JUST like the Filipina international sensation, Charice’s most recent trip to the country was short and sweet. But unlike her previous visits, her security was so tight, even the press had a difficult time chasing her around for an interview.
Charice was in the country over the weekend to do a couple of concerts and launch her own line of signature perfume from Aficionado. She arrived Saturday morning from the US, and just like foreign acts who visit Manila, the singer used a different exit to avoid the media.
Even during the rehearsals for Joel Cruz’s 1@11 show, which Charice topbilled with Gary Valenciano, the singer didn’t give interviews, nor did she hold any press conference afterward. There were even stories that Charice was following specific instructions given to her, and that Oprah was behind the heightened security escort.
But while the press people were left disappointed, her thousands of fans were more than happy to see their idol perform live.
It was clear that the estimated 80,000 people in attendance were all there for Charice, as the Mall of Asia Concert grounds erupted with her introduction. Even Gary V, who had been performing for more than two decades, expressed his excitement in being able to share the stage with the world-renowned singer.
Valenciano said he was honored to be on the same stage as Charice, and is proud of what the young singer has achieved in her career.
It was the first time that the much talked about Glee guest star and Mr. Pure Energy shared the concert stage as they sang Charice’s hit song, “Pyramid.”
After their duet, Charice then sang a medley of pop hits that included “California Girls,” “Bad Romance,” and “DJ Got Us Falling In Love Again.” She then sang two of her original songs “In This Song” and “Reset” before capping it off with a jaw dropping rendition of “All By Myself.”
During her performance Charice told the crowd that she was very excited to have her very own signature perfume line from Joel Cruz. “I believe that Filipinos are world class that is why we deserve something that is truly first class,” she said adding, “I’m endorsing a winner.”
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The next day, January 9, Charice did a concert at the Enchanted Kingdom as part of the theme park’s anniversary celebration. It was only after the show that a few reporters were finally able to get hold of her. In an interview with ABS-CBN News Charice revealed that like any singer, she hopes to get nominated to the Grammy’s someday.
“Hindi ako na-nominate pero marami pang taon, [I wasn’t nominated, but there’s still a lot more years], let’s wait for that,” she said.
Charice could have qualified in two categories: Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the 53rd Grammy Awards.
This year, the nominees for the Best New Artist are Justin Bieber, Drake, Florence & The Machine, Mumford & Sons, Esperanza Spalding, while Sara Bareilles, Beyoncé, Norah Jones, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry are vying for the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance category.
Grammy nomination or not, however, Charice was recently named as one of “11 to Watch in 2011” by the popular Hollywood website Entertainment Weekly (www.ew.com).
“YouTube, Ellen, and Oprah may have helped bring us this pint-size star with the powerhouse pipes, but the 18-year-old (last name: Pempengco) made her own splash on Glee’s Season 2 premiere playing Sunshine Corazon. She’ll be back this spring to wow us,” the site said of Charice, who ranked No. 9 in the list.
Also included in the list are actress Rooney Mara (No. 1), who played Jesse Eisenberg girlfriend in The Social Network; actor Adam Scott; Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (No. 3), who replaces Megan Fox in Transformers: Dark of the Moon; James Newman; Tom Hardy (No. 5), from the movie Inception; Grey’s Anatomy’s Daniel Sunjata; Rapper Wiz Khalifa; actor Michael Fassbander; model turned actor Alex Pettyfer and and singer Sky Ferreira (No. 11).
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/lifestyle/38311-charice-snubs-press