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Although Christian Bautista lives in a condo in Bonifacio Global City, he still calls his family’s ancestral house in Imus home
With his constantly busy schedule, award-winning singer and actor Christian Bautista has chosen to move into a condo in Bonifacio Global City to be closer to work. But the place he truly calls home is the 500-square-meter Bautista heritage home located in Imus, Cavite.
The property, which dates as far back as the Second World War, was his grandparents’, but it is currently being occupied by his parents, Ebert and Jo, and his youngest brother, Jordan. In an interview with MyProperty Magazine, Christian shared his thoughts on helping to revitalize their historical abode, as well as possibly getting his feet wet in the landscape architecture industry.
Please tell us something about the house.
This was my grandparents’ house, and then ni-renovate na lang para maging family house namin. The main façade of the house, para siyang ranch. Para siyang log cabin na nakita ni Papa sa magazine, so nagustuhan niya, pinagawa niya sa architect. Yung dati medyo naanay na kasi, so we had to reinforce them. Yung feel na lang, ginaya ni Papa through treated coco lumber. So mura siya, hindi siya ganon kamahal. Mukha lang siyang mahal kasi sa paint and constant treatment.
You studied landscape architecture back in college. What was your main contribution to the overall design of your home?
Pag ako kasi nagde-design ng house nung nasa college pa ako, gusto ko may function lagi, hindi lang siya aesthetic, so the main contribution na nagawa ko is the pathway (motions to a pebbled path in front of the house). Pwede siyang walking path na pwede kang mag-stroll, pwede kang mag-relax, pero ang function niya, pwede rin siyang daanan ng kotse.
On that subject, how did you make the transition from landscape architecture to singing and acting?
Mahilig ako mag-drawing, drafting, so I thought of architecture. My parents are supportive naman; whatever we wanted, susuportahan naman nila e. Sabi ng landscape architecture professor ko, “ang dami daming universities offering architecture. Only UP offers landscape [architecture]. You have more chances of getting a job if you stay with landscape [architecture]. So I stayed. And then I became a singer,” he said, laughing. “Weird, pero it all worked out in the end.”
Do you think you’ll venture into landscape architecture again?
I miss it. I miss design, so hopefully I’ll get back to it. I found a classmate who’s willing to work with me, or try to do projects again, so we’ll see what happens. (Maybe) I can use my name as a singer to be an architect. It’s double-edged, parang pwedeng sabihing, “Wow, Christian Bautista designed my garden.” Pero kapag new client, “Christian Bautista? Baka mahal,” or, “Anong alam niya? Eh singer yun,” so I still have to prove myself.
If landscape architecture pans out for you, what would be your dream project?
My dream project would be a central park in a big city. I’ll find a city and convince the local government na “wag ninyong galawin ’to”. Sa Imus, ang dami pang farmland to make a very, very nice central park na talagang dadayuhin, a nice parks and wildlife (development) dito sa Cavite.
Are you and your family planning on making any more changes to your ancestral house?
Oo. Every year may bago. Gusto ni Papa ipa-screen ’to (the porch). Tapos ’pag Christmas kasi minsan nagpa-party dun o kaya dito. May idea yung kapatid ko na lagyan ng proper garage ito and second floor. Si Mama gusto na ipa-change yung windows. The house evolves, especially when you live in it. A house is never really finished. Depende also sa function, halimbawa gusto ko mag-office dito. So nag-iiba-iba talaga.
Main photo by Mark Cris Bautista
Thanks to Carla Eliza Gothong (hair and makeup) and Lezima Fagaragan (interior styling), and to Christian Bautista’s management team Rosalie Abayon, Cris Ojeda, and Carlo Orosa. Special thanks to Christian’s mom, Jo Bautista.
