Filipino Artist

Christian Bautista

Christian Bautista is a Filipino singer, actor and a Bench model. He is a finalist of the Philippine reality show Star in a Million shown on ABS-CBN2.
Christian Bautista, Asia’s Pop Idol
Christian Bautista is a singing sensation in the Philippines. He has established a name for himself in the music scene not only in his home country, but also in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
First thrust in the spotlight as ABS-CBN’s Star In A Million’s most popular runner-up, his future was sealed soon after signing a recording contract with hit-making label Warner Music Philippines. With chart-topping hits like "Colour Everywhere," "Hands to Heaven," and “The Way You Look At Me,” Christian's fame soared and life was never the same again for the 24-year old Landscape Architecture graduate. Christian’s self-titled album reached Multi-Platinum status in the Philippines and Indonesia.
Christian’s international success began with “The Way You Look At Me,” getting frequent airplay in Indonesian radio stations. The song became an instant hit among the country’s young music lovers, even if they had yet to see the artist behind the ballad. The song, penned by American composers Andrew Fromm and Keith Follese, became so popular that record label Warner Indonesia decided to bring Christian there, to the great delight of the fans whose support for the Filipino singer has been steadily growing and even spreading to neighboring countries.
Last February 2006, Indonesia’s largest TV station, RCTI, aired “Completely — Christian Bautista,” the young balladeer’s first-ever Indonesian TV special. Christian performed with the biggest names in the Indonesian music scene — the famous 40-piece Magenta Orchestra, the young musical genius Andi Rianto, and the country’s two female divas, Krisdayanti and Titi D.J.
“Completely,” Christian Bautista’s much awaited sophomore album, has received a Gold Record Award on its first week of release in the Philippines. The album has spawned hit songs “Everything You Do,” “Invincible,” and “I Can Love You Easy.”
Apart from appearing in live concerts all over Asia, the Middle East, and the US, Christian is a regular performer on ABS-CBN’s Sunday noontime show, “ASAP,” as part of the “Champions” group. He is managed by STAGES, an event and talent management company in the Philippines.

Personal Life
Christian Bautista admitted on an entertainment show called 'The Buzz' that he is currently dating fellow musician Rachelle Ann Go. He courted her for about two years and finally made their relationship public in 2006.
Christian Bautista studied at the University of the Philippines in Diliman and took up Landscape Architecture, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the aforementioned course. He was also a Table Tennis varsity player during college before focusing on singing and going into showbiz.





Kuh Ledesma

Real Name: MA. SOCORRO LEDESMA
Birthday: March 16
Birthplace: Bacolod City, Philippines

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS*
Kuh Ledesma's music career spans 25 years of performances which include more than 300 concerts, numerous awards in the Philippine music scene, and 18 albums in the local recording industry. She was the first Filipino singer to be the recipient of the Salem Music Awards in March 1989. In 1997 she released an international debut album entitled PRECIOUS, a collaboration of the best American and Filipino songwriters, arrangers and musicians.

Her singing career began when she joined Lastiko, then the Ensalada band in Bacolod while she was still in college taking up Nursing. Kuh and bandmates Toto Gentica and Jet Montelibano later went to Manila and formed the MUSIC & MAGIC band. It was her very successful stint performing with Music & Magic which proved to be pivotal to her career. The strong presence of the group in the live circuit paved the way for Kuh to snag the lead role in Alice Reyes' pop ballet, RAMA HARI. She eventually went solo with her first hit song DITO BA.

Kuh is known for her lavish concept shows, putting up solo concerts in venues like the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Araneta Coliseum, PICC and Folk Arts Theater in the 80's during a time when singers shunned large venues because they were difficult to fill.

She launched an all-Filipino concert AKO AY PILIPINO (1982) at the CCP which featured a repertoire of ethnic sounds, classic kundimans and beautiful pop songs in a refreshing production that displayed Kuh's passion for tapping into the rich node of indegenous art as well as contemporary pop music to produce alternative approaches to songs. The show eventually spinned off into a TV special and a double album.

This was immediately followed by another production at the CCP, INSPIRED MADNESS (1983), created in collaboration with film director Peque Gallaga and musical director Ryan Cayabyab featuring noveau musical arrangements and unconventional production design. In light of the state of the times back then it was also here where we see a glimpse of Kuh's political color as she quietly paid tribute to Ninoy Aquino at the end of the show by singing a beautiful a cappella of "Impossible Dream" and "You'll Never Walk Alone" (translation: "Hindi Ka Nag-iisa"). And she did this in CCP yet! 1984 through 1986 Kuh joined the APO Hiking Society in ANG PINOY NGA NAMAN! 1, 2, and 3 at the Folk Arts Theater.

In the 90's Kuh had a series of back-to-back concerts with foreign artists like Noel Pointer, Jack Jones, and Kenny Rankin (and later with The Platters and Michel Legrand). This later led to the popular POWER OF TWO concert series that had Kuh performing with local artists like Regine Velasquez, Pops Fernandez, and Jaya in a bid to show that artists can work together and go against formula in creating a good show.

Kuh has also appeared in films (ORO PLATA MATA, TINIMBANG ANG LANGIT, THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY) and theater (RAMA HARI and KAPINANGAN), and made numerous TV specials including the award-winning program KUH BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

Not content with being just a performer, Kuh has also formed her own production company (HEADLINE CONCEPTS), built alternative concert venues like the MUSIC MUSEUM and the REPUBLIC OF MALATE, owns a recording studio (BRAVO RECORDS) -- thus, giving her much artistic freedom and enabling her to produce and market her own work. She is known for looking out for new talents and helping jumpstart their careers through appearances in her concerts.

Kuh has also brough most of her shows abroad like her POWER OF TWO series and her DIVA2DIVA concert with Zsa Zsa Padilla which toured again in the US last November and December. Currently, Kuh marks her importance in the local music scene via rare, talked-about shows and a co-hosting spot in the Sunday variety show, "A.S.A.P. Mania."

This year Kuh celebrates her 25th year in the music industry through a series of shows at the Captain's Bar of the Mandarin Oriental Manila dubbed as "Kuh Ledesma Presents." Every month Kuh puts up a different show featuring artists of her choice. The series kicked off in February in time for the Valentine season, and with young pop idol Christian Bautista as special guest. Kuh is also set to release a number of albums this year as well as a




Lea Salonga

As a young child, Lea Salonga�s Philippine dream was to be a psychiatrist (�Believe it or not,� she says). Then that dream turned into an American dream: �To one day perform on Broadway.� ( �Got it!� she says.)

At the age of two, Salonga often sang, using the living room coffee table as a stage and using a plug for a microphone. No wonder that in May 1991, she won the prestigious Tony award for best actress for her role as Kim in the musical Miss Saigon on Broadway.

Flashback. Salonga was born in Manila to Feliciano Salonga and Ligaya Imutan on February 22, 1971. Salonga stayed in Angeles City, Pampanga Province, for 6 years and then she moved back to Manila

When she was 3, Salonga�s aunt used to go to their house to babysit her and play the guitar, while Salonga did the singing. At age 7, she made her professional debut in Repertory Philippines� production of The King and I. At age 10, she began her recording career, eventually receiving a gold record for her first album, Small Voice, and at age 13, she won three Aliw Awards for Best Child Entertainer during the years 1981, 1982, and 1893.

From London to Broadway. Salonga played the role of Kim in Miss Saigon in performances in London, where she won the Laurence Olivier Award. From London, she went to Broadway in New York City, where she garnered the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. She also won the Theatre World Award.

Greatest Achievement. Referring to her greatest achievement, Salonga says, �That through whatever I�ve done, the image of the Filipino was made a little more positive, and that somehow, the Filipino was given the chance to smile and be proud. Hopefully, the world�s awareness of the Filipino artist remains.�

Special Appearances. Among her special appearances were in the presence of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II; President and Mrs. George Bush; First Lady Hilary Rodham Clinton at the Women�s Forum during the Asian Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) in Manila; and at the 65th Annual Academy Awards, where she sang A Whole New World, and where the song won an Oscar. She also recorded the singing voice of Jasmine for the Walt Disney animated hit, Aladdin.

Special Skills. Languages speaks English and Tagalog, with the talents of several accents�British (cockney and fine British), American, and Filipino.

Tidbits: Culled from an interview with some people on the Internet at the TalkCity�s Pavilion facilitated by Filipino Today newspaper were the following information:

People She Idolized While Growing Up: The Osmonds, The Carpenters, Olivia Newton-John, and Abba.

Training As a Singer: With Zenaida Amador (drama) and Baby Barredo (drama and voice) in the Philippines and a year in London with Mary Hammond (voice) and a year, off and on, in New York City. �I do sing in the shower a lot,� she says.

Role Model in Her Professional Career: �None really...I don�t pattern my career from anyone else. I just go with my gut and do stuff that I love to do.�

Goals and Aspirations for the Future: �To just continue to do quality work for as long as I can.�

Where to Settle Down in the Long Term, Whether Abroad or in the Philippines: �That would depend on who I ended up marrying.�

Theater Performances: Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Grease!, Into the Woods, My Fair Lady, The Fantasticks, Annie, Paper Moon,; The Goodbye Girl, The Rose Tattoo, Fiddler on the Roof, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, and The King and I, The performances were held in Manila, London, Singapore, and New York City.

Television Movie: Redwood Curtains telecast on national television (ABC) on April 27, 1995.

Filipino Films: Sana�y Maulit Muli, (�May It Be Repeated), Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal (Why I Love You So Much), and others.

Recordings: Her recordings include The Nutcracker, Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert, People, Lea Salonga, The Little Tramp, The King and I, One Earth, Aladdin, Miss Saigon, Lea Salonga Christmas Album, Lea, and Small Voice.

Regine Velasques

Regine Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez was born into a loving and supportive family on April 22, 1970 in Manila, Philippines. At an early age her parents recognized that she was a gifted singer and they quickly enrolled her into local and national singing contests in the Philippines. She didn't win every one she entered, but she did perform well enough for the family to make her success a number one priority.

Why they like her?

Mention her name to anyone who has lived in Asia over the last fifteen years, and take note of their reaction. The panting and perspiration should be enough of an explanation as to why we like her so much.

why is she famous?

To call Regine Velasquez "famous" may not be appropriate for a North American audience. After all, she's almost unknown on this side of the Pacific. In Asia, however, she has the type of star power to make Jennifer Lopez look like a one-hit wonder. Albums like Drawn, R2K, and Reigne have all been smash hits and are the major reasons why she is so revered.

Aiza Seguerra

Aiza started out as a Child star at Eat Bulaga.. After a few years of acting and a string of movies under her belt, her appeal as a child star lessened. She later made a comeback with her single, Pagdating ng Panahon (When the Time Comes).

She frequently performs with her former colleagues from Eat Bulaga and is a GMA 7 actress and performer. She is openly lesbian with a Canadian girlfriend.

Her Popular Songs:

* Akala mo
* How Did You Know
* If
* If We Try
* Ikaw Ang Aking Mahal
* In My Life Medly
* Laughter In The Rain
* Paki Sabi Na Lang
* Pagdating Ng Panahon
* Palagay Ko Mahal Kita
* Put A Little Love In Your Heart
* Power Of Two
* Sorry
* Take Me I'll Follow You
* The Right One

Filipino Artist