Source: www.philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines - When international singing phenom Charice celebrated her 21st birthday last May 10, she intimated to me that her party was her “coming out” of sorts. That night, she was ecstatic, elated and electrified because finally she was having her “birthday debut,” something that she did not experience when she turned 18 because of her hectic singing engagements abroad.
Instead of wearing a pink gown as she walked down the spiral staircase, she wore a pair of black pants, a pink long-sleeved shirt with a fuchsia bow tie on the night of her celebration. Instead of long locks stubbornly gathered in a bun, she wore a short do that was slightly licked with hair wax, the emphasis was given on her sideburns. Shod in a pair of Sperry, she dashed to the makeshift stage of Cool Breeze, a rented pool resort in Calamba City to regale her 67 guests with a mini concert. Most of the guests were her childhood friends from Gulod, a barrio in Cabuyao, Laguna. Charice was only seven when she, her mother Raquel and brother Carl transferred to this seemingly quiet, bucolic community.
For an hour or so, Charice was singing her heart out, as if telling her audience, if not the entire public, to hear her loud and clear. In her powerful voice, as she sang 15 songs that night, was a message of newfound independence, a clear shout out to the world that she was free, uninhibited, without apologies.
“I feel free as a bird, Ninong Büm,” she told me with a big smile crisscrossing her face before she began her performance. We were at her dressing room, which was filled with a few more pairs of pants, pastel-colored long-sleeved shirts and bow ties. That night, she was to have, as she put it, “three costume changes.”
“Where is this feeling of freedom coming from, hija?” I asked her as I tried to help her fix her suspenders.
“I’m able to express myself better now. I have come to accept the real me. I have come to love the real me. I now celebrate the real me,” she said, expressing her thoughts in one breath, in straight English without her acquired American twang.
“Even if you have earned a sizeable amount of bashers?” I probed.
“Noong bata pa po ako na wala kami halos makain, may nangungutya na sa akin. Ngayon, kahit i-bash nila ako nang i-bash, nakakakain na po ako at ang pamilya ko,” she meekly explained, adding that her financial status now “is still very, very good.” (In fact, just last Saturday, Charice bought herself a silver BMW, which she paid in cash and nicknamed “Captain.”)
“Even if I don’t work for 10 or more years, I know we will still eat. But why will I do that? The only thing that is changed in me is my look, my perspective. My voice remains the same.”
Charice said she is committed to do shows in Indonesia and Germany soon. In June, she will be back in Los Angeles to fulfill some recording commitments. She will also do a show and recording in Japan soon. A guesting on Ellen is also in the offing. She’s still in contact with Ellen DeGeneres, she said.
Charice also told me Oprah knows about her bashers. “Oprah just told me to keep my cool and not be affected. I assured her, ‘Yes, Oprah, I can handle them. My spirit is made of titanium I will not break’.”
She humbly added: “But I’m thankful to my bashers, too. They make me so much stronger. I love them. I offer them peace. And I will forever be grateful to those who have loved me since Day One.” She also mentioned her gratitude to the worldwide Chasters, her fans club.
Charice also said she found a friend in Barbra Streisand. “She was one of those who told me I don’t owe anybody any explanation.”
Before I could ask another question, she ran to the door with her right hand tightly clasping my left hand. She was hurrying me to go to the stage ahead because that night, I was the emcee. And she lovingly requested me a week before her bash to be the one to introduce her to the crowd before her special performance.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” I began, “she doesn’t need any introduction not because she is famous now but because she grew before our very eyes… Charice!”
“Hindi pa po ako kakanta,” she cautioned me from the table in front of the stage, giggling. “Mag-bo-blow muna po ako ng candle sa cake.”
“Never mind, just come up the stage,” I hushed back, smiling. She came up the stage. We held hands.
The cake was presented to her by Glenn Alcabasa Aldueza, a young businessman from Gulod and a very close friend of Charice. Glenn will soon be the business manager of Charice in the Philippines, I was told.
I led the singing of the Happy Birthday song. And immediately after, Charice, with a silent, serene and sparkly smile, made a wish; then she blew the candles on her birthday cake. Everybody stood up and gave her a thunderous applause. Then she gently took the microphone from me, signaled the band whose members were also from Gulod and began to regale the crowd with her distinct melodious voice. (Believe me, she sings so much better now!)
Included in her meaningful and well thought out repertoire that night were the following songs: Hinahanap-hanap Kita, Nasa Iyo na ang Lahat, Ako’y Sa’yo at Ika’y Akin, Bleeding Love, Moves Like Jagger, Locked Out of Heaven, Cool Off, Kisapmata, Mirror, Pusong Bato, Love on Top, Just Give Me a Reason and, of course, Pyramid. When she sang Yeng Constantino’s Salamat, she became emotional. Later on she confided to me that that song was for her mother.
The crowd went gaga, especially when she beautifully breezed through Pink’s “Perfect,” the song, which, she told me during our ninong-inaanak bonding a week before her birthday, best described her life now.
“You’re the man, Charice! You’re the man!” I shouted animatedly in my utmost admiration of a pure and humble talent before me.
Charice, perspiring profusely as she enjoyed her party, just winked at me.
That night, indeed, the international singing phenom was very free.
Well...confirmed na. She's "Charice" no more. Sayang ka te. *lights a candle"
ReplyDeleteWho cares Charice...just who cares.
DeleteMas sayang ka kasi obvious na makitid ang utak mo.
Deletei'm curious, why is she no longer "Charice"?
DeleteKD Lang, isang tibo na singer dito sa US, is very much accepted for her preferences. Walang issue dito. Maganda ang boses ni Charice. Let her sing. Si Ellen D, ang nakadiskubre kay Charice sa youtube at nag guest sa kanya, ay isa ring tibo but very popular and well liked and respected.
DeleteBaka local artist lang yang si KD Lang, 2.39? Si Alanis, pwede maniniwala pa ako pero iba siya kasi hindi naman siya nagchange ng looks unlike kay Charice.
DeleteGoodbye Charice, hello...Charlie?
Deleteyoure the man:-D
ReplyDeleteAtleast she has the guts to finally come out. Mahirap din ung tinatago mo tlga kung ano ka tlga. Well. Good for her!
Deletei'm the man! -xian
DeleteGood for charice. Sana tumangkad pa sya
ReplyDeleteHappy for Charice. I'm never a hater nor a fan, but it's good that she was able to accept her real self. Sana mas maging successful pa sya para mapakita nya sa lahat nang nam-bash sa kanya na may ibubuga talaga sya.
DeleteWell I guess this settles it.
ReplyDeleteIf that would make her happy. ^^ I'll support her. After all, it's her choice and she alone will face it's consequences.
ReplyDeleteTama! Mas masaya na sya ngaun kc makakakilos na sya ng kung ano ang gusto nia.. Can't imagine yung time na nagsusuot sya ng mga girly stuffs then lesbo pla sya
DeleteLalo ko syang hinangaan dahil nagpakatotoo sya... At kung saan sya magiging masaya, masaya rin ako para sa kanya bilang tagahanga... God Bless Her More....
ReplyDeleteGood for her if she's really genuinely happy. Pero sana totoo talaga na hindi ito rebelling stage at talagang ok sila ng mom niya.
ReplyDeleteat least she's genuinely happy, ayon sa pagkakadescribe nung writer
ReplyDeleteButi pa ung mga hindi niya kalahi, todo suporta sa pag "come out" niya, samantalang dito sa pilipinas, kung anu ano pang pambabatikos at pagpupuna.
ReplyDeletePinaghirapan naman niya lahat kung ano mang meron siya ngayon. Just be happy for the girl. If she says she's happier now, then let her be.
-proud pinoy gay
Well said.
DeleteFinally! Good for her na nga! I'm just not crazy sa hairstyle nya.
ReplyDeleteHappy for her. She sounded so strong. Bilib ako sa sagot niya. Sana lang gumawa siya ng paraan para magkaayos siya ng family niya. Sana magpatuloy pa rin career niya like Aiza. Sayang, she's so talented.
ReplyDeleteCharice, ikaw na ang bagong kalaban ni Pomoy.
mejo na teary -eyed ako ng slight, FP :) good job. good luck, charice!
ReplyDeleteIm happy for you charice. :) sana may video nung kumanta sya sa bday niya. Happy birthday charice xoxo
ReplyDeletehahaha..supal2 yong ka negahan ng mga basher..c Charice daw kahit 10 years di mag trabaho makakain sya..I'm sure mga basher 10 days lang kalam na sikmura. Kung sino kasi yong walang laman yon yong maingay.
ReplyDeleteThat's it. We can't do anything. Wish her luck nalang in her career! :)
ReplyDeleteI guess its about time para mag move on ang lahat. Sa mga supporters at lalo na sa mga bashers, confirmation lang naman ang kulang despite the obvious transformation which Charice can't deny kung anong pinagdadaanan nya during the time she was mum against the issues thrown on her. After all, she gave our country the pride that we Filipinos should be proud of. Mabuhay ka!!
ReplyDeleteGod dont hate gays but he hate the sin .. sana dumating ung time ke charice na marealize nya na mas magiging ok kung mgging 'babae' xa . . masyado lang xa naimpluwensyahan ng mga chorva sa america kaya nging don tiborcio xa . well anywy i like charice's voice sna hanggng dun nlng un . hndi ung makikita ko xa sa interview na she is fighting for gay marriage . lol
ReplyDeletebakit ganyan ka magtype? kakairita!
DeleteI think God hates more the way you spell words. Seriously.
DeleteMiriam Quiambao peg mo teh??? I think God wants you to go back to grade school para mag-aral mag-type at mag-spell ng maayos. Hahaha!
DeleteWhat sin?
DeleteNandito naman ang mga hypokrito. Teh, cguradohin mo ang linis linis mo. Remember, sabi sa Bible, pwedeng patayin ag babae kung hindi virgin before marriage.
DeleteI'm sure teh, hindi kalinisan. At mentioning anything about God on this issue is just opening a can of worms.
Logical debate teh, talong-talo ka, so save yourself some face, and shut up. :)
God "don't" talaga. Ang "don't" para lang sa plural na subject.
DeleteGalit na galit si 1:23. Hi Charice!
DeleteAng mga pinoy nga naman. Ngayon ang gagaling nyong magsabi na masaya kayo para sa kanya. anung ngyare sa mga panlalait nyo sa mga nkaraang bi about her. Kung laitin sya dati sagad sa buto ah. Ngayon ang aamo ng comments. Lols
ReplyDeletemalay mo bang sila rin yon. wait wait ka lang kase.
Deletenarealize ngayon ng mga nambabash sa knya na kaya cla inis dati ky charice kc hnd naglaladlad tsaka sa kayabangan nya narin na pinakita nya dati but this time mukhang ngpapakumbaba na xa at kht hnd nya sabihin alam ng mga tao na parang nagsosorry xa sa lahat kc lumaki nmn tlg ang ulo nya
DeleteI guess, matagal din nya tinago ito and now she is ready.. hanga ako sa kanya, mukhang nakaapak ang mga paa nya sa lupa.. and i hope she'll come out soon.. and besides, there is no doubt na magaling naman talaga sya kumanta! :)
ReplyDeletewhatever works for her best :) lets all be happy for her.
ReplyDeleteHappy ako for charice..kung mga beckies nga tanggap na tanggap e..why not her? Wag lang sana masyado mabulag if ma in love :) more power to charice!
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of the butch look but if she's happy then I'm happy for her.
ReplyDeleteAyooown! Sabi na nga! Dapat lang siyang magladlad.
ReplyDeleteWill still support her.. I believe in her talent :)
ReplyDeletetanggap ko na, tutal di naman ako die hard fan nya. sana may vid nung mga kinanta nya. meron ba?
ReplyDeleteWell, finally! I have nothing to say....good luck!
ReplyDeleteOf course Ellen will support her.
ReplyDeleteEverything will depend on kung hanggang saan niya kayang panindigan yan. I hope she continues to work hard kasi money is so very easy to spend, no matter how much of it you began with.
It's harder in her case kasi sa taas ng narating niya, anything less than what she's achieved before will seem like a failure, even if it really, honestly isn't.
she's talented and she's levelheaded..why does her look matter? naaawa nga ako sa kanya nung binabash ang changes sa looks nya. come on people, give her a break.
ReplyDeleteweh isa ka rin nmn sa mga nangbash sa knya.ngiba lng pakiramdam mo sa knya ngayon nang umamin n xa.aminin
DeleteWell, good for her if she's happy now that she has come out. She deserve to be happy. But that doesn't change two things though..she is so chaka and she looks so mabaho. Aiza looks cute, neat and clean. Just stating the obvious.
ReplyDeleteANG YABANG MO INGGIT KA LANG DAHIL DI KA NAGING SIKAT AT WALA KANG PAMBILI NG BMW IN CASH!
DeleteI'm not a fan, but I am very proud of her. Coming out in a very sexist, homophobic world is no joke. I admire her for mustering up the courage to admit to herself and to the world that she is who she is. I like the part where she quoted Barbra, "you don't owe anybody an explanation". Tama yan, hija. If you're not stepping on anyone, harming them, or doing anything wrong, you need not explain yourself. I just hope that people would just stop hating. Ayan na po, umamin na sya. Di na dine-deny. Let's just support her just like people did sa iba pang mga myembro na nadladlad in the past years inside and outside the industry. :)
ReplyDeleteBrave decision, I'd say... inspirasyon sa lahat ng mga closet sa buong mundo! good luck sa career. sana matanggap ng mga tao ang bagong Charice. besides, totoo naman na itsura lang ang nagbago. yung talent andiyan pa rin. & I hope this new 'her' will also teach her humility ulit, kasi maraming nagsasabi na lumaki na nga ulo nya.
ReplyDeleteand yes, sana may video ng mga performance nya sa birthday nya.
A very big disappointment.
ReplyDeleteWell atleast everything was already settled, now Charice can express her true feelings and identity. You go girl! Oh I mean you go man!:)
ReplyDeletei am truly happy for charice ;)))))
ReplyDeletei think she's so back!
Back? ok ka lang? Patay na ang career nyan!
DeleteInsecure? At least napansin sya ni Ellen n Oprah ikaw teh kahit c cristy fermin mapapalingon sa kachakahan mo!
DeleteAng akin lang, until she categorically says that she's a lesbian - that she prefers girls - I wouldn't conclude that she is. Marami namang pwedeng ipakahulugan yung sinabi niyang “I’m able to express myself better now. I have come to accept the real me. I have come to love the real me. I now celebrate the real me.” This does not necessarily say anything about her sexual preference. For all we know, baka ang ibig-sabihin lang niya eh mas free siya to dress and act how she wants, without being bothered about what people think. It does not follow that she's a lesbian - mga tao lang ang nag-imply nun. Until she categorically declares that she is, this does not mean anything.
ReplyDeleteAnd even IF she's lesbian, what's wrong with it?
ang IQ te nasan?
Deleteeh IQ mo rin nasan? di porke ganon ang gustong uri ng pananamit lez na kaagad. and if so kung lez siya, ano ang problema don?
DeleteWhatever floats your boat Anon 1238
Deletei'm happy 4 u charice.advice ko lng sau sana parati klng humble kc kht anu pa itsura mo kung marunong kang umapak sa lupa mamahalin kp rin ng mga tao.sana rin maintindihan mo mga bashers mo kc karamihan sa kanila may pinanggagalingan nmn tlg kc nmn nung nasa ruruk kp ng tagumpay medyo lumaki tlg ulo mo.well bata kp nmn i'm sure kayang kaya mo baguhin yon sana ngsilbing malaking leksyon ito para sau.and sa nakikita ko nmn sa ngayon tila narealize mo na ang mga mali mo.sana bumalik ulit ang dati mong ningning .parang na excite ulit ako.go charice!
ReplyDeletenatawa ako sa mga kinanta nya ang daming daniel padilla he3 halatang idol nya obvious nmn pati sa bgo nyang looks ngayon
ReplyDeletei cant imaginr pano sya kakanta ng mga songs ni celine dion with that looks?!?!?!
ReplyDeletekpag kakanta Celine Dion songs agad. Andaming kanta teh.
Deleteat ano naman ang connect ng looks sa uri na kanta na dapat kinakanta ng isang tao?? karamihan ng love songs ni celine puro tungkol sa love, may binabagayan ba ang pagkanta ng mga ganong songs?
DeleteMeron.
Deleteo di sige, ur da boy!
ReplyDeleteLet her be. Ang importante masaya siya, so maging masaya na rin tayo. And hindi naman pala siya nalaos. May singing career pa rin naman pala siya abroad, so let's just wish her the best of luck. She is still Charice with the golden voice.
ReplyDeleteDiba kapag nag coming out ka na, "HE" na ang gender mo? Bakit "SHE" parin ang ginamit dito sa write up? Ano ba kayong mag becki, get it straight naman... ay sorry, get it gay pala he he.
ReplyDeleteVhaket, nag-undergo na ba sya ng surgery para maging 'HE' na talaga sya? Image at damdamin nya pa lang naman ang kyombs pero may boobelya at floweryyy pa rin sya haha -vaklang kyombs
DeleteYeah! Now what bashers?! Khit mgbash kau ng magbash, still Charice can afford to pay a BMW in cold cash! :P
ReplyDeleteSo, who cares?
Deletekahit ano pang gawin mo, wala ka ng career na babalikan! hindi pa man, you're a has-been na!
ReplyDeleteSure ka teh di ba ang dami nyang commitments abroad ibig sabihin sikat pa sya bakit DI mo matanggap na may isang Pilipino man Lang na sumikat sa America inggit much?
Deleteokay nga eh, kumpara sa mga closet kings ng showbiz, ang dameh teh! mas matapang pa si charice sa kanila, iyong mga nagtatago sa saya ng madir nila, acting lalake, pero mga pusong monay. ewst. wag lang niya ubusin ang pera niya sa girlalu niya, dahil kung hindi, aist bobita rose lang peg niya. pero sa coming out niya, okay sa akin iyon.
ReplyDeleteWell, I hope her new look would give her career, a much better career than the one she had. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteIn fairness to her hindi namn tlaga dito ang career nya, abroad. so we can't say laos sya dito dahil once and for all wala namn tlaga syang career sa pilipinas, she only did guestings.
ReplyDeleteWhen you close your eyes and listen to Charice's voice, you'll only hear her soul singing. for me, that matters most.A pure talent without having a gender issue.
ReplyDeleteKung saan siya masaya, doon siya. Ang tao ay lagi namang may sinasabi eh. "Damned if you do and damned if you don't."
ReplyDeletewho cares? she's a washed out singer, wannabe popstar. wala na syang career!
ReplyDeleteKeribels lang! Basta happy sya at sana wag sya mapariwara pagbutihin lang nya singing career pa nya, tutal yun naman ang talento nya, at mag-ingat sa mga girlash na jojowain nya! Madami mga user now na naglipana baka hothotan lang sya! Mahirap ng maging pureza!. Sana makatagpo talaga sya ng REAL Love..at sana wag maging balahurang tivoli, dami ksi nagkalat na ganon!.
ReplyDeleteyung pangalang charice hindi na bagay sa bagong ladlad.... ayoko pa rin sa kanya kahit talented at mayaman pa sya....mabuti pa doon ka na lang sa ibang bansa para mas masaya ka at pwede ang lahat ng gusto gawin kesa naman magkalat pa dito sa pilipinas wag na dagdagan tambak-tambak ang basura sa bansa natin.
ReplyDeleteTapos biirit ng kanta ni Whitney Houston ganyan na ang hitsura?
ReplyDeleteUu nga!
Deletengayon nababanggit nya ulit si Ellen samantalang dati puro Oprah lang
ReplyDeletepuwede na sila ulit mag guest sa glee as a lesbian. may development ang neneng si sunshine corazon. come on bashers - tama na ang nega!
ReplyDeleteang sabi nya sa interview kahit hindi daw sya magtrabaho ng 10 years ay makakain pa rin daw sila, ganun ba sya ka-rich? lumaki na talaga ang ulo nya.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Charice! Fly high kung san ka masaya.
ReplyDeleteOkay lang nmn kahit 3rd sex c charice. Bashers will always be there. But I really wish she would change her hairstyle. Sana ung bagay saknya. D nmn ibig sbhn trans ka kelngn panlalake na agad buhok mo na kung ano ano. Meron nmn mga hairstyle n panlalake na bagay sau. Un lng. But still the way u look defines ur emotions/feelings
ReplyDelete"Coming out" in the Philippines is hard, more so if you are part of the showbiz industry. For her courage, strength and unrelenting drive to be true to herself, I salute Charice. May she find happiness.
ReplyDeleteLet's all move on. We have a hard time coming out. What more if you are a celebrity because alot is at stake. Which is why I admire Charice even more. She's being true to herself because this is her happiness. She has already proven herself in so many levels, she deserves to be accepted for who she really is. - meow
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing bum tenorio's article, finally a guy who can actually make a good writing.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Charice! Magiging proud sa 'yo si Ellen Degeneres, I'm sure of that! I hope mag0guest ka ulit dun and you talk about your experiences in coming out and finding your true identity. Let this inspire people at sana maging way ito para matigil ang discriminasyon ng mga tao sa LGBT community. Mabuhay ka! Change your looks or appearance, wag lang sana ang iyong lovely singing voice. Kung saan ka masaya, suportahan kita! :)
ReplyDeleteEverybody's happy for Charice's coming out,fine.So who's happy about whatever's left of her career as after-effect of her "male transformation?"I don't think she'll ever hit it big in the US ever again.I mean who will idolize her here,American teenage girls?Boys?And what kind of materials would fit her as a straight lesbian when some straight homegrown American talents could hardly hit a goldmine in their fab packaging.Fil-Ams?Well,there is already Jessica Sanchez who had a much wider exposure via A1 and now hot burning the US airwaves.I say Charice's career is really over the hill now.Buying a BMW to show otherwise is great but that doesn't really prove anything career-wise.I believe her management tried their best to convince her to hold her coming out knowing the would-be impact on her singing career but sorry, no dice.Who have become gay superstars in the Philippines,anyway---Monique Wilson?Aiza Seguerra?Pow Chavez?Kaye of Ezra Band?Lady Diane?BB Gandanghari?Sebastian Castro?They are just happy souls but their career is really nor here or there.Well,let them be.And for Charice,yes,I'm happy for you,too and I wish you all the luck!☺
ReplyDeleteShe needs a sex change para complete na.
ReplyDeleteHe wears really ugly clothes. Akala ko may pera siya.
ReplyDeleteHe/she needs a stylist. Ellen always look good even with masculine touch to her clothes.
ReplyDeletePasok ba sya as "paminta"?
ReplyDelete