Mark Bautista counts his blessings

Star for a Night (SFAN) first runner-up Mark Bautista has come a long way in show business.

From the plain looking cash-strapped boy who boarded a cargo ship from Cagayan de Oro to join the Viva TV talent search hosted by Regine Velasquez, Mark has emerged as one of today’s more promising young balladeers in just over a year.

The teen idol leads quite a busy schedule with quite a number of assignments – from acting to recording, concert performing and endorsing a major product.

He regularly tapes for ABS-CBN’s Sarah, Teen Princess, where he appears as Sarah Geronimo‘s love interest.

He and Sarah also have a new TV ad out for Jollibee.

Mark is also preparing for his participation in the First Mang Levi Songwriting Competition where Baliw, his debut album’s carrier single, is a finalist.

"First time kong sumali sa ganitong songfest, so it’s a bit scary. But I’m really looking forward to the lessons I’ll learn from the experience," Mark said.

Viva Records has just released the second single off his album, Ako’y Maghihintay, a duet with Sarah.

"Sobrang blessed talaga ako. Napakaraming magagandang breaks ang dumarating sa akin lately, thanks to Viva Artists Agency and Ma’m Veronique del Rosario-Corpuz. Siyempre, nakakanerbyos din dahil alam kong malaking responsibility ito para sa akin. Pero positive ako na makakaya ko ang lahat at lalo ko pang pagbubutihan ang pagtatrabaho sa tulong na rin ng Diyos," said Mark who, his father described, is no quitter.

"Like his grandfather, I told him not to settle for the security of defeat. He should work hard to reach his dreams. He made me very proud when he won in SFAN," Mark’s dad added.