Charice Pempengco on Asian Buzz

A Close talk with Charice Pempengco, Filipina Child Diva

Asianbuzz: Thank you so much for accepting this interview. Your fans would like to know direction you will be heading career wise.

Charice: As of now, all I can say is that I am still continuously pursuing my passion which is singing. Of course, I would also love to penetrate the international market and be recognized outside the Philippines - that’s one of my dreams that’s why I’m still keeping my fingers crossed to achieve that goal. I would love to sing different genres too so I’d be more equipped to sing different kinds of songs.

Asianbuzz: Do you plan to develop your music career in Asia first or would you immediately branch out to the US?

Charice: I actually don’t know how I would answer that. But going international really excites me.

Asianbuzz: Gifted with such wonderful voice, who would you dream of having a duet with?

Charice: Whoah! I am dying to meet and sing with Whitney Houston. She’s like my greatest musical influence since ages ago. Hmm..who else? I also like to have a duet with Beyonce, maybe not only sing with her but also shake a booty with her. (laughs). I also would so love to sing opera with Andrea Bocelli.

Asianbuzz: If you’d have to learn another language for your career, which language would you select?

Charice: Hmm… maybe Korean. I don’t know, there’s something with they way they talk that really sounds good to my ear.

Asianbuzz: Your fans really want to know about your experience flying to Korea for Star King. Can you give us a recap from the arrival to departure? (Can you share some photos with us? )

Charice: When I arrived at the airport, a group of Koreans approached me and asked me if I were a celebrity. Then of course, I said no and that I was from the Philippines and was only visiting their country. Then they said I looked like one and they thought I was a Korean too. Maybe because of my eyes? (laughs)… I stayed in a hotel and did some practice for the song that I sung. The next day was the performance day. It was actually fun. I got to meet a lot of Korean stars. I even saw the Kim Jung-Eun. I used to watch her before because Lovers in Paris was shown here before in the Philippines.

Asianbuzz: Can you describe your experience for the taping of Star King? Can you share some interesting or funny things that happened behind the scenes? We thought you did great despite having language barriers with Koreans

Charice: The taping was fun. The audience really surprised me. They were like rocking the whole studio every performance they saw. Of course, I was happy that I got the loudest cheers and yells. It really boosted my confidence to really sing my heart out. Behind the scenes? Hmm, I had a translator which was my first time to experience; I mean that kind of exchanging thoughts and stuff. It was really fun.

Asianbuzz: Did you know about Super Junior before you met them? What are your thoughts about them? (The fans are gushing that you met them : ) )

Charice: No, I didn’t know anything about them, honestly. But before I went on stage, I kind of wanting to meet them face to face because of the things that my translator had been telling me about them. That they are very big in Korea. Finally, I had the chance to meet them after the taping. They were all nice but I must say KyuHyun really stood out because he was the one who was always smiling and talking to me.

Asianbuzz: Some source state that you will be signing up as SM Entertainment’s trainee. Is there any truth to this? If so, can you share more details?

Charice: Hmm…Yes, they did ask me to join them but it still seems far-fetched as of now because I’m still a contract artist with a local label here and it will be until May next year that my contract ends. So that only means that I can’t sign up with another talent agency as of now.

Asianbuzz: Your popularity has reached the US at some level partly because of YouTube. What are your thoughts on that?

Charice: I’m really happy. I never thought I would be recognized outside my country. Of course, I have to thank the person who started it all for me in the cyber world – FalseVoice of YouTube. You should keep on watching his channel if you want to watch more of me.

Asianbuzz: Any upcoming projects that you want to share with your fans?

Charice: In June, I went to Sweden to record some songs that will be released digitally. I still don’t know when it will be released. I’ll keep ya’ll posted.

Asianbuzz: Thank you so much, Charice. Asianbuzz will be launching asian-buzz.com/buzzforum soon. We’ll start a forum for you. We hope you can drop by from time to time to say hello. Keep up the great work!

Charice: Thank YOU. I really appreciate all the love and support that all my fans have been giving me. By the way, don’t forget to visit my MySpace account, it’s www.myspace.com/charicepempengco

oh wow lucky girl...first she got to sing with kyuhyun n now she got asked by SM to join xD that means she can meet dbsk!! ahahah

shes 15 right? i think...
but she looks much older in that pic ><" lol

but thas pretty awesome...she shud really thank youtube xP

man... she's so lucky... being invited by SM as their trainee...

I really love her voice... really powerful...

she's really lucky...
i've seen the video and she was really lucky to dance with SuJu

This post has been edited by ~YingLing~: Nov 4 2007 7 11 PM

Wow to be honest I idolize her coz she met SuJu. Funny thing was HanKyung was the most remarkable one from SuJu, it isn't the first time that Suju has a foreign encounter but since HanKyung is pretty much the 'foreigner' in the group (lol, inside joke to those who watched SuJu's Full House) I guess it's not all that surprising.

I tottaly support Charice now though ^__^ She sure has talent

I heard her singing before, good vocals. Well, she still has a long way to go! I mean she's so young...

I had a feeling LSM was gonna approach Charice after she sang "U" .n. dance to it.
From the sounds of it she seems rather interested but wants to explore her options more plus she is under contract with her other label. but who knows once that contract is up whos to say she might want to sign up with SM later.

Well I like Charice so I hope she successed in her life.

wow... sm ent asked for her to join
shes an amazing singer but then she doesnt seem like the typical sm star

by the time she debuts under SM management tho she'll be pretty old already...but the idea doesnt' seem so far fetched...if sandara made it in the phils...y can't charice make it in korean =)

this is amazing. i didn't know that she's a recording artiste in Philippines. SM is smart to approach her straight away.

it's nice to hear that she thinks Kyuhyun stood out the most...him being all nice, smiling and talking to her.

Honestly I think she should focus on launching her career in North America, she'll have more oppurtunity to shine better than in Asia, she's an R&B diva not a POP diva. Do you think the Korean fans would accept her after what's happening with Henry being the newest member of Super Junior and also with Hankyung having anti-fans? I really think American fans would appreciate her talent more. That's just my opinion.

i've always loved his smile. yaay go this girl.

that would be nice..
but
Philippines will "lost" another nice talent, again
To be with SM Ent. is AWESOME
is a REALLY BIG OPPORTUNITY
but
i still wish that she go back to the Philippines..

omg i new LSM is gunna offer her in SM..after tht performance wit Kyuhyun..
of course dere interested in her..she has such a nice voice!! ^^
i gota say tht is a good opportunity for her to shine...
but too bad shes still sign w/ another comp.

I knew this was coming~
Lee Soo Man won't let a talent like this just pass by...
If she'd sign up with SM I think she would gain as much or even more of the popularity that Henry is getting~
I see her debuting just a year or so of training.
Her voice is perfect~ for me that is...
Her dancing~ it just needs a bit of practice and she's good to go~

Now, the line of the judge from 'Little Big Star' is coming true.

wait!!!!this girl is sooooooooo lucky! promise! i'm telling you! gosh thanks to her....she showed the world what filipinos are really made of! i knew it...i was just joking with my friend about SM signing her up but i didn't know that it was true!!!she was with suju and even performed with kyuhyun my gosh.....check this on youtube!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7fwehVOba4

that is a good opportunity but hopefully she'll still represent her country.

it's good to hear that kyuhyun was nice to her... coz he does seem to be a genuinely nice guy and it is true plus he's got talent... need i say more...

The Star King performance was awesome! Go figure LSM aka "FATHER", wanted to sign her...come on who wouldn't want to cash in a talented artist?...After that performance I am not a bit surprised to hear that SM wanted to sign her. Honestly, Kyu Hyun's voice is strong enough to debut as a solo singer.

Before when she joined "LITTLE BIG STAR"(philippine singing contest where charice joined) my family really loved her & voted for her to win bcoz among the contestants she has the best voice & the most talented.i really cant believe sam won,peace to his fans)

Anyway back to the topic,if she will sign with SM Entertainment then its a big break for her but yeah honestly i really envy her shes going to see or maybe work Suju which already happened & even more good with Tvxq,ahhhh im going crazy! But theres one thing im scared about their fans you know "THE ELVES" & if she is going to work with Tvxq im also scared for her also bcoz of "CASSIOPEIAS" you know they are scary i just hoped people wouldnt harm her just bcoz they dont like her.

GO CHARICE! WE YOUR KABABAYANS ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU! ITAYO MO ANG BANDERA NG PILIPINAS! FIGHTING!

Awww... Her perf. with KyuhYun was good... And wahhh, SM wants to sign her up? Lucky girl lol