip to Indonesia (where he’s considered a superstar) has been resolved, clearing the issue that Christian is “banned” in that country (he’s not).

2. On Valentine’s Day, Singaporean actress Carla Dunareau said “yes” to Christian, making her his second girlfriend so far (after Rachelle Ann Go). The courtship must have happened on the set of The Kitchen Musical where the now-sweethearts have Karylle among their co-stars. According to the latest bulletin, Christian and Carla are now vacationing in Thailand.

3. Christian has just come up First Class: Outbound Expanded Edition which he considers “my most important album” so far, with nine new tracks that include re-arranged versions of Hands To Heaven and The Way You Look At Me (from his original Outbound album). The album comes with a limited edition coffee table book (available in National Bookstores outlets).

To celebrate his 10 years in showbiz, Funfare asked Christian to do a soundtrack of his career (with an explanation after each song).

Listen:

1. The Greatest Love Of All

I was seven years old. My father made me stand on top of the dining table to sing this song I learned in school. Since my voice during that age was still high, I was able to sing the well-loved Whitney Houston song with ease. I did not know the meaning of stage fright back then. I just did what I was told. After that, my parents made sure I joined the local church choir. Voice lessons would soon follow. Little did we know what God was planning for me that day.

2. Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday

“How do I say goodbye to what we had?,“ sings the vocal group Boyz II Men. They sang their hearts out. You can hear the emotion ring from the insides of their heart to the end of the road.

During my high school days, their songs helped me make it through my seasons of loneliness. I sang their songs with my pals Ily Mark Maniano, Jay Chris Valente, Carlo Mata and Mathew Amargo. We practiced in the hallways of the International Christian Academy. Our little group got our first recognition when we were hired by the student council to act as singing telegrams and sing for the most beautiful girls in school (beautiful teachers included). 

3. Music Of The Night from (The Phantom of the Opera)

This song haunted me. This was the song that made me fall in love with the theater. Suddenly, my feet wanted to be on that stage while singing this song. My first musical theater experience was in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by Trumpets in 2002. It was my first taste of professionally performing for a live audience. Whether forgiving or unforgiving, I enjoyed it.

Years later, I eventually went to the West End in London to watch The Phantom of the Opera for the first time. I never left that place. 

4. Magsimula Ka

This is the last song I sang in the singing contest Star in a Million. I wasn’t able to match the intensity of the Leo Valdez classic as I performed it in front of judges Mel Villena, Cherie Gil and Nanette Inventor. I was ejected from the show during that episode. It is ironic that the song means “to start, to begin to rise and face the day.” I thought my dreams ended that day. Instead, the song moved me to use this defeat as a springboard for the future. With a taste of defeat, I got back up armed with a renewed enthusiasm for performing. I vowed never to stop singing and performing for my audience. I finally found my place in the world.

5. You Raise Me Up

I was one of the first to hear this song before it was released in the Philippine market. My label let me and my managers hear it for the first time. The music and the voice of Josh Groban took us away to the musical landscapes.

During the inauguration of Pres. Noynoy Aquino, I was supposed to sing a group song with OPM greats Gary Valenciano and Ogie Alcasid. But since the program had to be stretched as it was under time in the schedule, I was asked to give an impromptu a capella song. I needed to think of a song to sing quickly — a song that would inspire Filipinos here and abroad, that would incite unity and support behind the new government and the reshaping of our country, that will talk about brotherhood, family and God. This song was the perfect choice. I even got a tweet from @joshgroban himself after that.

6. Lupang Hinirang

We memorize the Philippine National Anthem since we were in Nursery. Sometimes we take it for granted. Do we sometimes stop and think about what we are actually saying? Do we know that the song describes the beauty of the country? The bravery of the people? The significance of the flag? And, the promise that we will die for the country when the need arises? I will always appreciate the Filipinos who stop whatever they are doing when they hear the National Anthem at 5 a.m. Never again will the lyrics of this song be forgotten in my life.

7. Beautiful Girl

The first OPM song that I loved to sing was Beautiful Girl. I would get the lyrics from the 1001 Karaoke Song Book, and try to play the chords on the Casio electric keyboard. It was so easy to sing to, and it had a beautiful melody. I wanted to sing it to somebody one day. Who knew that I would be meeting the iconic singer songwriter Jose Mari Chan face to face? Who knew that I would be able to record my own version of the song? Who knew that I would be able to shoot a music video with four of the most beautiful girls in the country namely Solenn Heussaff, Georgina Wilson, Angel Locsin and Anne Curtis? I was allowed to sing other JMC greats like Constant Change, Tell Me Your Name, Afraid for Love to Fade and Please Be Careful With My Heart, which I recorded versions in English with Sarah Geronimo, Indonesian Bahasa with Bunga Citra Lestari, and English Mandarin with Tay Kewei in Singapore.  

8. Indescribable

“You placed the stars in the sky and you know them by name, you are amazing God, indescribable, you know the depths of my heart and you love me the same, you are amazing God.” Chris Tomlin is a Christian singer/songwriter who captured the love of God for the universe and humanity, and put it in a song. This song makes me feel significantly, realistically and eternally loved by an almighty God. Whenever I lose my way, or I lose my head and my heart in the craziness of this life, I just need to listen to this song and instantly I know I will be okay.

9. Ugoy Ng Duyan

I can never sing this song without shedding a tear. This song captures the ultimate sincerity of a mother’s love for her child. I always dedicate this song to my mother who has always been our family’s source of strength and encouragement. To be able to raise three crazy boys is a feat.

I was given the opportunity to sing this song to another mother, a mother of our nation — Cory Aquino. During the wake for her, I was given the honor and the privilege along with other singers in the country to sing for her. The mere thought of this song’s words and music can bring any man to remember all the love that his mother has given him.   

10. The Way You Look At Me

This is the song of my life.

“No one ever saw me like you do.” I did not think that I would reach this far in my life and in my career, without the support and love of my fans and the people who work with me, and to think that I lost the singing contest before recording this song.

“I never knew just what a smile was worth.” Imagine having a job that brings instant happiness to people. It is truly remarkable.

“I don’t know how or why I feel different in your eyes. All I know is it happens every time.” Sometimes I don’t know what’s in me that I’ve lasted this long in the business. How could an insecure, introvert and scrawny man like me be loved like this? I owe all this favor and blessing to God.

“’Cause there’s something in the way you look at me, it’s as if my heart knows you’re the missing piece, you make me believe that there’s nothing in this world I can’t be, I never know what you see, but there’s something in the way you look at me.”

To all my fans, you give me life, you give me hope, you make me feel that I can fly and go higher and higher again. Because of you, I feel like a king. Thank you for staying with me all this time. So much more is in store for all of us! With God on our side, we can do anything. Thank you for your love.

Will Cristy’s ‘sexual harassment’complaint be taken up by Congress? 

Funfare readers have been asking what happened on Feb. 28 that prompted Cristina “Cristy” Ramos (photo) to file a formal complaint against Azkals Lexton Moy (No. 25) and Angel Guirado (No. 12) of the Philippine men’s national football team for sexual harassment during the team check for the friendly match between the Philippines and Malaysia (both “A” teams) at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Here are excerpts from Cristy’s complaint letter sent to Kim Kia Tong, chairman of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Disciplinary Committee:

During the Team Managers’ Meeting on 28 February 2012 at the Discovery Suites in Pasig City, Philippines, I mentioned to the representatives of both the Philippine team and the Malaysian team that I would be serving as the Match Commissioner for their match. As stated in the AFC’s regulations and Official Countdown, the Match Commissioner together with the Fourth Official check the teams before the match to verify their identification (accreditation) cards and ensure that their kits are in proper order. However, being a woman Match Commissioner doing a men’s match, I had to explain that I would give the teams sufficient warning and preparation time before I would come inside their changing rooms to do the team check together with the Fourth Official, Mr. Wilfredo Bermejo.

Whenever I serve as the Match Commissioner, I always follow a standard procedure for the team check regardless of the type of match. At the time of the check I initially knock loudly at the door of the changing room as a sign of courtesy and warning to the team, and then let the Fourth Official first enter the changing room to check if the players are ready before I finally enter the room. Before doing the check itself, I properly introduce myself as the Match Commissioner and also introduce the Fourth Official. I also explain the procedure of how the check will be done. I always tell the players that I will be checking their accreditation cards first then their jerseys, and that the Fourth Official will thereafter check the rest of their kits and other items, e.g., jewelry, hair accessories, fingernails etc. I also tell them the sequence of the check, i.e., I check the starting 11 players first then proceed with the substitutes.

At the appointed time (1745H) on match day, I came to the changing room of the Philippine team for the team check. I was accompanied by Mr. Bermejo and my liaison officer, Mr. Joseph Gensaya. I initially knocked loudly at the door to signal my arrival. A team official opened the door and said that the team would be ready in five (5) minutes. We then waited for five minutes presuming that the team was getting ready for the team check. When we entered the changing room of the Philippine team, I properly introduced ourselves and explained the procedure for the check. In spite of the introduction the players remained rowdy and noisy, apparently not taking the team check seriously and almost ignoring our presence. As I called the players individually so that we could check their accreditation cards and kits, Philippine player LEXTON MOY (No. 25) stood by my right side and said in a loud voice “Must be a B cup,” to which the players laughed loudly. As I was the only female in the room, he was apparently referring to my bra size. He could not have been talking about men’s athletic cups, as their sizes are specified as extra-small, small, medium, large, and extra-large vis-a-vis cup sizes of women’s brassieres, which are specified in letters. Additionally when I checked Philippine player ANGEL GUIRADO (No. 12) he stood in front of me purposely just wearing his briefs and made no attempts to wear shorts or cover his underwear. Again, the players loudly laughed while I was checking this player.

While all this was happening, none of the Philippine team officials present nor the team captain, JAMES JOSEPH YOUNGHUSBAND (No. 7), made any attempts to discipline the players and tell them to behave properly. In fact they were also laughing and seemed to be enjoying the revelry at my expense. Philippine Team Manager DAN STEPHEN PALAMI and Philippine Head Coach HANS MICHAEL WEISS were both not present in the changing room at the time of the team check.

Having been a Match Commissioner for girls’, women’s, boys’ and men’s matches since 2003 at both AFC and FIFA levels, I have not experienced this crude and totally shameful behavior from a national team anywhere before this incident. I truly regret and feel very ashamed that this disrespect comes from the national team of my country, the Philippines. This kind of sexist and demeaning behavior has no place in football, and should therefore be sanctioned.

*    *   *

And here’s the official statement of National Team Manager Dan Palami:

March 2, 2012 — I would like to reassure Commissioner Cristy Ramos that the PFF and I take these allegations seriously. We will promptly investigate this incident. In fact, we already met with Commissioner Ramos today to discuss the incident report she filed. For this reason, I postponed my scheduled trip to Nepal.

It is unfortunate that we learned about this first from media sources. In my brief conversation with Commissioner Ramos after the match, we exchanged pleasantries and there was no mention of the incident that transpired. As I told her in our meeting today, I would have addressed the issue right then. Since the players have already left the country for the AFC tournament, a dialogue between them and Commissioner Ramos is not possible at the moment.

Nonetheless, we will not put off the investigation even as we prepare for a major tournament. I will sit down with my players and staff and get to the bottom of this.

In my personal experience of the usual goings-on in the men’s locker room, the tension, excitement and nervous energy before a match often result in a lot of boisterous bantering. For someone who walks into this situation, this might appear as bordering on disrespect. But again, I am speaking only from my personal experience. I was not witness to the particular incident which is the subject of the incident report. Until I hear from all sides, I cannot comment substantially on the matter.

Like Commissioner Ramos, I also believe that sexual harassment should not be tolerated in any situation. I will look into the circumstances of this alleged incident and cooperate with any investigation. If it is proven that there was in fact malicious intent, I will make sure that proper sanctions are meted out.

On behalf of the team, I sincerely apologize to Commissioner Ramos for the distress this situation has caused her.

(Note: Funfare is making no further comment.)

There’s a report (unconfirmed) that Congress might initiate a probe into the incident.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)