Christian Bautista: He did it first, now he cheers on BINI, SB19, and the P-pop takeover

Christian Bautista backs BINI and SB19.

Christian Bautista, who was among the first Filipino artists to break into the global market in the mid-2000s with his songs “The Way You Look at Me” and “Hands to Heaven,” and concerts across Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore, says he couldn’t be prouder of today’s P-pop wave.

The singer praised groups like BINI, now set to perform at Coachella 2026, and SB19, who are slated to appear at Lollapalooza.

Speaking to radar Entertainment on Friday to promote his latest single (“Sa’yo Lamang”) under Sony Music Philippines, Bautista said the current generation of P-pop acts has taken global reach to another level—not just through talent, but through relentless effort and the power of their fanbases.

According to him, fans play a huge role in pushing artists forward—promoting content, making it go viral, and essentially building entire ecosystems around their idols. These fan-driven spaces, he noted, have become like “worlds” of their own, where communities actively support not just their favorites but also each other.

Bautista also reflected on how different things were when he was starting out. Without social media, artists had to physically visit radio and TV stations to promote their work and connect with audiences abroad. Today, technology makes global exposure much easier, with virtual press conferences and instant access to international audiences.

But with that accessibility comes a new challenge: standing out. Bautista emphasized that while artists today can reach the world faster, they also compete in a much noisier space. For him, the key lies in building a unique identity, finding a niche, and cultivating a loyal fanbase that will champion their music.