In the trailer of the historical film Baler, viewers see a different Mark Bautista since he sports a mustache as he portrays the role of Lope, a Filipino soldier who fights in the Spanish army like Jericho Rosales.

"Best friend ako ni Echo [Jericho's nickname] na nag-serve din sa Spanish na army," says Mark to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during the December 9 press conference of Baler held at the executive office of PAGCOR at Hyatt Hotel in Malate, Manila. "The whole time na nasa church kami yun yung one year na magkasama kami nila Echo, kami yung mga soldiers na nakulong sa church of Baler.

"Naging love interest ko si Nikki Bacolod, siya yung naiwan ko sa labas, habang si Echo naiwan n'ya si Anne sa labas."

While they were shooting a crucial scene for Baler, Mark met an accident on the set. He narrates what happened during the scene that was shot in Tanay, Rizal.

"Yung eksenang kinunan namin, yun yung tumakas na ako ng church, yun yung paglabas namin, first time namin. Tumakbo kaming dalawa [ni Echo], ako sobrang bilis ng takbo ko...Umulan sa Tanay, so may mga water [puddles] na naka-ambak dun. Talagang tinakbo ko sya, e, madulas yung sapatos ko, nadulas ako, na as in totoong dapa talaga.

"Parang, naganun ko yung kamay ko," he demonstrates that he stopped his fall by spreading his palms. "Na-realize ko after na ng scene, sobrang duguan na ako, dito din sa tuhod ko, sugat-sugat na ko ng sobra, grabe. Ang sakit ng pagkadapa ko, pagkakita ko dito, may mga natusok pala sa akin ng mga kahoy, as in mga ganyang kahaba [few inches long], talagang kinuha nila.

"Nung ginagawa ko yung scene, sobrang takbo ako, parang totoo na ito, parang ganun yung feeling ko. After ng scene, nung napanood ko yung eksena, napa-wow ako kasi ang ganda, parang totoo na talaga. Sa sarili ko, na-satisfy ko yung sarili ko, kahit na nadapa ako, nagkasugat-sugat ako, maganda naman yung kinakalabasan."

After that, did they continue with his scene?

"Na-cut na after ng eksena na yun, yun lang kasi yung kukunan. Afterwards, nagpabili sa drug store ng antibiotic, tapos agua oxinada, mga plaster."

Aside from Baler, what are his other projects?

"May concert, may show pa rin. Sa December 19, may concert kami titled All Those Ballads, with Nonoy Zuñiga and Basil Valdez, kaming tatlo sa Music Museum. Next year, sa February, hopefully may Valentine show rin. Tapos, yung album pa ko then may dalawang movie ako next year. Yung Civil Status: Single ni Rufa Mae Quinto and yung kay Robin, yung Sundo.

Mark is seen once a week on the TV variety show ASAP ‘08. Is he happy with the way his career is going?

"Oo, sobrang happy ako, I mean sobrang blessed ako with projects and, kahit papano, nag Singing Bee pa ako. Parang okay ito, ha, exposure din. In Singing Bee, muntik ko na makuha yung P1 million, one song na lang talaga, four songs kasi dapat. Babalik ako next week for another try."

How is Mark's lovelife now?

"Okay pa ako, na parang ine-enjoy ko pa naman ang pagiging single. Wala pa siguro talaga akong ma-meet na talagang, yung tamang tao or perfect na tao. Yung makakaintindi sa akin at maiintindihan ko rin. I'm sure darating din yun, pero sa ngayon, mahirap kasi na pilitin ko yung sarili ko. May mga friends din naman ako, at siguro maganda na mag-start naman talaga kayo as friends."