Charice Cancels Performance in DFF Singapore to Grieve with Family

Our deepest condolences to Charice. We pray for you and your family.
May God give you strength and peace during this trying period.

From abc-cbnnews.com:

MANILA, Philippines - International singing sensation Charice cancelled her upcoming performance in Singapore, as she grieves over the death of her father Ricky Pempengco.

Charice made the statement on her official Twitter account, just after she found out about the murder of her father.

The singer apologized to her fans in Singapore who want to see her perform, but she explained that she needs to go back to Manila to be with her family, who are in mourning.

"I am very sorry to all my fans from Singapore. I am not going to be there to be part of David Foster and Friends concert. I have to go back to the Philippines as soon as possible to be with my family. I hope you all understand. I love you all and I will see you next year," Charice said.

In a related article, abs-cbnnews.com reports:

MANILA, Philippines - Charice's mother Raquel Pempengco burst into tears after she found out that her children's biological father Ricky was killed in a stabbing incident Monday night.

...Ricky was once described by Raquel as a violent husband. She also has a son by Ricky.

Raquel left Ricky years ago, bringing along her kids.

In 2008, a drama about Charice's life was shown on Maalaala Mo Kaya's episode "Ice Cream."

Raquel said she had not communicated with Ricky for a long time.

"Hindi kami nagkausap at wala kaming koneksyon," she said.

Asked if she has already forgiven her husband, Raquel replied: "Matagal ko na siyang napatawad."

"Kung bakit masakit pa din sa akin at kung mayroon pa din bang love para sa kanya, siyempre ama siya ng anak," she added.

An Open Letter to Charice from her Godfather

From Philstar.com:

A letter to Charice

Dear Cha,

You made me proud as your Ninong all the more after I saw you at the David Foster and Friends (DFF) concert Tuesday night. How mature your voice is now. I must say that, indeed, you’re every inch an international star.

Thank you for the backstage pass your mother Raquel gave me. In the middle of the concert, I had a field day roaming around the backstage of Smart-Araneta Coliseum. I went inside your dressing room to say hi but you weren’t there when I entered. But just the same, I stayed in your room even for a while. I sat on a comfy sofa and for a minute remembered how it was before for you when you were not yet “discovered” and “loved” by the world.

I must say your dressing room in Araneta that night was big. I thought it was bigger than the first apartment where you stayed in Gulod. Well, you and I will agree that your dressing room in Araneta was so much bigger than the toilet of a network where you used to change clothes when you had TV guestings. I remember you peeping in the solo dressing rooms of established stars, hoping that you would have your own one day, with your name plastered on the door. God is good He heard your pleas. As I always tell you, good things happen to good people. I hope you remain your good, humble self all the time. I hold no reservation that, despite your fame and yes, fortune, that is still achievable.

Thank you for the two tickets that Tita Grace Mendoza (your manager) sent to the house. Tita Christine (Dayrit) and I had a glorious view of the concert. Our vantage point was reminiscent of the night when you came to the house to entertain us with more than 30 songs.

At the DFF in Manila, we enjoyed the comedic repartees of David and the voices of Russel Watson, Ashanti, Philip Bailey and Michael Bolton. Pero syempre, Tita Christine and I were eagerly waiting for you. When the lights on stage were dimmed for a while, we knew it was your turn to sing. We were hoping David would give you the same superlatives when he introduced you the way he did for the others. Instead, when the houselights were turned on, you were there already on center stage. It was when David said nothing at all for your introduction that he said it all no need to introduce you because you are already a household name, you are already a star.

You had not yet opened your mouth to sing but the Big Dome was already ripped off with the thunderous applause of the crowd. And I must say, I give it to your loyal and loving fans the “Chasters” for giving you the loudest ovation. The Chasters went loco, too, when you acknowledged them after your very heartfelt rendition of Power of Love.

I heard you sing that song in your apartment in Gulod in 2003 or 2004. We were in the terrace of your rented house. Your mother was unrelenting because she always asked you to repeat the song from the top every time you missed a high note or when you are not breathing properly as you sang. When I thought it was already a good rendition, your mother your mentor and critic was always ready to give her constructive comments. So, the whole day, you were singing Power of Love. And there, at that moment, I discovered all the more your “power” and more so the “love” for you of your mother.

I miss laughing with you...

When I caught you at the side of the stage, you were preparing for your next number a duet with Michael Bolton. You were surprised to see me. Like little kids, we were jumping up and down as we were huddled in a tight embrace. You talked to me in English and I jokingly admonished you to talk to me in Tagalog. (By the way, your English now is very good. A lot better than when you asked me to teach you English before. Haha.) You were thankful that I came that night. I admit, that second DFF in Manila was your first concert that I saw.

I left the backstage when you started to sing The Prayer with Michael Bolton. I sat beside your mom and together we watched you sing and soar. Your mom was teary eyed. She remains your beacon of hope, your will to survive, your lighthouse when your sailing is threatened by long, dark nights. In your mother’s eyes, you remain her “Minggay.” You should have seen how tears welled up in her eyes, filled with love for the daughter who, together with your brother Carl, means the world to her.

Take care of yourself wherever you go when you do your own, ehem, world tour soon. You’ve really gone a long way from the days when we would ride pedicabs around the village. Gone, too, were the days when, after your school, you would sell isaw in front of Gulod Elementary School just so you would have allowance the following day. I hope to one day see your school, the Southern New Hampshire University in Boston, where you are pursuing a degree in Communication Arts as an online scholar student.

I am confident you will keep that humility in your heart. The more you keep your feet on the ground, the more you will be blessed. I will repeat, good things happen to good people.

More beautiful things await you, Cha. God bless you.

Love,

Ninong Bum

Read the full article

Other Charice articles by the same author:

A 'Telephone' conversation with Sunshine Corazon, October 10, 2010
The Charice I Know, May 30, 2010
'Gusto mo bang maging kumare si Oprah?', May 2, 2010
Charice, February 8, 2009

Updated: (Video Playlist) Charice in David Foster & Friends - Jakarta, Indonesia 2011

Available videos of Charice's performances in David Foster and Friends Asia Tour 2011 (Indonesia): Power of Love, Louder, Earth Song

Charice & Michael Bolton's "The Prayer", a Show-Stopper

From Philstar.com:

When Bolton’s turn came, he materialized from the entrance, mixed with the audience and had his picture taken with some fans while he was singing and proceeded to the stage for more of his well-loved songs, including When A Man Loves A Woman and To Love Somebody.

And then came Charice, opening her set with Power Of Love and ending it with a number from her new (second) album Infinity which was released in Japan and instantly made it to the Top 10 Hits (in the US?), which, according to Foster, “makes Charice the first Asian ever,” and a Filipino at that, to score such a hit.

Hands-down show-stopper was the The Prayer duet of Charice and Bolton whose blended voices sounded so heavenly that they made you feel like, yes, you were in heaven.

Go to source

Watch the heavenly duet below:

Updated: (Video Playlist) Charice in DFF Manila, 25 Oct 2011

Charice's performances in the David Foster and Friends Asia Tour 2011 in Manila, Philippines, on 25 October 2011

We are posting a playlist instead of the individual videos so that loading of this page will be quicker.



Uploader's description:

The One and Only Hit-Man David Foster and Friends was in concert on October 25, 2011 at the Araneta Coliseum, Manila of the Philippines. C-H-A-R-I-C-E is the second to last performer in the show singing four songs: "Power of Love", "Stand up for Love", "UnBreak My Heart", and "Louder". Then at end of the show, she performed a duet with Michael Bolton for "The prayer" and concluded the concert with "the Earth Song" with all other artists.

(Updated/Corrected) Charice Gives Back: Includes Talented Filipino Aeta Boy in Her December Solo Concert

From ABS CBN News / Yahoo News Philippines:

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED/CORRECTED) – International singing sensation Charice will be performing with Aeta singing boy Arjohn Gilbert in her solo concert in December, not tonight during "The Hitman Returns: David Foster and Friends" as he had expected.

This was confirmed to abs-cbnNEWS.com by Gilbert’s manager, Joy Maranan.

“Ang sabi ni Charice, magpeperform si Gilbert sa December 2, sa major concert niya,” she said.

Maranan said Gilbert will attend tonight's concert at the Araneta Coliseum as a special guest.

Gilbert had told abs-cbnNEWS.com early Tuesday morning that he would be performing with Charice.

Gilbert had said he prepared for tonight's show to impress Charice as well as other international artists.

"Masaya po ako. Talagang sobrang saya. Parang hindi ako nakatulog sa excitement," Gilbert had said. He even attended voice and dance lessons for the concert.

Last August, Charice asked her fans to find the talented Aeta boy from Clark, Pampanga.

Charice invited Gilbert to perform with her after she saw a video of the latter singing Justin Bieber's hits.

Source

David Foster on Charice: "I love having her and she loves being with me and that's not going to change."

From PEP:

David Foster denied reports claiming that his upcoming concert with Charice would be the last time that they would perform together.

The Grammy award-winning record producer clarified that he can still work with Charice even though they are now part of different record labels.

David arrived in the Philippines last Sunday night, October 23, for the Manila leg of the David Foster And Friends concert that will take place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum this Tuesday, October 25.

The other singers who will perform in the concert include Ashanti, Philip Bailey, Russel Watson, and Michael Bolton.

"No, that kinda got misunderstood, probably 'coz of the translation. I've been with Warner Music for 26 years.

"September 30 is my last day with Warner and December 1st will be my first day with Universal Records," explained David during the concert's press conference held yesterday, October 24, at the Marriott Hotel, Resorts World Manila.

"Come December 1st, I won't be able to produce for Charice anymore because I can't take her with me. She's staying at Warner and I'm going to Universal [Records].

"But as for touring, I hope for many, many years we will always tour together [as long as] she has the time. She tours on her own.

"I love having her and she loves being with me and that's not going to change."

For her part, Charice says that her loyalty with remain with David, regardless of which label he signs up with.

"I always tell David that I'm always here for him. He's always been there for me and whatever he wants to do with me, I'm in. We're a team."

She later added, "Ang paghihiwalay, hindi yun mangyayari kahit lilipat siya sa Universal [Records].

"Pag may show siya, pag kinausap naman niya ako, nandun ako. Pag kailangan ko siya, nandiyan naman siya.

"Nandiyan pa rin naman kami para sa isa't isa kasi he's my godfather."

Read the rest of the article

Updated: (Photos & Videos) Charice on late-night Philippine TV, 25 Oct 2011

Photos that first came in:

Charice interview:


David interview:

Charice Funny Interview on Malaysian Radio, 21 Oct 2011

Charice talks about her album Infinity and what she thinks of everything that has happened in her life so far.

The radio hosts then "subjected" her to a "speed round" or word association type of questions which Charice candidly answered. Some of it are:

Home is in...
Wow, the plane?

Who's funnier, Michael Buble or David Foster?
Do I really have to answer this one?

Who's cooler, Ellen or Oprah?
Oh, I can't answer that... Why are you asking me a lot of hard questions? (chuckles) They're both cool.

When I am not working, I am...
Playing Xbox

One of my closest and most famous friends is...
David (falters, chuckles)...David...I just hang out with nice people

When i'm angry, I do what?
I talk to my dog...

When I'm happy, I do what?
Go shopping.

My favorite Filipino food is...
That's hard, I have a lot of favorite Filipino food...

My favorite American food is...
Nothing (chuckles)

Charice says she will always be there for David Foster

From abs-cbnnews.com:

MANILA, Philippines – International composer David Foster said on Monday he can no longer produce songs for the Philippines' singing sensation Charice since he will be moving from Warner Music to Universal Records.

Charice and Foster both used to be under Warner Music

Foster said this in a press conference on the "Hit Man Returns: David Foster & Friends" concert to be held at the Araneta Coliseum on October 25.

However, Foster said he and Charice can still perform together in concert tours.

In the same press event, Charice said (s)he will always be there for Foster, who has stood as her mentor, no matter what happens.

Charice’s mom, Racquel Pempengco, also made it clear that her daughter will continue to work with Foster even after the "Hit Man Returns: David Foster & Friends" concert.

"Na-misinterpret lang 'yung sinabi ni David. Kasi magkakaroon nga ulit ng bagong album at magso-solo tour si Charice," she told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

Likewise, Pempengco added Charice can still work with the other artists featured in their upcoming concert if she has free time.

Charice, who arrived in Manila Monday afternoon for the October 25 concert, has a platinum award from Warner Philippines for selling 50,000 copies of her self-titled international album.

Updated 2x: (Photos & Videos) Charice Arrives in Manila, Philippines for DFF Concert

Another video added:



Charice with her family:

Philippine television coverages of Charice's arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila:





At the press conference:

(More Photos; PressCon VIdeo) Charice in DFF Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 23 Oct 2011

Michael Bolton Talks About Charice: She's Amazing!

From Philstar.com:

How Michael makes you feel his love

Why didn’t you include a Filipino artist like Charice who’s a protégé of David Foster who worked with you on the album? Do you know her?

“Oh yes, I know. I wish I had met her sooner. But I am going to be working with her on this tour — you know, David Foster and Friends. Charice and I are working on a little surprise, so I do have a chance to perform with her. She’s amazing!”

Is David also involved in your and Charice’s “little surprise”?

“Hmmmmm. As I said, it’s a ‘little surprise.’ David is a pleasure to work with. In Gems, he’s involved in three tracks: The Prayer (with Lara Fabian), and a medley of When A Man Loves A Woman (with Seal) and It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World (also with Seal and James Brown joining in). Performing with David and Charice in Manila would be fun. I asked David if Charice and I could sing together and next thing I knew he got back to me and said, ‘Yes, you could.’ I don’t want to tell you what it is Charice and I are going to do but my plan is that Charice and I can do something together onstage.”

(Foster was quoted as saying, “I woke up at 6 o’clock one morning with the idea that these two songs [the medley] could go together, with these two great voices from different genres, and they embraced it. This is a powerful, powerful moment. It’s a real shootout, and it’s impossible to say who wins because they’re both amazing.”)

Oops! The “little surprise” is out of the bag, partly.

“Okay, we might do a recording together.”

Read the full article

"Not Everybody Has a Voice Like Charice"

Screenshot from Charice's One Day music video (Japan Edition)

From entertainment@thestar.com.my:

Teenage star Charice is taking on a new look and a stronger focus in her own music identity.

Not many people have to worry about their careers being over at 21. But then again, not everybody has a voice like Charice.

Since she got her big break as a 15-year-old on The Ellen Degeneres Show four years ago, the pint-sized Filipina has been belting out mega-ballads to standing ovations around the world.

And the kind of songs that are her bread and butter on stage is the stuff that would have even the biggest divas doing extra warm-ups backstage. We’re talking about I Have Nothing, And I Am Telling You, Listen, and the ol’ reputation maker (or breaker), All By Myself – and she almost always does them at full throttle.

“It’s actually pretty bad,” said Charice, on the phone from Los Angeles.

“Belting high notes all the time is not good for the voice. So for me, I just try to limit it, but still try to sing the same songs that people love watching me sing. I’m 19 now and I don’t wanna turn 21 and lose my voice!”

But with so many shows to do, especially being part of the David Foster and Friends tour – which we’ll see her singing at the Putra Stadium, Kuala Lumpur tomorrow – the only thing she can do at the moment to avoid any damage is to know her limits.

“Every artiste will feel that sometimes their voice isn’t in condition, but there are techniques to get around that. It depends on the arrangement of the song.

“Sometimes I tell my music director that my voice is not in condition, so maybe we won’t do this song, or we’ll change it to this song so that I won’t damage my voice. There’s always a plan B,” she said, quickly adding: “But it hasn’t happened a lot of times.”

It’s hard to imagine Charice having to worry about losing her voice, because on the phone, she talks with this tiny little chipmunk voice, and she adds this cute, girly chuckle after every other sentence.

In many ways, Charice is still a kid, one who says her favourite pastime when she’s not singing is playing video games. But because of the trajectory of her career, she’s having to grow old and mature a little faster, just like her voice.

Speaking about touring with legendary producer David Foster, 61, whose concert series in KL will also include stars like Phillip Bailey, 60, Russell Watson, 44, Ashanti, 30, and Michael Bolton, 58, she said: “I feel like I’m getting old too fast because I’m the only teenager in the group! It makes me feel happy actually, cos that’s what I’ve always wanted.

“It might sound weird, but I actually love hanging out with these people more than hanging out with people my age because I’m not into clubs and everything.”

But there are some downsides to growing up so fast, like having to miss out on “regular school”. Charice currently does online schooling alone at home, still working towards her childhood ambition of being a lawyer.

“I miss my classmates from back in the Philippines. I don’t even know where they are now, and I don’t know how to reach them. I see them sometimes when I go back to do shows. Some of them actually watch the shows, and it makes me happy,” she said.

As an artiste, however, Charice is wary of being typecast as the young girl who sings the “old songs”.

“It’s like the Bodyguard medley, I Have Nothing and I Will Always Love You – people want to see me sing those songs, so I just made them into a medley. But I think a medley or edit version is enough, because my genre is totally different now. It’s more pop/R&B now, and I have to go that way.

“And sometimes I think people should understand that, cos people are like ‘Oh, why isn’t she singing ballads anymore’. I’m not saying I’m gonna abandon the ballads. I still sing them every time I do concerts, but we’re trying to create Charice, a pop/R&B singer,” she said, in one of the few times during the interview where she doesn’t laugh or chuckle.

Read more

(Photos & Video) Charice Says Goodbye to Japan, 21 Oct 2011

Charice left Japan today after appearing in two shows of the highly successful David Foster and Friends Asia Tour in Tokyo.

Before departing, Charice left two "gifts" for Japan:

• Her One Day Japan Edition music video
• It has been confirmed that Charice will go back to Japan for a solo concert on March 12, 2012.

Click on the images to go to source

Photos (and All RE-UPLOADED Videos) of Charice in DFF, 19 Oct 2011 in Tokyo, Japan

[RE-UPLOADED] All First videos in:



Description:

The One and Only Hit-Man David Foster and Friends was in concert at the Tokyo International Forum on October 19 & 20, 2011. C-H-A-R-I-C-E is the major performer in the show singing the most number of songs when compared to others. In sequence, she sang: "Louder", "Stand up for Love", "UnBreak My Heart", "Power of Love", "The prayer with Michael Bolton" and "the Earth Song".

You can find the rest of the re-uploaded videos on this channel.

Here are the first photos being shared online of Charice's peformance in the first show of the David Foster and Friends Asia Tour 2011:

Just click on the images to go to the sources.

In the Bangkok Post: Hitman returns with Charice & new entourage

That's our title above; we think it is more appropriate as Charice has been with the David Foster and Friends tours since 2009.

Below is the write-up from the Bangkok Post:

Hitman returns with new entourage

After leaving unforgettable memories for more than 10,000 fans in his Bangkok debut show last year, hitmaker David Foster is returning with a new entourage of special guests including Michael Bolton, Charice, Russell Watson, Ashanti and Philip Bailey to cast a spell over Thai audiences once again.

As part of the Asian tour, the "Singha Corporation and Scotch Forever Young Present Hit Man Returns David Foster and Friends Live in Bangkok 2011" will take place at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, on Oct 31, at 8:30pm.

Multiple-Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Michael Bolton will perform with Foster a selection of their songs and regale audiences with his signature voice.

The concert will see more of Charice who, back with Foster for a second visit, will entertain audiences once again with her outstandingly rich voice, singing classics produced by Foster himself over the decades.

Another exciting addition to the show is classical crossover pioneer, English tenor Russell Watson, who will treat audiences to popular classics from his new album La Voce.

Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Ashanti also joins the star-studded cast for this unique Asian tour. The R&B sensation made Billboard chart history with her smash hit debut album Ashanti and song Foolish when she burst onto the music scene in 2002.

Complimenting the line-up for this concert will be superstar Philip Bailey, lead vocalist of award-winning American R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire.

Foster, the 16-time Grammy Award winner, has worn many magic hats throughout his four-decade music career _ producer, songwriter, TV host, discoverer of talent, author, hitmaker, record company executive and artist whose influence on some of the biggest names in the music business is without precedent.

He has been an integral part of many of the world's biggest talents in the music industry, including Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Josh Groban, Earth Wind & Fire, N'Sync and Brandy.

(PHOTOS ADDED) Charice rehearses for 1st show of DFF Asia Tour

Charice is rehearsing for the David Foster and Friends Asia Tour which will hold its first show tomorrow, October 19, in Tokyo, Japan.

Aside from David Foster himself and Charice, other artists include Michael Bolton, Philip Bailey, Russell Watson, Ashanti, and Jackie Evancho.

A second show will be held in Japan on Thursday, October 20.

Check out photos of Charice below:

Charice Back in LA from Japan

Charice flew back to Los Angeles, California on October 8 (Japan time) after officially launching her new album INFINITY (Japan Limited Edition) in Tokyo on October 5.



Her five-day stay in Japan was crammed with radio guestings and interviews. Check out the rest at Charicemania.

Charice will be back in Tokyo, Japan for the David Foster and Friends Concert on October 19 and 20.

Photos of Charice's arrival at the LAX below:

@Sideburnersol greet @OfficialCharice & @Durtyfeet at LAX 10/08/2011

Chaster at LAX with @OfficialCharice & @durtyfeet

Loggins, Studdard & Charice in DFF: Unbelievable

From Robin Leach: Luxe Life (Las Vegas Weekly):

Photos: David Foster and his friends at Mandalay Bay Events Center

Super-producer David Foster was front and center in the spotlight for his multiple-artist concert David Foster & Friends last night at Mandalay Bay Events Center, and, in a change of pace, Foster was a headliner alongside his successful collaborators Donna Summer, Kenny Loggins, Charice and Ruben Studdard.

Tom Donoghue was on duty for a super-sized Vegas DeLuxe photo gallery and also served as reporter. “Mandalay Bay was rockin’ last night. David Foster & Friends captured the crowd completely for nearly three hours. Kenny Loggins, Charice and Ruben Studdard were unbelievable, and Donna Summer stole the show.”

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