“IF THAT makes him (Ka Freddie) happy and healthy, so be it.”
“Some people are waiting for my comment (on this issue) because of what [Ka Freddie] said about me before,” singer Charice told the Inquirer after her sitdown with the media on Tuesday for the launch of her benefit show for Bohol earthquake victims.
“It’s all in the past,” she said, referring to singer-songwriter Freddie Aguilar’s scathing comments against her more than four years ago.
Aguilar said Charice was unpatriotic and not original because she sang mostly English songs on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
“Ang kinanta niya, Celine Dion. Kahit sinong Pilipinong mataas ang boses, kahit bagong gising, kayang kantahin ’yung kanta ni Celine Dion,” Aguilar remarked in a 2009 TV interview.
Charice had nothing bad to say about Aguilar’s May-December affair with a minor: “Kung ’yun ang makakapagpabuti sa health niya, kung ’yun ang makakapagpa-bloom sa kanya, then why not?”
She added,“That’s what he wants. If that’s what makes him happy, as long as they’re both faithful, as long as they’re truthful to each other, then there’s nothing wrong with it.”
Fundraiser
Charice will have a charity concert for Bohol, titled “One Voice,” at the Newport Theater in Resorts World Manila on Tuesday.
She said she and her girlfriend Alyssa Quijano stayed in Bohol for their first anniversary celebration, a week before the 7.2-magnitude earthquake. Charice was touched by the people’s warmth and kindness.
“[Boholanos] are friendly, respectful. They treated me like I’m from there. During my three-day stay, walang bumatikos sa akin (nobody criticized me),” she said.
Charice fell so much in love with Bohol and its people that she plans to settle there with Alyssa someday.
She waived her professional fee for this project, which will have Alyssa as her special guest. All proceeds will go to the relief efforts in Bohol.
Charice credited her mentor and godmother, Oprah Winfrey, as her inspiration for this noble deed.
She remembered clearly when Oprah was helping launch her career. The TV icon said: “I can’t wait to see you help other people someday.”
Rift with mom
On the rift between her and her mom Raquel, Charice admitted they hadn’t talked for some time.
Her mom had been very vocal against Charice’s relationship with Alyssa, an erstwhile competitor in singing contests.
Charice is not expecting any drastic change in her relationship with her mom this Christmas season. “Alam ko naman, ’di kami magkakasama this Christmas.”
However, the 21-year-old singer’s eyes glimmered as she mentioned that she and her mom both live in Cabuyao, Laguna, “not far from each other.”
Asked why she chose to live near her mother, Charice replied, “No matter what, they’re family. If you think about it, it’s so silly. We’re so close to each other that (the proximity) makes me feel better. I know it’s going to be OK.”
Charice is not closing the door on her family. “In case they want to see me, or they really want to have a great Christmas, they know where to find me.”
Charice confided that she often checked her mom’s Facebook page.
“Hindi niya alam na nababasa ko ’yung comments niya. ’Pag may nararamdaman siya, pino-post niya sa Facebook. I want to let her know that I miss her.”
Hopefully, she said, her mother would give her blessing on her relationship with Alyssa someday.