As of this writing, singing sensation Charice Pempengco is on her way back to the US to continue work on her first international album in collaboration with famed producer-songwriter David Foster.

A few days prior, Manila Bulletin Online was able to corner Charice who addressed the nasty rumors that aim to put her in a bad light:

True or False: Your recent solo concert at the SMX Convention Center would have been a flop if not for the complimentary tickets you allegedly gave away.

“It’s not true. If all who were there used complimentary tickets, why didn’t my relatives have seats? Nakatayo lang ang mga kamag-anak ko sa gilid that night. Kahit two weeks lang ang preparation namin for the concert ay masaya kami, pati na din ang producer ng show, sa ganda ng attendance. We’re even thinking of touring the concert around the Philippines.”

True or False: You favor Oprah Winfrey over Ellen DeGeneres who introduced you to an international audience.

 “First of all, Ms. Oprah and Ms. Ellen are very good friends. At totoo po na si Ms. Ellen ang nagdala at nagpakilala sa akin sa States. But Ms. Ellen also knows that Ms. Oprah was the one who gave me my breaks. Napag-usapan na din namin ni Ms. Oprah ang possibility na mag-guest uli ako kay Ms. Ellen at wala naman siyang tutol dun. Ang sabi pa nga n’ya, dapat lang tanggapin yon dahil doon naman ako nagsimula. Kaso wala pang invitation as of now from Ms. Ellen.”

True or False: R&B singer Jojo, the original singer of your single, “Note to God,” didn’t like your version of that song.

“Wala po kaming natatanggap na feedback from Jojo kaya hindi ko po masasagot yan. Ang sabi lang po sa amin ni Dianne Warren, songwriter of “Note to God,” is that my powerful voice fits the message of that song better than Jojo’s R&B style. But I also like Jojo’s version of ‘Note.’”

True or False: You have turned your back on Star Records in favor of Warner Music.

“Hindi ko po maintindihan kung bakit may kailangang talikuran? Dito po sa Philippines ay sa Star Records ako, pero sa States, Warner. Magkaibang territories ang States at Philippines. Di naman po ako pwedeng  Star Records habang nasa sa States dahil andito lang po sa Pilipinas ang Star Records. Kapag nasa Pilipinas po ako ay Star Records ako at mag-re-record at ipro-promote ko po ang album ko sa kanila. Pero may time din po na pwede ko ding i-promote ang album ko under Warner dito sa atin. Naiintindihan naman po ng Star Records yon.”

True or False: Regine Velasquez called at the last minute to inform that she couldn’t make it to your first concert.

“It’s true na tumawag po si Ms. Regine sa amin para mag-cancel on the day ng concert. Pero intindihin naman po natin si Ms. Regine kasi nagkasakit nga siya. In fact, wala po siya sa ‘SOP’ the next day. A few days  po prior to the concert, habang nag-re-rehearse kami ni Ms. Regine, ay kita po talaga namin na masama ang pakiramdam niya. Kahit nga po ako ay kagagaling lang sa sakit bago mag-concert, pero di na lang po ako nagpa-confine sa ospital dahil gusto kong matuloy yung show.”

True or False: Your international album is nowhere near completion and that it might not even be released.  

 “We’ve already recorded eight songs for the album with five more to go. Pagpipilian pa po namin yung mga kanta. Sa ngayon, puro original songs ang na-i-record na namin although pinaguusupan na namin na baka mag-include kami ng remake ng ‘You Are So Beautiful’ ni Joe Cocker.”

True or False: You have become a swellhead because of your successes.

“Malaki lang po talaga ang mukha ko, pero di ang ulo ko (laughs). Ang mga taong nakakita na sa akin in person, at yung mag tao na nakakasama ko araw-araw ang makakasagot nyan. Hindi na lang po ako magsasalita tungkol dyan dahil madami lang ang mag-react. Kung ano man ang sinasabi ng iba, salamat at pinaguusapan nila ako kahit paano.”

True or False: “Little Big Star” champion Sam Concepcion did not guest in your concert because he is insecure of your achievements.

“Hindi po yan totoo. Pumayag po si Sam na mag-guest sa show ko kaso ay nataon na nasa US siya for the ABS-CBN concert tour on the day of my concert. Inisip pa nga po nila na mag-record ng VTR na i-air sana sa concert ko para bumati sa akin at magpaliwanag kung bakit wala siya. Pero ang sabi namin ay no need na dahil talaga namang nasa US siya nung day of the concert.”

Charice was one of the guests at the 20th anniversary, by-invitation-only concert of the ABS-CBN Foundation held on Friday, July 3 at the Meralco Theater. Charice sang “Note To God.” It was her third time to perform at an ABS-CBN Foundation anniversary celebration.

Various Kapamilya stars such as Ryan Cayabyab, Gary Valenciano, Lea Salonga and Kuh Ledesma also made an appearance that night.

Some of the projects of the ABS-CBN Foundation in the last two decades are E-Media; Bantay Bata; Bayan Microfinance; Bantay Kalikasan; Sagip Kapamilya; Bayannijuan and Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig.

ABS-CBN Foundation thanks the following for their support for the anniversary concert: Meralco Theater; Tamayo’s Catering; Crystal Clear; King Me Asia Corp.; Rustan’s Essences; Sophie Martin; I-Personalize; and Belo Essentials.