VIEWFINDER
‘Better late than never’ success stories in the biz



By Nestor Torre
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07:09am (Mla time) 12/30/2007

To other young talents like Charice, hang on, you’ll eventually have your day in the heady show biz run.

‘Sudden’ fame

These thoughts come to mind, because we’ve recently seen other “better late than never” success stories unfold on the show biz scene.

The first involves young singer Charice Pempengco, who has “suddenly” become famous because Ellen Degeneres heard about her stupendous vocal performance on YouTube and promptly invited Charice to fly to the States and sing on her TV show—which the phenomenal young singer did, to great acclaim.

Of course, Charice’s success was hardly “sudden” at all! Some years ago, she competed on a kiddie singing tilt on TV, and we remember writing about our being bowled over by her obviously outstanding singing voice.

Alas, she didn’t emerge as winner of the contest, and we expressed our disappointment over this. But, it now turns out that Charice’s success had only been deferred. Even before her triumph on US television, Charice’s talent had already been discovered and appreciated in Sweden and Korea.

So, to other young talents like Charice, hang on, you’ll eventually have your day in the hot and heady show biz run.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view_article.php?article_id=109445

All I can say is WOW...she did great on Ellen's Show...:)

December 21, 2007 06:19 PM Friday

And we are telling you: Charice will conquer the world  

IT was no fluke. When it was announced during the ABS-CBN Christmas party for the entertainment press that this girl had been invited to sing on the Ellen Degeneres Show, a lot were skeptical. That’s the truth. We have heard of local talents who were announced to go international, but in the end, they were all only in the press release. But this girl, who hardly made a dent in the local scene had her first appearance on American television, and instantly conquered the world.
    
She is 15 year-old Charice Pempengco who performed Wednesday on The Ellen Degeneres Show an incredible version of “And I Am Telling You” had the audience awestruck.
   
Charice even made a microphone acrobatics that earned her a standing ovation after her performance.
   
Degeneres hugged her tightly, as if telling the world that she was right when she first heard her sing.
   
Now, we have a new source of pride after Lea Salonga and the other Filipino world-class performers who have showed the international audience that we have talents that could easily make jaw-dropping  performances.

People's Journal

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2007-12-21&sec=3&aid=43232

December 22, 2007 05:41 PM Saturday

Audience ng ‘Ellen,’ napanganga kay Charice

By: Nitz Miralles

Basta

THE last time we checked, umabot na sa 1,305 ang nag-post sa thread ng Ellen, ang show ni Ellen DeGeneres, kung saan nag-guest noong December 19 ang 15-year-old Filipina singer na si Charice Pempengco.

’Katuwa’t puro Pinoy ang posters at lahat sila’y humanga sa husay ng performance ng teener na kinanta ang And I Am Telling You.

Napanood din namin ang performance ni Charice at talagang may nakanganga sa audience habang pinapanood siya.

After her song, binigyan siya ng standing ovation at mahigpit na niyakap ni Ellen DeGeneres. Sana nga masundan pa ang guesting ni Charice sa show o sa ibang shows habang nasa States siya.

May isang poster na nag-suggest kay Ellen at sa staff nito na mag-guest pa ng ibang Filipino singers dahil maraming magagaling dito.

Staff ng Ellen ang nakapanood sa You Tube ng video ni Charice posted by her fan and the rest is history.

People's Tonight

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2007-12-22&sec=3&aid=43282

VIEWFINDER
Charice Pempengco shows the way


By Nestor Torre
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07:38pm (Mla time) 01/02/2008

MANILA, Philippines--We recently caught Charice Pempengco's "command" performance on Ellen Degeneres' self-titled TV show, and we gladly share these notes:

Charice impressed Ellen and the studio audience so much with her show-stopping performance that they gave her a standing ovation. Americans are among the more demonstrative people in the world, but standing ovations don't happen every day on live TV shows in the States, so Charice's performance was truly special.

What made it unusual wasn't only her amazing vocal range--indeed, the US has many (usually black) singers who can hit those high notes with prodigious skill and unerring accuracy. Birit or belting wasn't the only factor that made listeners' day when Charice performed on "Ellen."

We think that what blew their socks off was her unique combination of vocal power and petite youthfulness. That's a pretty rare mix to find on US TV, so it really was cause for admiration and celebration.

Made down

In addition, Charice was "made down" to come across as the mid-teener she was. When she performs on Philippine TV, she is sometimes made to look too dolled up and mature for her tender years.

Clearly, the Americans won't have any of that. They like their child, adolescent or teen singers to look their age--and we congratulate them for that, because itís psychologically astute and healthy.

We wish that our own TV people (and stage parents) would learn from Charice's "made down" appearance on "Ellen" and treat our other young local performers in a similarly enlightened and psychologically informed way.

And we trust that, when she performs again on Philippine TV, Charice will help set a more intelligent and responsible standard for the way that juvenile singers are made to look and act here.

As for Charice's "belting" bravura that so impressed US viewers, we hope that she displays it only occasionally, and doesn't make it the "signature" factor in her forthcoming performances.

Yes, vocal power is truly admirable, but it must be used in the service of the singer's total interpretation of a song, and not merely to stun listeners into rapt attention.

Remember Banig

Finally, we must recall that, in the 1980s, another young Filipina impressed Americans on national TV with her awesome voice. She was Banig Roberto, and everyone went ga-ga over her for a time--but, after some years, she was superseded by other young faves.

Charice should therefore realize that, while "instant" celebrity is wonderful and she fully deserves the acclaim sheís currently enjoying, fame can sometimes be a sometime thing. Unless the young singer and her mentors know how to keep her career on a consistently upward trajectory.

As any star can tell you, that's a truly difficult goal to achieve--so careful and easy does it.

Indeed, Charice can also learn a lot from her US TV "sponsor," Ellen Degeneres. The popular comedienne and talk show host has seen hundreds of promising young talents come and go, so she advised her latest find to fly high--but keep her feet firmly planted on terra firma.

That's quite a trick to pull off, so our young warbler has her work cut out for her in solidifying her gains as she hops onto the roller-coaster ride of international singing stardom.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view_article.php?article_id=109964

PINAY SINGER, ‘NILAMON’ NANG
BUONG-BUO ANG KOREAN SINGER!

Mapapanood na sa YouTube ang second guesting ni Charice Pempengco sa Star King noong December 29, 2007.

Isang popular TV show sa Seoul, Korea ang Star King at ito ang programa na naging instrumento para hanapin si Charice ng staff ni Ellen DeGeneres at makapag-guest siya sa sikat na Hollywood TV show.

Napansin namin na mas “at home” si Charice sa Star King. Hindi rin siya pinilit na magbihis at kumilos dalaga tulad ng guesting niya sa Ellen. Wala rin ang kanyang instant American twang na napanood natin habang iniinterbyu siya ni Ellen.

Sa second guesting niya sa Star King, kinanta ni Charice ang I Will Survive at Listen. Nagkaroon din sila ng duet ng Korean pop singer na si Lena Park na nilamon niya nang buong-buo sa pagkanta.

Pero pinakagusto namin ang duet ni Charice at ng Korean singer na si Kyu Hyun (en) sa unang guesting niya sa Star King.

Kinanta nina Charice at Kyu Hyun ang A Whole New World at para sa amin, isa ito sa pinakamagandang duet version na narinig namin. Teary-eyed ang mga nakakapanood sa duet nina Charice at Kyu Hyun sa kanta na pinasikat ni Lea Salonga at theme song ng Disney movie na Aladdin.

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/jan0408/ent_jg.htm

RUSHES SUNDAY
The year of living scandalously

Big Special

By Bayani San Diego Jr., Marinel Cruz, Pocholo Concepcion
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:01am (Mla time) 01/06/2008

MANILA, Philippines - There you go. Infamy seems to have become a profession in these parts―and it looks, as we recall the year just past, like a very competitive one.

*snipped*

Invitation to Ellen

Fourteen-year-old Charice Pempengco made it to the Ellen DeGeneres Show on account of the buzz generated by her lung-busting performances captured on video and posted on YouTube. (If you ask us, DeGeneres needs to come over ... to find more prodigies like Pempengco with the same style and possibly equal lung power.) Turns out, a Swedish record label had previously heard the girl and flown her to Stockholm, where she recorded tracks for an upcoming CD.

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view_article.php?article_id=110592

Ni: Allan Diones

***

Ang YouTube din ang naging dahilan kaya ang dating hindi pinapansin na 3rd runner-up sa Little Big Star singing contest na si Charice Pempengco ay naging instant singing sensation at naimbitahang maging panauhin sa sikat na chat show ni Ellen Degeneres sa Amerika.

Ang video clip ng kanyang performance sa Star King (isang Korean TV show) na napanood ni Ellen sa YouTube ang naging susi para personal na imbitahan ng sikat na talk show host ang kinse-anyos na si Charice sa show nito.

Ang ibig sabihin ay ganu’n na kalakas ang impluwensya ng teknolohiya sa panahong ito. Sa pamamagitan lang ng isang posted video sa YouTube ay maaari nang sumikat at makilala ang isang ordinaryong tao.

Maging ang showbiz ay unti-unti na ring napapansin ang halaga ng YouTube sa pagpu-promote at pagtutulak ng isang proyekto.

http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/jan0605/entertainment_story_diones.htm

het guys, please visit also charicediva.com and be a member.you can have all the news you want to know about charice..God bless

---

Charice’s ‘one moment in time’ with Ellen
By Ricky Lo
Saturday, December 22, 2007

Thank heavens for Ellen DeGeneres, Charice Pempengco is now starting to get the attention and, hopefully, long-overdue (local) breaks and proper exposure denied her since she placed fourth runner-up last year in the ABS-CBN talent search Little Big Star.

"Before Charice appeared as guest on Ellen," a Charice "sympathizer" told Funfare, "she and her mom, Raquel Pempengco, had to ‘beg' for a chance to guest on the network's shows. And when she did get the rare chance, the camera would just pass by her or, if she was lucky, she was allowed to sing but no more than two to three lines. I really pity her because she felt frustrated. Naiinggit tuloy siya doon sa mga kasamahan niya who got a better treatment."

On Ellen's show aired last Thursday, Dec. 20, all over the US (I'm not sure if the episode has been shown on Philippine television although it's now available on the YouTube), Charice didn't only sing two songs, she also got a big hug from Ellen and a standing ovation, in the process making US-based Filipinos who watched the show teary-eyed and mighty proud of her.

That was, as the Olympic song puts it, "one moment in time" Charice will never, never forget all her life.

As Funfare reported in two "scoop" stories a few days ago, Charice came to the attention of Ellen through a YouTube in which somebody named "False Voice" uploaded a portion of a show where Charice performed. An Ellen staffer saw it, informed Ellen who promptly asked her lawyer, Ed Shapiro, to contact Charice and facilitate her trip to the US. "I want you in the US ASAP," Ellen told Charice when they talked on the phone. "I am your No. 1 fan."

Though pressed for time, Charice and her mom were able to obtain their visas in less than a week, thanks to immigration lawyer and STAR columnist Michael Gurfinkel who made it all possible. Last Dec. 13, Charice and her mom flew to L.A., accompanied by Michael's wife Millie.

Before she taped her Ellen guesting, Charice met with famous, Grammy-winning composer/producer David Foster in L.A. before they flew to Las Vegas to watch the farewell show of Celine Dion.

Yesterday morning, Funfare did an exclusive phone interview with Charice, arranged by Millie, barely five hours before she and her mom boarded a PAL flight back to Manila. They were scheduled to arrive early this morning.

Here's how our interview went:

Funfare: How are you after meeting Ellen?

Charice: Okey lang po.

Is it your first time to be in the States?

"Yes."

What did you do after you arrived (in L.A.) last Thursday (Dec. 13)?

"I was interviewed by TFC (The Filipino Channel) and then I rode in a limousine with my mom and Tita Millie. We were brought to the house (of the Gurfinkels) in Beverly Hills."

You taped for Ellen on Tuesday, Dec. 18. What did you do before that?

"I went to the Warner Bros. where I met Mr. David Foster."

Wow, do you have any idea who Mr. David Foster is? Siya lang naman ang nag-compose ng iba't-ibang song for almost all super-artists in the US (Barbra Streisand, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, The Bee Gees, etc.).

"Oo nga daw po. Mr. Foster made me sing several songs while he played on the piano. Then, he congratulated me. After that, I rode on a private jet to Las Vegas, kasama si Mr. Foster and other people. We went there to watch Celine Dion's concert."

Will Mr. Foster write a song for you?

"Sabi po niya."

When did you meet Ellen?

"On the day we taped at the studio. Many people said that Miss Ellen doesn't usually come out to watch the rehearsal. But when I was rehearsing, she arrived. I introduced to her Tito Michael (Gurfinkel) who was with me. I told Miss Ellen that it was Tito Michael who processed my US visa. Then, she said na ang galing-galing ko daw po. She stayed to watch the rehearsal."

What were the two songs that you sang on the show?

"I Will Always Love You (by Whitney Houston) and And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going (by Jennifer Hudson, the American Idol runner-up who eventually won a Best Supporting Oscar for her movie debut, Dreamgirls)."

A lot of Filipinos cried while watching the show. They were proud of you; we are all proud of you. Did Ellen really cry on the show?

"Yes, she did. Sabi niya nga po sa rehearsal, ‘I don't want to cry on my show,' pero umiyak din po siya."

Who is "False Voice"?

"She's my fan who became my friend. Sorry po I can't tell you her name kasi ayaw niya ipaalam ang tunay niyang pangalan."

What were the song that "False Voice" uploaded on the YouTube?

"She made a face-off between Bianca Ryan (champion of America's Grand Talent) and me and she put it on the YouTube. ‘Yon ‘yung napanood n'ung staffer ni Miss Ellen."

What's Ellen's Christmas gift to you?

"She gave me an iPod. I had one but I lost it in Manila. I misplaced it."

How did Ellen know that you lost your iPod?

"She asked somebody. I was surprised when she gave me a new iPod. Nagulat tuloy ako!"

You're arriving in Manila (early morning). So, masaya ang Pasko mo sa Pilipinas?

"No, I'm not spending Christmas in the Philippines. I will arrive on Saturday and then in the afternoon I will go to Korea to guest in Star Game. They invited me again. It's my second guesting on the show."

How long are you staying in Korea?

"Three days. I will spend Christmas there. I will go home after Christmas na."

http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2007122165&type=2

Charice Pempengco brings honor to the country 

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Who would have thought that a simple video posted in the popular website, youtube.com would make 15-year old Charice Pempengco a celebrity?

Seems impossible but it's true. Through fans who posted her videos (in singing contests) in the website, she is starting to be known in most parts of the country, in Asia, in the United States and even in the United Kingdom. In fact, she was invited to guest in a popular TV show in Korea and even got to meet some of the Korean stars such as Kim Jung-Eun of the Koreanovela "Lovers in Paris," whom she was a fan of when it was shown in ABS-CBN.

Stardom for Charice all started when she joined the popular singing show Little Big Star hosted by pop princess Sarah Geronimo. Competing in the Big Divisions, Charice did not land the first place and had to compete with other young singers which proved to be a challenge for her since most of her competitors were very talented in singing too. When November came, wild card Charice won as the Star of the Month making her one of the contestants in the grand finals along with Makisig Morales, Sam Concepcion and Rachel Pegason. Singing songs from her idol Whitney Houston, Charice can definitely belt out melodies that will blow your mind away. The rest of the world witnessed her talent when fans posted her winning piece at Youtube.com. It was uploaded side by side with America's Got Talent finalist Bianca Ryan for "Face Off." The popular featured site of the belters to date has registered a total of 1,215,319 guests. Watch the showdown at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2asM9yzvEiI.

But singing in front of an audience isn't the only dream of this young star. Dubbed as the next Lea Salonga, this teen star wishes to be internationally known as well, to show the people around the world how talented Filipinos are. And it's a dream that is slowly being realized. Other than visiting and guesting in a show in Korea, she was also featured in the American entertainment show Daily 10 in E! TV and was even tagged as the newest singing sensation. There was also an opportunity for her to work with a Swedish recording label, Ten Songs Productions which offered her to record last July 2007 immediately after Adis Adamson saw her at youtube.com. Charice and Star Records' Managing Director Annabelle Regalado-Borja had to fly to Sweden.

In addition to that, she was invited by the popular, multi-awarded and controversial TV talk show host, Ellen Degeneres in her own TV show, making Filipinos everywhere proud to be her Kababayan. In fact, Ellen Degeneres herself was very excited and thrilled to meet Charice. Last December, the young Filipina was able to guest in Ellen's show not only impressing Ellen herself, but also the studio audience and televiewers. As Charice sang her incredible performance, Ellen intently listened and watched and later on, the whole audience gave her a standing ovation. She performed the song "And I Am Telling You" originally sung by Jennifer Hudson in the musical film Dream Girls. Ellen even gave her an Ipod Touch since her own was lost during the trip to the States. Charice was also in tears when she was interviewed later on since she was happy that the American audience saw and appreciated her talent. Check out Ellen Degeneres' website for a video of Charice' interview and performance at http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2007/12/charice_pempengco_i_am_telling.php. The site has also garnered around 2,013 comments from different countries and people praising and admiring Charice' talent and thanking Ellen for inviting her.

Charice is also the newest addition to the pool of talents of Star Records. With the numerous singing talents that Star Records has produced, it comes as no surprise if Charice would produce and sing platinum worthy albums and award winning songs.

And now, because she is known and recognized by the whole world, giving the Philippines another reason to be proud, she met with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday, January 4, 2008 for a courtesy call at the Malacañang Palace. Honored guests and the media were also there to witness the grand event given only to those who have brought honor and pride to the country.

With the rate she's going, it seems that this young Filipina diva is well on her way to becoming one of the biggest and brightest teen stars around the world, ready to captivate the international market. ABS-CBN and Star Records are truly proud to have Charice as Kapamilya.

http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=20080104122&type=2

Soul, Grit & Energy
DIRECTLINE By Boy Abunda
Monday, January 7, 2008

It was a terrible evening. I was to tape my interview with Charice Pempengco, prior to her departure for The Ellen DeGeneres Show and after her special performance in a Korean variety show.

Charice who? The girl who took The Ellen DeGeneres Show by storm. The girl who may just break the impregnable American pop music industry which has been unrelentlessly badgered by Filipino musicians who are some of the best in the world. Charice, who is under contract with Star Records, may just surreptitiously break into the extremely esoteric American music industry. How? By destiny.

Wasn't it by fate that her performance of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You was viewed and applauded by hundreds of thousands of web visitors that eventually led to her much-applauded performance in the Korean variety show and the top American daytime show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show?

Where does Charice go from here? I'm sure Star Records will take good care of her. I pray that her appearance at Ellen's show will open magical doors for her and the Filipino artist. I wish she cinches an international recording deal with the revered record producer David Foster. I beg every Filipino music lover around the world to buy her CD and turn it into a monster hit. I beg God to make this girl into a global pop star - a much-delayed break for the very talented Filipina artist.

Back to that terrible night of my interview with Charice before she left for The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

It was my last back pack interview for Boy & Kris that day. Everyone was tired and admittedly cranky and petulant. But showbiz is fascinating. You can be dying of fatigue but when the cameras start to roll, you leave every tired bone and nerve behind and you face the cameras as if you were doing your first spiel. In this business, we have no right to get tired or to complain as we do our jobs knowing that we are so fleeting - both our jobs and us. So we smile if asked to, we cry if need be, we holler even if the heart is bleeding or we weep even when we are at our happiest. This is showbiz - where the impossible is made possible.

Bad coordination with the venue of the interview caused the irritation among parties' concerned. I felt annoyed particularly because I looked forward to that interview with Charice. Ellen had already talked to her and to her mother over the phone but they weren't sure yet if they could get a visa so everything was still hanging in the air but not the unflinching determination and the spunk of this 15-year-old girl. (We read later that Michael Gurfinkel helped Charice and mom get their US visas!)

This girl has enough grit to make her a big, big star.

That night in a music bar in Manila, Charice and I talked. She sang seven songs that told the story of her 15 years in this world, songs that spoke about her big dreams, every note, every word dedicated to her mother who has raised and nurtured her to be who she is today.

Exactly what's going to happen to Charice Pempengco? We know and we don't. I pray that she becomes an international pop star. I pray that she makes the right moves, for the road to the bigtime is filled with deadly landmines that can mercilessly kill dreams. But when I saw Charice that terrible night of our meeting - she was unperturbed. She was decided to do a great interview and even a greater performance. And she did. We saw it on Boy & Kris weeks ago.

That energy. That hunger. That soul. They are all there in YouTube, in the Korean TV show, in her Ellen DeGeneres performance. And everytime you chance upon one of her performances, you would see something indescribable that would tell you that she's headed for the big time! Freaky real.

http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008010626&type=2

well sana nga lang mabgyan ng chance si kyu hyun at charice na mgperform dito sa pinas!!!

grabe, if you guys heard their duet, tataas talaga balahibo mo!!!

they are both great! siguradong papatok yung dalawa pag gumawa sila ng album dito sa pinas... besides, kyu hyun can sing very well in english...

 MovieGoer
Nestor Cuartero

BY THE WAY...

• New toast of music town Charice Pempengco, fresh from a well applauded guesting on Ellen De Generes’ US TV show, performs next in a free show at Metropolis Star Alabang on Jan. 20. Charice is holding a mall tour to promote her debut album under Star Records. Touted as the next Philippine sensation in the international arena, Charice is also doing an album in the United States very soon.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=35923

Ala-Regine agad Charice biglang nagkaroon ng twang
SHOWBIZ MISMO Ni Cristy Fermin
Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Unti-unti na ngang napapansin ngayon si Charice Pempengco dahil meron nang nagpa­pa­dala sa amin ng mga positibo at negatibo nilang komento tungkol sa dalagitang kamakailan lang ay naging special guest sa show ni Ellen De­Ge­neres sa Amerika.

Kung maraming kababayan natin ang naliliga­yahan sa mga oportu­nidad na dumarating ngayon sa kanya, si­yem­pre'y hindi rin natin maiaalis ang mga ko­men­tong kailangang mar­kahan ni Charice, para makatulong din sa kanya.

Sabi ng isa naming impormante, "Ano ba naman ang batang yun? Iilang oras pa lang siyang nag-i-stay sa Amerika, may twang na siya kaagad? Napanood mo ba ang interview niya sa show ni Ellen DeGeneres sa You Tube?

"Ang arte-arte na niyang magsalita, matindi na ang twang niya, pero ang sinabi lang naman niya, "I love the people, I love the buildings, the lights," ganun lang kababaw!

"Naku, kailangang masabihan n'yo agad ang batang yan, dahil baka maging junior copy cat siya ni Regine Velasquez na puwede namang sabihin ang mga bagay-bagay sa simpleng paraan, pero kung bakit nagpapaka-American pa siya sa pagsasalita.

"Nakakangawit panoorin si Regine kapag nagsasalita na siya, ang accent niya, hindi mo matatawaran. Baka maging ganun si Charice, sabihan n'yo na agad, para hindi siya magmukhang TH!" diretsong sabi ng isang nakausap naming taga-showbiz.

Ang mga ganung komento ay makatutulong kay Charice at hindi nakasisira, kailangang bantayan agad ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya ang mga ganung bagay, para hindi masilat ang dalagita sa kanyang mga pangarap.

http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2007122567&type=2

grabe alam nyo napakaingitera talaga nung mga fans ng gma alam nyo ba sabi nila mas magaling "daw"  si jonalyn viray kay charice naku tapos ginagamit lang daw ng abs si charice naku napakaingitera talaga ng mga kapuso. na yan epal!!!!!!!!!!!

Special Features (as of 1/11/2008 4:37 PM)

YouTube gives Filipino singers the big 'cyber break'

"I really did not expect that I'd get noticed on the internet," she said. Filipino singer Charice Pempengco cries during a Reuters interview in Manila January 5, 2008. Pempengco shot from relatively obscurity to levels of success surprising even to herself when a clip of her singing Jennifer Holliday's "And I'm Telling You I am Not Going" on video-sharing website YouTube caught the attention of TV host Ellen DeGeneres and Grammy award winning producer David Foster. Picture taken January 5, 2008.REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo (PHILIPPINES)

Reuters

Sometimes the road to international stardom starts with a click on YouTube.

In two of the latest whirlwind career turnarounds launched by the video-sharing Web site (www.youtube.com), Filipino singers Charice Pempengco and Arnel Pineda have shot from relative obscurity to levels of success surprising even to them.

Fifteen-year-old Pempengco thought her music career was doomed when she lost a local singing competition in 2006.

But YouTube gave her the "cyber break" of a lifetime, when a clip of her singing Jennifer Holliday's "And I'm Telling You I am Not Going" caught the attention of TV host Ellen DeGeneres and Grammy award winning producer David Foster.

DeGeneres interviewed Pempengco on her show in December, where she wowed the audience with her vocal range, while Foster now introduces her to his friends as "my new singer," after the two met in Los Angeles.

"After I sang at the show last year, Ellen embraced me and she kept telling me this is the start of my international career," Pempengco told Reuters in Manila last week.

The busy teen now studies for her high school degree from home, while clips of her singing Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Beyonce and Celine Dion's hits circulate in cyberspace.

After more than five million hits on YouTube, she is still surprised to be recognized in the street.

"While I was walking along Rodeo Drive, people would come up to me to congratulate me and say 'I saw you on YouTube and you are a great singer'," said Pempengco in her dressing room after doing a Whitney Houston medley for a local noontime TV show.

"One American told me 'I am now a Pinoy after hearing you sing'." Pinoy is a colloquial term for Filipino.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=105204

January 02, 2008 05:45 PM Wednesday

By: Remy Umerez

A Little Bit

PINOYS ON AMERICAN TV

THE guesting of Charice Pempengco on The Ellen Degeneres Show was replayed and we watched it again. The 15-year-old belter who Ellen praised to high heavens  (you will be blown away by her singing, she says) was flown in from the Philippines just to be in Ellen’s show. It was her first trip to the United States where Charice said, everything is nice and awesome.
   
Charice credits her mom for her singing talent.  She taught her the techniques on sustaining lung power and hitting those high notes which Charisse displayed on Ellen’s show. By age seven, she was already joining singing contests.
   
She rendered two powerful songs, And I’m Telling You and I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston.  Her renditions earned Charice a  standing ovation from the audience mostly consisting of women.  Ellen watched her completely stunned and amazed.
   
Before Charice, we also caught another Filipino talent guesting at Ellen’s and his name is Alec Mapa.
   
His forte is stand-up comedy and needless to say, Ellen was also very impressed.
   
(Ed’s note: Alec’s most memorable role was in the movie ‘Connie and Carla’ and he recently appeared in the TV series, ‘Ugly Betty,’ ‘Desperate Housewives,’ ‘Half & Half’, among others.)

People's Journal

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-01-02&sec=3&aid=44420