Mark Bautista recalls humble beginnings ahead of 21st anniversary concert

From his modest beginnings in Cagayan de Oro to placing runner-up to Sarah Geronimo in the TV singing competition “Star for a Night” in 2002, Mark Bautista has since established himself as a singing star in the music scene. He is going to celebrate his 21st anniversary in showbiz via a solo concert entitled “Mark My Dreams” on Aug. 31 at The Theatre in Solaire.

In a presscon, the 41-year-old crooner recalled the best and most challenging moments throughout his decades-long career.

One of the most memorable moments for him was when he did theatrical stints abroad and starred in the 2004 superhero film “Mars Ravelo’s Lastikman: Unang Banat.”

“When I went to London for (‘Here Lies Love’) at the Royal National Theater, I felt that it was very rare to perform at the National Theater and I was given the opportunity to perform. I really treasured it,” the pop balladeer shared.

“When Viva, si Boss Vic (del Rosario Jr.), gave me ‘Lastikman,’ it was unforgettable for me. Because until now, there are some who would forward (movie clips). May mga bata pa rin na nakakapanood so nakakatuwa. And I think, also in theater, I’m very blessed to be given such projects,” he added.

The most challenging part of his career was when GMA Network’s variety show “Sunday All Stars” ended. He was one of the program’s mainstays as co-host and performer. He flew to New York City to study music video editing after the show went off air.

“I went to school because parang nataranta ako, like, ‘What would I do?’ The show was put off air kasi matagal akong nag-Sunday show. So from ‘ASAP’ to GMA, continuous kasi yung Sunday show and then it ended abruptly. I didn’t know what to do.”

But it came as a “blessing in disguise” as Mark was offered by their New York-based director to reprise his role as Ferdinand Marcos in the David Byrne musical “Here Lies Love” in Seattle in 2017. “And I told myself that, what they said was true, you have to show up for the opportunities, sometimes. It was like dapat makita ka para maalala ka.”

Among the things that he would still like to achieve in his profession is to do a Cinemalaya film to test his acting skills, pen a hit song for a new artist and make an original