The June 23 episode of “Kuan on One” with Kuantie Melai Cantiveros-Francisco was filled with harmonious moments as Mark Bautista shared his inspiring journey—from his humble beginnings as a young singer to becoming a proud Bisdak balladeer and one of the country’s finest artists today.
Mark also showcased more of his vocal prowess in the “Dakong Problema” segment, “Kuan The Musical.” In this fun, theater-inspired challenge, Mark and Melai drew from two bowls—one containing prompts or scenarios and the other filled with musical genres in which they had to perform each scene. They were also given props to make their performances even more engaging, just like a real stage production.
For their first act, Mark drew the title “Kuan Me Not,” inspired by Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” (Touch Me Not). Mark portrayed Basilio, while Melai took on the role of Sisa, who, in her state of madness, fails to recognize her own son. When Basilio runs away, Sisa realizes too late that he is the child she has been searching for all along. Overcome with grief and despair, she meets a tragic end. The duo brought the emotional scene to life in an operatic style.
Accompanied by a guitarist, the studio was instantly transformed into an opera house. Through improvised dialogue and lyrics, Mark and Melai delivered a theatrical Bisdak-inspired performance as Basilio and Sisa. Mark opened the scene by addressing Melai, who convincingly portrayed Sisa’s descent into madness with dramatic flair. Their impromptu performance earned enthusiastic applause from everyone in the studio.
Moving on to “Kuan to the Woods,” inspired by the hit musical “Into the Woods”—in which Mark was part of the Philippine production—the duo was challenged to perform the scene in a hip-hop style. Mark played Kuando, a boy tasked with caring for his sick grandmother, while Melai portrayed a cunning witch determined to lead him astray and eventually turn him into a dog.
Donning a witch’s hat and a hood, the pair transformed into rap performers. Mark delivered improvised lyrics with a catchy hip-hop flow, trading witty verses with Melai. Despite using a raspy “witch voice,” Melai seamlessly combined freestyle rapping, acting, and comedic timing while fully embracing the witch’s mischievous character.
For their final act, “Bituing Walang Kuan” took inspiration from the classic film “Bituing Walang Ningning,” which Mark also starred in through its stage adaptation. Mark played Dario, a devoted fan of singer Lavinia, portrayed by Melai. As Dario approached his idol, Lavinia dismissed him and challenged him to sing for her. After his performance, Lavinia grew insecure and splashed water on his face.
While the original story is rooted in drama, Melai and Mark gave the scene a rock-inspired twist. Transforming into rock stars, Mark’s Dario passionately expressed his admiration for Lavinia, while Melai embodied the singer’s fiery and larger-than-life persona. After Dario sang, Lavinia erupted and delivered the iconic line, “You’re nothing but a second-rate, trying-hard copycat!” Their high-energy rock performance brought the segment to a lively close, blending humor, music, and theatrical flair.
Catch more candid confessions and inspiring stories on “Kuan On One” Season 5, streaming fresh episodes every Tuesday, 8AM, on the ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel and on iWant.
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