Charice launches international debut on 'Oprah'

Charice is now a self-assured young lady of 18, poised to conquer the world with more fanfare that any “gifted little girl from halfway around the world” has ever gotten in recent pop music history. On May 11, a day after her birthday, the launch of Charice’s self-titled international debut finally happened on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," no less.

Performing the Billboard chart-topping dance single “Pyramid” with singer/rapper Iyaz and the legendary David Foster on piano, Charice’s command of the stage and her stunning delivery shows that she is slowly maturing into a performer to truly watch out for.

On the episode titled “The World’s Most Talented Kids” (which also had Justin Bieber as guest), Oprah introduced Charice by calling her “one of the most talented young people we’ve ever had on this show.” In a video clip, Oprah recalled Charice’s first appearance on the show in 2008, where she sang “I Have Nothing.” It was, said Oprah, “the performance that sent shivers up my spine.”

In the same video, Charice talked about her sad past, mentioning a memory at three year old of her father brandishing a shotgun at her mother and, by age seven, joining “a hundred” singing contests to put food on the table. It was just the perfect back story to make her success all the more compelling.

Greeted with a warm hug by the show’s inimitable host, a slightly breathless Charice said, “I can’t believe this, it’s amazing.”

“I'm really, really excited because this is actually my first ever Pop/R&B album because I'd been singing, you know, Whitney Houston's songs and Celine Dion's songs… And now, I can't believe that these are my own songs,” she told Oprah.

Foster, who was seated with the audience that time, turned a little emotional as well when Oprah asked him about Charice, where he also revealed that he’d agreed to be her godfather. Later, the smile on Foster’s face when Charice hit her big note on “Pyramid” just reflected pure pride.

Today, Charice has put her troubled past behind her and, according to the video, is now just “singing for pure joy.” And why not, when in a span of just two years she’s belted the big ballads and wowed the crowd alongside her idol Celine Dion and Foster himself, appeared on several American TV shows, performed at venues like the Madison Square Garden, and had many other amazing opportunities any fellow Filipino with dreams of living the American Dream would die for.

Talking with Oprah, Charice also shared that she gave her mom a house for Mother’s Day, saying, “It’s the best feeling I [ever] felt.”

Clearly, Charice has not forgotten where she’s come from. Before closing the show with a co-written piece with Foster titled “In This Song,” Charice told Oprah, “I just want to dedicate this song to you, Oprah. Thank you for believing in me from the beginning and I love you. And what’s more special about this song is this is actually the story of my life.”

With another video montage of her life playing in the background, Charice delivered the emotional song, whose lyrics, “I’m never far from home if I give my heart, my song, my all… in this song,” also underscored how at home she was on any stage in the world.

Christian Bautista in a daring Bench billboard

Shedding off his publicly known conservative image, Asian balladeer Christian Bautista said he’s just loosening up a bit in his latest Bench billboard.

Christian’s mega billboard caught many by surprise, as he was topless, showing off his well-toned body. At first, many thought it was another model until they realized that it really was Christian in the Bench billboard.

The singer revealed in his “Showbiz News Ngayon” interview aired May 12 that he prepared for the shoot.

“I really worked hard for that. It’s also to spice things up. I’d like thank Bench for that. It’s time also, (because) it’s summer. You really gotta work out, be fit and show everybody that you take care of your body,” Christian said.

The singer, though, is not about to display more skin. He assured everyone that would will still remain wholesome despite the sexy ad.

“It’s the right kind of sexy, right form. I’m not gonna go ‘bold star’ anytime soon or (appear in) underwear. That’s just really my limit siguro,” he stressed.

But Christian is open to explore a whole new world in acting where he says he can experiment.

“Siguro sa mga role, it’s fine to make it more exciting. Right now things are changing. I’m loosening up. Sometimes, in an artist’s career, you really have to know (how) to spice things up,” he said.

The Bench billboard is, so far, Christian’s sexiest outing. In the past, he did the catwalk for Bench, although was wearing jeans and shirts.

Diether quashes romantic rumor with Cristine Reyes

Diether Ocampo maintains nothing is going on between him and Cristine Reyes as they "hardly know each other."

“Siyempre, ‘pag sinabi mo [kasing] kaibigan mo, matagal mo nang nakasama,” the actor said on "Showbiz News Ngayon."

Diether can only recall one incident when their paths crossed.

“We shot ‘Lupang Hinirang.’ We were able to have a small talk. Pero we hardly had an opportunity to really talk dahil nga pareho kaming busy,” he said.

The actor mentioned they nearly worked together on a TV project but it got shelved. “Siguro hindi naglapat pareho ang aming schedule,” the actor shared.

He, however, is open to becoming friends with Cristine.

“It’s leading to that. Maliit lang ang industriya natin. Imposible namang hindi magkita sa ABS. About time naman na makatrabaho mo ang mga artista na bago.”

Cristine, in one event, was teased by her friends when Diether showed up. The taunting blew out of proportion and it was construed that they have something going on between them.

Cristine immediately quashed any romantic involvement with the actor.

“No, loko lang. Nagloloko lang talaga ‘yon. Nagloloko lang ang mga kaibigan ko,” Cristine explained in a previous SNN episode.

Diether is very much on with his girlfriend of more than two years, Rima Ostwani. They’ve been rumored to have headed for Splitsville but it was proven untrue.

Cristine had broken up with Dennis Trillo and has since remained single. She’s concentrating on her career and love life is not a priority… yet. Her TV series will soon be launched on ABS-CBN.

Lucy knows how to live light

MANILA, Philippines - Lucy Torres-Gomez (photo) recently became a spokesperson in educating the public on how to Live Light and Live Right. The graceful dancing aficionado and svelte mother-wife believes how important it is to lead a life of balance and lightness.

Like Lucy, many modern women have to juggle work with their social obligations and family responsibilities. Often times their personal health becomes a last priority. What many don’t know is that their age causes their metabolism to slow down. They become prone to common lifestyle diseases like diabetes, heart diseases and obesity. Hence, women need to start making smarter health choices in the lifestyle they live and food they eat.

Lucy was guest speaker at the recent launch of C-Lium Fibre’s campaign where people learned that Living Light and Living Right all starts with caring for their bodies. Aside from her daily exercise and her dance routines, fiber has become a part of her daily regimen. She admits, “Richard introduced me to C-Lium Fibre but I prefer taking the capsules, it has helped me feel light. For me, the day is not complete if I don’t have my daily dose of C-Lium Fibre.” She adds, “The public can sometimes be harsh to public figures like me, so it is important that I look my best and always be in top form.”

With C-Lium Fibre’s newest spokesperson advocating the many health benefits of fiber, more women can now be enlightened in prioritizing their overall well being. Fiber is known to promote a healthy digestive system by regularizing bowel movement. It is also recognized by many health practitioners in helping lower bad cholesterol, blood sugar levels and helping reduce excess weight without starving the body.

Angelica tinalbugan si Eugene

Clap, clap, clap. Ang galing ni Angelica Panganiban sa Here Comes the Bride.

Bongga ang acting niya sa nasabing pelikula na magsisimulang mapanood sa mga sinehan bukas.

Actually, hindi siya nagpasapaw kay Eugene Domingo na bida rin sa nasabing movie. In fact, tinalbugan pa niya si Eugene though may mga funny moments din si Eugene.

Swak kasi kay Angelica ang role ni Stephanie na isang bride to be nung pumasok sa kanyang katawan ang character ng baklang hairdresser na mag-aayos sana sa entourage ng kanyang kasal na ginampanan ni John Lapus nang magbang­gaan ang sinasakyan nila papunta sa venue ng kanyang kasal sa isang beach nang magkaroon ng total eclipse.

OK talaga siyang maging bakla, carry na carry.

Si Eugene kasi, siguro kasi kapapanood ko pa lang sa kanya sa Working Girls kaya paki­ramdam ko hindi na masyadong bago ang akting niya sa pelikula.

Pero si John Lapus, for a change, ang galing niya sa Here Comes the Bride na baklang pinasukan naman ng character ni Jaime Fab­regas na isang lolo na apo ang pakakasalan ni Ange­lica. Hindi siya sigaw nang sigaw na naka­kairita sa tenga. Nagpakalalaki siya at dumating pa sa puntong may love scene sila ng ka-partner niyang dabyana sa pelikula.

Sina Tuesday Vargas and Jaime Fabregas, maganda rin ang acting at tama lang naman.

Si Tuesday na yaya ng bratty little boy na naging si Eugene na magaling na abogado.

Panoorin na lang ninyo ang pelikula. Impor­tante ang role ni Kuya Kim Atienza sa pelikula dahil siya ang magpapaliwanag kung bakit nag­ka­palit-palit ang character ng limang bida dito at kung ano ang gagawin para bumalik sa kanya-kanyang katawan ang lima na ang may kasa­lanan ay ang total eclipse na kada dalawang taon lang dumarating.

Nakakatawa at very light ang kuwento na idi­nirek at isinulat ni Chris Martinez for Star Cine­ma, Quantum, and OctoArts Films.

Graded B ng CEB ang pelikula.

Movie nina Aga at Regine finally matatapos na!

Mukhang finally ay matatapos na ang pe­likula nina Aga Muhlach and Regine Ve­las­quez. Yup, may schedule nang hawak si Direk Joyce Bernal ng dalawa niyang artista para sa pelikulang Of All the Things.

Six shooting days na lang ang kukunan nila at tapos na tapos na ang pelikula na supposedly ay noon pang April ipinalabas.

Hindi agad nagtagpo ang schedule ng mga bidang sina Aga at Regine kaya medyo na-delay ng konti ang shooting nila.

Habang hindi pa nagri-resume ang shooting ni Direk Joyce sa Viva Films ng Of All the Things, sinimulan na niya ang shooting ng Promise Me, ang pelikula nina Robin Padilla at Toni Gonzaga. Tentative title lang daw ’yun.

Naka-six shooting days na sila pero marami pang revision sa script kaya mga minor scenes lang ang kinukunan nila, ayon kay Direk Joyce na present kahapon sa review ng Here Comes the Bride sa Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB).

Pagtira sa ibang bansa dapat tuparin ni Kris Aquino!

Nangunguna sa presidential race si Sen. Noynoy Aquino at kung hindi magbabago ang trend, siya na talaga ang next president ng ating bayan.

Ang tanong, kung sakaling pangulo na ng Pili­pinas si Noynoy, kailan tutuparin ni Kris ang kan­yang pangako na pupunta at maninirahan siya sa abroad?

Hinding-hindi nalilimutan ng madlang-bayan ang sinabi noon ni Kris na titira siya at ang kanyang dalawang anak sa ibang bansa, kapag nag-win si Noynoy sa presidential election.

Hindi nga niya binanggit ang pangalan ni James Yap kaya nag-one-plus-one ang mga tao na silang mag-iina lamang ang maninirahan sa country of her choice.

Kung tutuparin ni Kris ang sinabi nito, tiyak na marami ang maghahatid sa kanya sa airport at hihin­tayin na lamang ang pagbabalik niya… after six years! Madaragdagan ang mga humahanga kay Kris kung patutunayan nito na meron siyang palabra de honor.