RAQUEL
MANILA, JANUARY 16, 2012
(STAR) FUNFARE UPDATE By Ricardo F. Lo - Her left foot in brace,
injured while skateboarding in the US, Charice opens her mom Raquel Pempengco's
belated 'debut' (at 40) with Louder, a song from her own album
Better late than never.
Because her mom, Raquel Pempengco, was never able to celebrate her 18th
birthday in a grand style due to lack of funds, her daughter Charice saw to it
that Raquel would have her belated "debut" when she turned 40.
With black as motif, the party was held last Saturday night at a resort in
Sta. Rosa, Laguna, complete with the amenities of a "debut," including the
offering of 18 Roses, 18 Candles, 40 Gifts and, yes, a Cotillion, with the
mother and daughter's kababayan as participants together with a few showbiz
celebrities, only two of them, Charice's contemporaries Rap Salazar and Makisig
Morales, were able to make it.
The venue was far from Manila (two hours drive, traffic included) and that,
plus the fact that the invitations came too late (a day before the event), must
have prevented other $0 Gifts participants from going including Charo Santos,
Dr. Vicki Belo, Boy Abunda and Kris Aquino.
But the party proceeded without any hitch, kicked off by Charice's Philippine
manager Grace Mendoza who thanked the guests for helping the "debutante"
celebrate probably the most wonderful night of her life — "My mom's dream come
true," said Charice. Raquel was radiant in her Avel Bacudio gown, smiling like a
blushing (real) debutante, as she was escorted by son Carl. She was teary-eyed
as she listened to Charice dedicate the song You Are So Beautiful To Me, after
she sang Louder (from her own album) at the start of the party.
Before the party, Funfare Update did a one-on-one with Charice who was
wearing a brace around her left foot which was injured during a skateboarding
incident in the US. She was on a wheelchair when she arrived on a PAL flight
from L.A. early Tuesday morning last week, and on crutches when she arrived at
the party.
Why a debut for your mom at 40?
"It was my idea. My mom didn't experience a debut on her 18th birthday. It's
my way of thanking her for everything that she has done and is doing to me."
Why black as motif?
"Black and red are my mom's favorite colors. Pero hindi naman okey na
naka-pula kami dahil kamamatay lang ni daddy (Ricky Pempengco, Charice's
estranged father, was killed in October last year. — RFL)."
Di ba maganda na nagkabati kayo ng relatives mo sa father side dahil sa
trahedyang 'yon?
"'Yon nga, eh. Bakit kailangan pang mangyari ang ganoon para magkaayos at
magkasama-sama kam?"
Aside from this party, what other gift did you give your mom?
"An iPhone 4S kasi mahilig siya mag-collect ng phones. It's also useful para
palagi kami makapag-usap because I'm based in the US and she's here managing
some business; inaayos niya ang building na ipinapatayo namin."
Kumusta ang buhay 'Tate?
"Okey naman because I'm learning how to be independent. I do everything
myself…cleaning the house, preparing my food and doing the groceries, pati
pagtapon ng basura. I'm learning how to budget my money."
Your picture on the cover of Preview magazine generated a controversy
because according to some people hindi mo na raw kamukha.
"Ano pa ba ang maaasahan mo? Siguro nanibago sila dahil naka-bangs ako.
Actually, all they did was erase the pimple on my face. Palagay ko part na ng
culture ng ibang tao na punahin ang anumang gawin ko. What can I do?
Nagpapasalamat na lang ako na at least nalalagay pa rin sa news ang pangalan
ko."
Daming nangyari sa buhay mo n'ung 2011. What's the best lesson that you
learned from it?
"Na huwag mag-skateboard, hehehehe!" (Seriously now) "I think I should focus
even more on my career." (Charice is leaving on Wednesday, Jan. 18, maybe after
the shoot for a Valentine special for GMA. She's also scheduled to do concerts
in Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan in March.)
What about her love life? Mayroon na bang Valentine?
"Wala pa po. For me, it doesn't really matter kung sino man ang dumating."
(She's turning 20 in May.)
Towards the end of the interview, Charice admitted that she's not perfect,
"tao lang po ako," so she may unwittingly displease people, and thanked those
who continue to support her, assuring them that she's always been the same
Charice.
Participants in the offering of the 40 Gifts were asked to explain their
gifts. What I found most meaningful was the message from Bum Tenorio, assistant
editor of this paper's Sunday section Allure and the Pempengcos' neighbor and
old friend, and Charice's ninong (like your columnist).
He gave Raquel camote chips and banana chips and some banaba tea from nearby
EchoStore. Asked why, Bum said, "The chips should remind her of our past, that
deep inside she's still a probinsyana. Like Charice who may have acquired an
American accent, when she goes back to our beloved Barrio Gulod in Cabuyao,
Laguna, she should still have our barrio accent."
Well said. Charice should bear that in mind.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
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