Maalaala Mo Kaya is a Filipino drama program featuring stories based on real lives of Filipinos. Charice Pempengco’s episode, which is her first acting performance is entitled “Ice Cream” and was aired in June 2008.

Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco (born May 10, 1992), better known by her stage name Charice, is a Filipina singer who performs locally and internationally.

Charice was born in Cabuyao, Laguna, Philippines, the daughter of Raquel Relucio. At the early age of 4, Raquel noticed her daughter could sing “Happy Birthday” at a much louder pitch than other kids. Raquel decided to foster this in-born talent by giving Charice voice lessons herself.

At the age of 7, Charice began joining local singing contests to earn some media exposure. Charice has competed in many shows, including Birit Bulilit (IBC 13), Batang Kampeon (RPN 9), Bulilit Popstar (GMA 7), and Junior Star Quest (ABS-CBN 2). She managed to enter some of the shows’ grand finals but never made the top cut.

But, Charice didn’t lose hope and continued to join another singing contest. She joined Little Big Star (aired again on ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation), where she only placed third.

A series of YouTube videos in 2007 brought Charice to the attention of Ten Songs Productions, a record company based in Sweden. On June 2007, she traveled to Stockholm, Sweden and recorded seven songs which were released digitally.

Another YouTube video performance of Jennifer Holliday’s “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” brought Charice to the attention of South Korea’s Seoul Broadcasting System to perform on a talent show called Star King on October 2007. Her performances were well-received, and she earned standing ovations in all of them.

On November 28, Charice’s performance on Star King was featured on a The Ellen DeGeneres Show segment in which DeGeneres showed many web videos of different people she wished would guest on the show. She later personally invited the young singer to perform. On December 19, Charice appeared on the show, performing “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” and “I Will Always Love You”. She received her first standing ovation from the American audience.

On January 18, 2008, It was announced that Charice will have a meeting with Clive Davis.

On April 8, 2008, Charice’s first European appearance was in London’s The Paul O’Grady Show where she performed the same two songs. She earned two standing ovations, the first one to receive since the show premiered according to O’Grady.

On May 12, Charice appeared on Oprah and was featured on the episode entitled World’s Smartest Kids. She performed Whitney Houston’s I Have Nothing and received a standing ovation from Oprah and the audience. After her performance, an emotional Charice told Oprah, “I’m always dreaming that someday I can be a part of your show. I can’t believe I’m here standing with you. This is my dream come true.”

On May 23, Charice again performed this time on David Foster and Friends, a one-night tribute concert at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her performances of “I Have Nothing”, “I Will Always Love You”, and “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” earned her again two standing ovations. The performers also included Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Peter Cetera, Brian McKnight, Kenny G, and former American Idol finalists Katharine McPhee and Michael Johns. During the concert, David Foster praised Charice by saying, “A star is born tonight!”. Josh Groban also stated that Charice has one of the most beautiful voices he has heard in a long time.

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