Mark Bautista
Balladeer Mark Bautista is very much familiar with the music and legacy of OPM stalwarts Boboy Garrovillo, Jim Paredes and Danny Javier, collectively known as the Apo Hiking Society.
After all, Mark grew up listening to the songs of Apo as a kid in Cagayan de Oro City.
“I was in grade school when I first heard their songs,” he recalled.
“We had videoke sessions in our house and I used to belt out their hit, ‘Ewan.’”
Those ditties helped him “appreciate Original Pilipino Music” all the more.
“When I started performing in lounges, I had another one of their songs, ‘When I Met You,’ in my repertoire,” he recounted.
If he were to choose the Top 5 Apo hits, he’d be hard-pressed to come up with a limited list: “A lot … ‘Nakapagtataka,’ ‘‘Di Na Natuto,’ ‘When I Met You,’ ‘Panalangin’ and ‘Awit ng Barkada.’ But there are many good songs to choose from.”
National treasure
That’s why he considers taking part in 9Works Theatrical and Globe Live’s “Eto Na! Musikal nAPO!” as a personal, sentimental journey, as well.
(The show will go onstage today and on Aug. 24 to 26 at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, Bonifacio Global City. For tickets, call 8919999.)
“The Apo is a national treasure with an extraordinary catalogue of hit songs,” he pointed out.
“I was excited to join this special project … especially since the Apo is very much involved in this musical. It’s an important piece for all of us in the show.”
4 years in the making
The “material” itself was what spelled the difference for him.
“I love the story! I think people will easily relate to it.”
He noted that director Robbie Guevara started working on the musical four years ago.
“The entire team really took time to nurture and develop the story,” he explained. “I feel privileged to be part of the show.”
Reasons
Mark asserted: “If the material is good and the director is passionate and full of heart, then those are enough reasons for me to get excited about any project.”
The singer-actor expressed the hope that “more and more people will embrace the story, and the play will have more show dates and will be toured in different places.”