Raquel Pempengco, Jake Zyrus and David Foster. Image: Facebook/Raquel Relucio Pempengco, Instagram/@davidfoster
Raquel Pempengco, mom of singer Jake Zyrus, shared her sentiments regarding David Foster after his recent “David Foster and Friends” concert series in the Philippines, saying no one can “give justice” to his songs but “Charice Pempengco.”
Raquel addressed the Canadian musician, who’s also Jake’s godfather, recalling the years he had collaborated with then-Charice in concerts and music projects, through Raquel’s Facebook page on Monday, March 27.
“Alam ko ang timbre ng boses na hinahanap mo DF. Sinabi ko naman sa inyo noon pa, nag-iisa lang ang boses na ‘yan,” she said. “Kahit kanino mo pa ipakanta ‘yang song mo, ‘di mabibigyan ng hustisya—no goosebumps, no standing ovation.”
(I know the timbre of voice you are looking for, DF. I already told you before, her voice is exceptional. You can ask anyone to sing your songs, but they would give no justice to them—no goosebumps, no standing ovation.)
“Nothing compares, nag-iisang legendary ng Pilipinas si Charice Pempengco,” she added. (Nothing compares [to her]. Charice Pempengco is the only legendary of the Philippines.)
Raquel also attributed then-Charice’s fame to American host-TV producer Oprah Winfrey, revealing that Foster initially “rejected” the singer when she reached out to him.
“At para sa kaalaman ng lahat, hindi po si DF ang nagpasikat sa kanya (Charice) kundi si Oprah. Ni-reject nga noon ni DF si Charice. Kaya ‘wag umasa na may isasama pa, masasaktan lang.”
(And for everyone’s information, (Foster) was not the one who made Charice famous. It was Oprah. Foster even rejected Charice before. So stop hoping that [she will join Foster], you’ll just get hurt.)
Image: Facebook/Raquel Relucion Pempengco
In a separate post, Raquel also shared a video comparing Charice with fellow singer Morisette Amon over their rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing.” Amon was one of the guest performers in Foster’s concert series.
“Hindi ako gumawa nito ha…share ko lang. See all the comments there. Baka sabihin ako lang ang bitter at di maka-move on,” she stated. (I was not the one who made this. I just shared it. Look at all the comments there. Some people might say that I am just bitter and that I cannot move on.)
“We’re just talking and comparing the past and the present there. No hate and discrimination. Their opinions and comments are based on what they hear and watch,” she continued. “Anyway, thanks to all my bashers at trending ako ngayon (because I’m currently trending).”
Image: Facebook/Raquel Relucio Pempengco
Foster held his “David Foster and Friends” concert series last March 21 to 26. Aside from Amon, Foster’s guest performers were his wife Katharine McPhee, Daniel Emmet, Pia Toscano and Martin Nievera.
Meanwhile, Jake came out as a transgender man and officially changed his name from Charice Pempengco to Jake Zyrus in 2017. /ra