HOLLYWOOD, California – Right after getting into Glee, Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco ?Charice? adds another feather to her already full cap. Her inspiring success story lands her on the cover of August 2010 issue of Reader?s Digest Asia. The magazine tells readers how Charice made it to the international scene in ?The Making of a YouTube Sensation.? She joins the ranks of former President Corazon C. Aquino, comedian Michael V, boxing superstar Honorable Congressman Manny Pacquiao, actor and mentor Diether Ocampo and international singer and actress Lea Salonga.
Eleventh Philippine President Cory Aquino was featured for her life?s journey from being a self-proclaimed plain housewife to Senator Benigno Aquino Jr to being a global symbol for peace and democracy. She led the bloodless ?People Power? and restored democracy in her country.
Asian TV awardee Beethoven del Valle Bunagan ?Michael V? landed on the front cover of Reader’s Digest Asia 5th Annual Humor Special. For the September 2008 cover, Bitoy disguised as an old lady wearing barong tagalog with the title “Yari Ka,” the tagline of Michael V’s show in GMA-7 “Bitoy’s Funniest Videos”. The magazine looked seriously into the comedian?s personal life and how he got his distinguished sense of humor.
The goodlooking actor Diether Ocampo graced the December 2009 issue with ?If we live by the simple concept of paying it forward, the world will be a friendlier place.? Diet was recognized in the magazine?s Asian edition as an actor, environmentalist, PETA volunteer and founding president of Kabataang Dapat Inyong Suportahan (K.I.D.S.). He started K.I.D.S. Foundation in 2004 to provide medical assistance to children and later branched out to giving educational scholarships and donating books to public schools.
International singer and actress Lea Salonga proved to be a very glamorous cover for the March 2010 Asian edition of the Magazine. The second most trusted by Filipinos in the first Asian Reader?s Digest Trust Poll, Lea was described as a beautiful actress and singer who has a successful stage career, and has won multiple awards for her role in Miss Saigon. One respondent commented on Lea, ?She captures both the beauty and strength of the Philippines.? Also featured in the issue were actress and philanthropist Rosa Rosal who topped the poll, award-winning journalist and Vice-President of GMA News Jessica Soho, No. 3, Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto, No. 4, and 15th and current President Benigno ?P-Noy? Aquino III.
Honorable Congressman Emmanuel ?Manny? Dapidran Pacquiao covered the December 2008 Asian Reader?s Digest?s release in the Philippines with the tagline MORE POWER Manny Pacquaio In the Fight of his Life.
In his interview with Jim Plouffe, the Pacman shared the simple plan he laid down when he was still in his teens, ?Fight my way out of poverty . . . literally.? When he was 12 years old, he stepped up into the boxing ring on Sundays to earn P50.00 ($1) for every fight. He wanted to help his mother feed their family and at the same time continue going to school. He raised his earnings to P3,000.00 ($60) when he moved on as an under-aged professional.
Now the seven-division world champion is the lone boxer Sports Illustrated?s list of 20 highest earning international athletes for 2010. Manny Pacquiao was ranked no. 5 with $38 million coming from salaries, bonuses, endorsements and appearance fees.
Pacquiao narrated how tough his life was as a teen-age boxer. He faked his age and fought professional at age 16. He won his 12 fights before he lost by TKO.
When asked what he thought of that, the world champion answered, ?I went back to my work in construction and told a friend that I would stop boxing because I lost already. He said, ”No, that’s part of boxing. You’re a good fighter, that loss will give you a lesson in boxing.” And I realised he was right, after a month, and I trained again.?
If the Pacman ?fought? his way out of poverty, Charice belted her way to stardom. The Reader?s Digest tells her story from being a simple girl in Laguna to an international singing sensation.
Inheriting her Mom?s singing talent, Charice showed the distinction of being born a diva in her early childhood. Charice joined singing contests and most of the time bought home the bacon. She joined ABS-CBN?s Little Big Star hosted by pop princess Sarah Concepcion in 2005. She ended up 3rd Honor, with Sam Concepcion as Brightest Star and Gian Barbarona as 2nd Honor.
After her loss to Sam, Charice admitted she only wanted to study. But if the Pacman had a friend to tell him not to stop boxing, Charice had YouTube to show what she got. Oprah Winfrey and Ellen Degeneres discovered her talent through the website after a fan uploaded a video of her performance. Charice ?The Little Wonder? is also compared with Iyaz, the featured artist on her Billboard hit song “Pyramid” and Canadian Teen Sensation Justin Bieber. Iyaz was found by Jamaican singer Sean Kingston through the latter?s MySpace page in 2008. Bieber?s performances were uploaded on YouTube by his mother, Pattie Mallette for their family and friends to see. His videos were accidentally clicked on by Scooter Braun who later became his manager.
Despite her busy schedule, Charice is pursuing a college degree in Communications. She is currently enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University.
In her own way, this 17 year-old Pinoy sensation has brought much pride to her country. It looks like she is poised to give much more.
