Mark Bautista. Image: Screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network
Mark Bautista maintained that he has no regrets in coming out as bisexual in 2018, saying it helped him discover his true friends in the showbiz industry.
Bautista reaffirmed his decision to remain faithful to his sexuality in an April 11 episode of “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” where he revealed that a few of his friends became “distant” with him after coming out.
“Wala kang regrets (Did you have any regrets)?” Abunda asked Bautista, as the former noted that he wanted to focus on the singer’s life after coming out in his book “Beyond the Mark” which was published in 2018.
“Ang hirap mag-apologize sa isang bagay na totoo, like my truth that [I am indeed bisexual], wala akong regret,” Bautista said in response. (It’s hard to apologize for my truth, that I am indeed bisexual. I have no regrets.)
The TV host also asked how Bautista’s life changed after being public with his sexuality.
“Na-realize ko na in terms sa music [and] sa shows, I feel like it’s the same. But dahil uma-acting ako, nagkaroon ng limitations ‘yung binibigay na offers or mas stereotyped na ‘yung role na pwedeng ibigay sa akin,” he said. “I think [it’s unfair] kasi gusto kong gawin ‘yung normal or straight na role. After ng book ko, marami ring nag-offer sa akin na movies but puro BL (or boys’ love). Pero ang [label ko] Viva, hindi sila nag-agree kasi depende rin sa content.”
(I realized that in terms of music and shows, I feel like it’s the same. But since I’m an actor, there were limitations on the roles that were offered to me, where some are even stereotypes. I think it’s unfair because I still want to do normal or straight roles. After my book, many offered me to do films, but most of the genres were BL. But my label Viva did not agree because it depends on the content.)
During the interview, the singer admitted that being bisexual made him realize who were his true friends in showbiz, although he did not disclose their identities.
“Mas na-shock ako sa mga taong hindi ko in-expect na mag-support sa akin, ‘yun ang pinanghahawakan ko. But meron akong ibang mga friends, konting friends na parang naging distant. Meron naman sa showbiz na naging distant dahil feeling nila that I was doing it for publicity. Doon ko [talaga] sila nakilala,” he said.
(I was more shocked with those who I didn’t expect to show support for me, I stand firm with that. But I had a few friends who became distant, including those in showbiz because they thought that I was doing it for publicity. That’s when I knew who my true friends were.)
Bautista first gained recognition after finishing as a finalist in the singing competition “Star for a Night” in 2022, where Sarah Geronimo emerged as the winner.
The singer-actor revealed in an Inquirer column that he’s proud of being bisexual, saying that it gave him the confidence to be whatever he wants to be.
“I am just happy that in this day and age, we don’t need to explain our choices in life or question other people’s choices. We can be whatever we want to be without conforming to what society wants us to be,” he said. EDV