MANILA, Philippines— It’s a case of good timing: Filipina international pop star Charice will be able to take a short break from shooting the Hollywood movie “Here Comes the Boom” in Los Angeles to go to Las Vegas and sing the Philippine National Anthem for the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley boxing fight on May 7.
Grace Mendoza, Charice’s Philippine manager, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that it was indeed good timing since the 18-year-old singer is currently in LA to work on the film. Mendoza added that Charice’s handlers in the United States will issue an official statement shortly.
It was her countryman Pacquiao himself – the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer – who reportedly handpicked Charice to sing “Lupang Hinirang” when he defends his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight title against the California-born Mosley, a former World Boxing Association (WBA) Welterweight Super champion.
“Thank you Sir Manny Pacquiao for choosing me to sing the Philippine Nat’l Anthem for your fight. Feel really blessed,” said Charice on her Twitter page a few hours ago, confirming rumors on the Internet about her coming singing stint.
The prestigious spot number, though less than two minutes long, will be seen by millions of people worldwide via satellite.
Charice previously sang the National Anthem for President Benigno Aquino III’s inaugural in June 2010 at the Quirino Grandstand of Rizal Park in Manila.
The job of singing “Lupang Hinirang” for Pacquiao comes after a recent series of high-profile media coverage for the 18-year-old Charice. Aside from landing a role as herself in the movie “Here Comes the Boom” which stars Salma Hayek, the Filipina singing sensation had just made her second appearance on the popular American TV series “Glee.”
She had likewise recorded “Before It Explodes,” the first single from her coming second studio album, which was written and produced by the Grammy Award-winning Filipino-American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars. The song had its worldwide release last week.