MANILA - Christian Bautista is set to perform songs of hope at the ASEAN-Japan Music Festival this November 28.
The festival, dubbed as "Music for Healing After the Earthquake," aims to deliver hope and courage through music to all the people affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake.
It will be held at the NHK Hall in Shibuya, Japan.
Bautista said he can relate to the message of the festival after the Philippines was hit by a strong earthquake and super typhoon "Yolanda" (international name Haiyan).
He said he dedicates his songs to his countrymen.
"It's a friendship festival to thank other countries who helped Japan during their crisis time. Kasi noong time noong tsunami, ang tindi din ng nangyari sa kanila. I don't want to compare 'Yolanda' and the tsunami, both are bad. Pero ngayon nakaka-recover na sila at naniniwala ako na makaka-recover din tayo at darating din tayo diyan.
"Tayo naman 'yung magpapa-music festival salamat sa tulong ng mundo sa atin, kasi ang mundo ay tumutulong. Problema na lang ngayon, sana ma-distribute lahat," said Bautista, who was personally invited by the Japan embassy to be a part of the festival.
Bautista said that aside from just performing, he will do his part to ask help from Japan for "Yolanda" victims.
"The Japanese embassy called us up and told me that they personally wanted me to be on the show. But this was before the earthquake, before Yolanda. So the original plan was to go there, we will help you as you are rebuilding yourself.
"Ngayon, iba na. I'm gonna go there now. I want to know how you rebuild yourself and please continue to help us naman because now we are experiencing something really, really terrible in our country. It's now an appeal. Please continue to help us kasi we need a lot. I mean, billions of pesos are coming pero we need more, so whatever aid that you can give," he said.
After his performance in Japan, Bautista will return as Prince Christopher in the Resorts World production of "Cinderella," which stars Karylle.
