My first memory of this name is when someone sent me a message saying, "Charice Pempengco was on Ellen!" Well, I knew right away that the sender meant Ellen Degeneres, but who the heck is Charice Pempengco? I figured enough that she's Pinay, because that would be one factor for anybody in the Philippines to make a big deal out of. My initial thought though that she was a Phil-Am, or at least a kababayan who migrated to the US of A. Who the hell has the opportunity to be on Ellen if your straight from the Philippines?
Apparently, Charice has. And not only in the Philippines too. Even to Sweden (for a digital record deal), to Korea (for a TV guesting) and now to America.
I pretty much ignored the message at the time, believing if she were big news, that definitely wouldn't be the last I'd hear of her. And I was right. Lo and behold a day later, comes a link to a multiply post of a friend of a friend featuring a video of Charice in Ellen. I watched it. and wow. she is something.
But honestly? She's just your good 'ol normal talented Filipina. Yes she's amazing no doubt about that. But as amazed and awed as I was when I watched her, I've seen and heard voices like this lots of times in the country. I have friends who can sing with as much passion and power.
What sets her apart is her age. She's extremely lucky to have been discovered young, because if she was older, people here would deem it great, nonetheless normal talent. It's actually pretty bizarre sometimes to see that people abroad find Charice's singing to be jaw-dropping to even spread rumors that she might be lip-synching. Believing kids her age can't possibly have a voice like that.
I do maintain that she has one of the best controlled voices I've ever heard in a kid. And when she gets out on stage, she commands it. Which makes her far better than the rest, 'cause not everyone with a voice like that has the same spunk.
But would anyone (who didn't watch Little Big Star) believe that she was only a finalist? (Eh sino pa ba nanalo, eh di si Sam Concepcion!) Weird eh? I had been watching a few episodes of LBS but with all the raw talent present in the show I never did remember her. All I remembered was the two crowd-favorites Makisig Morales and Sam. And like everything else in the Philippines, the competition became a popularity vote. and so Charice failed to bag the LBS title.
But what's the LBS title compared to international fame? NOTHING! This would be the perfect example of the anecdote, "When God closes a door, He opens a window." A big window at that. Charice is forever indebted to the dude who uploaded her vids, and she knows it.
Don't know Charice? After this vid, you'll never forget her.
But here's my favorite. Her guesting on the Korean show "Star King".
This was before Ellen and is actually the clip that pretty much gave her a ticket to the US. (Super Junior <3 hehe.)
To Charice, aim high kiddo! but don't forget to always plant your feet firm on the ground. ^_^
