Kapamilya Spotlight: How Bailey May became a rising global popstar

Mary Ann Bardinas

<p>From being that lanky teenager who easily captured our hearts with his cuteness during his triumphant stint as one of the teen housemates of <strong>Pinoy Big Brother 737</strong> and was eventually hailed as its 4<sup>th</sup> Teen Big Placer, Bailey May has grown to become a talented heartthrob who has already shown the world what he got to the world as part of the global pop group Now United.</p><p>And after chasing his dreams and ultimately achieving it in the past five years, he’s now back in the Philippines to help other fulfill their aspirations, too, as one of the proudly Pinoy mentors of the upcoming reality talent search <strong>Dream Maker: Search for the Next Global Pop Group</strong>.</p><p>But before we get to see him take on this new significant role, let us revisit first his journey via this Kapamilya Spotlight feature!</p><p>Born Bailey Thomas Cabello May on August 6, 2002 in Cebu City, Cebu, he is the firstborn of Cebuana Vanessa Cabello and British Matthew May. Their family moved from the Philippines to Norwich, England when he was four, and lived there until they permanently returned to the country when he was 12, which was also the time when he auditioned to <em>PBB</em> and became a housemate.</p><p>The “Global Gwapito of UK” immediately won hearts with his unmistakable charm and his musical talent which he’s able to showcase when he and housemate Ylona Garcia recorded their rendition of “<em>Magmahal Muli</em>”, which was originally sung by <strong>PBB Season 1</strong> housemates Say Alonzo and Sam Milby. They got paired with each other and was dubbed “BaiLona”.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LaG4ERi0gdc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xz5u6wvJm5E" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p>As soon as he went back to the outside world, he became a regular performer in <strong><u><a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/asap"><em>ASAP</em></a>, </u></strong>wherein he had the opportunity to further show off his singing skills, usually along with his fellow young heartthrobs Darren Espanto and Kyle Echarri.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RdvPachckw8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p>On that same year, he landed a role in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/onthewingsoflove"><em><strong><u>On The Wings Of Love</u></strong></em></a> as Harry, the younger cousin of James Reid character Clark.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F8tqcGlIj0g" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p>His self-titled album “<em>Bailey</em>” was also released that year, which featured his own versions of “Build Me Up, Buttercup”, “Gusto Kita”, and “Now We’re Together”. It was produced by Jamie Rivera, who also allowed him and Ylona to record their rendition of her hit song “I’ve Fallen For You” in 2018.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mMr79HiN_O8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p>In 2016, he was among the half-Pinoy artists who were tapped to join the reality music competition <strong>We Love OPM: The Celebrity Sing-Offs.</strong> He was grouped with Kyle Echarri and JK Labajo under the mentorship of Richard Poon and they were called Team Voice Next Door.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nlcINKVpnLk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p>It was also on that same year when he and Ylona were chosen to interpret the <strong><em>Himig Handog PPop Love Song</em></strong> entry “O Pag-ibig”, wherein they were hailed as One Music PH&#x27;s Favorite Interpreter during the competition.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jYCESLaO890" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p>Aside from the awards they got during the contest, they were also recognized as “Best Pop Recording” in the 30<sup>th</sup> Awit Awards in 2017. Besides, his debut album <em>Bailey</em> brought him the “Most Promising Male Singer/Performer of the Year” recognition during the 48th GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards.</p><p>The 20-year-old promising artist then auditioned for the global pop group Now United formed by Idols creator and Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller in 2017, and was eventually picked to represent the Philippines. In 2019, he stood out and was tapped to lead their song “Afraid Of Letting Go”, which music video was shot in Intramuros and in the premises of Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nTTnNqw1awg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RbZUbbTEgnA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p>After five years of conquering the world with his charm and talent, we got to see him perform in ASAP again, as he’s among the Kapamilya stars included in its recent live show in Las Vegas, Nevada.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LRWdECN9cJM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p>And now, many are looking forward to see him again on Kapamilya TV as he’s chosen to become one of the Filipino mentors of <strong><a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/DREAMMAKER2022"><u>Dream Maker: Search for the Next Global Pop Group</u></a>, </strong>alongside Angeline Quinto and Darren Espanto.</p><div><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="314" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDreamMakerOfc%2Fvideos%2F1325993104874789%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="560"></iframe></div><p>Find out how will Bailey be able to help the “Dream Chasers” reach their full potentials and ambitions by not missing an episode once it premieres this coming November 19 and 20 on <strong><u><a href="https://kapamilyachannel.com/">Kapamilya Channel</a>, <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-news/kapamilya-channel-livestream-12685">Kapamilya Online Live</a>,</u></strong> and A2Z.</p>

Look back on Bailey May’s journey from being a PBB alumnus to becoming a rising global popstar in this Kapamilya Spotlight feature.