Latest news with #Cristopher
The Star
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Sabah guitarist rebuilds his life, one song and stage at a time.
WHEN the pandemic struck, everything stopped for self-taught guitarist Cristopher Aban – the gigs, the hotel crowds, the competitions, and eventually, even his ability to hold on to his prized instruments. To keep his wife, daughter, and pet dog safe and fed, he made the heartbreaking decision to sell almost all his guitars – the very tools of his trade and passion. 'It was the darkest time of my life,' said Cristopher, 37. 'I didn't know if I would ever perform again. But I knew I had to survive. I had to protect my family.' Slowly, he began to rebuild – picking up small gigs, borrowing instruments when he could, and finding his way back to the stage one performance at a time. It wasn't just his career he had to restore – it was his confidence, too. Today, Cristopher is back on stage – not just playing but now attempting something that once terrified him: writing original music. 'Songwriting is not my repertoire, but I'm challenging myself,' he said. 'My next goal is to release a single. Not just instrumentals – but something that tells a story.' Born and raised in Sandakan, a coastal town in eastern Sabah about 300km northeast of Kota Kinabalu, Cristopher first picked up the guitar at the age of nine. With no formal training, he taught himself through YouTube videos, trial and error, and the early guidance of his brother. 'I cried a lot when people laughed at me,' he recalled. 'My fingers were too short to play some chords, and I almost gave up. But my brother told me not to quit. So I just kept playing.' That journey of frustration and persistence eventually blossomed into a lifelong pursuit of excellence. Over the years, Cristopher developed his own unique fingerstyle jazz approach – taking him from his bedroom to national competitions and international stages. His early breakthrough came in 2003 when he placed first runner-up at the Bunyi Guitar Festival at Dewan Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur. He later clinched the title at the Tommy Emmanuel Get Inspired Fingerstyle Competition in 2010 and went on to win the Borneo International Guitar Festival in Kota Kinabalu in 2013. He was a finalist on RTM2's Bakat TV, has performed on Astro's Muzik Ekstra, and appeared at major events such as the World Youth Jazz Festival in Putrajaya, KK Jazz Festival (2018), and Sepilok Jazz in Sandakan. 'Each performance taught me something new,' he said. 'About myself, the craft, and the audience.' From 2013 to 2019, he was the resident performer at Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan, regularly entertaining hotel guests and at private events. By 2020, Cristopher's calendar was packed with events and performances. Then Covid-19 hit – and the silence that followed was deafening. 'All jobs were cancelled. There were no performances, no events. We didn't know when things would return.' To make ends meet, Cristopher took on odd jobs and eventually had to part with his guitars – each one a piece of his identity. 'But my wife never gave up on me. She supported me emotionally, spiritually. My daughter gave me the strength to push on. I owe everything to them.' Cristopher is now working on his first lyrical single – a new chapter after two instrumental albums, The Pedestrian and A Stage, A Guitar and a Song, co-produced with Japanese fingerstyle guitarist Yuta Tanaka between 2014 and 2015. 'These titles represent my journey,' he said. 'I'm a pedestrian. I take things one step at a time, one stage at a time.' He continues to perform at local showcases and festivals, including Rhythm of Rimba in Sandakan, and is more focused than ever on telling stories through music. Beyond the personal comeback, Cristopher has a bigger vision – not just for himself, but for his hometown's music scene. 'I hope to become more successful and to bring more colour to the music industry in Sandakan,' he said. 'I also hope more Sandakanians will appreciate acoustic fingerstyle guitar music.' Having already checked off some dream stages like the World Youth Jazz Fest in Putrajaya (2014) and the KK Jazz Festival (2018), he now sets his sights even higher. 'One of my dreams is to be able to perform on a bigger stage,' he said. 'It's on my bucket list – and I believe it's possible.' 'I'm not chasing fame. I just want to tell my story, and maybe help someone else feel less alone,' he said. 'Music gave me everything – now I hope it can give something to others, too.'
GMA Network
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Cristopher Diwata makes hilarious appearance on 'Mga Batang Riles'
Cristopher Diwata, the guy behind 'What hafen Vella,' has made his 'Mga Batang Riles' debut! Friday night's episode introduced Cristopher's character, Shacob, looking fierce in an all-black attire and a baseball bat. The new character came from Barangay 525 Riverside and was hired by Dolor (Ynes Veneracion) to join Sitio Liwanag's guardians. He was confronted by the riles boys after a misunderstanding, but they eventually made up. Cristopher joined the "It's Showtime" segment Kalokalike 12 years ago. A video of his performance as Taylor Lautner, the Jacob Black of the "Twilight" films, recently resurfaced and went viral on social media. He has since collaborated with brands, artists, and content creators who joined the trend started by his iconic lines, "What hafen, Vella? Why you cryin' again? I know, vampire, right? Vampire will feyt to me." Just recently, he was able to buy his own car thanks to his many brand deals. "Mga Batang Riles" is nearing its finale. It airs weeknights on GMA Prime at 8:50 p.m. after "Lolong." —Carby Rose Basina/JCB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- GMA Network
Cristopher Diwata, aka 'What hafen Vella' guy, buys own car thanks to brand deals
Cristopher Diwata, the guy behind the viral "What hafen Vella" trend, has hit another milestone: finally purchasing his own car! On TikTok, his wife, Ronalyn Diwata, shared photos of their family posing with their big purchase. "Thank you sa mga [sumuporta] sa asawa ko dahil po sa inyo natupad niya unti-unti pangarap niya," Ronalyn wrote in the caption. Cristopher told GMA News Online that he got to afford the second-hand vehicle because of his many gigs in recent days, which he expressed deep gratitude for. "Sa mga brands po na nakakatrabaho ko po, maraming salamat po sa pagtitiwala. At sa mga supporters ko po maraming salamat po sa mga good comment sa pagbili ko po ng kotse po para mas mapadali po ang mga lakad ko po," he said. He acknowledged concerns from some followers about the brand of the car he chose but emphasized how far he's come and how unexpected this moment is for him. "Sa mga concern po na dahil po sa brand ng unit na sirain daw po.. Lagi po natin tandaan hindi po natin alam ang mangyayari bukas at sa mga susunod pa po like sa nangyari sa buhay ko ni mismong ako po 'di ko inaakala na makakabili po ko ng ganito. Dahil sa hirap ng buhay.. Malay n'yo po bago pa 'to masira dahil sa mga supporta n'yo eh mas malaking service na po ang mabili natin," Cristopher said. He also humbly asked for continued support, promising to stay grounded amid his great success. "Sana po wag po kayo magsawang sumuporta po sakin.. At hinding-hindi po ako magbabago sa pagkakakilala n'yo po sakin.. Salamat po mga vela, vampire at mga ka wolf.. I love you all... Raket endorsement ryt," he said. Cristopher joined the "It's Showtime" segment Kalokalike 12 years ago. A video of his performance as Taylor Lautner, the Jacob Black of the "Twilight" films, recently resurfaced and went viral on social media. He has since collaborated with brands, artists, content creators who joined the trend started by his iconic lines, "What hafen, Vella? Why you cryin' again? I know, vampire, right? Vampire will feyt to me." He is set to make a guest appearance on "Mga Batang Riles." —MGP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Cristopher Diwata sings acapella version of SB19's 'MAPA'
Cristopher Diwata is not only a talented impersonator, but a good singer as well! On TikTok, the Taylor Lautner look-a-like shared a clip of himself singing to SB19's 'MAPA.' Belting out a short acapella version of the song, Cristopher showcased his vocal prowess. He also tugged some heartstrings by including nostalgic photos of himself with his parents from the good old days in the video. Cristopher's shot to fame began in 2013 when he joined "It's Showtime" segment "Kalokalike" as Lautner's "Twilight" character, Jacob Black, where he performed the now-viral 'What hafen, Vella?' line. Over a decade later, Cristopher's clip resurfaced, causing him to go viral again and stamp his place in the Philippine internet's hall of fame for memes. TikTok users, as well as celebrities have been dubbing and recreating his iconic lines: "What hafen, Vella? Why you cryin' again? I know, vampire, right? Vampire will feyt to me." Since then, Cristopher has collaborated with several brands and Filipino artists, such as Ben&Ben, SB19, and Sparkle stars Michael Sager, Barbie Forteza and Kyline Alcantara, 'Unang Hirit' host Anjo Petierra and TikTok star Abi Marquez. Cristopher has landed an acting role too, as he has now started taping for 'Mga Batang Riles,' where he is set to make a guest appearance. —Jade Veronique Yap/JCB, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Filipino Times
Taylor Lautner acknowledges viral Filipino 'What hafen, Vella?' meme
Taylor Lautner is now aware of the viral Filipino meme that parodies his 'Twilight' character, Jacob Black. The line 'What hafen, Vella?' became popular through Cristopher Diwata, a Filipino impersonator, and has trended again years after it first aired. On TikTok, Lautner shared a video with his wife, Taylor Dome. In the comments, one user teased that he had noticed everything except the meme, saying, 'Bro noticing everything except 'What hafen Vela' trend.' Lautner replied, 'Yup, but it's not your fault, it's mine,' a nod that showed he's now aware of the trend. His comment has reached over 55,000 likes as of this writing. Although Lautner didn't recreate the meme himself, this is the first time he's publicly acknowledged it online. Cristopher originally performed the meme line in 2013 on ABS-CBN's 'It's Showtime' under the 'Kalokalike' segment. The video resurfaced in recent months, making the impersonator viral once again. Cristopher has since collaborated with Filipino celebrities and brands like SB19, Ben&Ben, Barbie Forteza, and TikTok star Abi Marquez, thanks to the line's renewed popularity.
