Frank A. Hilario
Revised 12 February 2010 at 1150 hours Manila timeAMERICA - 11 February 2010, this is so close to the day of hearts, to
Charice In Concert at the Philippine International Convention Center, PICC, with Music Maestro
Ryan Cayabyab. But I must go back first, 64 years ago, when America
was in the heart of the Filipino but the Filipino
was not in the heart of America. I know.
He who forgets the past is bound to report it.In 1946, when he was 35, Filipino poet
Carlos Bulosan published his autobiographical novel,
America Is In The Heart (University of Washington Press, washington.edu),
which became his most famous book (American Passages, learner.org). In that book, if I may put it in black & white, he described his boyhood in the Philippines as happy and his manhood in the United States as unhappy; then he began to understand. In his
New York Times review of the book,
Carlos P Romulo, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Filipino writer, said that Bulosan "learned that while America could be cruel,
it could also be immeasurably kind" (UW Press).
The real America is in the heart.At 35, Bulosan had become a well-known artist of words, writing of the pains and pleasures of being a Filipino in America. At 17, Filipino performer
Charice has become an international phenomenon of an artist of voice and body language, singing of the hurts of being a Filipino in the Philippines and the happiness of being a Filipino in America. Bulosan had been discriminated upon in America, his adopted country, and that´s what he wrote of; Charice has been discriminated upon in the Philippines, her own country, and that´s what she sings of. We Filipinos still have to find the real Philippines in the heart.
I'm assuming we have a heart.Overall, Charice´s story parallels Bulosan´s. And both are haunting and true stories. The difference is that Bulosan is more in the head and Charice is more in the heart.
More
of the heart. She is promising that
we will see also a new Charice in her Valentine´s Day concert (Eve, 05 February 2010 charicemania.com). You will appreciate more how different she is now if you heard her in her 1st major solo concert,
The Journey Begins, at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia along Manila Bay 27 June 2009 (see my "Journeys.
Charice sings, Nestor Torre screams!,"
Pinoy Cinderella, blogspot.com), and her
1st Solo Concert in America at the Big E on 18 September 2009 (you´re reading about it now). That´s 2 firsts in 1 year, in the Third World and the First World; among the Filipinos, only Charice has done that. Charice did her 1st first in her country, her 2nd first in America.
Her heart is in the right place.Charice has come a long way from competing nights such as in a basketball court in Cabuyao, Laguna in Southern Luzon in the Philippines where she was born (in Cabuyao, not in the court), 10 May 1992, singing for her family.
It has been a story of losing and winning, of hurts and hearts. Competing at 12 years of age in the 1 million-peso singing contest called
Little Big Star of ABS-CBN, the largest TV network in the Philippines, people told Charice to her face - and behind her back, even as they were laughing - that she had no future in entertainment because
she had no star quality; she didn´t look pretty enough; and she lacked talent in her singing. Loser! (For more details, see "
Charice - My Interview With FalseVoice" and "
The Soaring Spirit of Charice Pempengco" by Phil Bolsta,
Triumph of the Spirit. Visit also my blog dedicated to Charice,
Pinoy Cinderella, blogspot.com; you can start with "Pinoy Cinderella, 1:
Sky falls on Little Big Star Charice.")
If you can't beat them, jeer them.Loser! At Little Big Star, she was eliminated after her first song. She did her best, and she was shocked when the judges gave their votes to the other contestant - who was himself jolted (you can watch the video here where Charice sings "
Shine," alduezajay, youtube.com). Her score 91; his score 92. So close, and yet so far!
I did my best, she said; she knew too.
The judges are not always right; sometimes what they see is what you get.She took that defeat so hard - wouldn´t anyone! - that she was on a stupor for more than a week that not even her mother could get through that little girl who just kept on strumming her guitar, unmindful of anything else (see
Boy Abunda´s interview, "
Charice - SNN Interview UNCUT Part 5," theNH3, youtube.com). It was a descent to despair that has not been noted except in that interview; nevertheless it happened, and it wasn´t a minor incident.
Charice had lost heart inside her own self. Would she ever find her heart again?With that in mind, you can appreciate much more the ascent of Charice from despair to determination, from doubt to hope - surrounded by the embrace of love by her little brother Carl and her Mommy Raquel, if by no one else.
When all you have is family, that's good enough.Later, for some unexplained reason, Little Big Star reinstated Charice as a "wild card," meaning "who knows?" And really! She proved that she was much better than she looked, much better than they thought. She placed consistently first in the eliminations month after month.
It was time to dream again of winning the grand prize. Until she reached the finals and, lightning struck the same place twice – she placed 3rd. Not 2nd, not 1st - 3rd! That was hard, very hard. Charice knew she was the winner; her mother Raquel knew too – but they were told she lost because she had the lowest total of text votes among the 3 finalists. Those who have loads, prepare to text them now! Why do they exchange the votes from the cell phones for the votes from the judges who should know better?
This is where the votes of the people are the votes of goof. And then they went to Quiapo Church to pray. And then Falsevoice happened. And then Ten Songs Production, Sweden. And then Star King, Korea. And then Star King again. And then Ellen DeGeneres, New York. And then Paul O'Grady, London. And then Oprah, Chicago and, along with her, David Foster & Friends. And then Celine Dion in Madison Square Garden. The little girl who they said didn´t have star quality had become a star, an international star.
She was still little, but now they had to look up to see her.And then Charice came back to the Philippines to hold her first major solo concert, at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia along Roxas Boulevard near Manila Bay, where you can watch the most beautiful sunset in the world. But it was no sunset for Charice; it was the dawn of a new day. "This is where the journey begins," she said (see also my "Journeys.
Charice sings, Nestor Torre screams!"
Pinoy Cinderella). "Her musical journey," wrote Crispina Martinez-Belen (27 June 2009, mb.com.ph), "so to speak, towards the hearts of her kababayans (countrymen) will start just tonight."
Charice is in Crispina´s heart, bless her.That concert was very successful despite the glitches and the hitches, but the mass media did
not celebrate that milestone along with her; they did
not cheer along with the
thousands of fans attending the SMX concert (some 6,000, according to Bert B Sulat Jr, 30 June 2009, inquirer.net). Charice wasn´t in their hearts. Where is the musical heart of the mass media in the Philippines?
I didn´t know they have a heart!Months after the fact, on 29 January 2010, I called it "
a whole journey into the hearts of the Filipinos" (Pinoy Cinderella). I would have celebrated that moment in my own way but I didn´t know Charice from Eve until September 2009, when began my writer´s interest in her; it was probably an Oprah episode that introduced me to the little wonder that was Charice.
That was when she stole my heart.Like the rest of the Filipinos, I must have been slow to learn about Charice. And so, I didn´t know that her journey of hearts started in the Philippines and continued in America. And since this is a journey of hearts for me too, here I am.
The heart knows what the head doesn´t.It is 18 September 2009 at the Comcast Arena Stage and Charice is having her
1st Solo Concert in America at the Big E in this City in Massachusetts, USA. Her Mommy Raquel is in the trailer, too nervous to watch. Since little Charice is a big girl now, she understands her mother.
Brave daughters have to forgive their mothers sometimes.The Big E writes, introducing Charice to the fair-loving crowd at New England, at the Eastern States Exposition 2009 in West Springfield, Massachusetts (Peter F, "
Charice: The Big E Outdoor Concert," charicemania.com), that Charice "opens the season´s entertainment as the first top name to perform at the Comcast Arena Stage for the 2009 Fair." You see, Charice is in America´s heart, really!
The Americans know what we Filipinos don´t, really.The Big E is the largest fair in the northeast United States. Charice being the little big "true diamond on the rough," the Big E says, she is "a natural and momentous choice to kick off the fair on Opening Day" (Peter F). "We are honored," the announcer at the Comcast Arena Stage says. So are we Filipinos –
I'm assuming we know what´s good for us.The Big E tells us:
Charice boasts a wide range of genres that she demonstrates a great proficiency in. She possesses an enormous, mature voice that is truly a treat for the ears. Her voice contains an elegant pitch which is always controlled with expert skill well beyond her age.Many Filipinos only consider Charice´s high pitch and refer to her singing style with a single unintelligent term I refuse to use ever again. (What it is, see my "Journeys.
Charice sings, Nestor Torre screams!"
Pinoy Cinderella). I'll give you a clue: Why don´t I like the word? Veritably, it´s an insult.
A true prodigy that was discovered under the most unexpected circumstances and has risen to prominence and recognition following an unconventional path that is true to who she is, Charice Pempengco represents the embodiment of a dream, of hope. Such messages are profoundly conveyed through her voice. This opportunity cannot be missed. You must witness a truly powerful story of perseverance and opportunity embodied in the voice of a young girl.It would really be a daymare if I read that in a Philippine newspaper offline or online! It would be too much to ask of the
Philippine Daily Inquirer, or
Philippine Star, or
Manila Bulletin - or the
Philippine Entertainment Portal to write of her first of all, and to be polite, if not proud of her. Our major newspapers prefer to exercise power, not look for it in people who know how to use it for good.
Not to worry. At this time at the Big E, 18 September 2009, already Charice is not only beyond competing but also beyond neglect by the mass media in her own country. Thanks to YouTube and blogging. These are the new mass media, and truly they belong to the masses.
Curiously, the Big E has in fact been sponsoring "contests designed to encourage (American) farmers to better themselves through competition." Charice became much better through competition - plus more practice, more songs, more prayers, more faith in friends as well as strangers like
FalseVoice, more love from her little family of littler brother
Carl and
Mommy Raquel, and more help from the likes of
Star King, Ellen DeGeneres, David Foster, and
Oprah. Success has found her and she is giving back, like love in her concert on Valentine´s Day, 14 February 2010, at the PICC.
If you have love, prepare to give back now.I would have written a book in 30 days if I knew about Charice on or before her 1st ever major concert,
The Journey Begins on 27 June 2009. My own journey into discovering Charice didn´t begin until September that year. (Well, I´m writing that book now, but it will take me all in all 8 months, I´m on my 6th month, and this is my 13th chapter. I´ll probably be done on my 18th chapter, 5 chapters to go.)
But back to the Big E. The day before, 17 September 2009, is already a memorable day for Charice, as part of the announcement reads like this; note the sequence of names, and no it´s not alphabetical (Dwight B Shepard, masslive.com):
Among the performers at free concerts on the Comcast Arena Stage will be Charice, "The Little Girl with the Big Voice," Gohat, Boyz II Men and the Bret Michaels Rock of Love Tour.Today, this evening, the announcer introduces her, saying (for much of the songs and story below, I got watching about 30 times vms96688, "
First Solo in America," youtube.com):
Good evening, ladies & gentlemen, and welcome to the Comcast Arena Stage, here at the 2009 edition of the Eastern States Exposition. By the same token, we found out she selected The Big E for her first live solo appearance. So, we are honored. (Applause)
We invite you now to get set for a truly memorable entertainment experience, as the Eastern States Exposition proudly presents … Charice!It is going to be an evening of 13 songs for a little over 1 hour. Are you ready!? Notice that the list of songs begins with "And I Am Telling You" and ends with "I Will Survive!" I notice the number 13, but who's counting?
1
And I Am Telling You
2 No One
3 Somewhere Over The Rainbow
4 The Climb
5 I Have Nothing
6 And I Am Telling You
7 Billie Jean
8 My Heart Will Go On
9 Please Don´t Stop The Music
10 Halo
11 Power Of Love
12 Listen
13 I Will Survive!Cheers. She walks into camera range, in front of the band (not named), the little girl with long red hair and dark jeans and red jacket and with black gloves on both hands, followed by long sleeves of a black shirt topped by a red jacket.
She walks to the mike and starts to sing almost immediately. "And I Am Telling You." I think this is the song that has defined Charice, if any one song can do that. Because someone she loves the most is in that song. Mommy Raquel.
Song #1, "And I Am Telling You" by Jennifer Hudson"And I am telling you, I´m not going." She prolongs and raises her voice at the note "I´m." She is like saying, "This is me, man, I´m not going anywhere but here. The world of music, the world of my music, for all of you, but especially you."
And I am telling you / I´m not going / You´re the best mom I´ve ever known.That was her idea, "the best mom" instead of "the best man." If she didn´t do that, she was too young to be able to relate to the love in the song. (See also #17 in my "
100 Charice. Mod parables of the talents of Ming,"
Pinoy Cinderella, blogspot.com).
Charice is a creative singer.
If you can´t solve a problem, change the problem! google_protectAndRun("ads_core.google_render_ad", google_handleError, google_render_ad);
End of song. "Love you, man!" she says. A shout from a man. Charice laughs. I like her laugh. "An Alicia Keys song called No One," she says. Charice watches the Music Maestro a little before turning to her mike and begins to sing. The band picks up the rhythm. Lilting. I can´t help but sway my body to the rhythm.
Song #2, "No One" by Alicia KeysI just want you close / where you can stay forever. / You can be sure / that it will only get better. / You and me together / through the days and nights / I don´t worry ´cause / everything´s gonna be alright.She sang that same song in a singing contest in a Hollywood movie, Charice as herself. (See my "
Charice squeaks in. Wins in Alvin & the Chipmunks," Pinoy Cinderella, blogspot.com.)
No one, no one, no one / can get in the way of what I´m feeling / no one, no one, no one / can get in the way of what I feel for you.After the song, Charice laughs loudly. "Omigosh! I´m really nervous right now! It´s my first time to perform solo."
Cheers from the audience. "Thank you so much." She laughs. "Yah, from the
Philippines!"
Shouts from the audience. "Okay. I just wanna thank everyone for coming. And I would like to dedicate this song, my next song, to all moms who´re here, and I want to dedicate this song to my Mom (pointing). She´s very nervous. She´s in the trailer right now; she doesn´t wanna watch." Chipmunks: "
Hello Mommy!"Song #3, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Katharine McPhee "My next song was popularized by Katharine McPhee, and I hope you like it." She sits.
Shouts from the audience. She laughs. She sings "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," acapella first, highlighting her pretty voice. She sings it as arranged for her by David Foster. (You can watch Charice and David practice this song before a show: "
Charice - Somewhere Over The Rainbow," FalseVoice, youtube.com).
When all the clouds darken up the skyway / there´s a rainbow highway to be found / leading from your window pane / just a step beyond the rain …Somewhere over the rainbow / way up high / in the land that I heard of once / in a lullaby.Someday I´ll wish upon a star / and wake up where the clouds are far behind me / where troubles melt like lemon drops / away above the chimney tops / that´s where you´ll find me!End of song. "Now, that I´ve dedicated that song to my Mom, I want to dedicate this song to like my age, 17, below. I know you guys love
Miley Cyrus, you know. Right? You love Miley Cyrus, right? I don´t really know how to play piano, but I´m gonna try it for you, guys!"
She goes to the piano, stubs her mike onto the stand, and when she´s about to sit, she tells herself, the audience, "Good luck!"
Laughter.
Song #4 & Piano, "The Climb" by Miley CyrusShe says, "Actually, I just saw this song in YouTube; I don´t really know how to play piano, but my friend taught me how to, but just this song.
Ready?!"
Cheers. Chipmunks: "
This is it!" And she accompanies herself on the piano; it is all just Charice and her piano. She´s absorbed in her Climb.
I can almost see it / that dream I am dreaming / but there´s a voice inside my head saying / "You´ll never reach it."There´s gonna be another mountain / I´m always gonna wanna make it move / always gonna be an uphill battle / somebody´s gonna have to lose.Ain´t about how fast I get there / ain´t about what´s waiting on the other side / it´s about the climb, yeah!Keep on moving, keep climbing / keep the faith, baby. / It´s all about, it´s all about the climb. / Keep the faith, keep your faith, yeah! In the middle of her singing/playing, she shouts, "Everyone, stick with me!"
End of song & piano. "Thank you! If you guys note, the DVD
Foster & Friends, I sang this song at the Mandalay Bay. I hope you like it." She laughs and pulls up her jeans.
That´s my little girl up there. "I love you!" a girl´s voice says. "Love you," Charice says in return.
Song #5, "I Have Nothing" by Whitney HoustonThe Bodyguard Medley. These are the two songs she´s so emotional about. She doesn´t forget to say, "I love you." Camera closes on her, focuses on the long tresses, curls at the end.
Share my life / take me for what I am / ´cause I´ll never change / all my colors for you. /Take my love / I´ll never ask for too much / just all that you are / and everything that you do.Don´t make me close one more door. / I don´t wanna hurt anymore. / Stay in my arms if you dare / or must I imagine you there? / Don´t walk away from me, no! / Don´t walk away from me. / Don´t you dare walk away from me! / I have nothing, nothing, nothing / if I don´t have you, you, / if I don´t have you / oh, oh, oh.At the end of the song, while the piano introduces the next song, she fixes her jeans again, jumps.
That´s my little girl.Song #6, "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston This is the song I like best for her to sing; I´m in love with the way she sings it in Vancouver here: "Charice:
A Farewell to David Foster and Friends in Vancouver: Bodyguard Medley" (ChariceWeekly, youtube.com). (See also #5 in my "Journeys.
Charice sings, Nestor Torre screams!" Pinoy Cinderella, blogspot.com.)
If I / should stay / I would only be in your way. / So I´ll go / but I know / I´ll think of you every step of / the way.I hope / life treats you kind / and I hope / you have all you´ve dreamed of. / And I wish you joy / and happiness / but above all this / I wish you love!End of song.
Shouts from the audience. "And I love you too, man!"
Cheers. Charice laughs.
"This is my next song. When I was 7 years old, I kept telling my Mom that I wanna be a dancer. And that time, Michael Jackson went to the Philippines. That was the first time I saw that Moonwalk, ching, ching, ching! (She laughs) And then, when I was 10, I tried to learn that Moonwalk, and I had a hard time. So, I´m 17 now, and I´m gonna try to do it for you guys. So this is just a little tribute to our pop icon Michael Jackson."
Song #7, "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson She fixes her jeans again. Shout from a man, "You can do it!" She sings "Billie Jean." That explains the jeans and jacket. She is Michael Jackson in a male/female role; no, she doesn´t change the lyrics from female to male. Not a bad Michael Jackson.
People always told me careful what you do / and don´t go around breaking young girls´ hearts / and Mother always told me be careful of who you love / and be careful of what you do / ´cause the lie becomes the truth.Billie Jean is not my lover. / She´s just a girl who claims that I am the one. / But the kid is not my son. / She says I am the one. / But the kid is not my son!She does the Moonwalk, then puts down her mike and dances to the end of her version of the song, the band playing for her.
End of song. She gasps for breath. "Yeah!"
She introduces the next song. "This is the theme song from the famous movie, ´Titanic,´ and I sang it at
Oprah (fixes her jeans), I´ll sing it for you (raises her hands and eyes, takes a deep breath), I hope you like it."
Song #8, "My Heart Will Go On" Jack!
Rose!
Every night in my dreams / I see you, I feel you. / That is how I know you go on. You´re here, there´s nothing I fear / and I know that my heart will go on. / We´ll stay forever this way. / You are safe in my heart / and my heart will go on and on.End of song. No intro to the next one? The music has stopped -
that is the Intro.
Song #9, "Please Don´t Stop The Music" by RihannaUpbeat, fast. Charice shows she can play with the words while she sings.
I wanna take you away. / Let´s escape into the music / DJ, let it play / I just can´t refuse it, / like the way you do this. / Keep on rockin´ to it, / please don´t stop the, / please don´t stop the music!At the end of the song, she fades out, miming "Music, music, music."
She drinks from her water bottle. "Thank you po!"
Loud cheers.
She Chipmunks: "I love you!" She laughs. "I love you!"
She fixes her jeans again. "You guys, spend this Christmas in your home? No! Go to the theaters (points),
Alvin & the Chipmunks, as I´m part of the movie."
Loud cheers. She covers her face with her hands, to show she´s embarrassed. "It´s not really a big role here, I´m the rival of the Chipmunks." She Chipmunks
Chipmunks. "I hope you watch it. It´s December 25. Watch out for it."
"Back to the next song.
I really love Beyoncé. I really do. And I´m always singing like, a ballad song. Whitney Houston, Celine Dion. This time, I wanna sing like, an R&B song, for all of you guys, really a Big hit song from Beyoncé, so I hope you like it." She gestures a halo up above her head.
Song #10, "Halo" by BeyoncéEverywhere I´m looking now / I´m surrounded by your embrace. / Baby, I can see your halo / you know you´re my saving grace. / You´re everything I need and more / it´s written all over your face. "I´m surrounded by your embrace." That was the first line that grabbed me when I first heard that song from Charice. She reaches out to the audience when she sings each "Halo! Halo! Halo! Halo!" and listens; is she
punning? Original Charice.
End of song. More Chipmunks.
"This next song is, my last song?" From the audience, a loud cacophony that means No! "My last song?" Louder cacophony of No! "My very, very last song?" Even louder cacophony of No! "My to-the-highest-level-last song?" No! "Okay, this is my next song." She laughs, giggles.
"But before that, I wanna thank everyone again for coming here, and I just wanna thank of course the Big E. This is such a memorable moment for me, the first time I performed solo here in Boston. Of course! I will be back here in Boston with David Foster. David Foster & Friends, it is October 25. So, coming soon!"
"So, this is my next song. It´s one of my favorite songs." Chipmunks: "Thank you so much, thank you so much. This next song was popularized by Celine Dion, I hope you like it."
Song #11, "Power Of Love" by Celine Dion The whispers in the morning / of lovers sleeping tight / are rolling like thunder now / as I look in your eyes. I hold on to your body / and feel each move you make. / Your voice is warm and tender / a love that I could not forsake´Cause I am your lady / and you are my man. / Whenever you reach for me / I´ll do all that I can.She ends the song high and
long on the last word:
Of the power of love!Loud cheers. Loud clapping of hands. Charice claps herself. More cheers. She raises her left, mike on the right hand. More cheers. "Whoo! Thank you so much! You made me cry!" She´s laughing and crying at the same time. The Music Maestro is happy for her; he keeps clapping too.
Isa pa? One more? Okay. Okay. My next song is ... this is one of the reasons why I´m here right now." She mentions David Foster, meaning he arranged this one for her. ´This song is from the movie
Dreamgirls."
Song #12, "Listen" by Beyoncé Listen / to the song here in my heart / a melody I start and I will complete!Oh, now I´m done believing you. / You don´t know what I´m feeling / I´m more than what you made of me. / I followed the voice you gave to me / but now I´ve gotta find my own. You should have listened. / There´s someone here inside / someone I´d thought had died / so long ago.Listen! She fixes her jeans again at the end of the song.
"Thank you so much! Thank you." Everyone is clapping. "Good night!" This is the last song.
Cheers. Shouts.
Clamor from the audience. "All right! As per your request. It´s arranged by David Foster for me."
Song #13, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor First, I was afraid / I was petrified / kept thinking I could never live / without you by my side. / But I spent so many nights / thinking how you did me wrong / and I grew strong / then I learned how to carry on …End of song. She bows. "Thank you, and good night!"
But Charice saves the best for last.
"Wait! I just want to do this for my fellow Filipinos here." She asks what they want, but they can´t make up their mind.
"Ano po ba ang gusto nyo?"
What would you like? "I love you!" "Hindi naman po Tagalog yon e."
That´s not a Tagalog song, Sir. She waits a while. "Sige po, ito na lang po, para walang away, kay Sir Manny Pacquiao. "Para Sa ´Yo Ang Laban Na ´To."
Okay, I´ll pick this one, no wrangling, from Sir Manny Pacquiao. This Fight Is For You. She sings acapella.
Song #14, "Para Sa ´Yo Ang Laban Na ´To" by Manny Pacquiao Gagawin ko ang lahat para sa ´yo
Kung ito ang dahilan upang magkasundo tayo
Ito ang tanging paraan na naisip ko
Upang magkasundo ang kapwa ko Pilipino!
Chorus
Para sa ´yo ang laban na ´to
Para sa ´yo ang laban na ´to
´Di ako susuko
Isisigaw ko sa mundo
Para sa ´yo, bayan ko!My free translation:For you, I´ll do everything
If only we all can unite
This is the only thing
I can think of to unite
my fellow Filipinos!
Chorus
This fight is for you
This fight is for you
I will not give up
I will shout to the world
This is for you, my people!Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao is a winner and a Filipino, and proud of it. PacMan has won 7 titles in 7 different weight divisions, and he is the current "Pound for Pound Champion of the World."
Charice won some, lost some in her earlier years as a singing contestant; and she lost the only big-time, 1-million-peso singing contest
Little Big Star she ever joined - she placed 3rd. After her first song in that contest, she was knocked out. And that was when she knocked herself on the head and went round and round in her head for 1 or 2 weeks, she said, not remembering anything.
You can´t remember despair - isn´t it good that sometimes we can´t remember? And in any case, Charice has been winning a million hearts in Sweden since then, and a million hearts in Korea, and a million hearts in America, and a million hearts in Canada, and a million hearts in Italy, and a million hearts in Singapore.
And a handful thousand hearts in the Philippines, including this old heart of mine. Hah!
Valentine´s Day is coming, "
Charice in Concert" is coming at the PICC on that very day, and it saddens me to think this:
The Filipinos are impossible; only a few thousands know how to love!Don't they know? Charice is really singing:
This song is for you
This song is for you
I will not give up
I will sing to the world
This song is for you, my people!The Filipinos are impossible, but they are family, and that´s reason enough to treat them with devotion. In other words, listen to Charice shout
: Love you! 
