There’s still no stopping singing sensation Charice Pempengco after her three unprecedented guestings on the shows of Ellen Degeneres and Paul O’Grady and soon on Oprah this May. Coming up is the Philippine release next month of her first album with Star Records, featuring her now Internet famous renditions of “And I Am Telling You”, ” I Will Always Love You” and “I Have Nothing”. Also part of the CD lite package produced by Star’s Jonathan Manalo are her previous recordings with a European studio last year.

Encounter with Oprah

The big bonus is Oprah’s supposed commitment to Charice to help her promote her album when she gets back to Chicago. “Natuwa naman po ako sa support niya, ” Charice told us at her recording session in Quezon City, recounting her unforgettable encounter with the TV empress.

“Dream come true talaga, imagine sabi ko nga kay mommy, ’ guesting sa Oprah , si Oprah, the most powerful woman in the world!’”. Charice is not yet free to talk about the details of her meeting with Oprah; neither can she confirm the details of a supposed recording deal with esteemed American record producer David Foster.

Oprah’s generosity

But this much she can say, she was given wads of dollars by Oprah after her tour at Harpo Productions. Charice is not revealing how much. Suffice it to say that her mother described it as “malaking tulong.”

“Pang shopping daw, nilagay niya sa front pockets ko, hindi ko na tiningnan kung magkano, hahaha,” she giggled. It was just one aspect of the overwhelming VIP treatment she received in Chicago. “BInigyan din po ako ni Oprah ng sariling hairstylist, sabi niya ako ang gumugupit kay Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi, Bill Clinton and … Charice Pempengcow hahaha.”

The highlight was when Charice opened up to Oprah about her personal struggles. “Nakwento ko that my mom is a single parent… what we went through. I cannot forget what she told me after. Sabi niya, everything will be better!”

Needless to say, she has been asked to guest again on Oprah on a later date. This is really not surprising given the sensational reception accorded Charice in all her international guestings. Just recently, Charice was informed that her Ellen guesting was picked as the most memorable moment on the talk show in a televiewers survey. ” Lahat naman po sila, pati sina Ellen and Paul pinababalik po nila ako.”

The fan who started it all

Of course, Charice will not forget that she owes her immense popularity to the Internet. “Yang youtube na yan, yan ang may sala,” she laughs. “Yan ang nag-umpisa ng lahat.” She credits one admirer for uploading her video files.

“His name is David Duenas, 22 years old, a nursing student, singer din siya. Kailan ko lang siya personal na nakilala, ang tawag ko nga sa kanya ‘special’ because he is! Major turning point yung pinag showdown niya sa youtube yung performance namin ng winner ng America’s Got Talent ng “And I Am Telling You”.”

Before she knew it, the Internet video files took a life of its own with over a million hits, alerting Swedish, Korean record and TV producers and finally making it on the Ellen Degeneres show. The Charice phenomenon continues with the creation of more websites devoted to her. It’s the kind of empowerment that can also happen to any brilliant, struggling artist with no well-oiled mainstream machinery.

Even now that an international career is beckoning, Charice is certain that the Philippines will be her home base. “Kung ano ang ibigay sa akin ng ABS-CBN, tatanggapin ko.”

Juday’s independent movie “Ploning”

Also the toast of tinseltown now is Judy Ann Santos for her brave foray into independent cinema with “Ploning”, an exotic island tale of a mysterious woman waiting for a lost love. It’s her birthday offering this April 30.

Shot in Cuyo island Palawan, Judy will speak the heretofore unheard of (at least in the broadcast and film medium) Cuyonon dialect along with co-stars Gina Pareno, Meryll Soriano, Eugene Domingo, Ces Quesada and Tessie Tomas.

Megged by Judya’s best friend, Dante Nico Garcia who also co-wrote with Benjamin Lingan, Ploning spans the story of a spinster and her kinsfolk from 1982 to 2007. It is actually inspired by a Cuyonon folk song about undying love.

“Ploning” is up against the much talked about Aga Muhlach-Ann Curtis love story “When Love Begins” at the box office but Juday believes her movie will survive the box office showdown.

Faith in the movie

“Malaki ang tiwala ko sa pelikula, napakaganda ng pagkagawa, and I am confident sa galing ng cast at produksyon, ” says Judy.

“I believe in the story, seven years ago napag-usapan na naming gawin ito. Ngayon dumating na ang time niya, sana tangkilikin ng mga manonood.”

It’s a truly unusual movie given the staid formula concepts in Philippine movies. It even sets a new bar in the independent cinema movement since its main exponent is a superstar like Judy who has invested a lot in the venture.

An even bigger twist - while she plays a passionate lover, Judy does not have a leading man in “Ploning”.

Good luck at the box office!